April 2 – Championship leaders Ipswich Town Football Club have taken a £100 million+ investment from US-based private equity firm, Bright Path Sports Partners.
The investment, reportedly up to £105 million secures a stake of about 40% stake in the club, which described the new money as an “exciting step which will further secure the Club’s future”.
Bright Path Sports will be represented on the Ipswich board by co-founders Jake Zahnow and Phillip Ciano. Their investment is comprised of several limited partners, of which Sam Simon, the founder of Simon Group Holdings and Simon Sports, is the primary funder.
US investment fund ORG, who bought the club from Marcus Evans in April 2021 in a deal reportedly worth about £40 million, remains the club’s majority shareholder.
Ed Schwartz, co-founder and Principal of ORG, said: “When we purchased Ipswich Town in 2021, we did so with the initial aim of restoring the Club to the Championship and becoming competitive at this level, with the plan always including bringing a partner on board when the time was right.
“The Club’s progress means we feel that time is now and we are excited to welcome Bright Path Sports. Alongside the continued day-to-day leadership of Mark Ashton, who we are delighted has further committed his future to the Club, we look forward to Bright Path bringing significant value to Ipswich Town in the coming years.”
Ipswich have held an automatic promotion slot to the Premier League for most of the season, currently topping the table after an added time goal to secure a 2-1 win at the weekend over rivals Southampton and going a point ahead of Leeds and two ahead of Leicester City with six games to play.
Mark Ashton, Ipswich CEO, said: “We are excited to welcome Bright Path Sports on what is another landmark day in the Club’s history.
“This is a day that further secures the long-term future of the Football Club and gives us the means to move the Club forward as we benefit…
Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/04/02/us-investor-bright-path-sports-pays-100m-buy-ipswich-chase-premier-league-spot/
Author : Paul Nicholson
Publish date : 2024-04-02 04:53:08
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