Businessman Mark Walter has reached an agreement to become the majority owner of Los Angeles Lakers, controlled since the late 1970s by the Buss family. In the negotiation, initially reported by the US ESPN, the traditional US basketball franchise was valued at $ 10 billion ($ 54.9 billion).
This does not mean that the buyer will pay this value. The settlement has not yet been made official or has its details disclosed, but the expense is that the entrepreneur of the financial branch, executive of Guggenheim Partners, to pay the money proportional to the percentage he acquires.
The Buss family had 66%, now valued at $ 6.6 billion (R $ 36.2 billion). According to ESPN, it will maintain 15%. Until the publication of this text, neither party had commented on the agreement – confirmed by multiple vehicles from the United States.
The $ 10 billion valuation, anyway, establishes a record for professional sports teams. At the NBA, the US Basketball League, the biggest sale until this week was Boston Celtics-Lakers Archirrival-, traded last year for $ 6.1 billion ($ 33.5 billion in the current price).
Los Angeles Lakers was bought in 1979 by Jerry Buss, who made the team a sports and entertainment giant. Jerry was one of the architects of “Showtime”, which in the 1980s joined the captivating basketball of Magic Johnson’s team with attractions outside the court, with a constant presence of Hollywood celebrities at The Forum gym.
Jerry died in 2013, leaving the franchise with their children – who had media and judicial fights for the estate. He won the 63 -year -old Jeanie Buss, who got control of the team and the position of president. According to ESPN, it will remain ahead of the operation even after the completion of the sale to Mark Walter.
Billionaire Walter has a participation in several sports associations, including two others from Los Angeles – Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball, and Los Angeles Sparks of women’s basketball. He also has installments in the actions of the Cadillac team, Formula 1, and Billie Jean Cup, women’s tennis tournament by teams.
“Lakers fans must be ecstatic. I can say some things about Mark: he is moved by victory, excellence and doing everything the right way. And he dedicates the resources necessary to win,” said Magic Johnson, who, like Walter, is one of the owners of Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I know that my sister Jeanie would only have considered selling the Lakers to someone she knows, someone she trusts, someone who will continue the Buss family legacy, started by her father, Dr. Buss. Now she can pass the stick quietly to Mark Walter, with whom she has a true friendship,” added the acerival.
“When Celtics were sold for $ 6 billion, I knew the Lakers were worth $ 10 billion!”
