NEP Group Accelerates Growth and Innovation with New Funding and Successful Debt Refinancing
$700 million equity investment led by new partner 26North, together with completion of a comprehensive refinancing, positions NEP for continued leadership in the media services and live events industries.
NEP Group, the leading media services and technology partner for content producers worldwide, today announced a new equity investment in the company led by 26North Partners LP (26North), together with a group of co-investors. Carlyle, NEP's existing sponsor, is participating alongside 26North in the investment and will remain its largest shareholder, reaffirming Carlyle's long-term commitment to the company.
26North, a next-generation alternatives platform, was founded in 2022 by Josh Harris, who is also the Founder and Managing General Partner of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and the Managing Partner of the Washington Commanders. This portfolio of premier franchises across sports and entertainment provides a unique perspective, aligning closely with NEP's position at the intersection of media and live events.
NEP has also successfully completed a comprehensive debt refinancing. Supported by the Company's strong performance and global client relationships, the refinancing enhances NEP's capital structure and reduces its debt levels, reinforcing NEP's strong foundation for future growth.
For 40 years, NEP has become the trusted media services and live events partner behind many of the world's most iconic live productions—from sporting events like the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the World Cup, the World Series, The Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, Premier League football, and Wimbledon; to live entertainment productions including Eurovision Song Contest, the Oscars, The Voice, and numerous concert tours; to conferences and product launches for Fortune 500 companies; to major global events like the recent NATO Summit.
Today's important milestones position NEP to accelerate investment in its global operations, product development and new partnerships – enhancing its capabilities and speed to market in delivering innovative solutions globally.
Martin Stewart, CEO of NEP Group, said the completion of this transaction underscores conviction in the company's future. "We're thrilled to take NEP to the next level with outstanding capital partners at our side. Josh brings exceptional expertise in creating one of the world's leading sports and entertainment portfolios, and he and the 26North team have a proven track record of growing businesses across industries. We also couldn't be more pleased to have earned the continued trust and support of Carlyle.
"We remain committed to investing in our people, technology and dynamic facilities to deliver the innovation, scale and reliability that our clients have relied on for 40 years. We're beginning our next 40 years with great momentum."
Mark Weinberg, Head of Private Equity at 26North, said: "We're excited to work with Martin, his leadership team, and Carlyle to build on the strong foundation they've created. NEP represents the kind of business we seek to invest in: a global market leader with a stellar reputation for service delivery, technical expertise and innovation that keeps customers coming back for compelling storytelling around their most important events and experiences."
NEP was advised by Goldman Sachs, Latham & Watkins LLP, and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. 26North was advised by RBC Capital Markets, Greenhill, a Mizuho affiliate, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Barclays and Goldman Sachs served as lead advisors on the refinancing.
For more information on NEP's full range of media services and live event solutions, visit www.nepgroup.com.
About NEP Group
NEP is the world's most trusted media services partner for live sports and entertainment. With a global network of experts, cutting-edge technology, and an expansive portfolio of customer-driven, innovative solutions, we empower our customers to tell their stories in breakthrough ways. Through operations in 25 countries, our teams have supported thousands of major productions and events on every continent with excellence and reliability. See how we bring content to life at nepgroup.com.
About 26North
26North Partners LP is an integrated, multi-asset class investment platform that provides investment advice and opportunities to its clients related to a variety of investment strategies, including, but not limited to, private equity, credit, and insurance and reinsurance solutions.
The 26North team brings decades of experience managing third-party capital to help clients achieve their financial goals while leaving a lasting impact on the communities where they operate. Since launching in late 2022, 26North has grown to approximately $31 billion in assets under management.
About Carlyle
Carlyle (NASDAQ:CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across its business and conducts its operations through three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit and Carlyle AlpInvest. With $453 billion of assets under management as of March 31, 2025, Carlyle's purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs more than 2,300 people in 29 offices across four continents.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251017626723/en/
Contacts for NEP
Susan Matis
Vice President, Global Marketing
+1 412-423-1339
[email protected]
Jordan Conigliaro
Senior Manager, PR & Global Communications
+1 570-357-1992
[email protected]
Contact for 26North
Cristina Alesci
Managing Director, Strategic Communications
+1 917-692-2110
[email protected]
Contact for Carlyle
Brittany Bensaull
Global Head of Corporate Communications
+1 212-813-4839
[email protected]