Excel Sports Management Acquires Nolan Partners

Commerce Bank acquires Nolan & Associates (via Middle Market Transactions, Inc.)

June 30, 2026

Financial Services

Commerce Bank announced and later completed the acquisition of Nolan & Associates, a St. Louis boutique investment banking firm serving middle-market clients. The deal expands Commerce Bank’s investment banking capabilities and provides business owners and private equity firms with expanded strategic and financial advisory services across the business lifecycle.

Goldman Sachs Alternatives Acquires Minority Stake in Excel Sports Management

November 1, 2025

Professional Services

Goldman Sachs Alternatives agreed to acquire a stake in Excel Sports Management, a New York-based sports agency, to support its next phase of international growth. The partnership will back expansion of Excel’s global presence across sports, media, and sponsorship, including investments in technology and data-driven capabilities. Shamrock Capital, which previously held a minority stake since 2020, will exit as part of the transaction; terms were not disclosed and the deal is subject to regulatory approvals.

Excel Services Acquires IEPSON Consulting; Pelican Energy Partners Provides Equity to Back Growth

February 20, 2024

Engineering Services

Excel Services Corporation acquired IEPSON Consulting Enterprises, Inc. (effective Aug. 1, 2023) to expand its licensing, regulatory and engineering services to the nuclear industry. Pelican Energy Partners provided equity financing to Excel and will be a passive equity holder to support Excel's growth and future acquisitions while Excel's leadership remains in place.

Excel Sports Management Acquires Game Seven

June 16, 2022

Marketing & Advertising

Excel Sports Management has acquired creative and experiential marketing agency Game Seven to bolster its Brand Marketing division and expand capabilities across sports and entertainment marketing. Game Seven's founders will continue to lead the agency and retain a minority stake while the agency will operate as part of Excel's Brand Marketing team from its Brooklyn office.

Olympus Partners Acquires Excel Fitness Holdings (Planet Fitness Franchisee)

April 29, 2022

Restaurants & Hospitality

Stamford-based private equity firm Olympus Partners has acquired Excel Fitness Holdings, a leading Planet Fitness franchisee headquartered in Austin, Texas. Excel operates over 90 Planet Fitness locations across several U.S. markets (serving ~750,000 members) and the deal represents a PE buyout from prior sponsor Altamont Capital Partners to support further club development and geographic expansion.

Shamrock Capital Invests in Excel Sports Management

December 15, 2020

Media & Entertainment

Excel Sports Management received a strategic minority growth investment from Shamrock Capital to support the agency’s expansion in sports, media and brand marketing. Terms were not disclosed; Excel’s leadership (Jeff Schwartz, Casey Close and Mark Steinberg) will continue to run the agency and enlisted LionTree Advisors (financial) and Katten Muchin Rosenman (legal) on the transaction.