DLA Piper guides EUR108 million media rights financing for Sevilla FC

DLA Piper, a global law firm, has played a pivotal role in advising institutional investors on a significant media financing package amounting to EUR108 million for Sevilla FC. This strategic move aims to bolster the club's financial stability in the short, medium, and long term, facilitating the implementation of its future strategic initiatives.

The financing arrangement comprises two key components:

1. Investment-grade-rated term loan facilities totalling USD65 million and EUR28 million, structured over a 10-year period.
2. A five-year term loan amounting to EUR20 million.

These loan facilities, secured by Sevilla FC's media revenue generation, have been facilitated by prominent global institutional investors and bank lenders. The infusion of funds will enable Sevilla FC to diversify its revenue streams, encompassing various business functions such as digital transformation, marketing, retail operations, and infrastructure management.

The cross-border transaction was spearheaded by a team of legal experts led by London-based partners from DLA Piper's Finance practice, including Paul Gray and Lewis Gaut, in collaboration with Juan Gelabert Chasco based in Spain.

Paul Gray, head of the International Sports Finance practice at DLA Piper, expressed his satisfaction with the successful execution of the transaction, emphasising the firm's expertise in structuring complex finance deals within the sports sector. This transaction underscores DLA Piper's commitment to facilitating strategic growth initiatives for its clients.

DLA Piper's European Sports Finance team operates within the firm's Media, Sports, and Entertainment sector, co-chaired by Peter White, a key client relationship partner for significant sports entities globally, including Goldman Sachs. The firm has a track record of advising on ground-breaking transactions in the sports industry, including notable deals such as the refinancing of Olympique Lyonnais Group and financing arrangements for FC Barcelona's iconic Camp Nou stadium.