Excel President Denies Agency Being Sold To Lagardère Unlimited

Excel Sports Management President Jeff Schwartz today denied a report that the NBA, MLB and golf player representation firm he founded was being sold to Lagardère Unlimited, a division of French conglomerate Lagardère Group. "While we find the interest in us flattering, there's absolutely no truth to Excel Sports being sold to Lagardère or any other company," Schwartz wrote in an e-mail to SportsBusiness Journal. “Our focus remains squarely on providing the highest level of representation to our clients.” Schwartz founded Excel in '02. The firm represents Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter, among others (Liz Mullen, Staff Writer). Sources said that Lagardère SCA Chair & CEO Arnaud Lagardère is "eyeing" Excel Sports Management. Lagardère Unlimited in early '12 announced that it had "acquired Gaylord Sports Management Group, whose clients include" Phil Mickelson, Nick Faldo, and Reds P Bronson Arroyo (N.Y. POST, 4/14).