Title: Landmark Ownership Shift: Persepolis FC Enters New Era of Bank-Led Management
In a significant move for one of Iran’s most storied football clubs, Persepolis has officially completed its transition to full private ownership. The final 5% of government-held shares were sold yesterday, marking the complete departure of the Ministry of Sport and Youth from the club’s ownership structure.
A New Ownership Blueprint
The sale, conducted through the over-the-counter (OTC) market, concludes a multi-year process. The buyer was a subsidiary of Bank Shahr, which solidifies a new and definitive shareholder composition for the “Reds,” entirely free of direct government ownership.
The current ownership breakdown establishes a consortium of financial institutions as the club’s stewards:
- Bank Shahr emerges as the primary shareholder with a 30% stake. Factoring in its subsidiary’s shares, its total influence rises to 35%.
- Bank Tejarat and Bank Mellat each hold a significant 20% share.
- The remaining shares are distributed among Bank Saderat, Bank Refah, Bank Eghtesad Novin, and the Shahr Financial Group, each with 5%.
- Crucially, 10% of the club is now publicly owned by its fans through the OTC market.
A Milestone in Club History
This final transfer represents a pivotal moment in the managerial history of Persepolis. The club had already taken major steps toward this goal over the past two years, initially listing 10% of its shares publicly and later transferring 85% to the banking consortium to comply with the Asian Football Confederation’s regulations. The latest sale of the residual stake severs the club’s last formal administrative link to the government, cementing its new corporate identity.
The Path Forward: Economic Management and Governance
The distribution of shares among multiple banks and financial entities is expected to steer the club’s management toward a more explicitly economic and corporate model. A key point of observation will be how this new structure influences the composition of the board of directors and the future leadership of the club.
While Bank Shahr, with its two board members, is currently in a strong position, it remains to be seen if this will lead to immediate changes in the club’s executive management. This new chapter for Persepolis shifts its operational paradigm from direct state supervision to a model driven by its consortium of major financial stakeholders.