Dallas Sports Franchise Investor Arctos Inks $1.4B Deal To Be Acquired by KKR

Founded in 2019, Arctos Partners has stakes in teams across the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NHL, Major League Soccer, and beyond.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Dallas-based Arctos Partners, the largest institutional investor in pro sports franchises, has signed an agreement to be acquired by KKR & Co. Inc., a leading global investment firm based in New York. The deal is valued at $1.4 billion in initial consideration, including equity subject to vesting through 2033, plus up to an additional $550 million in future equity tied to both KKR share price and business-specific performance targets and vesting through 2031.

Why it matters

The acquisition of Arctos by KKR represents a significant consolidation in the sports franchise investment market, as Arctos has become a major player in providing strategic capital to sports teams and asset management firms across the major U.S. sports leagues. The deal will allow Arctos to leverage KKR's global resources and capabilities to further expand its platform and deepen its relationships with leagues, teams, and investors.

The details

Founded in 2019, Arctos manages approximately $15 billion in assets and provides tailored growth and liquidity solutions to sports franchises as well as alternative asset managers. The company has stakes in teams spanning the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS. In 2024, Arctos closed its Sports Partners Fund II with over $4.1 billion in capital commitments. As part of the acquisition, Arctos' managing partners Ian Charles and Doc O'Connor will join KKR as partners, and Arctos' full team and operations will become part of KKR's new investing business, KKR Solutions.

  • Arctos was founded in 2019.
  • In 2024, Arctos closed its Sports Partners Fund II with over $4.1 billion in capital commitments.
  • The acquisition deal was announced on February 5, 2026.

The players

Arctos Partners

A Dallas-based firm that is the largest institutional investor in professional sports franchise stakes, providing tailored growth and liquidity solutions to sports teams and asset managers.

KKR & Co. Inc.

A leading global investment firm based in New York with offices around the world, which has agreed to acquire Arctos Partners in a $1.4 billion deal.

Ian Charles

Co-founder and managing partner of Arctos Partners, who will join KKR as a partner as part of the acquisition.

Doc O'Connor

Co-founder and managing partner of Arctos Partners, who will join KKR as a partner as part of the acquisition.

Joe Bae and Scott Nuttall

Co-CEOs of KKR, who stated that the acquisition of Arctos advances KKR's strategy to grow its platform by building and acquiring complementary businesses in large addressable markets.

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What they’re saying

“KKR is a preeminent global investment firm and ideally positioned to help us achieve the vision we have for Arctos. We see tremendous opportunity to better serve the sports industry and the sponsor community, but the key to that unlock is a partnership that will provide access to strategic, financial and operational resources to accelerate our existing businesses.”

— Ian Charles and Doc O'Connor, Arctos co-founders and managing partners (Dallas Innovates)

“Arctos has created a distinctive and scaled platform across sports investing and capital solutions for asset managers, and the team has extensive experience in secondaries—three areas where we see significant long-term opportunity. The team has complementary strengths, strong cultural alignment, and an entrepreneurial approach that fits well with KKR. We look forward to working together to build a platform that expands opportunities across the entire KKR ecosystem.”

— Joe Bae and Scott Nuttall, KKR Co-CEOs (Dallas Innovates)

What’s next

The acquisition of Arctos by KKR is expected to close subject to regulatory and specified sports league approvals, as well as customary closing conditions.

The takeaway

The deal between Arctos and KKR highlights the growing importance of institutional investment in the sports franchise market, as teams and leagues seek strategic capital and expertise to drive growth and innovation. The combined platform will give Arctos greater access to resources and capabilities to better serve the sports industry, while also expanding KKR's presence in this rapidly evolving sector.