Aston Martin Lands Financial Boost
Silverstone-based Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula 1 Team has received investment from private investment firm Arctos Partners.
The agreement, Arctos’ first in Formula 1, will give the US firm ownership of a minority shareholding in AMR Holdings GP Limited (AMR), the team’s holding company.
The value of the deal, which expected to close by year end, has not been revealed but the Financial Times has reported that it values the UK-based racing unit at £1bn.
Arctos owns stakes across a variety of sports, ranging from football to basketball and baseball, including a minority stake in Fenway Sports Group, the owner of Liverpool football club and the Red Sox baseball team.
Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman of Aston Martin Formula 1 team, said, “I am delighted to welcome Arctos Partners as a new partner and minority shareholder in the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team.
“As investors in several leading sports franchises, Arctos brings deep industry knowledge, and I am thrilled that Aston Martin will be joining such a prestigious portfolio. The team has enjoyed tremendous success this season with eight podium finishes and our biggest points haul as a team, but our collective ambition is greater.
“Arctos see the potential and value of this project as we continue to build a world-class Formula One team. They share our vision for our ultra-luxury brand, and they are extremely passionate about the sport and its prospects.
“We are investing in infrastructure, people and processes, and this is the perfect time to add strength in depth with the operational expertise and strategic experience of Arctos. Together, we will continue to drive this team forward and build an even brighter and successful future.”
Doc O’Connor, Managing Partner of Arctos Partners, added, “We look forward to collaborating with Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team and view the opportunity as the beginning of a long-term partnership with Lawrence and the entire organisation. This investment is consistent with our firm’s strategy, which focuses on backing leading sports brands across North America and Europe.
“We will provide extensive resources to enhance Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team’s reach and brand, including industry intelligence sourced from our proprietary quantitative research and data science platform. Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team is a leading name in Formula 1, one of the fastest growing sports in the US, and we are truly excited to be entering the sport alongside Lawrence and his team.”
The Aston Martin Formula 1 team enjoyed a successful inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix with Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso finishing fifth and ninth respectively. Aston Martin F1 currently sits in fifth in the constructors standing with one race remaining this season.
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