Newcastle United FC: group of investors led by Saudi Arabia's sovereign fund acquires the club

An investment group led by the Public Investment Fund (PIF, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund) and including PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media (two UK-based private equity funds), has completed the acquisition of 100% of Newcastle United FC (Premier League), announced the club on 07/10/2021. The transaction is valued at around £300m (€353m).

The consortium had previously tried to acquire Newcastle United before withdrawing in July 2020 in the face of resistance linked to the very nature of the buyer - a state through its sovereign wealth fund (the PIF, i.e. Saudi Arabia, controls 80% of the group of investors according to the English media) - and its involvement in the piracy of audiovisual rights via the channel beoutQ (see "further reading"). On 19/11/2020, Newcastle had even confirmed that it had initiated proceedings against the Premier League with regard to the latter's conduct regarding the potential takeover of the club.

"The Premier League, Newcastle United Football Club and St James Holdings Limited (the commercial company which controls the club) have today…