Sport Supply Group Agrees To Go Private

ONCAP Management Partners, the mid-market private equity unit of Onex Corp., has agreed to acquire Sport Supply Group Inc. (Nasdaq: RBI), a maker and distributor of sporting goods and branded team uniforms to the institutional and team sports market. The deal is valued at approximately $169 million, or $13.55 per share in cash.

PRESS RELEASE

Sport Supply Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RBI) (“Sport Supply Group”), the nation’s leading marketer, manufacturer and distributor of sporting goods and branded team uniforms to the institutional and team sports market, today announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of ONCAP Management Partners, L.P. (“ONCAP”), the mid-market private equity business of Onex Corporation (“Onex”).

Under the terms of the merger agreement, all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Sport Supply Group, other than those held by certain participating stockholders, as discussed immediately below, will be acquired for $13.55 per share in cash. CBT Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Andell Holdings (“CBT”), which beneficially owns approximately 16% of Sport Supply Group’s outstanding common stock, and certain members of Sport Supply Group’s management team, have entered into agreements with ONCAP to exchange their Sport Supply Group common stock and options, as applicable, for equity of the purchaser entity. Carlson Capital, L.P., which beneficially owns approximately 22% of Sport Supply Group’s outstanding common stock, and CBT, have each entered into a voting agreement with ONCAP, and have each agreed to vote their shares in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement.

The merger agreement was negotiated on behalf of Sport Supply Group by a special committee of Sport Supply Group’s board of directors composed entirely of independent directors, with the assistance of outside financial and legal advisors.

The board of directors of Sport Supply Group, on the unanimous recommendation of the independent special committee, approved the merger agreement and recommends that Sport Supply Group’s stockholders adopt the merger agreement.

In accordance with the merger agreement, the special committee of independent directors is entitled to solicit superior proposals from third parties for a period of 30 days after today (which period can be extended for an additional 15 days for parties meeting certain additional requirements). However, there is no assurance that the solicitation of superior proposals will result in any proposal or an alternative transaction. Furthermore, if Sport Supply Group’s board or its special committee, as applicable, terminates the merger agreement as a result of accepting a superior proposal, which will also terminate the voting agreement, then Sport Supply Group is obligated to pay ONCAP a termination fee of either $3,000,000 or $6,000,000, depending primarily on whether the proposal was received during the “go-shop” period.

The transaction is subject to the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock of Sport Supply Group. The transaction is not subject to any financing condition; however, ONCAP has the unilateral option to terminate the merger agreement by paying to Sport Supply Group a termination fee of either $6,000,000 or $10,000,000, depending on whether financing is available to ONCAP. The transaction is expected to close in the second or third quarter of this year.

Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin Capital, Inc. is acting as financial advisor to the special committee in connection with the proposed merger.

O’Melveny & Myers LLP is acting as legal counsel to ONCAP.

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is acting as legal counsel to Sport Supply Group.

About Sport Supply Group

Sport Supply Group Inc. is the nation’s leading marketer, manufacturer and distributor of sporting goods and branded team uniforms to the institutional and team sports market. Sport Supply Group markets via 3 million direct catalogs, a 40-person telesales team, more than 200 direct sales professionals, 60 Platinum Resellers and a family of company-controlled websites.

About ONCAP

ONCAP, in partnership with operating company management teams, invests in and builds shareholder value in North American small and mid-size companies that are leaders in their defined market niche and possess meaningful acquisition and organic growth potential. For more information on ONCAP, please visit www.oncap.com.

ONCAP is the mid-market private equity business of Onex, one of North America’s oldest and most successful investment firms committed to acquiring and building high-quality businesses in partnership with talented management teams. Onex manages investment platforms focused on private equity, real estate and credit securities. Over 25 years, Onex has completed more than 260 acquisitions and generated a 29 per cent compound annual return on invested capital. In total, Onex manages approximately $12 billion. For more information on Onex, please visit www.onex.com.

About Andell Holdings

Andell Holdings is a Los Angeles-based private investment firm and family office with global business and investment interests. Founded in 1998, Andell’s current activities are divided between investments in private companies, core holdings in publicly-traded companies, and partnerships with best-in-class investment managers.