Indian takeover of Blackburn Rovers completed
Blackburn Rovers have been taken over by the Rao family, who paid around £43million for the club.
The family own Venky’s, an Indian-based poultry company, and have purchased Rovers from the Jack Walker Trust – who have sold their 99.9% holding in the club after 20 years at the helm.
The deal saw Rovers’ shares acquired for around £23million, and Venky’s have agreed to pay off the club’s £20million debts to make Blackburn the first Indian-owned Premier League club.
Venky's chairman Anuradha J Desai said the group were “delighted, proud and humbled to be associated with Blackburn Rovers.
“We will absolutely respect the Jack Walker legacy,” he added, “and will be actively supporting the organisation to ensure that Blackburn Rovers remains one of the best-run clubs within the Premier League.
“We are particularly pleased that the deal has the full support of the Walker Trust, the chairman and the management team, who will of course remain in place with our full support.”
League champions in 1995, Blackburn are currently 14th in the Premier League, and face Aston Villa at Ewood Park on Sunday.
“We're very pleased to be passing on the Rovers to the Rao family,” said Trust chairman Paul Egerton-Vernon.
“We have been impressed with their enthusiasm and their plans and ideas for investment as well as their wish to preserve the legacy of Jack Walker.”
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