Private equity firms Carlyle, Bain, Oaktree readying bids for Serie A international media unit, sources say

Earlier this year, Serie A's adviser JP Morgan started sounding out several private equity funds over the potential stake sale, Reuters reported in April.

Investors are expected to submit binding offers for a 10% to 20% stake in the venture, which generates around €200 million ($231.66 million) in core earnings and could be valued at €3 billion to €4 billion, the people said.

Serie A, Carlyle, Bain, Oaktree and Nextalia declined to comment. JP Morgan did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Serie A explored a similar plan in 2021 to sell a stake in its more lucrative domestic media unit, but talks collapsed after the league’s 20 clubs failed to reach the required majority to approve a deal.

At that time, it considered the sale of a 10% stake in the unit to a consortium led by CVC CVC.AS but the €1.7 billion deal failed to gain the required support from the clubs.