A Jeff Bezos-backed consortium has acquired close to 40% of Liverpool from Fenway Sports Group (FSG). While early reports suggested 1892 Holdings had taken about a third of the club, the stake is actually around 38%, as first reported by The Athletic.
The agreement includes an option for the group to pursue a controlling stake within the next 12 months, though there is no formal obligation to do so. FSG said it has entered a definitive agreement to sell a strategic minority interest to 1892 Holdings.
Named for Liverpool’s founding year, 1892 Holdings is led by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia and also includes Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin. Bhatia will become Liverpool’s vice-chairman and join an expanded board, pending regulatory approval. The son-in-law of Lakshmi Mittal, Bhatia previously spent 18 years as a director and co-owner of Queens Park Rangers before stepping away last month.
The deal is understood to value Liverpool between £5bn and £6bn.