VfB Stuttgart is "already planning for life back in the Bundesliga after 12 months in the German second division." As part of structural reforms, the club hopes to attract more than €100M ($107.1M) of investment, with Stuttgart-based automobile company Daimler "putting up nearly half of that." Stuttgart "suffered a surprise relegation last season," but is first in the Second Bundesliga with five matches left. Stuttgart plans to sell 24.9% of the public company to investors, with Daimler paying €41.5M ($44.5M) for 11.75% in the listed company, which the club values at more than €300M ($321.6M) (DEUTSCHE WELLE, 4/19).
Mediaset has taken a hit of €341.3M ($365.9M) "in its dispute with Vivendi over the sale of the Mediaset Premium." The Italian company said that its '16 results had been "radically altered by serious damage on the Italian activities of the Group by Vivendi's contractual violations." Mediaset reported an operating loss of €189.2M for '16, after declaring an operating profit of €231.4M in '15 (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 4/20).
Pro12 side Cardiff Blues has "fallen further into the red" with board member Martyn Ryan warning that the professional game in Wales is "now at crisis point and should look to create two super regions with the financial clout to be competitive." It comes as the Blues posted pre-tax losses of £1.49M for the financial year to the end of June '16. While the previous year was a 13-month period, "on a like-like for basis," losses widened from £657,950 to £1.49M. Revenues were down £800,000 from £9.2M to £8.4M (RUNNING RUGBY, 4/17).
Serie A side Palermo President Paul Baccaglini revealed the name of the company that acquired a 100% stake in the club. A statement on the club's website said, "Respecting the timing during the presentation of the new Palermo project, we announce that the company that will acquire 100% of Palermo shares will be YW &F Global Limited" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 4/19).
