Capixaba Investment firm Apex Partners Joins Landmark Fluminense SAF Deal
Rio de Janeiro – Fluminense Football Club is set to recieve a massive injection of capital following a proposal approved Monday by the Deliberative Council to establish a Sociedade Anônima do Futebol (SAF) – a football corporation. A key participant in the deal is Apex Partners,a company based in Espírito Santo,joining over 40 investors committing funds to the transaction.
The overall investment is projected to reach R$6.9 billion (approximately $1.37 billion USD) over the next 10 years, marking the largest investment in the history of Brazilian sport. Initial contributions include R$250 million upon SAF signing and another R$250 million within 24 months of closing. The remaining R$6.4 billion will be allocated over the decade, with R$4.7 billion earmarked for player and coaching staff payroll, R$1.1 billion for athlete acquisitions, R$359 million for youth progress and training, R$84 million for improvements to the Xerém training center, and R$143 million in royalties for the association.
Alongside Apex Partners, other prominent investors include andré Esteves of BTG Pactual, the Dantas Families (linked to background management), Lucatto (linked to Frescatto seafood), Almeida Braga (linked to Atlantic and Bradesco Seguros insurers), and Klabin (linked to paper and pulp companies).”Apex, true to its mission of valuing the diversity and passion of all its stakeholders, is proud to rely on many partners, executives and customers who are fans of Fluminense,” said Fernando Cinelli, founder and president of Apex.”Our investment in the club reflects not only a strategic decision, but also our genuine commitment to embrace the identities and passions that move our community.”
The SAF will assume control of Fluminense’s men’s and women’s professional teams, youth academies, and futsal program, including the Xerém training facility. the club’s headquarters in Laranjeiras and other association-owned properties will remain with the club under a lease agreement.
The final vote on SAF approval among partners will occur after Fluminense’s presidential election, scheduled for the second half of November through the first week of December. The investment was coordinated by Lazuli Partners, an investment manager, through its subsidiary LZ Sports.
