UK - Patron completes £42.5m takeover of Powerleague

The transaction was financed entirely with equity from Patron Fund III, with third party debt used to refinance the existing debt facilities. In addition to the amount invested on acquisition, Patron has underwritten additional equity to double the business over the next three to five years with an aggressive roll-out of new sites.

Patron is backing the existing management team, led by chief executive Sean Tracey. The private equity firm has, however, appointed former commercial director at Epsorta Jonathan First to Powerleague's board, along with Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys as non-executive director.

Powerleague operates a portfolio of 44 sites across the UK, including the 22 pitch Old Trafford Soccerdome, the largest 5-a-side football centre in the world. The company provides sports, fitness and leisure facilities to over 130,000 people each week, with over 500 divisions and 4,000 league teams across the country.

In March 2008, Patron Capital Partners invested £23.1m into the business in exchange for a 29% stake, becoming the largest shareholder. Vendors included the CEO and chairman of the company. There was no debt involved in the deal.

• Tweet  
• Facebook  
• LinkedIn  
• Google plus  
• Send to  

• Topics
• Buyouts
• UK / Ireland