MILAN: Serie A giants Inter Milan announced recently that China’s LionRock Capital has acquired 31.05% shares in the club, making it its new minority shareholder.
Established in January 2011, LionRock Capital is an experienced private equity investor in Asia’s fast-growing consumer sector, providing strategic, financial, and corporate governance support for growth stage companies.
LionRock is supported by some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs and family organisations, who also serve as valuable resources for their investee companies and investment partners. The firm has replaced the now former owner Erick Thohir in a deal worth €150 million ($171 million) according to media reports in Italy.
It is also connected with its investment in Inter’s majority shareholder and one of China’s largest sports media companies, Suning Sports which reportedly bought the club’s shares worth €270 million ($308 million) in 2016.
Inter Milan President Steven Zhang said: “In 2018, thanks to the efforts of the entire staff, of our management, coaching team and players, we have achieved strong results in sports performance, commercial growth, and marketing and media innovations. This gives us full confidence for the future development of the club and has led to the interest of LionRock Capital. In addition to this partnership, we also look forward to establishing further global sporting and commercial relationships. Together with our partners, we continue working on our prime objective – to make Inter a top club worldwide on and off the pitch and to provide the best possible experience for millions of Inter fans.”
“We are very optimistic about the business development prospects of all sports-related activities and with over 110 years of history and global influence in the football area, Inter Milan has exciting future development potential. LionRock Capital will fully support Inter’s key objective to make the Club one of the world’s top football clubs both on and off the pitch,” LionRock Capital founder and MD Daniel Kar Keung Tseung added.
