EU to OK Liberty Media's €4.2bn purchase of MotoGP

Liberty Media is set to earn approval from the European Union antitrust authorities in its bid to acquire the MotoGP owners Dorna Sports.

This is according to Reuters, who claimed that a €4.2billion ($4.6bn) deal will get the stamp of approval by the competition EU watchdog European Commission in the coming weeks.

It comes after Liberty, which also owns Formula 1, announced plans to purchase an 86% stake in Dorna during April last year, with the Spanish company then keeping 14% of its equity.

Given Liberty has owned F1 since 2017, the deal has come under the EU’s antitrust spotlight. But according to Reuters, the European Commission is expected to let the sale occur without requiring any concessions. A decision must be reached by 1 July. 

Should this happen, it would mark a change of tune for the antitrust authorities who, in 2006 when CVC Capital Partners wanted to add F1 to its portfolio, forced the private equity firm to sell MotoGP to complete its purchase. 

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Under the leadership of Carmelo Ezpeleta, Madrid-based Dorna has owned MotoGP, as well as numerous other motorcycle championships, since 1992. 

Reuters reported that the EU executive declined to comment, but did quote a Liberty Media spokesperson on the American company’s vision for MotoGP. 

They said: “There is a very large and growing market for audiovisual entertainment well beyond sports, and the transaction will enhance MotoGP's ability to compete in this highly competitive market.”