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The people in charge of SV Werder Bremen have taken an important step for the future of the Green and Whites and found a strategic partner. A regional alliance of entrepreneurs and private individuals with long-standing ties to Werder is providing 38 million euros as part of a capital increase. In return for the money, the newly founded company of future partners will receive around 18 percent of the shares in SV Werder Bremen GmbH & Co KGaA.
Among the supporters are Frank Baumann, Arnd Brüning, Jens Christophers, Marco Fuchs, Martin Harren, Klaus Meier, Harm Ohlmeyer and Kurt Zech. As part of the commitment, the regional alliance will receive two supervisory board mandates. Jens Christophers and Arnd Brüning will fill the positions on the Supervisory Board of the corporation. The Board will be increased from seven to nine members.
Dr. Hubertus Hess-Grunewald, president of SV Werder Bremen and chairman of the supervisory board, said, “This is an important step for Werder Bremen. With these partners, the management has precisely implemented the strict requirements of the Executive Committee and fulfilled our three wishes: Firstly, to find regional supporters who respect and preserve the values, identity and tradition of the association. Secondly, to retain people who are committed to the long term and who are primarily concerned with the development of Werder. And thirdly, to retain partners who do not want to exert any operational influence. Because one thing was and is essential for us: ‘Werder must remain Werder!'”
Klaus Filbry, chairman of the management board of SV Werder Bremen GmbH & Co KG AA, said, “SV Werder is positioning itself even more strongly for the future. The funds provided increase our equity capital and give us greater economic capacity. We have agreed with the new partners that we will use the money to strengthen the core business of football at Werder Bremen. This commitment gives us more economic leeway to further advance infrastructural measures. In addition, the focus is on investing in young, talented players in order to create sustainable value for Werder Bremen. And to put the whole thing in perspective: We will continue on the path of economic reason. This investment does not guarantee that we will play internationally with Werder in the next few years. But this step will give us a good boost in all areas.”
The commitment of the regional alliance is designed for the long term. A possible resale of the shares is subject to time and legal restrictions. At the same time, Werder has a right of first refusal at any time. “We have been guaranteed that the strategic partner will not exert any influence on the operational business. Of course, we want to use the network and the input of the group to further develop Werder together. A control function on the supervisory board is common practice for such a sum. We are making this possible by adding two people to the board,” says Filbry.
Harm Ohlmeyer, spokenman for the newly founded company, said, “SV Werder Bremen is a beacon in Bremen and the region, to which we are committed as a regional alliance. We want to contribute to shaping the future of Werder in a positive way and hope to spark a spirit of optimism. As a strategic partner, we plan a long-term and sustainable commitment. For this reason, we have also agreed on time and legal restrictions on the resale of shares. We are interested in the long-term development of Werder and not in short-term returns. We are convinced of the ideas and plans of those responsible. We want to be successful together with them.”
Filbry adds: “We are very happy that we have achieved this result together. I would like to thank our new partners. The same applies to my colleagues from the management, the Executive Committee of Werder Bremen, the Supervisory Board as well as our Head of Legal, Dr. Henning Hofmann, and our Head of Finance, Daniel Bruss. Everyone did an outstanding job.”
