Calera Capital, a private equity group, is the new owner of Competitor Group, according to sources inside the producer of such august flagship endurance brands as Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathons, VeloNews, Triathlete Magazine, Muddy Buddy, Competitor Magazine, TriRock triathlon series and VeloPress publishing.
Calera Capital has $2.8 billion of private equity capital under management. This is a mid-sized firm relative to those brands currently in the endurance sports space. The group selling Competitor Group is Falconhead Capital which, as an example, has $500 million in funds under management, and Providence Equity Partners, owners of World Triathlon Corporation (Ironman) has $27 billion under management. Leonard Green & Partners, investors in the HITS Triathlon Series, has in excess of $10 billion under management.