Ares Sports, Media and Entertainment funds has acquired a minority stake in the France SailGP Team.
The investment marks Ares’ entry into SailGP, with the firm joining a consortium of investors in the France SailGP Team, including international football superstar Kylian Mbappé.
“Today is an exciting milestone for SailGP, as we welcome Ares to our growing group of investors and team owners,” said SailGP MD Andrew Thompson.
“The investment in our French team by an organisation with a stellar portfolio of first-rate sports properties underlines the strength of SailGP’s global league model and reinforces the commercial potential of our teams.”
SailGP has achieved impressive growth across its teams, viewership and engagement.
Jim Miller
He continued: “Ares brings both institutional capital and deep strategic insights – they’ll be a highly-valuable collaborator in growing the French team and the Rolex SailGP Championship more broadly.”
Ares’ investment in the France SailGP team expands its existing portfolio of professional sports team investments, including Inter Miami CF, McLaren Racing and Atlético de Madrid, among others.
The Rolex SailGP Championship sees national teams battling it out in identical high-tech, high-speed 50ft foiling catamarans at venues around the world.
50 knots speed
The foiling craft travel at speeds around 50 knots with total prize money of US $12 million at stake.
Jim Miller, co-lead of Ares’ Sports, Media and Entertainment strategy explained the organisation’s decision to acquire a stake in the France SailGP Team.
“SailGP has achieved impressive growth across its teams, viewership and engagement, and we are thrilled to enter the league and join the France SailGP Team’s existing owners group at this inflection point,” he said.
“With the team’s expanding ecosystem of dedicated athletes, sponsors and fans, alongside Ares’ experience investing in premier global sports teams, we are eager to lend our capabilities as the team continues to build on its momentum.”
