Crestview Partners has made an investment in talent agency ICM Partners. No financial terms were disclosed. Lazard, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton and Latham & Watkins advised ICM while Davis, Polk & Wardwell advised Crestview.
PRESS RELEASE
Los Angeles, CA, December 16, 2019 – Leading global talent agency, ICM Partners (“ICM”), has brought on New York–based private equity firm, Crestview Partners (“Crestview”), as a strategic investor to support its next phase of growth, it was announced today by Chris Silbermann, Managing Director of ICM Partners and Brian Cassidy, Partner and Head of Media at Crestview. The investment from Crestview will help accelerate ICM’s domestic and international expansion strategy, enhance its services and provide further resources to support its clients.
“We have always dedicated ourselves first and foremost to our clients and are proud to be a singularly focused representation company,” said Silbermann. “As our team strategized about growing the agency to be the best it could for our clients, we believed Crestview, with its strong track record of backing media companies, was the ideal partner for us. We are philosophically aligned and excited to take full advantage of the growth opportunities ahead.”
“ICM Partners, under the leadership of Chris Silbermann, has experienced dramatic growth both organically and through targeted strategic acquisitions,” said Brian Cassidy. “We are thrilled to partner with Chris and the dedicated agents and senior management team at ICM Partners, to help accelerate their expansion at a time of unprecedented global demand for content, content creators and the artists that bring it all alive. With a strong leadership team and a sole focus on client representation, we are confident that ICM is well-positioned for further success in this industry.”
Over the past several years, ICM Partners has grown to 600 employees with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC and London. The agency has made key acquisitions to strengthen its business, including in 2017, Headline Media News and The Royce Carlton Agency, which sizably enhanced its broadcasting and speakers businesses respectively. In 2018, ICM augmented its preeminent publishing business, acquiring The Sagalyn Agency in Washington, DC, and also made a major purchase with client Howie Mandel, Bell Media and Evenko, of the Canadian based, Just For Laughs Festival and Comedy Brand, which they have rapidly expanded.
Financial terms will not be disclosed, but the ICM partnership will maintain majority ownership. All ICM Partners employees, including assistants and support staff, will benefit financially from the deal.
“We are proud and excited to reward all of our dedicated employees, from assistants and support staff to our Partners, with a financial benefit resulting from our new partnership with Crestview,” said Silbermann.
ICM was advised on the deal by investment bank Lazard, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton and Latham & Watkins. Crestview was advised by Davis, Polk & Wardwell.
About Crestview Partners
Founded in 2004, Crestview Partners is a New York-based private equity firm focused on the middle market. Crestview manages funds with over $9 billion of aggregate capital commitments. The firm is led by a group of partners who have complementary experience and distinguished backgrounds in private equity, finance, operations and management. Crestview has senior investment professionals focused on sourcing and managing investments in each of the specialty areas of the firm: media, industrials, energy and financial services. For more information: www.crestview.com.
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