PE funds are increasingly attracted by football because of untapped value levers and opportunities (e.g., forecasted broadcasting rights increase, stadium development). Another lucrative source of revenue is the transfer of players, transfer fees have increased on average over the last few years.
One of the main on-going project of Serie A League is the creation of a Media Company to which transfer TV rights in order to build a more modern platform for revenue generation and to enhance the League full potential. This strategic vision would also be completed with the participation in the company of PE funds with ca. 10% shares.
The project was not completed in 2021 with CVC, Advent and FSI, but other funds have recently reported their interest, such as Searchlight and a pool of funds composed by Carlyle, Apax and Three Hills.
Similar projects were realized in Spain and France in 2021 and 2022 with CVC acquiring a 8.2% share of the Media Company of LaLiga for ca. € 2.0B and a 13.0% share of the Media Company of Ligue1 for ca. € 1.5B respectively. The same is happening in Bundesliga.
In 2018, Elliott Management has taken over control of AC Milan, selling it in 2022 to RedBird Capital Partners for ca. €1.2B.
In 2021, Alex Knaster, founder of Pamplona Capital, acquired the majority of Pisa Calcio with the ex-footballer Gianluca Vialli and M. Re.
In 2019, Rocco Commisso, CEO and Chairman of Mediacom Communication Corp., bought ACF Fiorentina for ca. €170M.
In 2021, Robert Platek Global head of credit of MSD Capital, acquired Spezia Calcio for ca. €24M.
In 2019, the Sent Entertainment, led by the Hartono brothers, acquired 100% of Como 1907.
In 2021, 777 partners acquired 99.9% Genoa CFC for ca. €150M.
In 2020, the Krause Group took control of 90% of Parma Calcio 1913 for ca. €100M.
In 2022, Stephen Pagliuca, co-chairman of Bain Capital, took control of 47.5% of Atalanta BC for ca. €200M.
In 2020, Dan and Ryan Friedkin, owners of The Friedkin Group, acquired 86.6% of AS Roma for ca. $591M.
In 2022, Manchester City owner Mansour Al Nahyan, with his City Football Group, acquired 80% of Palermo Football Club for ca. €13M.
