Atalanta have sold a majority stake to American investors.
It has been announced as a 'Partnership' between club owners, the Percassi family, and a group of investors led by Stephen Pagliuca, Managing Partner and Co-owner of the NBA team the Boston Celtics and Co-Chairman of Bain Capital.
“The agreement provides for the entry of the new investors with a 55% total stake in the share capital of La Dea Srl (“La Dea"). The Percassi family will retain a 45% stake. La Dea is the sub-holding of the Percassi family, holder of about 86% of the share capital of Atalanta.
“The Percassi family will remain the single largest shareholder and the governance will reflect an equal partnership: Antonio and Luca Percassi will retain their respective roles of Chairman and CEO of the Club, while Stephen Pagliuca will be appointed Co-Chairman of the Club."
Antonio Percassi also said: “My family and I, have taken this opportunity to partner with a group who shares our vision to continue the growth and success of our team, choosing to remain committed to the Club that over the last ten years has delivered exceptional results, that perhaps no one would have expected from a so called 'provinciale'.
“Atalanta, in whose ranks I played in the '60s, is and will remain in my heart as it is in the heart of thousands of fans who support it. Great challenges await us and my conviction is that the Partnership with such high profile investors will speed up our path of growth."
Percassi will remain as chairman, his son Luca Percassi as chief executive officer and Italian-American Stephen Pagliuca comes in as co-chairman.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Percassi family and to support the future development of the Club," said Pagliuca.
“Atalanta and Boston Celtics share the common sports values: teamwork and an extraordinary relationship with the fans and the community. We believe that the Percassi family has built very solid foundations on which to work together to strengthen the brand globally, with the aim of encouraging further diversification and growth of revenues, allowing the club to become more and more competitive on Italian and international scene."
