KKR to Acquire Pan-European Live Entertainment Group Superstruct from Providence Equity Partners
KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announces the acquisition of Superstruct Entertainment (“Superstruct” or the “Company”), from Providence Equity Partners (“Providence”), a premier private equity firm specializing in growth-oriented investments in media, communications, education and technology. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Superstruct is an entrepreneurial and leading European live entertainment group, owning and operating over 80 music festivals across 10 countries in Europe and Australia. Since its establishment in 2017 by Providence, Superstruct has grown organically and through acquisitions into one of the world’s premier live entertainment groups. Today, the company has a well-diversified portfolio across music genres and geographies. The portfolio includes some of Europe’s most popular and high-quality festivals, such as Wacken Open Air, Defqon.1, Parookaville, Sziget, Tinderbox, Boardmasters and Sónar.
Demand for live entertainment has grown significantly over the past decade and is expected to continue to expand, as consumer spending continues to shift from goods towards experience. KKR will support Superstruct in its next phase of development as one of the key players in a highly fragmented sector that continues to grow, expand and professionalise, whilst preserving the creative and cultural DNA of the Company.
As part of the transaction, Providence has an option to invest €250 million into Superstruct.
Philipp Freise, Partner and Co-Head of European Private Equity and Franziska Kayser, Partner at KKR, said: “We are delighted to partner with Roderik Schlösser, James Barton and the team at Superstruct who have established themselves as a leader in delivering unparalleled live music experiences globally. With a robust foundation as a top-tier live entertainment platform, we see significant growth opportunities ahead for Superstruct. Drawing on our strong partnership approach and experience in the digital entertainment and ticketing space, such as BMG, ProSiebenSat1, GetYourGuide, and Trainline, as well as KKR’s global resources and extensive network, we will support the company and its entrepreneurial team to bring their compelling portfolio of live event formats to a wider audience and drive further growth.”
Andrew Tisdale, Senior Managing Director and Daniel Zwicky, Director at Providence Equity Partners, said: “We are incredibly proud of the rapid growth and success Superstruct has achieved since its inception. With Providence’s backing, Superstruct has become a truly exceptional live entertainment company. In particular, we believe the Company’s resilience and emergence from the global pandemic as a stronger business is testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of Roderik Schlösser, James Barton and the impressive management team. We are confident that with KKR’s support, Superstruct will continue to thrive.”
Roderik Schlösser, CEO and James Barton, Chairman of Superstruct Entertainment said: “The founding vision for Superstruct was to create a natural home for successful entrepreneurs, creative visionaries, and business-minded professionals in live entertainment. We wanted to create a network of influence setting the standards for live experiences. Through our development, we are a leader in the professionalization of this industry, enabling our dedicated teams to excel in a collaborative and inspiring environment and create and deliver best-in-class events for millions of fans. We are proud to have secured the backing of KKR, whose expertise and network will strengthen our ability to scale and innovate in the vibrant experiential economy. We would like to thank Andrew Tisdale, Daniel Zwicky and the team at Providence for their outstanding support. Their belief in Superstruct has been fundamental to our success.”
KKR has an extensive European track record and operational experience in developing regional platform businesses in the consumer and TMT sectors, including investments in Trainline, GetYourGuide, Mediawan/Leonine, ProSiebenSat1, GfK and Axel Springer. With its investment in Superstruct, KKR will draw from direct experience working with independent music businesses, including global music company BMG, helping the business deliver its vision of supporting songwriters and treasuring their artistry. KKR is making the investment in Superstruct through its European Fund VI, an $8 billion fund that invests in the growth of leading businesses by providing access to KKR’s extensive network and business building resources. Recent investments from European Fund VI include FGS Global, OHB and Nexeye. Across all investments, KKR is differentiated by its strong partnership approach in working closely with portfolio company management teams through their transformation and growth.
Goldman Sachs is acting as financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis as legal advisor to KKR. Providence is being advised by HSBC and LionTree as joint financial advisors, and White & Case as legal advisor.
About KKR
KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKRs website at www.kkr.com. For additional information about Global Atlantic Financial Group, please visit Global Atlantic Financial Group’s website at www.globalatlantic.com.
About Providence Equity Partners
Providence Equity Partners is a specialist private equity investment firm focused on growth-oriented media, communications, education and technology companies across North America and Europe. Providence combines its partnership approach to investing with deep industry expertise to help management teams build exceptional businesses and generate attractive returns. Since its founding in 1989, Providence has invested over $36 billion across more than 175 private equity portfolio companies. With its headquarters in Providence, RI, the firm also has offices in New York, London, Boston and Atlanta. For more information, please visit www.provequity.com.
