The GMR Group, co-owner of Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday added yet another layer to its cricketing profile by purchasing England's Hampshire Cricket. This would be the first time an international company bought a county cricket team, thereby setting the tone for all other similar players to follow the market lead.
GMR Group, led by Kiran Kumar Granthi, has agreed to acquire a 100% stake in Hampshire Sport & Leisure Holdings Limited (HSLHL), the parent company of Hampshire Cricket. The acquisition will be staggered over 24 months, promising exciting times for both GMR Group and Hampshire Cricket. It marks an increasing globalization trend for cricket and an ever-changing ecosystem of sports ownership.
Hampshire Cricket was formed in 1863 and is one of the 18 First-Class counties under the ECB. The ECB's plans to privatise The Hundred will not immediately be impacted by GMR Group's recent acquisition, but GMR will take control of the Southern Brave team in The Hundred as well.
Importantly, Hampshire's current leadership team will remain. Rod Bransgrove will continue as Group Chairman until at least September 2026, while David Mann retains his position of Group CEO. Together with GMR, they will help develop short, medium, and long-term strategies to drive consistent growth for the club and operations.
Kiran Kumar Granthi said: "We are very excited to add Hampshire Cricket to the GMR family. This acquisition stands testimony to our commitment to global sports and belief that cricket can bring people together. We look forward to working with the team at Hampshire Cricket to create a sustainable and successful future for the club."
The major terms of this deal were formalized a year back, with the enterprise value capped at a fair market valuation that includes all existing assets. In addition to this, it offers incentives to the shareholders of Hampshire Sport & Leisure Holdings through possible future assets.
According to Bransgrove, "This is the fulfillment of a dream for me, and I hope for all Hampshire Cricket supporters. Beyond our team's achievements on the field over the past 24 years, we have transformed our stadium into a premier venue for Test matches and events, creating one of the most exceptional cricket and leisure facilities in the country. We have also been pioneers in developing women's cricket and have consistently innovated throughout our relatively short history."
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