Exeter Chiefs Approve AFC Bournemouth Owners' Takeover
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- Exeter Chiefs approved a takeover bid by Black Knight Sports and Entertainment at a special general meeting, with members and shareholders voting in favour.
- Black Knight will purchase all shares in Exeter Chiefs pending due‑diligence, which is slated to finish by the end of May, and also holds stakes in FC Lorient and Auckland FC.
- Exeter Chiefs would become the first English top‑flight rugby club owned by foreign football investors, a milestone after recent foreign inflows such as Red Bull into Newcastle and Sir James Dyson into Bath.
- Tony Rowe said the current proposal is a non‑binding expression of interest and that a formal offer would trigger negotiations, potentially ending his decades‑long leadership.
- Exeter posted a £10.3 million loss and faced pandemic‑related debt, prompting the club to seek new capital to sustain its ambitions and stadium expansion plans.
Why it matters: Exeter’s shareholders gain fresh capital to address a £10.3 million loss, while Tony Rowe’s long‑term leadership ends; the deal also shows a shift toward foreign football ownership in English rugby.
