Jeff Bezos-backed consortium buys stake in Liverpool

A consortium, known as 1892 Holdings, has purchased a minority stake in Liverpool, a Premier League football club, for a reported £1.5 billion, according to a May 2022 announcement from the club's owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG). The consortium, led by Amit Bhatia, is a diverse group consisting of the Mittal Family Trusts, EE Capital, and K5 Sports, where Bezos, the Amazon founder, is the primary investor.

This investment has valued Liverpool at over £5 billion, a significant increase from the £300 million FSG bought the club for in 2010.

As part of the deal, FSG will retain the majority ownership and operational control over the club, while Bhatia will assume the role of vice chairman. He will join the expanded board alongside Elaine Saverin, wife of Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, and Bryan Baum of K5 Sports. Importantly, Bezos will not hold a board seat in this arrangement.

Amit Bhatia, son-in-law of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, has a long-standing connection with Liverpool. He previously served as a director and co-owner of Queens Park Rangers for 18 years before selling his stake in the club last month. The new investment in Liverpool marks a substantial boost in the club's valuation since FSG's takeover, 16 years ago, while still maintaining American ownership's control over the club's day-to-day operations.

The investment option allows the consortium to potentially increase their stake in the future, positioning them as strong contenders to become the club's majority shareholders, though no such plans have been disclosed yet.