Boardroom

NEWS: Silver Lake has finalized its $25 billion acquisition of Endeavor, paying $27.50 per share—a 55% premium over its pre-sale stock price. This marks one of the largest acquisitions in media and entertainment, taking Endeavor private and strengthening its decade-long partnership with Silver Lake. Ari Emanuel, co-founder of WME and former CEO of Endeavor, transitions to executive chairman of WME Group while continuing as CEO and executive chair of TKO Group (UFC + WWE). He will remain involved with top talent, including Martin Scorsese, Larry David, Pete Berg, and Mark Wahlberg. Mark Shapiro, previously Endeavor’s president and COO, becomes CEO of a new sports, media, and entertainment venture backed by Silver Lake. Patrick Whitesell, former executive chairman of Endeavor, received a $100 million cash payout and rolled over $265.7 million in ownership interests. He will serve as chairman of the new venture alongside Shapiro. The acquisition, financed by Mubadala, Goldman Sachs, and major banks like J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley, also saw Endeavor’s 2024 revenue reach $7.1 billion, driven by assets like UFC, WWE, and PBR. Additionally, Endeavor sold its sports data division for $225 million. With a renewed focus on talent representation, WME Group is set for its next chapter.

On this day in 2014, Facebook (now Meta) acquired Oculus VR for about $2 billion in cash and stock. Oculus had made waves with its Rift headset, a Kickstarter success that was seen as a major leap in virtual reality technology.⁠ ⁠ Mark Zuckerberg called the deal a step toward building the next big computing platform beyond mobile. He believed virtual reality could transform how people work, play, and connect—laying the groundwork for what would later become Meta’s focus on the metaverse.⁠ ⁠ After the acquisition, Oculus became central to Meta’s VR efforts, launching products like the Rift CV1 and Quest headsets. Eventually, the Oculus name was retired in favor of Meta Quest, cementing the company’s identity in the immersive tech space.⁠ ⁠ (via Wikipedia)

From music to business, film to spirits, Quavo has spent the last decade turning influence into opportunity. White X Cognac is lining duty-free shelves, his collaborations stretch from Lenny Kravitz to Lana Del Rey, and he’s stepping deeper into Hollywood. But he’s not satisfied. “I’ve got a real big chip on my shoulder,” he told Boardroom. So we went to Miami to find out why. Full story drops 3.27 🎙️

Fans of The Simpsons can now relive all 767 episodes across 35 seasons in chronological order, streaming 24/7 on Disney+. This "always-on" channel provides a nostalgic, cable-like viewing experience, letting viewers tune in at any time without the need to select individual episodes.⁠ ⁠ Since its debut in 1989, The Simpsons has evolved into one of the most influential and highest-grossing media franchises globally, with an estimated $2-$4 billion in revenue from merchandising, syndication, advertising, home media sales, and successful ventures like video games.⁠ ⁠ The show has garnered countless awards, including 34 Primetime Emmy Awards, making it the longest-running American sitcom and animated series. Its cultural impact is undeniable, having shaped the landscape of television and pop culture for over three decades.

Puma brings back Afroman's "Because I Got High" for new runner's high spot. Its latest ad campaign, ‘Go Wild,’ the brand taps into the euphoria of the runner’s high, set to a cheeky reinterpretation of Afroman’s 2000 hit that earned a Grammy nomination and became a cultural anthem.⁠ ⁠ The spot showcases runners breaking free from the mundane and embracing movement, with the reworked lyrics celebrating the joy and spontaneity of running.⁠ ⁠ (🎥: PUMA Group)

NEWS: Hyundai Motor Group is investing $21 billion in the U.S. from 2025 to 2028 to expand manufacturing, strengthen supply chains, and drive innovation. This commitment is expected to create over 100,000 jobs, including 14,000 full-time positions, reinforcing Hyundai’s long-term presence in the U.S. market.⁠ ⁠ A $9 billion investment will boost U.S. production to 1.2 million vehicles annually, while $6 billion will localize key auto parts, including EV batteries and steel. Hyundai Steel plans to build a low-carbon steel mill in Louisiana to secure sustainable materials and enhance supply chain resilience.⁠ ⁠ An additional $6 billion will fuel advancements in AI, robotics, autonomous driving, and EV infrastructure. Hyundai is partnering with Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, and Waymo to drive mobility innovation and is expanding EV charging and renewable energy projects to support a cleaner future.

In 1980, Steve Ballmer joined Microsoft as employee No. 30 after dropping out of Stanford University—and climbed the ladder up to CEO twenty years later. In 2014, he bought the LA Clippers for a then-record $2 billion. The team has since almost tripled in value ($5.4b) — helping him become the richest team owner across all sports with a current net worth of $117 billion, per Forbes. Happy 69th birthday to a tech icon.

Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, founders of Proenza Schouler, are stepping into a major new role as the creative directors of Spanish luxury house Loewe. They’ll officially take the reins on April 7, following Jonathan Anderson’s 11-year run.⁠ ⁠ The pair plans to work closely with Loewe’s teams and artisans, aiming to honor the brand’s heritage while bringing their own fresh perspective.⁠ ⁠ Loewe, part of the LVMH family, has been on a strong upward trajectory. In 2023, the brand pulled in around $880 million in revenue—a 30% jump from the year before—and netted $225 million in profit, up more than 60%.

Chris Bosh turns 41 today — 2× Champ — Olympic Gold Medalist — 11× All-Star — No. 1 retired: Miami HEAT — Raptors all-time leader: blocks, rebounds — Hall of Fame — On-court career earnings: $239M — Memoir: Letters to a Young Athlete — Analyst: ESPN, TNT — TV cameos: Entourage, Law & Order, Parks & Rec HBD, CB4.

Since sports betting went live in 2022, New York just hit a new record, raking in a massive $22.7 billion in wagers in 2024. That’s a 14% jump from last year and nearly 40% more than the industry’s first full year.⁠ ⁠ On top of that, the state’s nine online sportsbooks pulled in a record-breaking $2.05 billion—the most ever in a single year.⁠ ⁠ (via Ben Fawkes)