April 23 picture shows a Press Conference by Tan Sri Vincent Tan (left) on Cardiff City getting promoted to the English Premier League for 2013/2014. With him is his son Robin Tan, who is also the Berjaya Corp chairman.
Malaysian billionaire Vincent Tan is exploring an IPO of U.K football team Cardiff City as early as this year, people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters, in a deal that would follow the team's recent promotion to the Premier League.
Cardiff City would be the second Premier League team to float shares in a year, after Manchester United listed on the New York Stock Exchange, raising $233.2 million (154.6 million pounds) in the largest sports team IPO ever.
The process is in its early stages, the people said, with details on the timing, size and listing venue subject to change.
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Tan, who owns 36.1 percent of the club and is the former chairman of conglomerate Berjaya Group, has engaged at least one investment bank to lead the process, according to the people.
The initial plan is to list the club on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, one of the people said. The deal is expected to be completed as early as this year, another person said.
Tan was unavailable for comment.
He is Malaysia's tenth richest person with a net worth of $1.3 billion, according to Forbes.
Cardiff City were promoted to the English Premier League last month after a 51-year absence.
