Fulwell 73, the production company behind "The Kardashians," is set to merge with SpringHill Entertainment, the company founded by NBA star LeBron James.

• Fulwell 73 is merging with SpringHill, and Maverick Carter, co-founder of SpringHill, will become co-CEO of the combined company alongside Leo Pearlman, managing partner of Fulwell.
• While SpringHill has primarily focused on sports-related content, Fulwell has concentrated on broader entertainment, such as producing "The Kardashians" and "Carpool Karaoke."
• The group of investors includes Fenway Sports Group, RedBird Capital Partners, UC Investments, Nike, and Epic Games.

Fulwell 73, the British production company behind popular shows like "The Kardashians" and "Carpool Karaoke," has agreed to a merger of equals with SpringHill Co., the entertainment business owned by Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.

The deal was initiated by SpringHill co-founder Maverick Carter and Fulwell 73 co-founder Ben Winston, who have been friends for a decade after veteran TV producer Tom Werner introduced them, according to an interview with CNBC. Carter will be co-CEO of the merged company alongside Leo Pearlman, Fulwell's managing partner.

SpringHill has primarily focused on sports content, producing "Starting 5," a 10-part sports docuseries that follows James and other NBA players throughout the 2023-2024 season, and "Hustle," a 2022 sports comedy-drama movie starring Adam Sandler. The deal will allow James' company to increase its scale and strike larger deals with media companies and streaming platforms, Carter stated.

"Carter stated that Fulwell produces unscripted shows that they have always wished to do, but lacked the capability to do so, globally. However, Carter added that jealousy is no longer an issue."

Winston stated that Carter and he first discussed merging about 13 months ago in a parking lot after dinner, and that he has always admired SpringHill's ability to blend branding and content. The combined companies will use SpringHill's New York-based brand consultancy firm Robot to create new business opportunities based on their series and films, Winston added.

Winston stated that SpringHill's approach to running an entertainment company in 2024 is a smart way to blend commerce and content.

The combined companies will receive funding from investors including Fenway Sports Group, RedBird Capital Partners, UC Investments, Nike, Epic Games, Main Street Advisors, and Eldridge Industries. The companies will use the $40 million investment to fuel growth initiatives, as stated in a press release.