Apollo Management(US:APO) Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2025-09-02 08:22Group 1 - Apollo Global Management plans to launch a $5 billion sports investment fund, marking its first dedicated permanent capital allocation for the sports sector [1][2] - The new fund will focus on lending to sports leagues and teams, as well as acquiring club equity, indicating a systematic approach to sports investments [1][2] - The sports finance market is attracting private equity interest due to traditional lenders' insufficient services in this area, allowing private firms to deploy capital quickly for high returns [1][2] Group 2 - The fund will employ a dual investment strategy, providing loans to sports leagues and teams while also acquiring club equity, which offers stable debt returns and long-term asset appreciation [2][3] - Apollo's existing sports investment portfolio includes notable transactions, such as an £80 million loan to Nottingham Forest FC secured by club assets, and a £40 million loan to Sports Invest Holdings at a 10.25% interest rate [2][3] - Apollo is actively seeking direct ownership of quality sports assets, as evidenced by negotiations to acquire a stake in Atlético Madrid and previous considerations for financing a Manchester United acquisition [3] Group 3 - Apollo is not the only private equity firm interested in sports investments; competitors like CVC and Ares Management are also making significant moves in this space [4][5] - The increasing number of private equity firms entering the sports investment sector is expected to drive up transaction valuations while providing more financing options for sports organizations [6]