RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Sky Sports — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 8 sources
Liverpool's owners have agreed to sell around a third of the club to a consortium including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. <p>The deal will see Bezos participate in an investor group of a syndicate which is led by Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal and until recently a shareholder in Championship club Queens Park Rangers.<!--ScriptorStartFragment--></p><widget id="9"></widget><p>The deal installs some of world's wealthiest individuals as co-owners of the Reds, one of the most successful teams in the history of English football.</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/13566630/liverpool-key-questions-answered-as-jeff-bezos-and-amit-bhatia-line-up-bid-for-strategic-minority-stake-in-club"><strong>Key questions answered on consortium involving Bezos</strong></a></li><li><strong><a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/TransfersSkySportsApp">Transfer Centre LIVE!</a> | <a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/Livblogarticles">Liverpool news & transfers</a>\ud83d\udd34</strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/liverpool-scores-fixtures">Liverpool fixtures & scores</a> | <a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/FreePLHighlightsFirst">FREE Liverpool highlights</a>\u25b6\ufe0f</strong></li><li><strong>Not got Sky? </strong><a href="https://www.sky.com/tv/sports?dcmp=Ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank"><strong>Latest Sky Sports deals</strong></a><strong> or </strong><a href="https://www.nowtv.com/membership/watch-sky-sports/football/premier-league?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank"><strong>stream PL games with no contract</strong></a>\ud83d\udcfa</li></ul><p><!--ScriptorEndFragment--></p><p>Bezos alone has a fortune estimated by Forbes at over \u00a3207bn ($280bn). This marks his first foray into sports ownership, although he will not join Liverpool's board as Bhatia will be vice-chair.</p><p>Their investment in Liverpool values the club somewhere in the region of \u00a36bn ($6-7bn), making it one of the sport's richest-ever deals.</p> <widget id="7"></widget><h3>'Investment will enhance objectives on and off the pitch'</h3><p>FSG says the deal "supports Liverpool's long-term growth ambitions by bringing together experts from across global business, technology, and investment.</p><p>"The consortium partners will work with FSG and the club's leadership team to evaluate opportunities that enhance the club's objectives on and off the pitch</p><p>"FSG continues to retain majority ownership and operational control of Liverpool."</p><p>Mike Gordon, FSG president, said: "Liverpool has always been built by thinking beyond one season and making decisions with the club's long-term interests in mind. That approach continues to attract interest from respected investors and business leaders around the world.</p><p>"As we considered this opportunity, it became clear that Amit and the consortium shared our long-term philosophy and appreciation for what makes Liverpool special.</p><p>"Their experience and perspective will complement the strong foundation already in place, and we look forward to working together."</p><p>Bhatia said the consortium was "proud to be investing in Liverpool".</p><h3>Why the deal represents 'a long-term partnership'</h3> <widget id="8"></widget><p><em>Analysis by Sky Sports News' Vinny O'Connor:</em></p><p>"This is a deal that we knew was going to happen. It values Liverpool at just over $7bn, with this consortium taking a stake of around 30 per cent.</p><p>"It's a minority investment and a long-term partnership. FSG will effectively retain majority ownership and operational control of the football club. So, there's no change to the leadership or the day-to-day operation of the club.</p><p>"Liverpool were not seeking investment out of financial need either. They look for opportunities when it comes to investment in the football club and it's the sheer calibre of the people involved in this consortium, which is why Liverpool have decided that this deal is right for them.</p><p>"There is no new or separate transfer budget associated with this investment at all. Transfer decisions and budget setting will continue to be led by Liverpool's sporting operation and within the financial sustainability model that they have got.</p><p>"So, the transaction does not change Liverpool's transfer strategy or football philosophy in the slightest."</p><h3><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/13566630/liverpool-key-questions-answered-as-jeff-bezos-and-amit-bhatia-line-up-bid-for-strategic-minority-stake-in-club">Key questions answered over consortium</a></h3><p><em>Sky Sports</em> takes a look at some of the key questions surrounding the sale of a minority stake in Liverpool...</p><h4>Who are Bhatia and Bezos?</h4><p>Bhatia is a 46-year-old British Indian entrepreneur who has an investment banking background.</p><p>He currently manages a multi-asset investment firm called AyBe Capital, which invests in a range of diversified sectors including technology, media, property and real estate, consumer retail, and health.</p><p>Bhatia is married to Vanisha Mittal Bhatia, who is the daughter of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal.</p><p>Bezos is one of the most famous businessmen in the world and the owner of e-commerce giant Amazon, which he founded in 1994 out of his Seattle garage.</p><p>His other investments include aerospace company Blue Origin and venture capital firm Nash Holdings, which is the ownership vehicle for The Washington Post.</p><p><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/13566630/liverpool-key-questions-answered-as-jeff-bezos-and-amit-bhatia-line-up-bid-for-strategic-minority-stake-in-club"><em><strong>For more on why FSG want to sell a stake and Liverpool's ownership structure, click here.</strong></em></a></p> <widget id="10"></widget>
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.