Are you wondering who owns ONE Championship?
In this article, we’ll explore and answer who owns ONE Championship, who are the shareholders of ONE Championship, ONE Group Holding’s funding rounds, how much ONE Championship is worth, and who the CEO of ONE Championship is.
Contents
Who Owns ONE Championship?
ONE Championship is owned by Group ONE Holdings Pte. Ltd.
Group ONE Holdings is the parent company of ONE Championship and is a Private Company Limited by Shares – meaning it has shareholders with limited liability.
Group ONE Holdings was founded on November 10, 2010 (Wednesday) in Singapore by Chatri Sityodtong (founder) and Hua Fung Teh (co-founder), and ONE Championship was founded on July 14, 2011.
As Group ONE Holdings is privately held, the exact share capital allocation of the company is unknown.
However, the founder, chairman, and CEO of GOH and ONE Championship, Chatri Sityodtong, is likely to be the majority shareholder and owner.
Other shareholders, and therefore owners of Group ONE Holdings and ONE Championship are those who’ve invested in the company (listed below).
Shareholders of ONE Championship include:
- GIC – GIC is Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund.
- Temasek Holdings – Global investment company based in Singapore.
- Peak XV Partners – Private investment firm.
- Oconiq Capital – Private equity firm.
- Heliconia Capital Management – Investment firm focusing on growth-oriented companies.
- Mission Holdings – Strategic investment management company.
- Sequoia Capital – Venture capital firm known for early-stage investments in tech giants.
- Cercano Management – Investment management firm.
- Greenoaks Capital – Global investment firm with a long-term approach.
- Overlake Capital – Multi-strategy investment firm.
- Vulcan Capital – Investment arm of Vulcan Inc.
- Guggenheim Investments – Global investment and advisory firm.
- Qatar Investment Authority – Sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar.
ONE Championship (Group ONE Holdings) Funding Rounds
Since its founding, Group ONE Holdings has completed 5 funding rounds and secured a total of $486 million.
The investment amounts in funding rounds prior to 2018 were undisclosed, but the total capital raised by Series C (in 2018) is known to be $100 million.
Here are ONE Championship’s funding rounds:
2016 (Series B) – Undisclosed funding by Heliconia Capital Management.
2017 (Series C) – Undisclosed funding by Sequoia Capital, Mission Holdings, Heliconia Capital Management, and Peak XV Partners. This brought the total capital raised to US$100 million.
2018 (Series D) – $166m funded by Peak XV Partners, Greenoaks Capital, Temasek Holdings, and Sequoia Capital.
2020 – $70m funded by existing institutional investors and one new institutional investor (unknown).
2022 (Series E) – $150m funded by Guggenheim Investments and Qatar Investment Authority at a post-money valuation of US$1.35 billion in December 2022.
Other owners/shareholders of ONE Championship are likely to be:
- Hua Fung Teh – Co-Founder and Group President of Group ONE Holdings
- Victor Cui – Co-Founder of ONE Championship
- Saurabh Kumar Mittal – Vice President of ONE Championship (held 5,832,156 total shares on 31st December 2017)
Victor Cui left ONE Championship in January 2022 but remains a significant shareholder.
Share Allocation
While ONE Championship’s share allocation is unknown, with a minimum of $486 million in total funding and a $1.35 billion valuation (as of 2022), roughly 36% of ONE Championship is owned by its investment firms.
The remaining 64% is likely divided between Chatri Sityodtong and the senior executives and board of directors at ONE Championship.
How Much Is ONE Championship Worth?
ONE Championship operates as a private company, meaning it doesn’t possess a public market capitalization.
Therefore, ONE Championship’s worth, or value, is determined by the amount a potential buyer is prepared to offer or the price at which investors agree to contribute funds.
In its latest funding rounds in December 2022, ONE Championship raised $150 million at a post-money valuation of US$1.35 billion.
But what makes ONE Championship worth $1.35 billion?
Several factors contribute to ONE Championship’s valuation:
- Investor Confidence: The continual influx of funds from high-profile investors indicates strong confidence in the company’s future prospects.
- Market Position: ONE Championship’s dominant presence in the Asian mixed martial arts market – a region with a vast population and growing middle class.
- Diversification: The company’s expansion into other areas of entertainment such as esports and media production suggests a strategy to diversify revenue streams.
- Brand Value: ONE Championship has successfully built a strong brand synonymous with martial arts and Asian values, enhancing its intangible assets.
- Global Expansion: ONE Championship’s expansion into the U.S. market marks a strategic move to broaden its fan base, increase revenues, and enhance its global footprint.
Who Is the CEO of ONE Championship?
The CEO of ONE Championship is Chatri Sityodtong. He is also the founder and chairman.
Under his leadership, ONE Championship has risen to become the largest global sports media property in Asian history.
It’s also the second-largest MMA promotion in the world, behind the UFC.
Background
Chatri Sityodtong hails from Thailand and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Before ONE Championship, he garnered experience in the business world as a hedge fund manager and is a self-made entrepreneur.
His life story, from facing severe hardships during the Asian financial crisis to rising to success, has been a source of inspiration for many.
Vision for ONE Championship
Chatri Sityodtong’s vision for ONE Championship extends beyond the typical confines of sports promotion.
He often emphasizes the importance of Asian values and wants the organization to inspire people globally.
For Chatri, ONE Championship is a platform showcasing the true essence of martial arts – integrity, humility, honor, respect, courage, discipline, and compassion.
Leadership Style
Known for his charismatic leadership style, Sityodtong is heavily involved in the fighter selection process and the promotion of events.
He maintains an active social media presence, often engaging with fans and fighters alike.
His approach to leadership focuses on building a strong organizational culture valuing continuous improvement and teamwork.
Philanthropy
Chatri Sityodtong is also known for his philanthropic efforts. He’s been involved in various charitable activities, often providing support to underprivileged communities.
His belief in giving back to society aligns with ONE Championship’s values, further solidifying the organization’s reputation as a force for positive change.
The Bottom Line
So, ‘Who owns ONE Championship?’
ONE Championship is owned by Group ONE Holdings Pte. Ltd. GOH is the parent company and is owned by Chatri Sityodtong (founder) and Hua Fung Teh (co-founder).
Chatri Sityodtong is likely to be the majority shareholder as he’s the founder, chairman, and CEO.
Other owners of ONE Championship include the investment firms that have provided funds to GOH through various funding rounds since 2016.
Some of these investment firms include Sequoia Capital, Temasek Holdings, Greenoaks Capital, Mission Holdings, Guggenheim Investments, and the Qatar Investment Authority.
ONE Championship’s share allocation is unknown as it’s a private company, but with a minimum of $486 million in total funding and a $1.35 billion valuation, roughly 36% of ONE Championship is owned by the above investment firms.
The remaining 64% is likely divided between Chatri Sityodtong and the senior executives and board of directors at ONE Championship.
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