Suning are expected to buy out LionRock Capital’s shares at Inter before selling the club, according to an Italian newspaper report today.
Corriere dello Sport’s print edition said the Nerazzurri’s owners will take LionRock Capital’s 31.05% stake before leaving altogether, in a very similar exit strategy to the one adopted by former owner Erick Thohir nearly five years ago.
When the Indonesian tycoon was selling Inter to Suning in the summer of 2016, he bought Massimo Moratti’s remaining 30% stake in the club before going on to sell a majority stake in the club to the Chinese conglomerate.
In early 2019, LionRock Capital obtained Thohir’s shares for €167.7 million and from next month, Suning have the right to buy LionRock Capital’s stake in the club.
Suning’s first steps to buy LionRock Capital’s stake in the club could be imminent and it is difficult to think that the acquisition of these shares will not be followed by the sale of a majority stake in Inter.
British investment firm BC Partners are strongly linked with a deal to become Inter’s new owners, with reports elsewhere this morning suggesting they could form a partnership with fellow private equity fund Ares to buy into the club.
