The UFC’s parent company, Endeavor (EDR) is now a publicly-traded company. They raised $511 million during its initial public offering (IPO) as they opened the trading day at $24 per share and ended at $25.20
It’s official the UFC is now a public company #EndeavorIPO pic.twitter.com/wP9Qfjzumr
— danawhite (@danawhite) April 29, 2021
UFC President Dana White, along with executives Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell appeared at the New York Stock Exchange to ring the opening bell at 9:30 am ET.
According to the filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) back in March, Endeavor is still in the process of acquiring 100% ownership of the UFC. Previously, Endeavor had previously owned 50.1% of the promotion, which it purchased from Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta for $4 billion in 2016.
Endeavor planned to go public back in 2019, but due to its low demand, pulled out. The company also owns the Professional Bull Riders tour along with the Miss Universe pageant.
“We have a huge opportunity in the marketplace because I think we’re one of one,” Emanuel told Bloomberg. “The sport is an incredible sport, it’s a global sport unlike anything else. I don’t have to tell you the rules, whether you’re in Singapore, Japan, China, United States, France, Latin America, the Middle East, you know the rules.
“I think it’s different if you had cricket going on around the world or U.S. football going around the world. You can also consume it on a highlight because it’s a 15 or 25-minute fight, a lot of fights end quickly. You can consume it on your phone and you don’t really have to explain the rules and we have fighters from all over the world. We think it’s an only true global sport that everybody understands.” (MMA Fighting)
