Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions raises series B from Patrick Whitesell and Silver Lake
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Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions has raised a new financing round from former Endeavor executive chairman Patrick Whitesell, who is leading a new, yet-to-be named sports, media and entertainment investment platform with private equity giant Silver Lake.
Why it matters: Omaha Productions has been profitable since it launched in 2020. Manning still controls the company, but has been bringing on strategic investors to help grow the business faster.
By the numbers: Last year, Omaha raised $10 million from Peter Chernin's North Road Company at a valuation topping $400 million.
- The new raise from Whitesell, which is also structured as a minority equity investment, is significantly largely than the amount raised previously, a source told Axios. It values the company at roughly $800 million post-money, they added.
- The company only employs 45 people.
Zoom in: The new funds will be used to expand Omaha Productions' existing business producing content for consumers and brands, while also moving further into newer areas, including scripted content and investing.
- The company recently announced an investment in Good Good Golf, a creator-led golf and lifestyle company.
- Whitesell, one of Hollywood's top talent executives, has ample experience in the scripted content space.
- All of the content produced by Omaha Productions centers around the core value of bringing people together. Much of the content produced by the company is as much about sports lifestyle as it is about the games themselves.
Between the lines: North Road will continue to be a minority investor in Omaha Productions, which it has worked with to produce a variety of series.
Zoom out: Manning co-founded Omaha Productions in 2020 with longtime sports media executive Jamie Horowitz.
- While the company is best known for its hit ESPN show "ManningCast," its production empire has grown much broader over the past few years.
- Omaha Productions has produced and sold over 30 television shows and movies, and scripted and unscripted series to an array of TV networks and streaming services. It's won multiple awards for its content, including multiple sports Emmys for "ManningCast."
- The company has also developed a sizable branded content business and audio division that features ESPN talent such as Scott Van Pelt and Mina Kimes.
Context: Silver Lake took Endeavor private in a $25 billion deal Monday.
- As part of the deal, Whitesell officially stepped into his new role as CEO of the new investment platform that Silver Lake is backing with $250 million. The Omaha Productions deal is his first investment as part of the new platform.
- Whitesell has been with Endeavor for nearly 25 years. He has worked in the talent business for more than three decades.
- In that time, he has grown his client roster to include some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Ben Affleck, Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds.
- In addition to the investment platform, Whitesell also runs an NFL sports management company that he spun off from Endeavor as WME Football.
The bottom line: "All of us at Omaha are excited to get to work with Patrick and Egon as our new teammates to grow the business and create new opportunities for fans," Manning said.
- "Peter Chernin and his team have been great partners over the past two years and have helped us build a strong foundation. I'm very excited for all of us to work together to continue to build Omaha."
Editor's Note: This story has been updated with details on the company and its valuation.
