Congress Examines Private Equity's Impact on Youth Sports
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 30 2026
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Congressional Hearing: A bipartisan committee held a hearing on Tuesday to scrutinize the role of private equity in youth sports, indicating that Congress may be inching closer to intervening in the commercialization of youth sports.
- Rising Cost Concerns: Rep. Kevin Kiley highlighted that market consolidation is driving up costs for families, leading to a widening participation gap where many children are priced out due to financial constraints.
- Massive Industry Scale: The Aspen Institute estimates that the youth sports industry in the U.S. has reached $40 billion, with significant private equity activity, including BPEA EQT's $1.25 billion acquisition of IMG Academy in 2023 and KKR's $4.75 billion purchase of Varsity Brands in 2024.
- Calls for Transparency and Regulation: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici suggested increasing transparency around fees and robust antitrust enforcement to ensure families have access to community recreation and school-based sports programs, addressing the unchecked market power in youth sports.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy KKR?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on KKR
Wall Street analysts forecast KKR stock price to rise
9 Analyst Rating
9 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 95.970
Low
145.00
Averages
159.67
High
176.00
Current: 95.970
Low
145.00
Averages
159.67
High
176.00
About KKR
KKR & Co. Inc. is a global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. The Company’s segments include Asset Management, Insurance and Strategic Holdings. Asset Management segment offers a range of investment management services to investment funds, vehicles and accounts and provides capital markets services to portfolio companies and third parties. Asset Management segment includes five business lines: Private Equity, Real Assets, Credit and Liquid Strategies, Capital Markets and Principal Activities. Insurance segment is operated by Global Atlantic, which is a United States retirement and life insurance company that provides a suite of protection, legacy and savings products and reinsurance solutions to clients across individual and institutional markets. Global Atlantic offers individuals fixed-rate annuities and others. Strategic Holdings segment represents its participation in its core private equity strategy.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
A.P. Moller Holding Acquires Ocean Yield from KKR
- Acquisition Deal: A.P. Moller Holding has signed an agreement with KKR to acquire Ocean Yield, a ship leasing platform, which will significantly enhance A.P. Moller Group's maritime portfolio and is expected to improve its market competitiveness.
- Business Integration: CFO Martin Larsen stated that combining Ocean Yield's stable cash flow with A.P. Moller's century-long experience in the maritime industry will create a strong partnership, thereby driving growth for both entities.
- Vessel Assets: Ocean Yield holds interests in over 70 modern vessels across several core shipping sectors, including gas carriers, container ships, and LNG carriers, enriching Moller’s asset portfolio and enhancing its diversity in the shipping market.
- Ongoing Partnership: Post-transaction, KKR will remain a partner of Ocean Yield through their joint investment in CapeOmega Gas Transportation AS, indicating that both parties will maintain a close business relationship in the future.
See More
BridgeBio Secures $1 Billion Preferred Equity Investment
- Large Financing Round: BridgeBio has entered into an agreement with Sixth Street and HealthCare Royalty to secure up to $1 billion in newly issued convertible preferred equity, with an initial conversion price of approximately $138 per share, representing over a 100% premium to the company's 30-day volume-weighted average price, significantly strengthening the company's capital structure.
- Strategic Timing: This financing occurs at a pivotal moment as the Attruby® drug continues to grow into a multi-billion-dollar blockbuster, while BridgeBio prepares for three additional potential blockbuster U.S. product launches over the next 12 months, ensuring the company's competitive edge in the market.
- Investor Confidence: Sixth Street funded $800 million as the lead investor, while HealthCare Royalty contributed $133.9 million, demonstrating strong confidence in BridgeBio's management team and its ability to develop transformative therapies, further solidifying the company's market position.
- Future Outlook: This financing not only provides BridgeBio with flexible capital support but also lays the groundwork for future product launches and market expansion, expected to drive the company's continued growth in addressing high unmet medical needs.
See More
KKR Takes Control of $1.3 Billion Renewable Energy Platform in South Korea
- Management Control Transfer: KKR will take management control of a $1.3 billion renewable energy platform in South Korea, integrating wind, solar, and fuel cell assets from SK Group, thereby enhancing its position in the rapidly growing clean energy market.
- Operational Capacity Expansion: The platform will start with 1.7 gigawatts of operating capacity and aims to scale to 10 gigawatts, sufficient to power 100 large data centers simultaneously, addressing the surging clean power demand from semiconductor and AI data centers.
