At least two Chinese groups are eyeing bids for Infront Sports & Media, the Swiss sports marketing group run by the nephew of controversial Fifa president Sepp Blatter, in the latest sign of China’s growing appetite for European companies.
Wanda, the Shanghai-based conglomerate, and another Chinese company are considering bids, as is US private equity group Providence, according to people familiar with situation.
Infront, which is based in Zug and owned by London private equity group Bridgepoint, is expected to fetch a valuation of more than €900m, the people added. It is run by Philippe Blatter, who was previously at McKinsey, and has been Infront’s chief executive since 2006. Bids have to be submitted before the end of the week.