PSG
PSG aiming to agree a deal for new investors; interest from US-based group reported
Three separate investment groups are candidates to acquire between 5% and 15% of the club, which would mean striking a deal worth up to €600 million.
PSG, in line with the change outlined by their owners, will start a new era during the coming months. In addition to the end of the galacticos project, directing the transfer market towards young players and reinforcing the collective sense of the squad, the club will open a new sports city this year, located in Yvelines. Added to these sporting reinforcements, the club’s top executives will also look for new investors who want to acquire a small stake with the aim of providing a significant cash injection into the institution governed by Qatar.
During the World Cup, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, president of PSG, confirmed that he was looking for new investors which, under no circumstances, meant the end of the investment scheme that Qatar Sports Investment started back in 2011. During this opening stage, there are already three investment funds that have expressed interest in acquiring a small percentage, with Arctos Sports Partners, from Dallas, Texas, being the latest group to join the list.
AS has been made aware that this American investment fund, whose assets amount to €7 billion, hold shares in the Fenway Sports Group, the company who own Liverpool. The group sent representatives to the Parc des Princes on April 30, for the 3-1 defeat against Lorient, to position themselves in the bid to be one of PSG’s minority shareholders.
The percentage of shares that the new investor would hold would range between 5 and 15%. The current value of the club is €4 billion, so the amount of the operation could be close to €200 million. Twelve years ago, Qatar acquired the club for €70 million, and has since propelled the club to unprecedented economic growth in both French and European football. Sources consulted by AS reiterate that opening the door to new investors does not mean, under any circumstances, that QSI is going to stop injecting money into the current leader of Ligue 1.
One of the few doubts raised by the sale of shares is that new investors have wondered if a minority investment in a club that currently does not own its stadium is profitable. PSG presented itself as a candidate to acquire the Stade France from the French state, owner of the stadium, and they launched a tender to take ownership of the emblematic venue where the French National team plays its matches. Negotiations continue and the new era, as announced by Al Khelaïfi, has already begun.