KPS Capital Partners to acquire Sport Group

Through a newly formed affiliate, KPS Capital Partners has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Sport Group from funds advised by Equistone Partners Europe. Completion of the transaction is expected in the second quarter of 2024 and is subject to customary closing conditions and approvals.

Sport Group is a leading designer, manufacturer and installer of artificial surfaces serving the global sports flooring, leisure and landscaping and industrial markets to over 70 countries globally. Headquartered in Burgheim, Germany, the company’s brand portfolio includes AstroTurf, Polytan, SYNLawn, LigaTurf, Poligras, Rekortan and Laykold.

The company boasts an extensive list of blue-chip customers across most major professional and collegiate sports leagues. For decades, Sport Group’s fields have been chosen for significant projects across the world including the original Astrodome in 1966, eight sequential Summer Olympic Games, the U.S. Open and the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Sport Group is an industry leader in green technologies, pioneering sustainable products and services such as the world’s first carbon-neutral soccer turf, the world’s first carbon-zero field hockey turf and the development of the industry’s first, and only, turf recycling facility capable of recycling EPDM rubber. The Company has more than 1,900 employees and operates nine vertically integrated manufacturing facilities and 31 distribution centers across the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions.

“Sport Group is the only vertically integrated manufacturer of artificial turf and polyurethane artificial surfaces products, with capabilities across the value-chain (design, manufacturing, installation and recycling) and with a manufacturing presence on three continents,” said Raquel Vargas Palmer, manager partner of KPS. “We look forward to partnering with Sport Group’s talented employees and senior management team, to build upon this iconic platform. We will leverage KPS’ decades of manufacturing expertise and provide strategic support and capital to accelerate the Company’s value creation opportunities. Sport Group’s unparalleled brand portfolio, commitment to quality and industry-leading R&D capabilities provide an ideal foundation for future growth – both organically and through a global acquisition strategy.”

KPS, through its affiliated management entities, is the manager of the KPS Special Situations Funds, a family of investment funds with approximately $21.4 billion of assets under management (as of Dec. 31, 2023).