Sports lawyers advise on acquisition of Belgian club
Specialist sports lawyers at Leeds-based Walker Morris have advised Tony Bloom, owner of Brighton & Hove Albion FC, on his acquisition of Belgian football Club, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (RUSG).
The Brussels-based club currently plays in the second division in Belgium and has a long, successful history. The club won eleven Belgian championships between 1904 and 1935, making it the most successful Belgian club before World War II.
Terms have been agreed with current German owner Jurgen Baatzsch. Baatzsch is set to remain as president.
The agreement is totally independent of Albion and an extension of Bloom’s personal portfolio of investments.
The deal is the latest in a run of successful football club acquisitions/sales for the Walker Morris team over the last 12 months including advising Renhe Sports Management Co on its acquisition of 75% of Reading FC; Eleonora Sport on the sale of Leeds United FC to Greenfield Investment Pte; advising NF Football Investments on its acquisition of Nottingham Forest Football Club and advising Nigel Travis and his company Eagle Investments 2017 on the acquisition of Leyton Orient FC.
David Hinchliffe, head of the sports team at Walker Morris, said: “We’re delighted for Tony Bloom and RUSG. During his tenure as owner at Brighton & Hove Albion the Club has enjoyed great success, gaining promotion to the Premiership after 34 years out of the top flight of English football. I’m sure the fans, players and everyone involved with the club at RUSG will be hoping the same success can be replicated there.”
Hinchliffe was supported by senior associate, Katie Reed.
