CVC to acquire 14.5% of Six Nations for €450m

Katharine Hidalgo
07 July 2020

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CVC Capital Partners has acquired a 14.5% stake in rugby union tournament organisation Six Nations for €450m, according to reports.

CVC is currently investing from CVC Capital Partners VII, which closed on €15.5bn in June 2017. The fund was 50% deployed as of December 2019, though the firm closed its eighth-generation fund on €21.3bn in July 2020. The funds make investments of €100m-1bn.

French rugby newspaper Midi Olympique reported that the French rugby federation will see €75m from the deal and the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is likely to receive the same amount, an Irish Times report said.

In March 2019, Six Nations received a £500m bid from CVC for a 30% stake, while in February 2020 the Financial Times reported the firm was expected to acquire a 14% stake for £300m.

In April 2020, CVC delayed a £300m investment in the company, according to a report.

CVC has shown interest in various rugby tournaments over the past two years. In December 2018, CVC acquired a 27% shareholding in the Gallagher Premiership's commercial arm, Premiership Rugby, for £220m. The firm also acquired a 28% stake in Guinness Pro14 for approximately £120m.

Six Nations comprises English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Italian and French unions. Based in West Glamorgan, the Six Nations Rugby Union was founded in 1999, though in 1871, England and Scotland played the first rugby union international.