MANCHESTER: City Football Group, parent company of English Premier League champions Manchester City FC, has concluded a major investment deal with tech investment giants Silver Lake.
United States-based Silver Lake has signed a definitive agreement to make a $500 million equity investment, equivalent to just over 10% of the company’s post-investment value.
The deal values City Football Group at $4.8 billion.
Silver Lake becomes the second major partner in the group. Around 12% of CFG equity remains held by a consortium of Chinese institutional investors led by China’s leading media and entertainment conglomerate CMC Inc.
Commenting on the latest investment, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chairman of City Football Group, said: “Silver Lake is a global leader in technology investing, and we are delighted by both the validation that their investment in CFG represents, and the opportunities for further growth that their partnership brings.
“We and Silver Lake share the strong belief in the opportunities being presented by the convergence of entertainment, sports and technology and the resulting ability for CFG to generate long-term growth and new revenue streams globally.”
“We welcome the opportunity to work with Egon Durban (managing partner and managing director) and the Silver Lake team and its network to facilitate the global growth and deepening of CFG club fan-bases and the development of our business as a whole.”
No existing CFG shareholders are selling equity as a result of this primary capital investment.
Durban will join the board of the City Football Group holding company, which as a result increases from eight to nine members.
Al Mubarak has indicated that the proceeds from the investment will be used by City Football Group to fund international business growth opportunities (emphasis ours) and develop further CFG technology and infrastructure assets.
It bears noting Indian Super League club Mumbai City FC has been in extended talks with CFG for a stake sale and and final sign off is all that is awaited with the club reportedly valued at Rs 2.5 billion.
City Football Group has shareholdings in seven clubs around the world including Japan’s Yokohama Marinos, Uruguay’s Club Atletico Torque, Spain’s Girona, New York City FC and Melbourne City Football Club, as well as owning the English side. Most recently, in February, the group bought into Sichuan Jiuniu FC, in China League Two.
Related Reports
CFG buyout of Mumbai City FC nears closure: Report
Valuation agreed, City investment in Mumbai City set to close
