Houlihan Lokey Advises WiggleCRC
Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that the sale of WiggleCRC (WCRC) by Bridgepoint Advisers Ltd. (Bridgepoint) to SIGNA Sports United (SSU) and the merger with Yucaipa Acquisition Corp. (Yucaipa), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), completed on 14 December 2021. The combined group, which will be a global leader in sports e-commerce and technology, trades on the NYSE under the SIGNA Sports United name (NYSE:SSU). Closing of the business combination provides SSU with gross proceeds of $484 million. Bridgepoint received a combination of cash and shares as consideration.
WiggleCRC is the leading online retailer of specialist cycles, sports equipment and cycling, running and swimming apparel, and accessories. It benefits from the ongoing migration to online sales and now has more than 2.2 million active customers in over 70 countries, with more than 50% of its sales outside the UK. Structural market growth drivers, such as the trend of healthy living and the increased popularity of cycling, will allow WiggleCRC to continue to grow internationally, especially in markets underserved by local retailers.
SIGNA Sports United is a Berlin-based global sports e-commerce and technology platform with outstanding category-specific propositions, expertise, and breadth of product assortment across iconic bike, outdoor, tennis, and team sports webshop brands, along with a track record of profitable organic growth. The business has a scalable technology platform and fulfilment infrastructure enabling synergistic M&A and supporting platform solution offerings to sports ecosystem partners.
Serving 7+ million active customers, 1,000+ brand partners, 500+ connected retail stores, and 15+ million sports community users globally, the combined entity will be the world’s largest online bike platform and one of the largest pure-play sports e-commerce and technology platform companies. The implied enterprise value of the combined entity is approximately $3.2 billion.
Bridgepoint is a quoted international alternative asset fund management group with over €30 billion AUM. With offices in Europe, the US, and China, Bridgepoint is a long-established investor, helping companies and management teams by investing in expansion, operational transformation, or consolidating via acquisitions. Bridgepoint’s current range of funds offers options to support businesses at different stages of growth, from early stage to the upper end of the middle market.
This transaction provided gross proceeds of $484 million from Yucaipa trust proceeds and a fully committed, upsized private placement in public equity (PIPE) from institutional and high-tech investors, sovereign wealth funds, and high-net-worth individuals.
Bridgepoint received part of the purchase consideration for WCRC in shares of the new public company. Existing shareholders of SSU rolled over 100% of their equity holdings into the new public entity. As of 15 December, the combined company trades on the NYSE under the SIGNA Sports United name (NYSE:SSU). The listing, as well as the WiggleCRC acquisition, will allow the company to accelerate the strategic consolidation of the sports e-commerce and technology sector.
Houlihan Lokey served as Bridgepoint’s exclusive financial advisor. This deal reinforces Houlihan Lokey’s strong global franchise in the outdoor and active lifestyle industry.
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