Italian Journalist Marco Bellinazzo: “Suning Want €900 Million For Inter, Updates Before End Of February”

Inter’s owners Suning would want around €900 million to sell the club, according to a leading Italian football finance expert.

The Nerazzurri are known to be in a precarious financial position at present, due to revenue losses incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic and investment restrictions placed on Suning by the Chinese government.

Suning are thought to be seeking a financial partner who can invest capital into the club quickly, but some reports have suggested they could leave Inter altogether and hand control to fund such as BC Partners.

“Suning’s asking price to sell Inter is more or less €900 million,” Il Sole 24 Ore reporter Marco Bellinzzo explained in an Instagram live chat with Italian news outlet FCInter1908.it today.

“BC Partners offered no more than €700-750 million, part of which would go to refinancing loans and part of which would be equity, although this is still being negotiated.

“But at the moment there is absolute silence regarding these talks.”

Bellinazzo also wished to highlight something to keep in mind regarding Inter’s minority shareholders LionRock Capital, who could play an important role in Suning’s talks with BC Partners.

He then clarified for viewers, as he has already done on previous occasions, that while Suning could end up selling Inter should an attractive offer arrive, it is not currently their plan.

“There is an important deadline that few remember,” Bellinazzo said.

“There is a clause which means Suning can buy back LionRock’s 31% stake in Inter before the end of February.

“Obviously, LionRock would never cause problems for Suning but it is clear that Suning, with this deadline approaching, have expressed their intention to sell this 31% to another investor.

“BC Partners want more than just a 31% stake though, and so they asked if it would be possible to buy control of Inter altogether.

“That’s when they began their due diligence on the Nerazzurri’s accounts.”

Bellinazzo then went on to explain when supporters could expect further updates and discussed how the changes in China have affected things at Inter.

“There may be some news by the end of February, as there is that clause concerning LionRock,” he suggested.

“The issue of whether it’s a minority or majority stake is a bogus problem for funds, though, because the important thing for them is to earn money.

“The problem is that the changes in China are very rapid, very strong and somewhat unpredictable.

“The Chinese government has now reformulated the strategies of Chinese companies and Zhang Jindong is very loyal to the government’s directives.

“Suning are looking for a financial partner but during the talks, BC Partners asked about availability of the majority.”