Speaking at the Camp Beckenbauer Global Summit via telephone, 84-year-old Ecclestone revealed a number of shares are due to become available soon.
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Bernie Ecclestone did not name any of the interested parties. That’s the way things are set up for them. “I will be surprised if one of them does not buy them shortly”, Ecclestone told assembled reporters.
Ecclestone said: “There has been a lot of interest and there are three [interested parties] at the moment”. Several of the sport’s most iconic tracks – Monza and Silverstone – have both been financially strapped this year, with Monza looking unlikely to return as the venue of the Italian Grand Prix next year. Didn’t happen. Periodically stories emerge suggesting there are parties interested in buying F1.
US investment groups BlackRock and Waddell & Reed, along with Norway’s Norges Bank, are among other shareholders. “He loves Formula One, loves the business”, Ecclestone said, before adding Mackenzie may have no choice but to sell up in his role with CVC. “So it’s a case of whether CVC or Mr. Mackenzie wants to sell”.
Ecclestone has a 5.3% stake in F1, while CVC owns 35.5% after initially gaining control of the sport in 2006 for around $2bn.
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The AP reported in June that F1 is a takeover target for Qatar Sports Investments, which has French soccer club Paris Saint-Germain in its investment portfolio and linked up with Miami Dolphins owner RSE Ventures to consider a bid. Of course, it’s possible – like all businesses in which shares are traded, its equity can be bought and sold by investors. “Whether he will invest himself, maybe with me separately, we will have to wait and see”.
