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On Saturday, German daily paper Bild reported
that a working group at DFL will recommend to the DFL
supervisory board on Feb. 9 the sale of 15% of a newly created
DFL subsidiary for this purpose for further consideration,
citing Bundesliga sources.
Valuing the business at between 17 and 20 billion euros, the
transaction could bring in 2.5-3 billion euros ($2.70-3.24
billion), Bild said.
The DFL release said that the four-strong group, including
interim managers Axel Hellmann and Oliver Leki, had agreed on
"key guidelines for the further development of German
professional football and a possible strategic partnership at
league level."
The agreement was based on intensive discussions to bring 36
clubs in the two leagues together on the issue, it said.
It stressed it was not about a sale of shares in the Bundesliga
but a temporary minority interest in license revenue from the
media rights.
A spokesperson for DFL, contacted on Saturday about the Bild
report, said there was no new comment beyond the Friday night
press release.
Delays to the process had resulted in the resignation of former
chief executive Donata Hopfen last December.
The rights, according to the Bild report, would be granted for
25 to 30 years, with the 36 clubs retaining control.
Several private equity funds including CVC, Bain Capital, KKR,
EQT, Advent, Blackstone and Bridgepoint came forward last year
to express interest in the deal, in which DFL is advised by
Nomura and Deutsche Bank.
($1 = 0.9265 euros)
(Reporting by Alexander Huebner, writing by Vera Eckert, editing
by Ros Russell)
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