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staged acquisition · Italy · Serie B

SPAL

Joe Tacopina acquisition · 7 Jul 2021

Buyer
Joe Tacopina
Seller
Colombarini family
Stake acquired
100%
Control
Yes
Reported consideration
Undisclosed
Implied equity value
—
League
Serie B
Country
Italy
Confidence
MEDIUM
Transaction overview

Joe Tacopina acquired an initial 100% of SPAL from Colombarini family, announced 7 Jul 2021, closing 7 Feb 2022.

The purchase consideration was not disclosed. ~€10m of new capital went into the club.

Nearest pre-acquisition revenue was €55.9m (FY 2020).

Announced
7 Jul 2021
Closed
7 Feb 2022
Stake after transaction
100%
Status
completed
Valuation

Reported consideration

What the buyer reportedly paid for the stake

UNDISCLOSED

Implied 100% equity value

Calculated: consideration ÷ stake acquired

UNAVAILABLE

Reported club valuation

UNAVAILABLE

Enterprise value

Only shown when debt/cash near the transaction date is established

UNAVAILABLE

Debt assumed / restructured

UNAVAILABLE

Primary capital injection

REPORTED

Total announced investment commitment

Commitments are not purchase price and not valuation

UNAVAILABLE
Club at acquisition

Nearest pre-acquisition financial year: 2020

Revenue

REPORTED

Wages

UNAVAILABLE

EBITDA

UNAVAILABLE

Net debt

REPORTED

Net income

UNAVAILABLE
Analyst noteWhat is known, what is uncertain, and how figures were derived

This was a two-step deal, not a single closing: a preliminary agreement was reached 7 July 2021, a first closing transferred 49% on 13 August 2021 (ending 8 years of Colombarini ownership and installing Tacopina as president), and a second closing on 7 February 2022 transferred the remaining 51% held by the Colombarini vehicle Vetroresina S.p.A., taking Tacopina to 100%.

Sources (8)
  1. 2021-07-07 · it — “Reports an accord reached between the Colombarini family and Joe Tacopina's group on 7 July 2021; a preliminary contract to follow, with due diligence and full transfer targeted for early August. Does not disclose stake % or price.”

  2. 2021-10-06 · it — “Value of production €55.9m for 2020 (down ~€16.5m YoY), driven by TV rights falling from €34.8m to €15.1m and matchday revenue collapsing due to COVID; total liabilities down from €72.8m to €60.5m; equity positive €9.4m, supported by €1.7m Colombarini capital contribution and €9.4m deferred amortization.”

  3. 2022-02-07 · it — “Confirms Tacopina Italian Football Investment S.r.l. acquired the remaining 51% held by Vetroresina S.p.A. (Colombarini family vehicle) on 7 Feb 2022, bringing Tacopina's stake to 100%, following the first-tranche deal executed in summer 2021 (49% closed 13 Aug 2021). No price disclosed.”

  4. 2025-08-06 · it — “'la giudice Anna Ghedini del tribunale civile di Ferrara, dichiarando l'apertura della liquidazione giudiziale nei confronti della vecchia società biancazzurra ... circa settanta creditori e oltre 10 milioni di euro di debito ... presunto mancato versamento di imposte all'Agenzia delle Entrate per circa 8,5 milioni di euro, relativi al triennio tra il 2022 e il 2024'”

  5. 2025-06-06 · it — “'La società ha bucato la scadenza del 6 giugno per l'iscrizione alla serie C e per questo verrà automaticamente esclusa da qualunque campionato professionistico'”

  6. 2025-07-25 · it — “'La nuova SPAL, denominata formalmente Ars et Labor Ferrara, ha ricevuto l'ok dalla FIGC per l'iscrizione in sovrannumero al campionato di Eccellenza Emilia-Romagna ... società di Juan Martin Molinari'”

  7. 2021-10-06 · it — “'I debiti (sia nel breve che nel lungo periodo) invece sono scesi da 72,8 milioni a 60,5. In particolare ... sono diminuiti i debiti verso le banche e altri finanziatori (da 21,1 a 17,2) ... Le fideiussioni ricevute dai soci (Vetroresina in primis) a garanzia degli affidamenti bancari sono state 16,6 milioni ... La SPAL ha 11,5M di crediti (aumentati) e 29 milioni di debiti [verso enti-settore specifico] ... il capitale proprio è 9.4 milioni'. Also: 'Le disponibilità liquide sono aumentate del 4,85%'.”

  8. 2022-07-26 · it — “'I crediti sono calati (da 31,3 a 22,1) così come le disponibilità liquide (da 4,2 a 1,9) ... sono calati i debiti (sia nel breve che nel lungo periodo), da 60,5 a 50,0 milioni ... il capitale proprio è di 5,5, contro i 9,4 milioni della scorsa stagione'. Also documents T.I.F.I.'s €10m capital commitment on acquiring 49% on 13 Aug 2021 and the 51% closing on 7 Feb 2022.”

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