It’s official. After long months of searching, Paris Saint-Germain has finally found the (minor) investor they were looking for. As was announced a few weeks ago, it was the American investment fund Arctos Sports Partners which was chosen. A very juicy deal for the Rouge et Bleu who therefore sold 12.5% of the club’s shares in exchange for a sum estimated at €531 million (the capital club being valued at around €4.25 billion) . Very happy to announce this partnership, PSG revealed the role of its new ally in the press release sent to the media. A partnership which should notably make it possible to help the Rouge et Bleu in their stadium project.
“This partnership will form the basis of PSG’s next phase of global growth and drive the club’s footballing and commercial successes. Arctos’ investment will be used to develop PSG’s operations and support the club’s strategic real estate initiatives, including those related to its stadium and future phases of development of PSG’s training center in Poissy, a suburb of Paris. Arctos will also provide services, expertise and strategic information aimed at helping the club achieve its ambitions. (…) Arctos leverages its deep industry knowledge, operational expertise, data science-driven research and extensive network of relationships to accelerate growth and increase the value of its sports franchise portfolio.”
An investment fund with a strong presence in US sport and in Liverpool
But who really is Arctos Sports Partners? Founded in 2019, the American company is very present in the world of sport, particularly in the United States. It is in fact present in NBA clubs (Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors), ice hockey teams in the NHL (New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins), baseball teams in MLB (Houston Astros, LA Dogers, Boston Red Sox), football clubs (Liverpool, Portland Timbers) and even Formula 1 (Aston Martin). On its website, Arctos Sports Partners presents itself in particular as “long-term investors who do not aspire to take control of the company. Advocates for the growth, attractiveness and sustainability of sports franchises and leagues. Arctos Insights is a provider of applied research and cutting-edge solutions to our clubs and the wider sports ecosystem. We produce unique, data-driven research and content on trends, opportunities and valuations in the sports industry. »
And among the solutions offered, Arctos Sports Partners announces an ability to provide liquidity to a single owner or more comprehensive liquidity solutions for groups of owners. A collaborative approach to meeting the unique goals of franchise owners. Financing local growth through projects generating return on investment and/or optimizing existing assets. And why did you want to enter into the capital of PSG? “They cannot ignore that football is the most popular sport on the planet. Three years before the World Cup, which will stop on American territory, they are offering themselves additional visibility and notoriety, while men’s football remains a minor league in the United States. Finally, it is easier for them to invest in European football than in MLS. The economics of football in Europe are much more liberal.had indicated to Parisian last May Luc Arrondel, sports economist and research director at the CNRS. A win-win deal in short.
