TLDR
- Watford FC, an English soccer club, is offering 10% of its equity to investors and fans through the investment platforms Republic and Seedrs.
- The club aims to raise around £17.5 million ($22.3 million) by selling shares at approximately £12 each.
- Investors will receive tokens that offer exclusive benefits and can be traded in the future.
- The funds raised will be used for initiatives like player recruitment, training, coaching, and brand development, with a focus on the men’s first team.
- Watford FC claims to be the first major English football club to offer true ownership shares to a wide range of investors, including fans, through digital equity.
Watford Football Club, a professional English soccer team, has announced an innovative move to offer a portion of its equity to investors and fans through a digital equity sale.
The club has partnered with the investment platform Republic and its European arm, Seedrs, to facilitate this groundbreaking initiative.
The equity offering comprises approximately 10% of Watford FC’s shares, valued at around £175 million.
The club aims to raise upwards of £17.5 million ($22.3 million) through this sale, with the price per share set at £12.44. Investors can purchase a minimum of four shares through Seedrs or eight shares through Republic.
One of the key aspects of this equity sale is the inclusion of tokens for investors. In addition to owning a stake in the club, investors will have the option to receive tokens that provide access to exclusive offers and benefits.
Watford FC has also stated its intention to facilitate the future trading of these tokens, allowing for increased liquidity and engagement among investors and fans.
The capital raised through this equity sale will be utilized for various initiatives aimed at improving the club’s performance and growth.
A significant portion of the funds will be directed towards the men’s first team, with a focus on player recruitment, training, coaching, and overall development. Additionally, the club plans to invest in enhancing its brand and overall presence within the football community.
Watford FC’s Chairman and CEO, Scott Duxbury, expressed enthusiasm for this innovative approach, stating,
“We are always looking at ways that we can help grow Watford FC to deliver on our plans and are proud to be the first major English football club to offer true ownership shares to a wide range of investors, including fans, through digital equity.”
He further emphasized the club’s determination to return to the Premier League and believes this equity sale is an inclusive way to help achieve that goal.
The equity sale is facilitated by Republic, a prominent investment platform known for its involvement in digital asset offerings.
Republic claims that this sale represents “the largest digital equity offering to unlock true ownership shares in an English football club” to date.
Watford FC, located in London, has a rich history and has spent over half of the last ten seasons competing in the English Premier League, the top tier of English football. Currently, the club is playing in the EFL Championship, the second-highest division.
The club reported a pre-tax profit of £24.1 million in the 2022/23 season, showcasing its financial stability and potential for growth.
Notably, Watford FC holds a unique connection to the music industry, with Sir Elton John serving as the club’s Honorary Life-President.
John played a pivotal role in the club’s meteoric rise through the English football league system in the 1970s and 1980s, adding to the club’s illustrious history.
