The Dodgers "are in negotiations to sell a minority ownership share to a group of South Korean investors," according to a source cited by Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. But the source said there is "zero" chance Dodgers owner Guggenheim Baseball Management "would surrender control of the team in the deal." Sources said that none of the Dodgers' five individual investors -- Chair Mark Walter plus partners Todd Boehly, Bobby Patton, Peter Guber and Magic Johnson -- "would sell his share as part of the deal." It is possible the funds from the sale of a minority stake "could help repay" the $1.2B portion taken from Guggenheim Partners insurance funds controlled by Walter to help finance the $2.15B purchase of the team, "or could provide additional capital for club operations." South Korea-based newspaper Joongang Daily, one of two South Korean newspapers that first reported the talks, reported that the investment group "hoped to buy 20% of the Dodgers" for about $370M (L.A. TIMES, 1/23). In L.A., Steve Dilbeck wrote the $370M figure "seems askew for a couple of reasons." A 20% share at that figure "would value the Dodgers" at $1.85B, less than the $2.15B GBM paid for the team in '12 (L.A. TIMES, 1/25).
