Details of Silver Lake s buy-in of NZ Rugby revealed rnz.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rnz.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
RNZ
D-Day looms for New Zealand Rugby and their deal with US tech giant Silver Lake - is it the silver bullet to secure their financial future?
New Zealand Rugby risks making a $465 million misstep if they sell a chunk of their business to private equity firm Silver Lake, according to an Australian based Kiwi investment banker with over 30 years experience in capital markets. The investment expert told
Stuff he did not believe the proposed deal from US-based outfit Silver Lake was anywhere near the “can’t lose” offer it was being portrayed around rugby circles. He pointed out when private equity firms buy into companies, their intention was always “how do we exit this? Their strategy is either go IPO or do a trade sale.”
New Zealand Rugby has its annual meeting on Thursday, with the deal to be voted on then. A California-based private equity firm, in 2019 Silver Lake acquired a 10 percent stake in City Football Group (CFG), which owns reigning English Premier League champions Manchester City and teams in the United States, Australia and China. An investment in one of the most famous brands in world sport would expand the buyout giant s US$75 billion (NZ$104b) portfolio of companies, most of which are technology and sports venues and teams, according to its website. Silver Lake has been in the news this week as part of the European Super League crisis in which 12 European football clubs tried to set up an alternative competition to the Champions League, before it fell apart from public opposition.
Lawrence Smith/Stuff
Zac Guildford faced the media before his All Blacks debut against Wales in Cardiff in 2009, but not everyone has the tools to cope with the spotlight.
OPINION: Zac Guildford was brilliant. When he burst onto the national scene in 2009, as a try-hungry wing in the world-beating New Zealand under-20 team that also featured Aaron Cruden, he was everything coaches want in their outside backs. He was fast, skilful and had a great work rate. The baby-faced youngster from Hawke’s Bay could play, and he made the All Blacks in the same year. He had the sort of talent that gives you a lot of lifelines in professional rugby, a lot of second chances.
Rugby: All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan calls for leadership change at NZRPA amid Silver Lake deal mediation
6 Apr, 2021 03:30 AM
4 minutes to read
Sky Sport s The Breakdown explain the possible outcomes from the Silver Lake deal. Video / Sky Sport
Sky Sport s The Breakdown explain the possible outcomes from the Silver Lake deal. Video / Sky Sport
NZ Herald
All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan has called for a change in leadership at the New Zealand Rugby Players Association amid the continued standoff over a potential $465 million private equity investment into NZ Rugby.
NZR and the players union, which is led by chief executive Rob Nichol and includes several All Blacks on the board, are currently in mediation over concerns that an injection of private equity from US tech giants Silver Lake into the sport s governing body – to the tune of around $465 million for a 15 per cent stake in NZR s commercial rights – could negatively impact certain aspects of the sport in New