- Strategic Investment Context: KKR is funding the deal through its Asia Pacific infrastructure strategy, which has invested over $31 billion globally in energy transition and renewables since 2011, demonstrating strong confidence in the renewable energy market.
- SK Group's Long-Term Plan: This partnership is part of SK Group's
See More
KKR Acquires EDF's North American Renewable Operations for $4.2 Billion
- Acquisition Overview: KKR has agreed to acquire EDF Group's North American renewable operations for approximately $4.2 billion, with potential additional payments of up to $390 million, which is expected to significantly enhance KKR's market position in the renewable energy sector.
- Asset Integration Plan: The transaction will allow KKR to acquire the operations and assets of EDF Power Solutions Inc. in the U.S. and Canada, providing resources and strategic support to expand its asset base and improve operational performance.
- Korean Renewable Energy Platform: KKR and SK Inc. have signed agreements to launch Korea's largest renewable energy platform valued at around 2 trillion Korean won (approximately $1.3 billion), integrating renewable energy assets previously held by SK affiliates, with an existing capacity of 1.7GW and plans to expand to 10GW.
- Market Reaction: KKR shares fell about 0.11% in after-hours trading to $91.68, while SK shares dropped 1.83% to 456,500 won, indicating a cautious market response to both transactions.
See More
KKR and Sixth Street Partners Invest $1B in BridgeBio Pharma
- Financing Amount: KKR and Sixth Street Partners have reportedly agreed to provide $1 billion in preferred equity to biotechnology firm BridgeBio Pharma, with an announcement expected as soon as Wednesday, aimed at accelerating the launch of new drugs for genetic diseases.
- Market Reaction: BridgeBio Pharma's shares fell 1.4% in after-hours trading and are approximately 3% lower year-to-date, reflecting a cautious market response to the financing news.
- Strategic Importance: This financing will provide BridgeBio with the necessary capital to advance its drug development efforts, particularly in the genetic disease treatment sector, potentially enhancing its competitive position in the market.
- Industry Outlook: With the growing demand for treatments for genetic diseases, this funding will help BridgeBio secure a more advantageous position in the rapidly evolving biotechnology market, further attracting investor interest.
See More
SK and KKR Launch Korea's Largest Renewable Energy Platform
- Large-Scale Platform: The newly established renewable energy platform currently operates with approximately 1.7GW of capacity, and a development pipeline will increase total capacity to 10GW, capable of simultaneously powering 100 large-scale data centers to meet Korea's surging clean energy demand.
- Deepening Strategic Partnership: The collaboration between SK and KKR signifies a deepening of their long-standing relationship in the renewable energy sector, with KKR taking management control of the platform while SK participates as an equity investor, potentially negotiating for control rights in the future.
- Resource Integration for Efficiency: This platform will consolidate renewable energy assets from SK's solar, wind, and fuel cell divisions, enhancing operational efficiency and economies of scale, thereby strengthening competitiveness in the rapidly growing clean energy market.
- Strong Investment Background: KKR manages over $100 billion in global infrastructure assets and has invested more than $31 billion in energy transition and renewables since 2011, demonstrating its proactive engagement in the energy transition across the Asia Pacific region.
See More
A.P. Moller Holding Acquires Ocean Yield from KKR
- Acquisition Deal: A.P. Moller Holding has signed an agreement with KKR to acquire Ocean Yield, a ship leasing platform, which will significantly enhance A.P. Moller Group's maritime portfolio and is expected to improve its market competitiveness.
- Business Integration: CFO Martin Larsen stated that combining Ocean Yield's stable cash flow with A.P. Moller's century-long experience in the maritime industry will create a strong partnership, thereby driving growth for both entities.
- Vessel Assets: Ocean Yield holds interests in over 70 modern vessels across several core shipping sectors, including gas carriers, container ships, and LNG carriers, enriching Moller’s asset portfolio and enhancing its diversity in the shipping market.
- Ongoing Partnership: Post-transaction, KKR will remain a partner of Ocean Yield through their joint investment in CapeOmega Gas Transportation AS, indicating that both parties will maintain a close business relationship in the future.
See More
BridgeBio Secures $1 Billion Preferred Equity Investment
- Large Financing Round: BridgeBio has entered into an agreement with Sixth Street and HealthCare Royalty to secure up to $1 billion in newly issued convertible preferred equity, with an initial conversion price of approximately $138 per share, representing over a 100% premium to the company's 30-day volume-weighted average price, significantly strengthening the company's capital structure.
