Three prominent former media executives and investors have jointly taken over about 40 percent of the shares in 21sportsgroup, the German online and offline sports retailer that encompasses Planet Sports, 21run and Vaola, Textilwirtschaft reported last week that the shares were bought through firms related to Georg Kofler, Michael Börnicke and Holger Hansen.
Kofler is a former chief executive of the German broadcasters ProSieben and Premiere, in which he was formerly a shareholder. Börnicke is another former media executive and he is known in the fashion industry as the former chief financial officer of Escada. He later became a shareholder and adviser for Kisura, a curated fashion retail platform, among other ventures. As for Hansen, he previously worked at Home Shopping Europe and Premiere, and in the metal industry.
21Sportsgroup confirmed facts issued from the public registry, but added that it would publish more detailed information on the changes this week. Börnicke has taken the leadership of the retailer's advisory board.
The company's founder, Jörg Mayer, handed over the operational leadership in 2016 to become board chairman. He relinquished this function in 2017 and sold all of the shares held through a family holding company to an unnamed consortium of prominent investors earlier this year. He announced the divestment on March 14 without divulging the identity of the buyers. It turned out that they were three investment firms related to Kofler, Hansen and Börnicke, who bought shares from other shareholders as well.
The changes in the shareholding occurred in several stages, starting in September 2017 and until the second quarter of this year. All three of the formerly media-related investors are already involved with The Social Chain Group, which is active in social media, marketing and social commerce, as well as the organization of conventions and influencer marketing. Textilwirtschaft adds that Cipio Partners Fund VI is currently the largest shareholder in 21sportsgroup with a stake of 19.4 percent, while the rest is spread among smaller shareholders. The retailer confirms that this investment firm is also a new shareholder.
Two of the investment firms, related to Kofler and Hansen were reported to have taken part in the latest round of financing. Sports21group confirms that a capital increase in the double-digit million euro range was finalized in the second quarter to support the company's growth in Germany and elsewhere.
