New Investor Strengthens Lotus F1 Team
New Investor Strengthens Lotus F1 Team
The Lotus F1 Team has new part-owners as of today (18 June 2013), with Infinity Racing Partners Limited (Infinity Racing) acquiring a 35% minority stake in the team. Infinity Racing joins Genii Capital, who retain a controlling stake in the team, with Gerard Lopez continuing as Chairman.
Infinity Racing is an investment consortium
whose special purpose vehicle is comprised of private
investors that include an American hedge fund manager, an
Abu Dhabi-based multinational business group and royal
family interests of a major oil producing nation.
Lotus
F1 Team was previously 100% owned by an investment vehicle
of Genii Capital – a global investment management and
financial advisory firm headquartered in Luxembourg –
which retains a controlling stake of 65% in the
team.
Gerard Lopez, co-founder of Genii Capital, will remain Chairman of Lotus F1 Team. Eric Lux, CEO of Genii Capital, will continue his role on the team’s Board of Directors.
Gerard Lopez, Chairman, Lotus F1
Team:
“Infinity Racing’s principals have exceptional
expertise and a proven strong track record in developing and
delivering high quality technologies. This partnership will
enable us to increase Lotus F1 Team’s competitive
advantage related to KERS technology as it becomes more
central to Formula 1’s push for environmentally sound
racing, while also making Lotus F1 Team more marketable as a
brand, opening up additional major sponsorship
opportunities.”
Mansoor Ijaz, Chairman and Suhail Al
Dhaheri, Vice Chairman, Infinity Racing:
“Gerard Lopez,
Eric Lux and the entire Genii Capital team are building
Lotus F1 Team to make it a serious competitor at every race
and a winner on a par with the top racing teams in Formula
1. The recent developments at Enstone and results of the
Team’s high-quality drivers are testament to this. Patrick
Louis, Chief Executive, and Eric Boullier, Team Principal,
are continuing the time-honoured traditions of Lotus F1 Team
and have re-established the Team as a competitive force in
Formula 1. We are honoured to be part of the Team’s
forward march to the No.1 ranking and proud of the team
spirit, down-to-earth nature and performance-oriented
results that characterise the experts at Enstone, who
endeavour to make Lotus F1 Team a title challenger in
Formula 1 today.”
Eric Lux, CEO, Genii
Capital:
“Genii Capital is delighted to announce this
partnership between Infinity Racing and Lotus F1 Team as we
continue to grow and compete for podium places. Since Genii
Capital took over control in December 2009, we have been
focused on growing the value of the organisation and
developing the infrastructure at its Enstone headquarters.
As Lotus F1 Team results have continued to improve every
year, we have been waiting for the right investor who will
help make the jump to the top spot in the Constructors’
Championship. In Infinity Racing, we have found a partner
with the right connections in addition to technological
expertise and a global reach in major markets with key
sponsors to achieve this goal. We look forward to working
with Infinity Racing as we continue on this exciting
journey.”
ENDS