Club Deportivo La Equidad announced that a U.S.-based investment group led by Al Tylis and Sam Porter has completed its acquisition of the Colombian soccer club. Included in the group are actors Eva Longoria, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, as well as model Kate Upton, Giants P Justin Verlander, former NBA F Shawn Marion and author Scott Galloway. The ownership group is committed to investing in other areas, including in the club's academy and its women's team (Club Deportivo La Equidad). Tylis, Porter, Longoria, McElhenney and Reynolds have worked together on an FX/Disney+ docuseries around Liga MX side Club Necaxa, a club in which all five own stake (SBJ).
Meanwhile, U.S. private equity firm Presidio Investors has "completed a deal to buy" Italian Serie A club Hellas Verona from longtime owner Maurizio Setti. Financial details "were not disclosed," but a source said the deal valued the club at $123-$134M, "including debts and some variable components." Setti, who had been at the helm for 13 years and was advised by Deutsche Bank in the transaction, "will remain at the club as senior adviser for football operations." Former AS Roma CEO Italo Zanzi will take over as executive chairman. Texas-based Presidio Investors is the latest American group to buy into Italian soccer clubs -- Inter Milan, AC Milan, Roma, Parma, Fiorentina, Venezia and Atalanta are all controlled by U.S. owners (REUTERS, 1/15).
