Meet Michael Klein, the dealmaker behind Hollywood’s newest investment banking venture
- Michael Klein is the investment banker behind a new sports and media investment bank.
- His firm, M. Klein & Co., teamed up with Creative Artists Agency to form CAA Evolution.
- The new firm will seek to advise on sports sales and big media mergers, WSJ reported.
The Hollywood talent agency known for representing stars such as Tom Hanks, Shonda Rhimes, and Steve Spielberg is expanding into Wall Street dealmaking.
CAA Evolution is the result of a collaboration between Creative Artists Agency and a Wall Street advisory firm. The new company is the result of a partnership between CAA’s merchant bank Evolution Media Capital and financial advisory M. Klein & Co. According to a press release, it will advise media companies and sports teams on mergers and acquisitions as well as other dealmaking opportunities.
According to the press release, the two firms have previously collaborated on sports and media deals and have advised on more than $1.5 trillion in transactions.
The Wall Street Journal broke the news of the new investment bank on Monday, saying CAA Evolution could compete with boutique banks like Raine Group and LionTree. LionTree, led by Aryeh Bourkoff, has advised on everything from WarnerMedia’s partnership with Discovery to Amazon’s acquisition of Hollywood studio MGM.
Michael Klein is the CAA Evolution’s Wall Street face. From his deal to lead CF First Boston to his role in merging the PGA Tour with Saudi-backed LIV Golf, here’s everything you need to know about Klein.
