Kiat Lim says full team takeovers remain rare, costly and restricted | OneFootball

Peter Lim has returned to Valencia after seven years, while Kiat Lim features in a major analysis of Asian sports investment. The pair have put Valencia CF back in the international financial conversation.

Reuters reports sports deals in Southeast Asia hit a record 3.69 billion dollars last year. Singapore is flagged as a strategic hub, and the Lim family stands out via Valencia CF and a past McLaren link.

Kiat Lim says larger audiences lift broadcast rights values, which then benefits clubs. He calls attention a kind of currency.

Their 2014 move, 96 million euros for 70.4 percent, predated the current surge. Twelve years on, European football remains a prime destination for Asian capital.

Rising international audiences underpin expectations for future media rights. The report cites 205 million unique viewers in China for the first 41 World Cup matches and 39 million in Japan for their win over Tunisia.

Valencia’s profile could also benefit. Sato’s arrival drew interest in Japan after his scoring debut in a 3-0 win over Eldense. The friendly was shown on Japanese television.

Investment is shifting toward minority stakes in clubs, leagues and sports technology, while full takeovers are seen as rare, costly and restricted. Kiat Lim shares that view.

Valencia remains an outlier, Meriton Holdings owns 91.55 percent and keeps control. That position could permit a minority sale without ceding power, in line with current investor preferences.

Source: Superdeporte