Bezos Consortium Acquires 38% Stake In Liverpool

A consortium including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has acquired almost 40% of Liverpool from the club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG).

The group, 1892 Holdings, initially reported to have purchased about a third of the Premier League club, has actually acquired around 38%, according to BBC’s report.

The agreement also includes an option for the consortium to acquire a controlling stake in Liverpool within the next 12 months, although there is no formal commitment to complete such a deal.

FSG confirmed on Friday that it had reached a “definitive agreement” to sell a “strategic minority investment” to 1892 Holdings.

The consortium, named after the year of Liverpool’s founding, is led by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia and also includes Bezos and billionaire Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin.

Subject to regulatory approval, Bhatia will become Liverpool’s vice-chairman and join the club’s expanded board.

Bhatia, the son-in-law of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, previously served as a director and co-owner of Queens Park Rangers for 18 years before relinquishing his stake in the Championship club last month.

The deal is understood to value Liverpool at between £5 billion and £6 billion, underlining the Premier League club’s huge financial appeal to global investors.

FSG completed its takeover of Liverpool in 2010 and has since overseen a period of significant sporting and commercial growth, including Premier League and Champions League success.

The latest investment represents a major change in the club’s ownership structure, although FSG remains in control following the sale of the strategic minority stake.