CAA Sports last week "finalized its acquisition" of Atlanta-based licensing agency Fermata, and the companies "will make it official with an announcement this week," according to Michael Smith of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. CAA Sports co-Head Michael Levine said that Fermata will retain its HQ, its company name and its leadership "while operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of CAA Sports." Fermata in '12 "opened its doors" when co-Founders Derek Eiler, Scott Bouyack, Chris Prindiville and Kit Walsh left CLC "to go into business together." Fermata "has picked up clients both in the college space and outside of it," with "early wins on the college side" including the licensing business at Georgia, Kentucky, Miami and Oregon. Fermata also has signed a pair of EPL clubs, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, "for their North American licensing rights." The agency is now a "formidable competitor against industry leader CLC, a division of IMG College," and the background of Fermata’s co-founders "has only intensified the rivalry as they go after new and repeat business." Eiler said of CAA, "With their global resources, global reach and depth of talent, it feels like they can help Fermata. Acquisition was never really in our pathway, but when we met the guys from CAA, it just felt right." Eiler, Bouyack, Prindiville and Walsh "have each signed long-term employee agreements to continue in their current roles at Fermata" (
SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/27 issue).
