A strategic partnership has been agreed to in principle by Black Knight Football Club (“BKFC”, “Black Knight” or the “Partnership”), which is led by William P. Foley, II (“Foley”) and is primarily owned by Cannae Holdings, Inc. (“Cannae”). The Hibernian Football Club Limited (the “Hibernian FC” or the “Club”) is a Scottish Premiership (the “Scottish League”) football club that was founded in 1875 and is based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The first multi-club investment in Scotland, the investment was authorised by the Scottish Football Association, and it will now move forward to the Club’s Annual General Meeting in February.
The purchase of Hibernian FC is a step forward in BKFC’s multi-club ownership plan, which already includes a substantial minority stake in FC Lorient, a French Ligue 1 team, and 100% ownership of A.F.C. Bournemouth, an English Premier League team. Additionally, Foley is the owner of an Auckland, New Zealand-based A-Leagues expansion football team that is scheduled to start play in the 2024–25 season. In addition to fostering strong on-field and financial outcomes, the Partnership is creating a global network of elite football teams, players, and real estate assets that will accelerate player development, create operational synergies, and facilitate smooth player migration throughout BKFC’s network of owned and operated clubs.
According to Foley, “We are thrilled to announce a strategic partnership and investment in Hibernian FC today.” “We’re excited to collaborate with the Gordon family and other investors to help Hibernian FC and BKFC succeed more quickly. We think that by working together and investing in infrastructure and player development, we can assist Scottish football flourish and enable BKFC and Hibernian FC achieve new heights of success.
“We are excited about a partnership with BKFC,” the Gordon family said. Ron believed that involving a minority partner, such as Black Knight, would help us accomplish our objectives and was part of his long-term plan. Our relationship is based on same ideals and goals as Black Knight. We are steadfast in our resolve to create a prosperous and winning club.
For 17 of the last 20 seasons (including the current one, which is still going on), Hibernian FC has been a mainstay of the Scottish Premiership, the premier professional football league in Scotland. Being a top-tier competition that has a history of nurturing talent and creating opportunities for players to excel in other European and international leagues, the Scottish competition was a top objective for BKFC.
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