Hollywood talent agency WME and its backer Silver Lake have drafted former ESPN programming boss, Mark Shapiro, to advise on their bid for IMG Worldwide, several sources said.
Shapiro was ESPN’s executive vice president of programming and production and isn’t the only former ESPNer helping to steer a bid for the hot talent shop owned by Forstmann, Little & Co.
Reuters reported last week that Steve Bornstein, who just quit NFL Network, is on board with the Peter Chernin/CVC Capital spearheading its bid for IMG.
Shapiro was considered a potential global CEO of CNN and also sold Dick Clark Productions to Guggenheim Partners for $370 million. Shapiro’s office declined comment.
The rival bidders include Russia’s Gazprom Media Fund; KKR and New Mountain Capital and separately, private equity firm Carlyle.
One source said the bids are all in the $2.5 billion range though offers could reach $2.7 billion if the competition heats up. A winner is expected to be named before the end of the year, sources say.
Certain members of the current IMG management team including CEO Mike Dolan, will reap a payout of between $5 million and $10 million if a deal is completed, sources told The Post.
The bidders for IMG are in meetings with unit heads from fashion, golf and tennis this week.