Liverpool’s owner, Fenway Sports Group, has held talks about buying a majority stake in the Cadillac Formula One team for more than 2 billion pounds, according to a report by The Guardian on Wednesday, November 4.
The story is reporting, not a completed deal. No agreement has been announced by any of the parties involved.
The Wall Street Journal independently reports that John Henry’s Fenway Sports Group is one of several suitors in talks with Mark Walter’s TWG Global to purchase part of Walter’s stake in the team.
The Journal puts the valuation Walter is seeking at at least 3 billion dollars. It also reports there are several other bidders and no guarantee that a deal will happen.
What Has Been Reported
Sportico first reported on Monday, November 2 that Walter is exploring a sale of his Cadillac stake, with at least seven parties said to be interested.
The Guardian’s account goes further on FSG specifically. It reports talks over a majority stake, and it reports that FSG is looking at other sporting investments as well.
The Guardian also reports that TWG has denied a sale of Cadillac is imminent. FSG declined to comment on its investment plans, according to the same report.
The two detailed accounts differ on the size of the stake under discussion. The Guardian describes a majority stake, while the Journal describes FSG purchasing part of Walter’s holding, so the final shape of any deal remains unclear.
The Ownership Picture
Fenway Sports Group is a United States sports group founded by John Henry and Tom Werner. It bought Liverpool in 2010 for 300 million pounds.
Its portfolio also includes the Boston Red Sox, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and a 50 percent stake in the RFK Racing NASCAR team. A move into Formula One would extend an existing motorsport interest, not start one.
Cadillac entered Formula One this year as the sport’s 11th team. The team is a joint venture between General Motors and Walter’s TWG Global, and the size of each side’s holding has never been made public.
On track, Cadillac’s first season has been difficult. The team sits at the bottom of the constructors’ championship and has not yet scored a point.
The Wider Context Around Walter
The reported talks sit inside a larger story about Walter’s business interests. Both The Guardian and the Wall Street Journal report that he is selling sporting assets while under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The investigation concerns the management of funds at insurance companies connected to Walter. The Journal reports that an internal review found about 20 billion dollars in deals that were not disclosed to regulators.
TWG has said there has been no fraud. No charges have been reported in connection with the investigation.
Walter has already sold major assets this year. The Journal reports he agreed to sell the Los Angeles Lakers in a record 12.5 billion dollar deal, and he has also sold his stake in Chelsea.
What This Means for Liverpool
This is corporate activity by Liverpool’s owner. It is not a Liverpool Football Club transaction, and nothing in the reporting changes who owns or runs Liverpool today.
The Guardian reports that FSG sold a 38 percent stake in Liverpool this summer to a consortium that includes Jeff Bezos and Eduardo Saverin. That group also holds an option to complete a full takeover before August 2027.
On that reporting, FSG remains Liverpool’s majority owner, with about 60 percent of the club. Liverpool was valued at 5.5 billion pounds in the summer sale.
Any claim that Cadillac talks mean a Liverpool sale is planned goes beyond what has been reported. The confirmed position is narrower: talks have taken place, other bidders exist, and no deal has been agreed.
