World news – GB – Sunderland agrees to a buyout deal with 22-year-old Louis Dreyfus heir

Sunderland owner Stuart Donald has agreed to a deal to sell the club to a consortium led by minority shareholders Juan Sartori and Kirill Lewis-Dreyfus – the 22-year-old son of former Marseille owner Robert – but looks set to retain 15% of His shares.

Donald actively tried to sell Sunderland since the start of the year and entered an exclusive period with an anonymous buyer a few weeks ago.. The Guardian can reveal that Sartori – the Uruguayan businessman and politician who currently owns 20% of the club and sits on the board of directors – is behind the move to bring in Luis Dreyfus after he called him six months ago about a possible majority stake..

It is understood that after months of due diligence and constant negotiations, the consortium made an offer two weeks ago to Donald that was accepted early this week.. Sources close to the deal expect the deal to be completed in the next two weeks.

Sunderland declined to comment but canceled a scheduled meeting with supporters groups on Thursday due to the « progress and sensitivity » of the takeover talks.

It is understood that Donald – who led the consortium that took over the club from American businessman Ellis Short in April 2018 – was eager to keep a portion of his shares, while former CEO Charlie Methvin would also keep his acre. Worth 5%.

Together with his twin brother Maurice, Louis Dreyfus is one of three heirs to his father’s fortune after his death in 2009 and estimates that he has a trust fund of more than £ 2 billion held by his mother, Margarita.. She remains a minority shareholder in Marseille after it sold the majority of its shares in 2016.

Sunderland A.. F. C. Juan Sartori, Stuart Donald, Takeover, Louis Dreyfus Corporation