- Strategic Timing: This financing occurs at a pivotal moment as the Attruby® drug continues to grow into a multi-billion-dollar blockbuster, while BridgeBio prepares for three additional potential blockbuster U.S. product launches over the next 12 months, ensuring the company's competitive edge in the market.
- Investor Confidence: Sixth Street funded $800 million as the lead investor, while HealthCare Royalty contributed $133.9 million, demonstrating strong confidence in BridgeBio's management team and its ability to develop transformative therapies, further solidifying the company's market position.
- Future Outlook: This financing not only provides BridgeBio with flexible capital support but also lays the groundwork for future product launches and market expansion, expected to drive the company's continued growth in addressing high unmet medical needs.
See More
KKR Takes Control of $1.3 Billion Renewable Energy Platform in South Korea
- Management Control Transfer: KKR will take management control of a $1.3 billion renewable energy platform in South Korea, integrating wind, solar, and fuel cell assets from SK Group, thereby enhancing its position in the rapidly growing clean energy market.
- Operational Capacity Expansion: The platform will start with 1.7 gigawatts of operating capacity and aims to scale to 10 gigawatts, sufficient to power 100 large data centers simultaneously, addressing the surging clean power demand from semiconductor and AI data centers.
- Strategic Investment Context: KKR is funding the deal through its Asia Pacific infrastructure strategy, which has invested over $31 billion globally in energy transition and renewables since 2011, demonstrating strong confidence in the renewable energy market.
- SK Group's Long-Term Plan: This partnership is part of SK Group's
See More
KKR Acquires EDF's North American Renewable Operations for $4.2 Billion
- Acquisition Overview: KKR has agreed to acquire EDF Group's North American renewable operations for approximately $4.2 billion, with potential additional payments of up to $390 million, which is expected to significantly enhance KKR's market position in the renewable energy sector.
- Asset Integration Plan: The transaction will allow KKR to acquire the operations and assets of EDF Power Solutions Inc. in the U.S. and Canada, providing resources and strategic support to expand its asset base and improve operational performance.
- Korean Renewable Energy Platform: KKR and SK Inc. have signed agreements to launch Korea's largest renewable energy platform valued at around 2 trillion Korean won (approximately $1.3 billion), integrating renewable energy assets previously held by SK affiliates, with an existing capacity of 1.7GW and plans to expand to 10GW.
- Market Reaction: KKR shares fell about 0.11% in after-hours trading to $91.68, while SK shares dropped 1.83% to 456,500 won, indicating a cautious market response to both transactions.
See More
KKR and Sixth Street Partners Invest $1B in BridgeBio Pharma
- Financing Amount: KKR and Sixth Street Partners have reportedly agreed to provide $1 billion in preferred equity to biotechnology firm BridgeBio Pharma, with an announcement expected as soon as Wednesday, aimed at accelerating the launch of new drugs for genetic diseases.
- Market Reaction: BridgeBio Pharma's shares fell 1.4% in after-hours trading and are approximately 3% lower year-to-date, reflecting a cautious market response to the financing news.
- Strategic Importance: This financing will provide BridgeBio with the necessary capital to advance its drug development efforts, particularly in the genetic disease treatment sector, potentially enhancing its competitive position in the market.
- Industry Outlook: With the growing demand for treatments for genetic diseases, this funding will help BridgeBio secure a more advantageous position in the rapidly evolving biotechnology market, further attracting investor interest.
See More
SK and KKR Launch Korea's Largest Renewable Energy Platform
- Large-Scale Platform: The newly established renewable energy platform currently operates with approximately 1.7GW of capacity, and a development pipeline will increase total capacity to 10GW, capable of simultaneously powering 100 large-scale data centers to meet Korea's surging clean energy demand.
- Deepening Strategic Partnership: The collaboration between SK and KKR signifies a deepening of their long-standing relationship in the renewable energy sector, with KKR taking management control of the platform while SK participates as an equity investor, potentially negotiating for control rights in the future.
- Resource Integration for Efficiency: This platform will consolidate renewable energy assets from SK's solar, wind, and fuel cell divisions, enhancing operational efficiency and economies of scale, thereby strengthening competitiveness in the rapidly growing clean energy market.
- Strong Investment Background: KKR manages over $100 billion in global infrastructure assets and has invested more than $31 billion in energy transition and renewables since 2011, demonstrating its proactive engagement in the energy transition across the Asia Pacific region.
See More
