WWE Owner Endeavor Could Be Set To Become Private Company

WWE owner Endeavor could be set to leave Wall Street. 

The company, which owns TKO Group, has announced they are seeking "strategic alternatives" which typically means they are exploring a potential sale or looking to bring in new investors. This was the case earlier this year with WWE, who announced a strategic review after Vince McMahon forced his way back into the company. This culminated with WWE's sale to Endeavor and the merger with UFC under TKO Group. 

Instead of a sale, though, Endeavor could be set to go private. Silver Lake, the investment firm that owns 71% of the voting power of Endeavor has announced they are working on a proposal to take Endeavor private. 

Silver Lake issued the following statement: 

"Silver Lake is committed to strategies that deliver value for all shareholders of Endeavor. To that end, Silver Lake is currently working toward making a proposal to take Endeavor private. Silver Lake firmly believes in Endeavor's business and is not interested in selling its shares in Endeavor to a third-party nor in entertaining bids for assets that are a part of Endeavor. Silver Lake is the owner of approximately 71% of the voting power of Endeavor. Our Co-Chief Executive Officer, Egon Durban, and our Managing Director, Stephen Evans, serve as members of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Endeavor. Silver Lake has been a committed investor since 2012 and has made significant investments in Endeavor since then to support its growth."

Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics has reported that Endeavor is seeking "strategic alternatives" due to the organisation's stock price. Endeavor believes their stock has been undervalued by Wall Street and the internal belief was much of their equity being in UFC caused the low price. Separating UFC from Endeavor and merging it with WWE under TKO Group has not improved the situation and the stock price has, in fact, only worsened.

Regardless of any deal for Endeavor, TKO Group will remain a publicly traded company and Endeavor will continue to own 51 percent of TKO.