Chelsea news as the owners at Stamford Bridge continued their money-spinning business despite the summer window closing.
Chelsea co-owners, Clearlake Capital, are exploring the sale of one of part-owned aerial imagery and property data analytics company EagleView, reports suggest.
Clearlake, who were founded by Behdad Eghbali and Jose E Feliciano, both of whom have key roles at the Blues since their takeover in May 2022, purchased a major stake in EagleView in 2018 with the ambition of accelerating the growth of the company. They were a key part of the new investment three years after Vista Equity Partners took an initial majority stake.
Now, with reported valuations of around £1.6billion ($2bn) including debt, Reuters say, Clearlake and Vista are looking towards a potential sale of the company.
Clearlake, who are working with Eldridge Industries chairman and fellow American, Boehly, are part of a large consortium that have attempted to get the Blues back to competing for major titles once more following six years of Premier League mediocrity.
Boehly, who has experience working in sport through stakes in LA Dodgers and LA Lakers in the MLB and NBA, is the public-facing part of the group but gets ample behind-the-scenes help from Eghbali.
Upon becoming the part-owners of EagleView, Eghbali said in 2018: “Clearlake is looking forward to partnering with EagleView’s world-class management team and Vista, and we see tremendous potential to build upon the Company’s leadership position. We have been impressed by the Company’s strong track record of rapid growth and we look forward to leveraging our O.P.S.® approach to further support EagleView’s exciting trajectory.”
Now, with a potential sale on the cards, it is said that banks have been contacted to advise over the next steps and the job done by Clearlake may soon be done.