Learfield Acquired By Comcast-Backed Private Investment Firm Atairos

Learfield was acquired yesterday by N.Y.-based private investment firm Atairos, and while terms of the deal were not disclosed, the price tag for Learfield was "expected to be between" $1.2-$1.3B. Atairos is "independent private investment firm that launched earlier this year" with capital from Comcast. The company "reportedly beat out a trio of other contenders including Fort Worth-based TPG Capital," which "made an offer" of $1.2B for Learfield. Providence Equity was the previous owner of Learfield and "acquired a majority stake in the company" in September '13. Moelis & Company "acted as financial adviser and Weil, Gotshal & Manges acted as legal adviser to Providence Equity in the transaction." For Atairos, Deutsche Bank "acted as financial adviser and Davis Polk & Wardwell and Latham & Watkins acted as legal advisers" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/8).