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Williams bought by US investment firm

NEWS STORY
23/08/2020

It's the end of an era as Williams announces that it has been bought by the US-based investment firm Dorilton Capital.

The deal, according to the Grove outfit, brings a successful conclusion to the strategic review launched in late May.

According to the official press release, Dorilton Capital is known for its long-term approach to investment and its key focus will be to restore the competitiveness of the team.

As part of its strategic review, Williams together with the group's financial advisers, conducted a comprehensive review of all the options available to the company, which included exploratory discussions with a series of potential investors.

The review concluded and the company subsequently announced the sale of Williams Racing to Dorilton Capital. The transaction received the unanimous support of the Board of Williams, including Sir Frank, who determined the transaction delivers the best outcome for the company's shareholders and secures the long-term success of the Williams Formula 1 team.

Dorilton Capital is a private investment firm headquartered in the United States with a strong track-record of building and enhancing companies with a flexible and patient investment style. Dorilton recognises and appreciates the importance of respecting and retaining Williams' heritage and culture and is committed to maintaining its identity. The team will continue to race and compete under the Williams brand, with the chassis name remaining unchanged. Dorilton has no plans to re-locate the team from Grove, its traditional home.

The new Concorde Agreement is set to transform the sport and will hopefully help address the historical challenges that Williams has faced as an independent constructor, by reducing the financial and on-track disparities between teams and creating a fairer, more competitive sport.

According to the team, the new changes present an exciting opportunity for Williams, which together with the new ownership, will secure the long-term future of Williams at the pinnacle of motorsport.

"The Strategic Review was a useful process to go through and proved that both Formula One and Williams have credibility and value," said Claire Williams. "We have now reached a conclusion and we are delighted that Dorilton are the new owners of the team.

"When we started this process, we wanted to find a partner who shared the same passion and values, who recognised the team's potential and who could unlock its power. In Dorilton we know we have found exactly that. People who understand the sport and what it takes to be successful. People who respect the team's legacy and will do everything to ensure it succeeds in the future.

"As a family we have always put our team first. Making the team successful again and protecting our people has been at the heart of this process from start. This may be the end of an era for Williams as a family owned team, but we know it is in good hands.

"The sale ensures the team's survival but most importantly will provide a path to success. We are enormously grateful to Dorilton for the faith they have shown in our team and we look forward to working with them now.

"I would also like to thank the Williams Board and our advisers who have worked tirelessly over the past months to make this happen and our employees who have remained steadfastly loyal."

"The transaction announced today marks the next stage in the history of Williams Formula 1 at an exciting time in the sport," added Mike O'Driscoll, CEO of Williams. "The Company has successfully completed its strategic review and we are pleased to announce the sale to Dorilton Capital, which delivers a great outcome for shareholders and secures the long term future of the Company."

"We are delighted to have invested in Williams and we are extremely excited by the prospects for the business," said Matthew Savage, Chairman of Dorilton Capital. "We believe we are the ideal partner for the company due to our flexible and patient investment style, which will allow the team to focus on its objective of returning to the front of the grid.

"We look forward to working with the Williams team in carrying out a detailed review of the business to determine in which areas new investment should be directed. We also recognise the world class facilities at Grove and confirm that there are no plans to relocate."

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READERS COMMENTS

 

1. Posted by AnthonyConstantinou, 12/09/2020 7:04

"That sounds amazing. Its good to hear that new investment opportunity will be there for lots of people. "

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2. Posted by Willy56, 24/08/2020 16:53

"I do not see an investment firm (Watch Billions) that will truly give a damn about the Williams Team as anything other then a return on investment and will not be happy to watch cash sieve away as it does now with Claire Williams at the helm.
How fast they can get her out will decide a lot in my view."

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3. Posted by Egalitarian, 24/08/2020 0:42

"To me, this sounds like a very effective tax write-off for Dorilton ."

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4. Posted by Batman, 23/08/2020 22:46

"Can anyone explain me how is that possible a private investment firm share the same passion and values of an F1 team? Plus, a team founded and runned by a family? Passion and values? Hard to see."

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5. Posted by Dirt, 23/08/2020 14:23

"I've always viewed the purchase of a company by an investment firm to be the spiritual death of the company. Investment firms are concerned with one thing and one thing only: return on investment. Many (hopefully not Dorilton, fingers crossed) will run a purchase into the ground trying to milk as much money out of it as possible."

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6. Posted by noname33, 22/08/2020 19:37

"@TestaRossa You are the Mike Milbury of F1. That is not a positive thing."

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7. Posted by trackrecords, 21/08/2020 22:36

"Seeing as CVC got their fingers burnt, & Liberty Media have found the going can be rough, either Doritos Capital are fools or really know how to get results. Time will tell. But it's sad that no longer we have any F1 teams run by their founders."

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8. Posted by Lakota, 21/08/2020 21:28

"I'll be surprised if Williams is around in 2 years "

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9. Posted by Malbec, 21/08/2020 17:32

"Dorilton are very savvy and patient investors so this could be a good investment in the long term if they play their cards right and restructure/replace the management team at Grove and use this opportunity to expand the profile of the group worldwide, we yet see Williams up where it belongs. Racing Point has shown that this is not an impossible goal."

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10. Posted by @R1Racing71, 21/08/2020 16:59

"It’s a sad day."

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11. Posted by nnails, 21/08/2020 16:58

"You really does look like leaches are sucking the last remnant of value out of f1"

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12. Posted by kdxrider, 21/08/2020 16:39

"Frank Williams has always appeared to be well 'tuned-in' to anything to do with F1, maybe he sees the writing on the wall and decided to get out now ----"

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13. Posted by *TestaRossa*, 21/08/2020 15:45

"I am happy for Claire now she can go back to the kitchen."

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14. Posted by Dirt, 21/08/2020 14:20

"@Sennapod Also said, 'A fool and his money are soon parted.'"

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15. Posted by Rock Doc, 21/08/2020 14:17

"Does this mean the team will finally be run by someone who knows what they are doing again?"

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