Case Study: i9 Sports achieves employee ownership liquidity and flexibility with CSG Partners ESOP advisory

i9 Sports rewards nearly 100 employee owners with CSG Partners

i9 Sports, a leading recreational sports provider founded by Frank Fiume, faced a challenge. The founder sought financial liquidity and a reduced operational role without selling the company to a third party, desiring instead to reward his loyal employees. He engaged ESOP advisor CSG Partners to explore an employee stock ownership plan as a solution.

CSG Partners implemented a leveraged ESOP transaction for i9 Sports, which provided the founder with liquidity while allowing him to retain some equity and a board role. The ESOP made employees owners and the company continued to flourish. Just one year later, a private equity acquisition resulted in a windfall for nearly 100 employee owners, with one receiving over five times her annual salary. The vendor, CSG Partners, facilitated this flexible and highly rewarding outcome.

i9 Sports