The owner of Premiership Rugby club Worcester Warriors is reportedly looking to sell the club by the end of the year amid "mounting losses," according to Sam Dean of the London TELEGRAPH. The team "has stepped up a search for new investment" following reports that owner Sixways Holdings Ltd. is "set to walk away" after it made losses of around £16M over the last three seasons. Financial advisers at Livingstone have been appointed to "review strategic and investment options." It is understood the club "is looking for offers by the end of October, with the aim of completing a deal by the end of the year." The club said that it had a market value of £9.7M ($13.2M) and added that its Sixways site, which includes its 12,000-capacity stadium, provided an "exciting opportunity" to build an on-site hotel (TELEGRAPH, 9/16).
WEST BROM FIELDS OFFER: BLOOMBERG's David Hellier reported the owner of Premier League club West Bromwich Albion has reportedly "been approached by a U.S. investor" interested in buying the club. Yunyi Guokai Shanghai Sports Development, which agreed to buy an 88% stake in the club in '16, "has rejected the idea of a sale," one source said. The approach was made to another investor in the club, though Yunyi Guokai's leader, Chinese entrepreneur Lai Guochuan, is the "ultimate decision maker on any sale or new shareholder," the source added. The U.S. group's offer valued West Brom "at a premium to last year's sale price" of about £180M, the sources said. West Brom Chair John Williams said in an emailed statement, "My information is that there was an enquiry. Our majority shareholder made it clear that he wanted to retain control of the club and continue his plans for its ongoing development" (BLOOMBERG, 9/15).
