The consortium set to buy into Liverpool could end up owning the whole club, according to a report from The Athletic.
1892 Holdings, led by Amit Bhatia, has agreed to buy a 38% stake in the club from Fenway Sports Group (FSG). The Athletic reports that the agreement is structured so the group could increase its holding to around 69%, which would hand it control, or potentially complete a 100% buyout.
The deal is subject to approval from the Independent Football Regulator (IFR), and the options to increase the stake only come into play once the regulator has ratified the group as a part-owner.
Who is behind 1892 Holdings?
Jeff Bezos’ K5 Global sports fund will initially be the largest investor in 1892 Holdings. The group also involves Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin.
The Athletic revealed in August that the group had agreed to buy 38 per cent of the club, after early indications that the commitment was a smaller figure. It also reported then that the consortium could end up with a majority interest within 12 months. Subject to IFR approval, the investment is worth more than £2billion.
A takeover in stages?
Bhatia was a senior ownership figure at Queens Park Rangers for almost 18 years. He was installed as Liverpool’s vice-chairman in the summer and has been a regular presence at Anfield, as well as attending away games.
The Athletic suggests the structure of the deal could point towards a takeover in stages. That would give Bhatia’s group time to get to grips with the challenges of running one of English football’s biggest clubs before taking on more responsibility.
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