CVC, the leading global private markets manager, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a controlling stake in Equine Network, the largest for profit equestrian-based sports league in the US, from Growth Catalyst Partners. This investment will be the first new league investment into CVC’s Global Sport Group ("GSG"), which will now hold stakes in eight unique leagues and competitions.
Established in 2025, GSG is a diverse platform of premium global sports leagues held across CVC funds, including La Liga, Ligue 1, Women’s Tennis Association (“WTA”), Volleyball World and three rugby competitions, Six Nations Rugby, Premiership Rugby and United Rugby Championship. Equine Network is a highly complementary addition to GSG and will further diversify the existing portfolio in the important US market by adding a new sport and additional scale.
GSG was created to provide dedicated expertise and incremental value to CVC’s league investments, support partner clubs and stakeholders and enable longer-term ownership of its premium sports assets. The GSG portfolio benefits from long-term revenue visibility via multi-year media rights, sponsorship, data and other commercial agreements, alongside high margins and strong cash conversion, with revenues expected to grow at approximately 10% per annum over the next five years.
Founded and led by Tom Winsor, Equine Network has built the leading commercial platform in the approximately $2.5 billion US equestrian-based sports market, consolidating amateur and semi-professional competitions across Western and English disciplines. The business today comprises approximately 40 owned and operated competitions and more than 800 sanctioned third-party events, generating revenues primarily from events, league-level adjacencies and member services.
Following completion, Michelle Wilson and George Barrios, GSG directors and former Co-Presidents of WWE, are expected to become Co-Chairs of Equine Network and, alongside Tom Winsor and the management team, will drive the company’s exciting growth strategy.
Tom Winsor, Chief Executive Officer of Equine Network, said: “We are excited to partner with CVC and Global Sport Group at a pivotal stage in Equine Network’s development. CVC’s track record in building and scaling global sports platforms, combined with the expertise of the GSG team, makes them ideal partners as we look to expand our leagues, enhance fan engagement and data capabilities, as well as unlock new commercial opportunities for the benefit of our members and stakeholders.”
Michelle Wilson and George Barrios, GSG directors, commented: “Having spent recent months working closely with Tom and his team, we are highly impressed by the business they have built. Equine Network has an attractive position in a large, participation-led equine sports market and is well positioned to benefit from GSG’s value creation capabilities. We look forward to supporting Tom and his team in their continued development and growth.”
We are delighted to be partnering with Equine Network and welcome the business to Global Sport Group
Gemma Wright Partner at CVC
Gemma Wright, Partner in CVC’s Sports, Media and Entertainment team, added: “The creation of Global Sport Group was driven by our conviction that premium sports leagues benefit from long-term, specialist ownership and collaboration. CVC’s investment experience in sports spans over twenty years and, while much has changed in that time, sports IP remains a very attractive opportunity in which we continue to see significant potential for further innovation and growth. We are delighted to be partnering with Equine Network and welcome the business to Global Sport Group.”
The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and expected to close in Q2 2026.
CVC was advised by Lazard. Growth Catalyst Partners and Equine Network were advised by William Blair.