The NFL owners approved buying a 3% stake in its largest retail licensee for $95 million, according to Sports Business Journal, and MLB made an investment for about half that amount of equity at a similar valuation. The NFL Players Association has invested $5 million for a much smaller stake.

The most recent investment values Fanatics at $3.2 billion, essentially the same valuation as the $3.1 valuation Fanatics received in 2013 when it had revenues of $800 million in a $170 million round that was purchased by China online e-commerce giant Alibaba and Temesek, the investment arm of the Singapore government. ... Log in to view full article.