SYDNEY (Reuters) – US private equity firm Silver Lake is in positive talks to get minority interest in the commercial activity of New Zealand Rugby, home of the world-famous All Blacks team, a source familiar with the talks reported Reuters.
The potential deal for a share of “up to 15%” of Rugby World Cup winners, the source said, was wanting not to be identified as the talks are private.
The talks with Silver Lake were first reported by Sky News, which said the deal for a 15% bet would add about $ 2 billion worth to the team. Sky said a contract has not been finalized, but could be announced as early as this month.
Investing in one of the world’s most iconic sports brands would expand the giant’s $ 75 billion portfolio of buying giant companies, most of them tech and sports centers and teams, according to its website.
Representatives from Silver Lake declined to comment.
Charlotte McLauchlan, New Zealand’s Director of Rugby Communications, told Reuters that the group had “found a way to look at what an investment partner for New Zealand Rugby would look like – which is a very exciting sight for us. ”
She declined to comment further.
Last year New Zealand Rugby launched a review of how the game in rugby country is run and funded, saying it could include private opportunity investments.
In 2019, the California-based company received a 10% stake in City Football Group (CFG), which owns major English players Manchester City Manchester and teams in the United States, Australia and China. .
Reporting by Paulina Duran in Sydney. Further statement by Praveen Menon in Wellington; Edit by