Case Studies
Corporate Finance Advisory
Case Study: CVC – Premiership Rugby
The Challenge
To help Premier Rugby Limited (PRL) realise its full commercial potential, aligning a fragmented ecosystem suffering from underinvestment and servicing ongoing Premiership Rugby club losses of c.£30m per season.
Oakwell's Role
Oakwell completed a comprehensive commercial and financial analysis of the global rugby ecosystem, encompassing all key stakeholders at the club and national level.
Oakwell became the advisor on rugby to CVC Capital Partners, a global private equity company. CVC had an excellent track record from previous investments in the sports & entertainment sector, including Moto GP, Formula One, Stage Entertainment, and Merlin Entertainment.
Oakwell advised the Fund across the whole of the transaction from acquisition strategy and screening to due diligence – pre and post-approach.
Result
In Q1 2019, CVC Capital Partners Fund VII completed a £200m minority investment into PRL.
This investment formed the first step in a global rugby union consolidation strategy that has since expanded to include investments in the United Rugby Championship and Six Nations.
