3 weeks ago
Jeff Bezos Joins Consortium Seeking Liverpool FC Stake
Soccer is a sport where two teams try to kick a ball into a goal.
Liverpool FC is one of the most famous soccer teams in England.
Right now, a company called Fenway Sports Group owns the team.
Some very rich people want to buy a piece of the team, like buying a big slice of cake.
A businessman named Amit Bhatia is leading the group of buyers.
Two famous helpers are in the group too: Jeff Bezos, who started Amazon, and Eduardo Saverin, who helped create Facebook.
Buying a piece of a team is called an investment, and the whole team is said to be worth about 4.4 billion pounds, which is a truly enormous amount.
The buyers want around 30 percent of the team, which would leave the current owners in charge.
The deal is not finished yet, so things could still change.
If it goes through, Liverpool could become one of the richest soccer clubs in the world.
Amit Bhatia is leading a consortium that includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin in a bid to buy roughly 30 percent of Liverpool FC.
Fenway Sports Group (FSG), Liverpool's owner since 2010, confirmed the consortium has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment.
The proposed £1.35bn investment could value Liverpool at around £4.4bn ($6bn), nearly 15 times the £300 million FSG paid in 2010.
Bhatia sold his Queens Park Rangers stake last month to comply with English football rules that bar significant ownership in multiple clubs.
Reports differ on the stake: some describe a controlling stake of more than 30 percent, while FSG's statement calls it a strategic minority investment.
- Who
- Amit Bhatia, leading a consortium that also includes Jeff Bezos and Eduardo Saverin; the seller is Fenway Sports Group (FSG), backed in part by Bhatia's father-in-law Lakshmi Mittal.
- What
- A reported £1.35bn bid to buy roughly 30 percent of Liverpool FC, which would value the club at around £4.4bn.
- Where
- Liverpool FC, based in Liverpool, England.
- When
- Talks are advanced but the deal is not yet formally completed; FSG is expected to make an announcement in the coming days once finalised.
- Why
- The consortium wants a minority stake in one of English football's biggest clubs, while FSG could gain fresh capital while retaining control.
News reports
FSG statement and detailed reporting
Size and nature of the stake
News reports
Some headlines report Jeff Bezos is close to sealing a deal for a 'controlling stake' in Liverpool and that the consortium could take over more than 30 percent.
FSG statement and detailed reporting
FSG's official statement describes the interest as 'a strategic minority investment,' and detailed reporting says the deal would leave FSG in control of the club.
Who is fronting the deal
News reports
Headlines frame the story around Bezos nearing an agreement to purchase a stake in Liverpool because he is the biggest name involved.
FSG statement and detailed reporting
Detailed reporting emphasises that Bhatia is leading the group, fronting negotiations, and is the businessman bringing the consortium together.
Key facts
- Club
- Liverpool FC
- Current owner
- Fenway Sports Group (FSG)
- Consortium leader
- Amit Bhatia
- Reported stake
- Around 30 percent
- Reported investment
- About £1.35bn
- Reported club valuation
- £4.4bn ($6bn)
- FSG purchase price (2010)
- About £300 million
- Bezos net worth (Forbes)
- $280bn per one report; $256bn per another
Quotes
FSG spokesperson
Representative of Fenway Sports Group
“"An investment consortium led, managed, and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club."”
republicworld.com
Sources
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