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#Post#: 119397--------------------------------------------------
Saudi Arabia interested in investing in four Premiership clubs.
DIR By: DazzaS
Date: January 31, 2024, 1:17 pm
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HTML https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2024/01/31/saudi-arabia-buy-leicester-gloucester-northampton-newcastle/
Saudi Arabia in talks to buy stake in Leicester, Gloucester,
Northampton and Newcastle rugby clubs
Stadium naming rights and a rugby academy in Saudi Arabia are on
the cards if a deal goes through
Charles Richardson, RUGBY REPORTER31 January 2024
Saudi Arabian investors are in discussions to invest millions
into four of England’s top-flight clubs, in what could be one of
the Premiership’s most seismic moments since the dawn of
professionalism.
Telegraph Sport can reveal that associates of the Saudi
sovereign Public Investment Fund (PIF), which took an 80 per
cent stake of the Premier League’s Newcastle United in 2021,
have held discussions with Gloucester, Leicester Tigers,
Northampton Saints and Newcastle Falcons about proposed
seven-figure investments.
It is understood that the group are seeking control of stadium
naming rights and the establishment of a rugby academy in Saudi
Arabia as part of any potential stake in the four clubs, an
investment which could be worth as much as a combined £60
million to the clubs involved.
Senior Premiership executives are thought to be aware of the
discussions but the organisation told Telegraph Sport that the
league could not comment on individual club matters.
Even without the spectre of last season – when three Premiership
clubs went out of business in the space of 10 months – such an
investment would come as a major boost to the English rugby
landscape. But, in the context of last year, such large
financial backing, albeit with ethical considerations, would
represent one of the most remarkable moments since the
Premiership introduced professionalism in 1995. It would involve
four established clubs sacrificing a further chunk of their
revenues following the CVC Capital Partners Investment in 2019.
‘Investors see room for growth in the clubs’
Telegraph Sport understands that Gloucester were initially the
sole representatives in negotiations but that the investment
group did not view the West Country club alone as an attractive
enough proposition. Newcastle, alongside Leicester and
Northampton – two of the league’s best supported clubs – were
subsequently brought to the negotiating table to add greater
value.
Discussions continue to progress, even if the pace has slowed in
recent weeks. It is understood that one of the four clubs has
established a direct dialogue with the Saudi group and is
exploring the possibility of individual investment should a
joint venture fall through.
European Professional Club Rugby regulations state that no
single body can own more than a 20 per cent stake in more than
one club so, if the group were to finalise an investment in a
plurality of Premiership clubs, it would have to be a share of
19 per cent or less per club. Furthermore, the Rugby Football
Union’s regulations regarding club ownership state that any
change of 10 per cent or less does not require consent from the
governing body.
A source with knowledge of the talks said: “Conversations
between potential future investors in the sport regularly take
place. Investors see the headroom for growth in the clubs.” A
Gloucester source added that the club did not comment on
commercial or investment matters while Newcastle and Leicester
declined to comment. Northampton have also been approached by
Telegraph Sport.
In 2021, PIF acquired an 80 per cent stake in Newcastle United
in a deal worth around £300 million with former owner Mike
Ashley. Two other members of the consortium, the Reuben Brothers
and Amanda Staveley, both took a 10 per cent share. The takeover
process lasted for 18 months and faced interventions from the
governments of both the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.
Amnesty International were among the bodies to oppose the
attempt, saying that it was part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to
sportswash their human-rights record. Two years after the
takeover of Newcastle United, the Premier League changed its
ownership rules to disqualify potential owners and directors who
had committed human-rights abuses.
#Post#: 119398--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saudi Arabia interested in investing in four Premiership
clubs.
DIR By: Brown Bottle
Date: January 31, 2024, 1:23 pm
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Well the PIF make Steve Lansdown look like a bloke with a spare
tenner in his back pocket.
#Post#: 119399--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saudi Arabia interested in investing in four Premiership
clubs.
DIR By: Quinky
Date: January 31, 2024, 1:46 pm
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Would one single consortium be allowed to have a controlling
stake in more than one club? Surely there would be a conflict of
interest?
#Post#: 119400--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saudi Arabia interested in investing in four Premiership
clubs.
DIR By: championes
Date: January 31, 2024, 1:59 pm
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Well that’ll make the pride match a little awkward.
Or indeed for anyone reporting on rugby, knowing the club is
part owned by a regime who sanction a journalist being abducted
and dismembered alive with a bone saw on British soil.
Yay.
#Post#: 119401--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saudi Arabia interested in investing in four Premiership
clubs.
DIR By: Brown Bottle
Date: January 31, 2024, 2:00 pm
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--- Quote from: Quinky link ---
>
> Would one single consortium be allowed to have a controlling
stake in more than one club? Surely there would be a conflict of
interest?
>
--- End Quote ---
No - the restrictions are in the article.
#Post#: 119403--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saudi Arabia interested in investing in four Premiership
clubs.
DIR By: RodneyRegis
Date: January 31, 2024, 2:20 pm
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--- Quote from: championes link ---
>
> Well that’ll make the pride match a little awkward.
>
> Or indeed for anyone reporting on rugby, knowing the club is
part owned by a regime who sanction a journalist being abducted
and dismembered alive with a bone saw on British soil.
>
> Yay.
>
--- End Quote ---
I was struggling to think of a positive.
#Post#: 119404--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saudi Arabia interested in investing in four Premiership
clubs.
DIR By: Marsile
Date: January 31, 2024, 2:42 pm
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--- Quote from: championes link ---
>
> Well that’ll make the pride match a little awkward.
>
> Or indeed for anyone reporting on rugby, knowing the club is
part owned by a regime who sanction a journalist being abducted
and dismembered alive with a bone saw on British soil.
>
> Yay.
>
--- End Quote ---
British soil? Dismembered alive?
#Post#: 119406--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saudi Arabia interested in investing in four Premiership
clubs.
DIR By: Brown Bottle
Date: January 31, 2024, 2:57 pm
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Oh dear.
#Post#: 119408--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saudi Arabia interested in investing in four Premiership
clubs.
DIR By: Yareet
Date: January 31, 2024, 4:03 pm
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--- Quote from: Brown Bottle link ---
>
> No - the restrictions are in the article.
>
--- End Quote ---
Tbf, the article states that European rugby has a maximum
ownership of multiple clubs but not what the PRL rules are.
#Post#: 119409--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saudi Arabia interested in investing in four Premiership
clubs.
DIR By: SiB
Date: January 31, 2024, 4:41 pm
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I can’t see the Sharia Stoop name taking off
Or the annual Jihad pride fixture
But hey if we can but the best players in Europe and open the
South Shard stand with 32k capacity who cares
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