An experienced, diverse group of leaders today announced their investment and backing of the newly formed The SpringHill Company, a global consumer and entertainment brand focused on empowerment. The investors are led by Guggenheim Investments, UC Investments, SISTER and SC.Holdings. The newly formed board is led by Chairman LeBron James and CEO Maverick Carter and includes Serena Williams, Elisabeth Murdoch, Marc Rowan, Paul Wachter, Michael Rapino, B.Scott Minerd and Tom Werner.
The SpringHill Company unites three companies previously built by James and Carter: UNINTERRUPTED, the athlete empowerment media and consumer product company, SpringHill Entertainment, the premium scripted and unscripted film and television production company and The Robot Company, the brand and culture agency. Together, The SpringHill Company has a dynamic and diverse team with the capabilities and vision to scale into a truly unique consumer and entertainment company built to be the defining brand for a new generation.“
I’ve always wanted to use the platform of basketball to empower those around me. Now I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to build a company that empowers creators, consumers, and everything it touches. The SpringHill Company defines empowerment. You see it in the team we’ve built, the stories we tell, and the community our work will serve,” said LeBron James.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing UNINTERRUPTED, SpringHill Entertainment and The Robot Company under one roof with a singular mission to empower,” said CEO Maverick Carter. “Together with our new partners and incredible team, we are building a consumer and entertainment business that’s committed to diversity, that’s unafraid to stand up for what we believe in and that’s resonating with our community.”
The organization and its mission to empower is seeing tremendous success with a number of important projects, products and partners. Original content properties including The Shop: Uninterrupted, Kneading Dough and More Than An Athlete are impacting culture and scaling as franchises with diversified opportunities for growth. The SpringHill Company has seen continued momentum in the premium content space with projects like Graduate Together, Space Jam: A New Legacy, The Wall, Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker, I Promise, and a host of critically-acclaimed titles created with partners including HBO, Showtime, Netflix, Warner Brothers, ESPN+, Fox Sports and DAZN and a recently inked expansive scripted television deal with Disney’s ABC Studios. UNINTERRUPTED’s growing e-commerce line includes a private label apparel collection and unique collaborations with brands like Nike and Bristol Studios as well as organizations like Athletes 4 Impact on the current athlete-led Love is UNINTERRUPTED collaboration with Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird supporting PRIDE. Through innovative campaigns with brands like JPMorgan Chase, American Express, Walmart and Lyft, The SpringHill Company is bringing unique value to partners by connecting them to culture and entertainment.
"Right from our very first conversation, it’s been clear that LeBron, Maverick and the SpringHill team share the values on which SISTER has been formed,” said Elisabeth Murdoch, Executive Chairman, SISTER. “Their commitment to creative empowerment is something that we cherish above all else and makes them a natural partner in our quest for authentic voices with something important to say.”
“We are honored to have the privilege to partner with LeBron and Maverick alongside other investors in a leadership role to provide capital for The SpringHill Company,” said Scott Minerd, Chairman of Guggenheim Investments. “Guggenheim values the opportunity to invest in The SpringHill Company on behalf of our clients and support critical content that is not only highly desirable but aimed at making the world a better place.”
“As entrepreneurs, LeBron James and Maverick Carter have a proven track record that not only inspires investors, but entire communities,” said Jagdeep Singh Bachher, UC Investments’ Chief Investment Officer. “As long-term investors, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to partner with them in The SpringHill Company, now and in the future. They’ve created a platform that speaks to America, the world’s most diverse nation, and we are confident that their success will empower a new generation of entrepreneurs to follow their lead. UC Investments hopes to continue to make significant investments in such exciting opportunities.”
The SpringHill Company’s leadership includes Chief Executive Officer Maverick Carter, Chief Content Officer Jamal Henderson, Chief Operating Officer Devin Johnson, Chief Financial Officer Louisa Chen, Chief Marketing Officer Paul Rivera, Chief Creative Officer Ricardo Viramontes, General Counsel and General Manager Jennifer Lewis, Chief People and Culture Officer Camille Booth and Executive Vice President, Strategy and Operations Matthew Trunzo.
About Guggenheim Investments
Guggenheim Investments is the global asset management and investment advisory division of Guggenheim Partners, with more than $213 billion¹ in total assets across fixed income, equity, and alternative strategies. We focus on the return and risk needs of insurance companies, corporate and public pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations, consultants, wealth managers, and high-net-worth investors. Our 295+ investment professionals perform rigorous research to understand market trends and identify undervalued opportunities in areas that are often complex and underfollowed. This approach to investment management has enabled us to deliver innovative strategies providing diversification opportunities and attractive long-term results.
Guggenheim Investments assets under management are as of 3.31.2020. The assets include leverage of $12.9bn for assets under management. Guggenheim Investments represents the following affiliated investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners, LLC: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, Security Investors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Corporate Funding, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited, GS GAMMA Advisors, LLC, and Guggenheim Partners India Management.
About UC Investments
UC Investments, also known as The Office of the Chief Investment Officer of the Regents, manages the University of California's $130 billion endowment, retirement and working capital assets. The University of California is the nation's largest public research university system, which includes 10 campuses, five medical centers, and three national laboratories. The UC Investments portfolio provides benefits to current and retired UC employees, and supports the university's mission of education, research, and public service.
About SISTER
SISTER was co-founded by Elisabeth Murdoch, Stacey Snider and Jane Featherstone to develop, produce and invest in visionary storytellers. SISTER builds upon Featherstone’s Emmy Award-winning scripted indie, Sister Pictures, as a new global entity with offices in London and LA. It unites the expertise of the founders alongside a team of renowned creatives to make breakout stories for multiple platforms. Adding to the success of a slate of hit shows including Chernobyl (Sky/HBO) and Giri/Haji (BBC/ Netflix), SISTER is currently producing adaptations of Naomi Alderman’s literary phenomenon The Power for Amazon Studios and Adam Kay’s international best seller, This is Going to Hurt for the BBC. Additionally, SISTER is making Landscapers for Sky and HBO in association with South of the River Pictures. This is the first project from the independent scripted production company set up by Olivia Colman, Landscapers screenwriter Ed Sinclair and co-founder, Tom Carver in which SISTER has taken a minority stake. SISTER has also made investments in new creator-led businesses including Campside Media, a podcast studio built around three award-winning journalists, and AWA Studios, a first-of-its-kind comic book and digital media publisher.
About SC.Holdings
SC.Holdings is a private equity company founded by entrepreneur/investor Jason Stein and Eastbridge Group, a family holding company with $1.5B AUM. The principals of SC are investors and operators with global experience in sports and entertainment, multi-unit retail, commercial real estate, technology, food and beverage.