Why FC Lorient is so interested in American fund BKFC

Like ten other Ligue 1 clubs, FC Lorient will have a foreign group as the majority shareholder.

FC Lorient will soon be under the American flag? Black Knight Football Club Group, which is already a 40% shareholder, will soon acquire 100% of the club. The announcement was made on Sunday 16 November on the club’s website, by Loïc Féry, its president.

It has been three years since the BKFC group (for Black Knight Football Club) became a shareholder of the Lorient club, so it will soon take full control. The operation is currently being completed, according to president Loïc Féry. And he has many arguments. Firstly, Ligue 1 is increasingly competitive, with 18 clubs currently, compared to 20 clubs two seasons ago. Then rich shareholders, who have more funds to transfer, in particular.

And finally, the decline in the number of TV broadcasting rights, which could be spectacular, explains Vincent Chaudel, sports economist and founder of the “Sport Business” observatory. For the club “which to date has a budget of around 35-40 million euros”TV rights were previously represented at between 10 and 15 million euros. From now on, that’s right “between zero and 3 million”explained the economist. But BKFC has a huge financial burden: equity of more than 500 million dollars (or more than 430 million euros).

The BKFC Group is also the majority owner of two other clubs: Moreirensé, in Portugal, and Bournemouth, which plays in the English Premier League. Timeshares that raise questions but are growing. Strasbourg, Lyon or Toulouse for example are affected in Ligue 1. It must be said that French football represents a very good financial business. “Funds like to buy low and sell as high as possible”explained Vincent Chaudel.

“The economic difficulties facing French clubs means there are ‘accessible’ clubs.”

Vincent Chaudel, sports economist

at franceinfo

“Especially in the world of football, we can make money through TV rights and transfer windows. But France is the country that sells the most thanks to its training centers”added the economist.

A timeshare ownership model that is not always well received by its proponents. Many have criticized the loss of identity, especially for small clubs in the group whose only function is to train or stock main club players. Similar to Strasbourg with strong Chelsea.