Endeavor Group Holdings has sold Frieze, the company behind the influential art magazine and several international art fairs, to a new company formed by former Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel. The deal, valued at nearly $200 million, is expected to close by the third quarter of this year. Frieze's current leadership, including CEO Simon Fox, will remain in place. The sale follows Endeavor's full privatization by Silver Lake and marks the end of a long-rumored ownership transition. Notably, two tennis tournaments initially bundled in the negotiations—Miami Open and Madrid Open—are not included in this deal.
The acquisition matters because it signals a new chapter for one of the contemporary art world's most prominent brands, which has expanded significantly under Endeavor's ownership since 2016, launching fairs in Los Angeles and Seoul and acquiring Expo Chicago and the Armory Show in 2023. Ari Emanuel's continued involvement suggests a strategic focus on building a global events platform around Frieze, potentially reshaping the art fair landscape. The deal also underscores the growing convergence of entertainment, media, and the art market, as major investors like Apollo Global Management and RedBird Capital Partners back the venture.