CVC Capital Partners Fund VII has completed a significant strategic partnership investment in Guinness PRO14.
The partnership commitment will allow both PRO14 Rugby and the Irish, Italian, Scottish & Welsh rugby unions to continue to invest in the sport, both professional and amateur, to achieve its long-term potential.
A portion of the investment will be held centrally at PRO14 Rugby, for its Board to invest in further capabilities for the business and in upgrading league operations in line with its growth ambitions.
In the past four years, the Guinness PRO14 has performed well both on and off the field; doubling distributions to clubs and facilitating record investment back into the sport from the league. This has been recognised by CVC, who share PRO14 Rugby’s vision for the long-term potential of the league.
CVC was selected by PRO14 Rugby and the unions as their partner due to the extensive experience of prior CVC funds investing in multiple sports businesses, such as Formula 1, Moto GP and Premiership Rugby.
Oakwell Sports Advisory is an advisor on rugby to CVC Capital Partners and advised the Fund across the whole of the transaction from strategy and screening to due diligence – pre and post approach.
