04 Apr 2022 | 10:29 am | 1 min. read
Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has advised a U.S. private equity consortium, including inter alia Pacific Media Group Limited, on its investment into 1. FC Kaiserslautern GmbH & Co. KGaA (1. FC Kaiserslautern) – one of the most successful football clubs in Germany
Parts of the private equity consortium have experience investing in European soccer clubs with Pacific Media Group Limited the current (co-)owner of the clubs FC Den Bosch, Esbjerg FB, AS Nancy, KV Oostende, FC Thun and FC Barnsley as well as former owner of OGC Nice.
This follows a trend of international investors increasingly investing in clubs through "multi-club ownership" - the multiple participation of companies or private individuals in limited companies in the sports sector. A larger network of clubs can provide synergies both in sporting terms (e.g. scouting network) and in economic terms (e.g. cost efficiency, knowledge management). The investment in 1. FC Kaiserslautern is now the consortium's market entry into German professional soccer.
The Pinsent Masons team was led by Dr Markus J. Friedl and Daniel J. Erd – who has excellent contacts across the sports investor market and established the relationship with the consortium.
Commenting on the deal, Daniel J. Erd said: "We are very pleased to have supported the consortium on this important transaction and its entry in the German market.
“With this complex transaction, we were able to draw upon our deep expertise and skills in the sports law practice.” Dr Markus J Friedl adds.
Pinsent Masons has a long tradition in sports law recently advising on the IPO of Spielvereinigung Unterhaching. Internationally, the firm also advises several clubs and investors. In addition to providing legal support to numerous clubs from the Premier League as well as the Scottish Premiership on various transactions, investments and legal player transfer, the firm also assisted in the investment of Canadian investor into FC Bologna (Serie A) as well as of an American investor into the FC Burnley (Premier League).
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