Alec Hogg: European soccer teams: Ultimate trophy asset – Chinese interest growing, SA’s too
By Alec Hogg
Last night brought evidence of spreading Chinese influence when a Hong Kong-based company bought historic French football club Sochaux. A snip at R93m, the electrical components company Tech Pro followed Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin who last month bought 20% of Spanish Champions Atletico Madrid for R530m.
South African entrepreneurs have also been attracted to the sport. Highest profile is Brian Joffe's Bidvest, shirt sponsor of UK premier league team Sunderland, a R25m a year investment. On the ownership side, low profile Capetonian Brian Katzen is a director and at 20%, the second biggest shareholder in Swansea City, while MicroMEGA executive chairman Dave King, with 15%, is the biggest shareholder in Scottish superclub Rangers FC.
There are many better investments, but few can compete with the ultimate trophy asset's combination of passion and ego.
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