IMG, With A Pricetag Around $2B, Narrows List Of Suitors Down To 10

Bankers for IMG have "cut to 10 the list of suitors" for the talent agency, according to Atkinson & Kosman of the N.Y. POST. Sources said that IMG, set to sell for around $2B, "initially attracted about two dozen bidders ... before the list was cut for a second round." Those "crossing the first hurdle" include: CAA-TPG; WME-Silver Lake; KKR and New Mountain Capital; Bain Capital; CVC Capital, the private equity firm joined with the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Bahrain’s Mumtalakat. Carlyle also is "moving forward, as is media investor Peter Chernin." Those "thought to be interested but not submitting bids" included Guggenheim Partners, Colony Capital, Thomas H. Lee Partners and Providence Equity (N.Y. POST, 10/8).