Millonarios set for stock exchange
Reuters - Wednesday 16 February 2011, 03:08
BOGOTA, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Millonarios are
expected to be the first Colombian football team to
list on the stock exchange after a club official said on Tuesday
the financial authorities had given the go-ahead to sell shares
through a new company.
If the project goes ahead Millonarios, once a rich club but
whose name now belies their financial predicament, would follow
a lead in South America set by Chilean clubs Colo Colo,
Universidad Catolica and Universidad de Chile.
"This is the way out (from financial strife) for all
football teams and the first (in Colombia) is going to be
Millonarios," club president Jose Arango told reporters.
Arango said background checks would be carried out on
potential investors to ensure no person or company involved in
illegal activities were accepted. Colombian clubs have in the
past been linked to drug cartels.
The details of the listing, including share value and
number of investors would only be made public at the time of the
launch, the new company Sociedad Azul y Blanco said in a
statement.
Millonarios, who won the last of their record 13 Colombian
league titles in 1988, have sunk into an economic and sporting
rut in recent years and flirted with relegation.