Liberty Media Acquires Majority Stake in MotoGP

Liberty Media, the owner of Formula 1, has sealed a deal to acquire a significant majority stake in Dorna Sports, the parent company of MotoGP. Led by Chairman John Malone and CEO Greg Maffei, Liberty Media’s acquisition marks a substantial shift in the ownership of the motorcycle racing circuit, with an enterprise value of 4.2 billion euros ($4.5 billion) placed on the firm.

The agreement, announced amidst interest from TKO Group and Qatar Sports Investments, underscores Liberty Media’s strategic expansion into the world of two-wheeled racing. The acquisition, valued at an equity worth of 3.5 billion euros ($3.8 billion), is structured with approximately 65 percent in cash and 21 percent in shares of Liberty Formula One common stock.

“We are thrilled to welcome MotoGP into the Formula One Group tracking stock,” stated Liberty Media in its official announcement. The transaction, slated for completion by the end of 2024, remains subject to regulatory clearances and approvals from competition and foreign investment authorities across multiple jurisdictions.

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Dorna Sports, headquartered in Madrid, holds the commercial rights for MotoGP and is led by CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta. Its current ownership comprises financial firms Bridgepoint Capital and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Investments. Dorna Sports also organizes other prestigious racing events including the Superbike World Championship and the innovative electric biking series MotoE.

Source: Hollywood Reporter