The valuation of Liverpool at around £5.5bn is a significant increase from the £300m Fenway Sports Group paid for the club in 2010. 1892 Holdings has an option to increase its shareholding to a majority stake within the next 12 months, should Fenway Sports Group decide to sell. This option gives the consortium the possibility of becoming the majority shareholders in the near future.
Bryan Baum, the co-founder and managing partner of K5 Global, will have a seat on an expanded Liverpool board alongside Bhatia as vice-chair and Elaine Saverin, wife of Eduardo. The financial backing for Bhatia's investment in Liverpool has come from the Mittal Family Trust, which is worth around $17bn. Lakshmi Mittal, the Indian steel magnate and Bhatia's father-in-law, is also a significant investor in the consortium.
Jeff Bezos, the lead investor in the K5 Sports fund, has bought into 1892 Holdings. Bezos' involvement in the consortium has sparked interest in the potential for further investment in Liverpool, given his status as one of the richest men in the world. The deal has raised questions about the potential for Fenway Sports Group to sell more of Liverpool to 1892 Holdings in the future, but the consortium's option to increase its shareholding is not a formal commitment.
The deal was confirmed by The Guardian Football, with the valuation of Liverpool at around £5.5bn and the stake sale valued at around £2bn.