IFK Gothenburg message: new money for acquisitions

In 2018, when IFK Gothenburg had major financial problems, the club launched the investment company IFK GBG Transferintressenter AB.

Individuals and companies, with real estate giant Serneke at the forefront, together invested SEK 9.25 million according to the company’s annual report. Money that has funded several of Blue White’s key players today, such as Robin Söder, Giannis Anestis, and Giorgi Kharaishvili.

Before the 2019 season, the company completed a new share issue and received around three million more, according to GT data. An amount that helped Congolese midfielder Nzuzi Toko and Danish striker Lasse Vibe to be recruited for the club.

– The capital injection has allowed some strategic reinforcements of the group of players and means that our opportunities for a positive sports season have increased. We are grateful for this opportunity from our external stakeholders, ”Blåvitts President Mats Engström told the club’s website.

Player sold for large quantities

GT said last winter that investors will receive a large chunk of its capital, most of the 9.25 million invested in the player pool.

– They will recover a substantial part of their invested capital. So we have fulfilled our obligations. They entered when it was relatively uncertain, said Mats Engström

The plan is based on the fact that investors receive about 40 percent of the net amount on Blåvit player sales, until they have gotten their money back. In particular, the agreement with investors is limited in time.

IFK Gothenburg sold players last year for large sums. Benjamin Nygren went to Belgian Genk, Carl Starfelt to Russian Rubin Kazan, and team captain Sebastian Ohlsson signed with St Pauli in the German Second League.

“Extremely happy”

Now another new issue of shares in the equity company has been completed. In this way, capital inflows from both existing and new investors are added.

“It allows us to strengthen the pool of players without further financial risk to IFK Gothenburg,” the club writes in a press release.

IFK Gothenburg President Mats Engström is pleased with the news.

– It is extremely gratifying that most transfer stakeholders who have been involved throughout the journey choose to continue and participate in a new venture for future player reinforcements. We thank both those who have been and have taken us to where we are now and the new ones who are adding and strengthening us even more, ”he says.

When IFK Gothenburg is going to strengthen the team with new players, it is mainly the external capital company that is responsible for the financing.

– The biggest advantage of the agreement is that the financial risk for us as a club is minimal. This has proven to be a very favorable model for both us and investors, and it feels good to present an ongoing investment that our members can also feel completely safe with, says Engström.

IFK Gothenburg reported a SEK 11.7 million profit for fiscal year 2019.

■ The text is updated.