Key Takeaways
- • The family offices of KKR co-founders Henry Kravis and George Roberts have joined a US consortium, Pitchwise Holdings, acquiring a 42% stake in Valencia CF at a club valuation of €1.25bn, according to the Financial Times.
- • Pitchwise includes Penner Sports Group, owner of the NFL's Denver Broncos, and has agreed to inject €100m of new capital into the club.
- • The reported €1.25bn enterprise valuation includes debt tied to the Nou Mestalla stadium project, including €322m of financing arranged last year.
- • The deal extends a pattern of US private capital entering Spanish football, following Apollo's majority stake in Atlético Madrid and Sixth Street's partnerships with Real Madrid and Barcelona.
- • Valencia, controlled by Peter Lim for more than a decade, is seeking to strengthen finances and complete its 70,000-seat stadium after not qualifying for European competition since 2019.
Summary
The family offices of KKR co-founders Henry Kravis and George Roberts have joined a US investment consortium acquiring a 42% stake in Spanish football club Valencia CF, in a transaction valuing the club at €1.25bn, according to a report by the Financial Times. The consortium, Pitchwise Holdings, also includes Penner Sports Group, owner of the NFL's Denver Broncos, and has agreed to inject €100m of new capital into the club.
Valencia has been controlled by Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim for more than a decade and has been seeking additional shareholders since 2025. The reported valuation includes debt associated with the Nou Mestalla, a planned 70,000-seat stadium that could host matches during the 2030 FIFA World Cup, including €322m of financing arranged last year. The existing Mestalla stadium occupies a city-centre site earmarked for redevelopment following the move.
The transaction reflects continued interest from institutional investors and family offices in sports franchises, commercial rights and stadium infrastructure. It follows Apollo's acquisition of a majority stake in Atlético Madrid in March at a valuation of approximately €2.5bn, Sixth Street's investment partnerships with Real Madrid and Barcelona, and CVC Capital Partners' approximately €2bn investment in La Liga's commercial operations in 2021.
Pitchwise is led by Ann Rodriguez, a former chief operating officer of the WNBA, and Corey Woolfolk, a former professional footballer and biotechnology investor. Penner Sports Group is controlled by Walmart chairman Greg Penner and his wife Carrie, and also holds an investment in the Colorado Rockies baseball franchise.
The investment comes as Valencia seeks to strengthen its finances and complete its stadium development after a prolonged period of weaker sporting performance. The club has not qualified for European competition since 2019 and was 19th in La Liga at the time of the transaction.
Valencia has been controlled by Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim for more than a decade and has been seeking additional shareholders since 2025. The reported valuation includes debt associated with the Nou Mestalla, a planned 70,000-seat stadium that could host matches during the 2030 FIFA World Cup, including €322m of financing arranged last year. The existing Mestalla stadium occupies a city-centre site earmarked for redevelopment following the move.
The transaction reflects continued interest from institutional investors and family offices in sports franchises, commercial rights and stadium infrastructure. It follows Apollo's acquisition of a majority stake in Atlético Madrid in March at a valuation of approximately €2.5bn, Sixth Street's investment partnerships with Real Madrid and Barcelona, and CVC Capital Partners' approximately €2bn investment in La Liga's commercial operations in 2021.
Pitchwise is led by Ann Rodriguez, a former chief operating officer of the WNBA, and Corey Woolfolk, a former professional footballer and biotechnology investor. Penner Sports Group is controlled by Walmart chairman Greg Penner and his wife Carrie, and also holds an investment in the Colorado Rockies baseball franchise.
The investment comes as Valencia seeks to strengthen its finances and complete its stadium development after a prolonged period of weaker sporting performance. The club has not qualified for European competition since 2019 and was 19th in La Liga at the time of the transaction.
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