Cain International and Ares Management Credit funds have together entered exclusivity to buy a significant stake in The Hundred franchise Trent Rockets. After a competitive bidding process, Cain and Ares won the auction as the preferred private investors and will now enter an eight-week exclusivity period to finalize legal agreements.
Cain is a partnership between Jonathan Goldstein and Eldridge Industries that manages over $17 billion in AUM with key investments in lifestyle and entertainment, including Aman, The St. James, Delano, Maslow’s Group, Prezzo, and Swingers. And Goldstein also serves on the board of Chelsea FC. The deal marks Cain’s first direct investment in a professional sports club.
Ares Management is a leading alternative investment manager with $484 billion in assets and brings extensive experience investing in sports, media and entertainment opportunities.
This deal expands Ares’ existing portfolio, which includes investments in global professional sports teams, including Inter Miami CF, McLaren Racing Atlético de Madrid, and others.
KEY QUOTES:
“Sport has an unparalleled ability to unite communities, create lasting memories, and drive economic impact. At Cain, we see Trent Rockets as an exciting opportunity to support a club with a strong heritage while elevating its commercial and experiential offerings. We are pleased to collaborate with Ares on this investment and look forward to working with the team to build on its success, invest in its future, and deepen its connection with fans and the wider Nottingham region.”
– Jonathan Goldstein, CEO of Cain International
“We are excited by the opportunity to work with Cain to acquire Trent Rockets, reflecting a shared commitment to supporting high-value experiential assets that integrate entertainment, community engagement, and commercial growth prospects. Given Ares’ notable track record in global sports investing, we look forward to providing both flexible capital and strategic insights to support the team’s long-term success.”
– Mark Affolter, Co-Head of Ares’ Sports, Media & Entertainment strategy
“Cain International’s expertise in helping businesses in recreational and leisure sectors to grow, and their focus on delivering long-term benefits, made them an ideal partner for us.”
“The Hundred has been an undoubted success in Nottingham – welcoming a diverse audience, attracting some of the world’s best players and delivering an experience for supporters that is unrivaled on these shores.
“This investment, alongside those in other competing teams, will both help to safeguard the future of our 18-county system and elevate The Hundred to ensure it is able to thrive as one of the finest competitions of its kind worldwide.”
– Nottinghamshire Chair Andy Hunt
