The new owners of Chelsea Football Club would reportedly be prevented from paying dividends or taking management fees for a decade under a package of measures designed to avoid the controversies which have dogged Manchester United since the Glazers’ takeover in 2005.
According to Sky News, a consortium majority-funded by private equity firm Clearlake Capital and spearheaded by the American financier Todd Boehly is in discussions about an unprecedented series of conditions as part of its £4bn takeover of the club.
Sources told Sky that the Clearlake-Boehly group was in advanced negotiations with Chelsea’s advisers about measures that would include: barring them from paying dividends or management fees until 2032; prohibiting the sale of any shares in the club for 10 years; and agreeing to strict limits on the level of debt that they could take on.
In line with the other final bidders for last season’s Champions League winners, it has also committed minimum further investment of £1bn in its stadium, academy and women’s team, Sky said.
It was understood that the Clearlake-Boehly consortium could sign a binding agreement to buy the club as soon as Friday, although the signing could still be delayed by several days.
