Latest headlines from the private equity sector this week
Apollo Global Management is currently in advanced discussions to acquire a significant or potentially majority stake in Spanish football club Atlético Madrid. The deal, if finalised, would value the club at around €2.5 billion to €3 billion (approximately $2.9 billion to $3.48 billion).
Initially, Apollo's involvement was centred on financing Atlético Madrid’s adjacent real estate project, the "Parque Metropolitano," a sports and leisure development next to the club’s stadium, with an estimated cost of €800 million ($927 million). The plan was to raise about €600 million ($695 million) from private investors. However, the discussions have since evolved, with Apollo now considering acquiring shares in Atlético HoldCo, the holding company that controls the football club itself.
If Apollo acquires a majority stake, it would gain control over the club. Key shareholders such as CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín and president Enrique Cerezo are reportedly reluctant to sell their current shares. Instead, they are open to issuing new equity, which would dilute existing holdings but allow Apollo to take part ownership.
The "Ciudad del Deporte" (City of Sports) project, for which Apollo's investment talks are directly tied, is identified with the "Parque Metropolitano" real estate and leisure development next to the stadium. The injection of capital from Apollo could accelerate this project by providing the necessary private funding, thereby expanding Atlético Madrid’s sporting and commercial infrastructure.
It is important to note that no final agreement has been announced yet, and the talks remain ongoing as of mid-July 2025.
Meanwhile, another private equity-backed company, CFC, a cyber insurance group, is exploring strategic options. One of the options includes a London IPO that could value CFC at more than £5bn. The company, currently owned by EQT and Vitruvian Partners, was valued at just over £2.5bn at the time of acquisition in 2021. A listing is not expected before the second half of 2026.
Elsewhere, Froneri International, a UK-based ice cream group, is close to securing a €3.9bn debt package. The deal would likely be structured as a capital increase. The company is also considering other listing venues, including the US, mirroring previous capital raises involving Wanda, Quantum Pacific Group, and Ares.
In the world of sports and finance, these developments underscore the ongoing trend of private equity investment in sports clubs and businesses, seeking to capitalise on their growth potential. As these deals progress, we will continue to monitor and report on the latest developments.
[1]: [Source 1] [2]: [Source 2] [4]: [Source 4] [5]: [Source 5]
- The potential acquisition of a majority stake in Spanish football club Atlético Madrid by Apollo Global Management could lead to debt financing for the deal, according to the latest reports.
- Apollo, initially involved in financing Atlético Madrid's real estate project, is now considering acquiring shares in Atlético HoldCo, the club's holding company, which could result in an increase in capital.
- Another private equity-backed company, CFC, is exploring strategic options, one of which includes a London IPO that could potentially dilute the existing holdings of its current investors, EQT and Vitruvian Partners.
- Froneri International, a UK-based ice cream group, is close to securing a significant debt package, and the deal could be structured as a capital increase, showing the ongoing trend of private equity investment in various businesses.
