(Bloomberg) — U.S. billionaire Dan Friedkin is nearing the purchase of Italian soccer club AS Roma SpA from its main shareholder James Pallotta, Il Messaggero reported.
The deal could be finalized by Dec. 31 and the value of the team has been set at 780 million euros ($872 million), Messaggero said on Sunday, without citing anyone. Last month AS Roma SPV LLC, which controls the club, said there were preliminary talks with potential investors for a sale.
Friedkin, who is being advised by JPMorgan Chase & Co., will be forced to plan a takeover of AS Roma at a price of 0.62 euros per share under Italian takeover rules, Messaggero said. The soccer club’s shares rose Friday in Milan trading by nearly 9% to 0.66 euros, giving the company a market value of 413.2 million euros. Roma has 272 million euros of debt, Messaggero said.
Pallotta, the chairman of Boston-based hedge fund Raptor Capital Management, may keep a minority stake in the club and could remain as board director, according to the newspaper. Friedkin is the chief executive of Friedkin Group, the owner of Gulf States Toyota, an independent U.S. vehicle distributor.
Roma’s team, which plays in Italy’s main Serie A league, is currently ranked in fourth place just behind its main local competitor Lazio. The Agnelli family’s Juventus Football Club SpA and Inter Milan are at the top.
