Valence CF is preparing to open a new chapter in its history. This Friday, the Spanish club formalized an agreement between its majority shareholder, Meriton Holdings, and the investment group Pitchwise Holdings, which provides for a significant modification of its capital. As part of this operation, the consortium will acquire part of the shares held by Meriton and should, ultimately, own 42% of Valence CF. Above all, the new investors will inject 100 million euros directly into the club’s finances, a sum which will be immediately available to support its development. The agreement is based on a global valuation of 1.25 billion euros, including the men’s and women’s teams, the Mestalla stadium as well as the future Nou Mestalla. However, the amount paid to Meriton for the repurchase of its shares and the precise timetable of the operation were not revealed. Despite this arrival, Meriton Holdings will retain the majority of the capital and Kiat Lim will remain president of the club.
Behind Pitchwise Holdings is a consortium of large family fortunes and institutional investors, led by Ann Rodriguez and Corey Woolfolk. Among the financial backers of this operation are George Roberts and Henry Kravis, co-founders of the investment giant KKR, as well as Penner Sports Group. This arrival comes at a strategic moment for Valencia, which is preparing its installation in the Nou Mestalla, a 70,000-seat venue whose inauguration is announced for next summer. In a statement, Kiat Lim welcomed the start of a “ new era » for the club, highlighting the experience of the new partners in the financing and management of sports organizations. For their part, Ann Rodriguez and Corey Woolfolk showed their ambition to make Valencia a reference in European football, both for men and women. The operation must still receive the necessary regulatory authorizations before being definitively finalized.
