Germany’s professional football body Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) has appointed Deutsche Bank to lead the possible sale of a package of media rights, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. According to them, Deutsche Bank will work alongside DFL’s longstanding adviser Nomura Holdings.
One option being discussed is the sale of a stake in a new subsidiary housing its domestic and international broadcasting rights, Bloomberg News reported in June. DFL is considering selling as much as 20% of the unit, which could be valued at about €18 billion, the people said.
Around ten private equity firms are expected to present their strategies for boosting the reach of German football in presentations to DFL as early as September, ahead of possible preliminary offers later in the year, according to the people. Specifically, companies such as Advent International, Blackstone Inc., CVC Capital Partners, EQT AB, and KKR & Co. are among those considering investing.
The Deutsche Fußball Liga is exploring various alternative funding options, including loans and other strategic investment ideas. These deliberations are ongoing and there is no certainty the football body will decide to proceed with a plan for raising new money.
“The internal preparations are complete and we are now starting with the formal process, but there is no pre-determination of what a partnership looks like,” Donata Hopfen, CEO of Deutsche Fußball Liga, told journalists this month.
