Tether's $1.3 billion bid for Juventus Football Club was rejected.
Date: 2025-12-15 Author: Gabriel Deangelo Categories: BUSINESS
Tether, known as the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, attempted to gain control of one of Italy's most successful football clubs, Juventus Football Club. The organization submitted a mandatory tender offer for 65.4% of the club's shares, valuing it at approximately €1.1 billion, equivalent to approximately $1.3 billion. However, Exor Holding, the majority shareholder, declined, reaffirming its position.
The stake in question was owned by Exor, an investment vehicle controlled by the Agnelli family. This stake is the de facto governing body for the club. As part of the offer, Tether was willing to pay €2.66 per share, exceeding the market price of Juventus shares at the close of trading on December 12, 2025. Therefore, the offer appeared advantageous for minority shareholders and represented a premium to the market.
Beyond the deal itself, Tether stated its intention to continue investing in the club's development after the buyout was completed. It emphasized that the company views Juventus as a long-term asset and is prepared to invest in both the sporting and commercial aspects of the project. However, these arguments failed to convince the current majority owner.
In an official statement, Exor stated that it is not considering selling any of its shares to third parties. The statement specifically stated that this position extends to all potential buyers, including Tether, whose headquarters are located in El Salvador. The holding company also recalled the deep historical ties of the Agnelli family to the club, in which it has been a shareholder for nearly a century.
According to Exor, Juventus is not just a financial asset, but also part of its sporting and cultural heritage. Therefore, the issue of divesting the stake, even with the club's high valuation, is not on the table. This position effectively closes the door to a change of control in the near future.
It is noteworthy that Tether already owns approximately 10% of Juventus shares. The company has previously made multiple attempts to increase its influence over the club's strategic and management decisions. However, sources note that these efforts have, in most cases, failed to produce significant changes, as key decisions remain with Exor.
The declined deal demonstrates that even significant financial offers are not always the deciding factor when it comes to clubs with a strong historical identity and a stable ownership structure.
