DUBAI, UAE, August 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Centaur Private Equity Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Centaur Holdings Ltd ("Centaur"), a global investment holding company with interests and investments ranging from asset management, wealth management, private equity, venture capital, mining and natural resources and agricultural investments, is pleased to announce that it has successfully exited its venture capital investment in Sport Events International Ltd ("SEI").

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SEI is the holding company of a series of sports based event companies including; Global Legends Series, which brings together a group of legendary football players from around the world to play against each other in legend vs legend games in different cities worldwide; F5WC, the world's largest 5-a-side football tournament; and World Soccer Fives USA, a multi city tournament to find the best amateur 5-a-side soccer team in the United States to represent the USA in the F5WC World Finals.

Global Legends Series 2014 Bangkok event featured 28 famous international footballers including Fabio Cannavaro, Luis Figo, Andryi Shevchenko, Patrick Kluivert, Cafu, Steve McManaman, Michel Salgado and Deco, and was launched with a ceremony to honour His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 87th birthday, the event was broadcast across the globe to more than 200 million viewers.

Centaur Private Equity originally invested into SEI under its venture capital arm to create and incubate SEI, Global Legends Series, F5WC and World Soccer Fives USA in conjunction with the founding shareholders of SEI. The investment into SEI was a combination of debt and equity and also included the support of Centaur Asset Management Ltd's Dubai based legal, operational and financial support teams during the period of Centaur Private Equity's investment.

Under the terms of a recently executed Sale and Purchase Agreement Centaur Private Equity has sold its shareholding in SEI for an undisclosed figure to Thai Prime Investments Ltd, a subsidiary of an investment company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Thai Prime Investments is headed up by Bee Taechaubol, whom recently announced the proposed purchase of a 48% stake in Italian football club A.C. Milan.

Commenting on Centaur Private Equity's sale of shares, Centaur Group CEO, Daniel McGowan, said

"SEI has the potential to grow exponentially in multiple jurisdictions and really needed an investor/shareholder with a keen interest in sports generally, and football specifically, and a passion to develop the multiple sports brands within the SEI group of companies. Both the remaining shareholders in SEI and Centaur ourselves, believe that we have found the right strategic partner in Bee Taechaubol and his group of companies and we wish SEI, its management and employees, and Bee and his team great success in the future". 

Centaur Asset Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of Centaur, acted as financial advisor for Centaur Private Equity on the transaction.

For more information, please visit http://www.centaur-pe.com or http://www.centaurasset.com

Disclaimer  

This press release is for information purposes only. No guarantee, representation, undertaking or warranty, express or implied, is given by Centaur and/or the Centaur Group and/or their respective directors, officers, partners, shareholders, members and/or service providers as to the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained in this press release and no liability is accepted by such persons for the accuracy or completeness of any such information or opinions.

Notes to Editors 

About the Centaur Group 

Centaur Holdings Ltd ("Centaur"), is a global investment holding company with interests, portfolio companies and investments in sectors ranging from asset management, wealth management, private equity, venture capital, mining and natural resources and agricultural investments. Centaur has offices in the UAE, UK, South Africa, Bermuda, Namibia, and USA.

"Centaur Private Equity" is one of the Private Equity divisions of Centaur, and has a varied sector focus with investments in, wealth management, sports and sports management, event management, natural resources and venture capital.

Centaur Private Equity invest into fast growing companies through a variety of tailored investment solutions giving significant flexibility in terms of both the financing structure of such transactions and the length of time an investment is held.

Centaur and its subsidiaries, portfolio companies and/or investments are collectively referred to as the "Centaur Group" where applicable.    

SOURCE Centaur Private Equity Ltd