BC Partners Still In Contention For Inter With Suning Examining New Offer, Italian Media Report

BC Partners remain hopeful of buying Inter from Suning, according to a report in the Italian media today.

The London-based private equity fund’s chances of taking control of the Nerazzurri seemed over when owners Suning leaked earlier this week that talks had ended.

Tuttosport’s print edition, however, have reported that the reality is quite different, with Suning’s board of directors expected to carefully examine BC Partners’ new offer, thought to be close to €800 million, at their next meeting.

While evaluating the proposal, Suning will have to take into consideration their collaboration with Alibaba-owned company Taobao, who recently took effective control of Inter as part of a pledge made between Suning and Alibaba.

BC Partners are only one of the groups reportedly interested in buying Inter, with numerous other private equity funds linked in recent weeks, such as EQT, Ares Management, Arctos Sports Partners, Fortress and Mubadala.

The Zhang family appeared to have ruled BC Partners out of the running on Monday via the media, but it seems there is time yet for the parties to agree a deal after all.