Falconhead Capital Sells Competitor Group To Calera Capital

NEW YORK, Dec. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Falconhead Capital, LLC ("Falconhead"), a private equity firm specializing in growing consumer-focused businesses, today announced that it has sold its portfolio company Competitor Group, Inc. to Calera Capital.  Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in San Diego, Competitor Group is the leading endurance media and event entertainment company dedicated to promoting the sports of running, cycling and triathlon.  The company was founded by Falconhead in 2007 through the simultaneous acquisition and combination of three separate endurance sport event and publishing enterprises.  Under Falconhead's leadership, Competitor Group's revenue has more than tripled through strategic acquisitions and a range of other organic growth initiatives.  The company's aggregate customer base now exceeds 7 million endurance enthusiasts and athletes. Its portfolio of media and event assets include Competitor.com, a robust digital community; Raceit.com, a leading digital registration platform; and more than 83 events around the world, including the flagship Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series in 32 markets, the TriRock Triathlon Series in 7 markets and the Muddy Buddy Series in 8 markets.  The company also owns five publishing properties: Velo, Inside Triathlon, Triathlete, Competitor and Women's Running.

David S. Moross, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Falconhead Capital, said: "We are very proud of the development of Competitor Group and what the company has accomplished in just five years.  When we established Competitor Group, we recognized an opportunity to build a leading company in a highly fragmented industry serving a fast-growing global market.  We have been extremely successful, as our vision has been realized through the dramatic growth in all facets of Competitor Group's business and the exciting synergies between its media and event platforms.  Competitor Group is exceptionally well positioned for continued growth under its new owners and we wish the management team led by Scott Dickey and Steve Gintowt every success in the future. We are delighted that Peter Englehart, who was instrumental in the building and development of Competitor Group, and served as both Chairman and CEO, will return to Falconhead Capital as an Operating Partner.

"We are pleased that our investment in Competitor Group has generated a very attractive return for all stakeholders, including Falconhead's limited partners, management and other co-investors," Mr. Moross added.

Perella Weinberg Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to Falconhead on this transaction.

About Falconhead Capital
Falconhead Capital, LLC (www.falconheadcapital.com), with $400 million of assets under management, is a private investment firm established in 1998 to provide investors with significant long-term capital appreciation by investing globally in consumer-focused businesses. Falconhead Capital's current portfolio includes Escort, Inc., Extreme Fitness, Inc., GPSI Holdings, Javo Beverage Company, Not Your Daughter's Jeans, Our365 (f/k/a Growing Family), Premier, Inc. and Rita's Water Ice Franchise Company, LLC  Past Falconhead investments include, among others, National Powersport Auctions, Maritime Telecommunications Network, and ESPN Classic Europe, LLC.

About Competitor Group
Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Competitor Group, Inc. (CGI) is the active lifestyle industry's leading media and event entertainment company. The aggregate CGI customer base now exceeds 7 million endurance enthusiasts and athletes. CGI's portfolio of media assets span the full range of  the expanding endurance industry and include a robust digital community on the web and on mobile across the Competitor Endurance Sports Network of websites. Additionally, Raceit.com, a leading digital registration platform, is the catalyst for the company's race services offering that looks to meet the needs not only for the company's owned and operated events, but also for endurance events of all sizes on behalf of the entire industry. With a leading market share of endurance enthusiasts, CGI owns and operates 83 events around the world, including the flagship Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, the TriRock Triathlon Series, the NFL Run Series and the Muddy Buddy Series, collectively delivering more than 600,000 professional and amateur participants in 2012. Anchoring the company with rich content and marketing leverage are five publishing properties dedicated to running, cycling, triathlon and the world of multisport including Velo, Inside Triathlon, Triathlete, Women's Running and Competitor with a combined monthly circulation of over 700,000. Further information about CGI and its digital, publishing and event entertainment properties can be found at www.CompetitorMediaKit.com.  

Contact:
Mark Semer or Daniel Yunger
Kekst and Company
(212) 521-4800

SOURCE Falconhead Capital, LLC