About Superstruct Entertainment
Founded in 2017 by James Barton and Roderik Schlosser, Superstruct is a European leader in live entertainment. Its well-diversified portfolio includes some of Europe’s most popular festivals and live event formats, among them Flow, Arenal Sound, Zwarte Cross, elrow, Victorious, Resurrection Fest and Lost Village, alongside established capabilities in brand partnerships, merchandise, staging and travel solutions. To connect with Superstruct, visit www.superstruct.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240621755499/en/
Contacts
KKR:
Alastair Elwen / Mei Futonaka
FGS Global
+44 20 7251 3801
KKR-LON@fgsglobal.com
Providence Equity Partners:
Charlie Chichester / Rory King
FGS Global
+44 20 7251 3801
ProvidenceEquity@fgsglobal.com
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) Development Group – Official Statement10.12.2025 22:06:00 EET | Press release
On 8 September 2025, the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) Development Group convened a high-level meeting in the City of London with representatives from 37 nations, including all G7 members, alongside the European Commission, NATO, European Parliament, Global Banks, and Ratings Agencies to discuss the DSRB. A number of countries have now indicated their intention to begin the formal steps required to bring the DSRB into existence. This phased pattern of engagement is standard in the creation of international financial institutions, which typically begin with a core group of anchor nations and expand as additional members join through charter negotiations and subsequent capital rounds. The DSRB is designed to complement the European Union’s SAFE initiative, offering a broader multilateral platform that brings together NATO and Indo-Pacific nations and mobilises global capital to build the balance-sheet capacity required to finance nations’ defence spending and long-term res
ClickUp 4.0's Craft & Quality is Available Today, Maximizing Human Productivity10.12.2025 20:26:00 EET | Press release
ClickUp today announced the launch of ClickUp 4.0, a groundbreaking release designed to end the chaos of work sprawl and usher in a new era of work. With a bold vision for the convergence of software, people, and AI, ClickUp 4.0 delivers a suite of powerful new features that empower teams to do their best work in one converged workspace. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251210712132/en/ A new era of ClickUp For years, organizations have struggled with fragmented workflows, siloed tools, and the constant friction of context switching. ClickUp 4.0 is the answer: a single, beautifully crafted workspace that brings together tasks, docs, goals, chat, and AI-powered automation. The result is a platform that not only saves time but also sparks creativity and collaboration at every level. “Software is converging - we always knew it would. And it's about time, because work sprawl is the silent killer of productivity," s
United First Partners Serves as Introducing Broker on Mayflower IPO, a UK Listed Acquisition Vehicle and Among the Largest Primary New Issues in London in 2025, Highlighting UFP’s Increasing Presence Across ECM10.12.2025 19:42:00 EET | Press release
United First Partners (“UFP”) is pleased to announce its role as Introducing Broker on Mayflower Acquisition Limited (“Mayflower”), which completed its IPO today, raising USD 500 million. The size of the capital raised places Mayflower among the largest London acquisition vehicles of recent years. The offering represents an important development for UFP’s expanding capital markets platform and reflects the firm’s increasing activity within Equity Capital Markets (ECM). About Mayflower Acquisition Limited Mayflower is a UK Listed Acquisition Vehicle, sponsored by TOMS Capital and JRJ Group, incorporated to unlock exits across a closely-held company universe, including long-held private equity assets and large family-owned businesses. Mayflower’s structure provides guaranteed capital to asset owners, offering a flexible liquidity solution and higher potential for transaction success, and highly aligned economics to investors, with a significant Sponsor commitment of USD 75m. Mayflower wa
Abu Dhabi Launches FIDA Cluster to Shape the Next Generation of Financial and Investment Solutions10.12.2025 19:21:00 EET | Press release
Abu Dhabi has launched the FinTech, Insurance, Digital and Alternative Assets (FIDA) cluster to accelerate the development of next-generation financial and investment solutions and expand the emirate’s role as a global capital hub. Spearheaded by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the cluster is a core pillar of Abu Dhabi’s long-term economic diversification agenda. By 2045, FIDA is projected to contribute an additional USD 15.2 billion to Abu Dhabi’s direct GDP, generate 8,000 skilled jobs and attract at least USD 4.6 billion in investment, cementing the emirate’s position as a destination for innovative and resilient financial systems. FIDA brings together high-growth areas where technology, regulation and capital intersect, including fintech, digital assets, insurance, reinsurance and alternative investments. It aims to position Abu Dhabi as a preferred jurisdiction for global firms seeking to design, test and scale n
Xsolla Celebrates a Week of Industry Programming at The Game Awards With a New Brand Launch, Day of the Devs Participation, and GamesBeat Hollywood & Games 2025 Partnership10.12.2025 19:00:00 EET | Press release
Xsolla, a leading global video game commerce company that helps developers launch, grow, and monetize their games, today announced a unified lineup of programming during The Game Awards week in Los Angeles. Together, these initiatives showcase Xsolla’s commitment to bringing the community and ecosystem together to support creators, strengthen the relationship between games and their players, and enable games to reach more markets around the world. The week of activities includes its partnership with GamesBeat Hollywood & Games 2025, a featured role during Day of the Devs: The Game Awards Digital Showcase, Games for Love’s The Game Gala, and the unveiling of Xsolla’s refreshed brand identity. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251210688609/en/ Berkley Egenes – Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Xsolla The brand refresh is the centerpiece of Xsolla’s presence throughout the week, reflecting Xsolla’s future-forward
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom