After more than twenty years at the helm of AS Saint-Étienne, Bernard Caïazzo and Roland Romeyer decided to sell the club to new shareholders who wanted to further develop their vision and accelerate the club’s development. In order to ensure an ambitious future for the club, their goal is to put ASSE in the hands of a trustworthy, experienced and financially solid player.

After several weeks of discussions, ASSE shareholders announced today that they have entered into exclusive negotiations with the President of Kilmer Sports Ventures, Ivan Gazidis, to advance the sale of all shares of ASSE Groupe, a Canadian family-owned company owned by Larry Tanenbaum.

The sale must be ratified in the coming weeks once the information and consultation obligations of stakeholders and competent authorities have been fulfilled.

Bernard Caïazzo, Chairman of the ASSE Supervisory Board: “ We needed a new shareholder that met all the criteria and was not an investment fund but a company that knows sport with strong human values. This is the case of this large, powerful and talented Canadian group. It will have been a long road but it was my essential mission to ensure the sustainable future of ASSE. From our first meeting in Toronto, during an NBA game, I felt that Larry is a man with heart, loyal and respectful to the staff and players and who will be able to give ASSE the ambition that every Green dreams of. We have great hope of reaching the conclusion soon. »

Roland Romeyer, Chairman of the Board of ASSE: ” ASSE is a very big club, unique, with a history and values ​​that are dear to me as a Stéphanois. 1957 was the year I fell into the Green Cauldron, which in turn was a supporter, sponsor and manager. During the 20 years of our presidency, we have lived and shared unforgettable moments on and off the field with all those who love the club, notably with the creation of ASSE Cœur-Vert and the Musée des Verts. Faced with the unstoppable evolution of football, we wanted to transfer this legendary club to a new shareholder with the financial and sporting means to develop a responsible and ambitious project. Let’s go green! »

Larry Tanenbaum, President of Kilmer Sports Ventures: ” I know what AS Saint-Étienne means to its community and to French football: much more than a club, it is the beating heart of a city and its region. Today, we want to help the club develop while respecting, preserving and promoting its identity and its positive influence on its territory. The history of the club, its supporters, its roots, as well as the quality of the work of the current team are strengths that convinced us to commit to AS Saint-Étienne. Let’s go green! »

Ivan Gazidis, Managing Director of Kilmer Sports Ventures: ” As a football lover, the name Saint-Étienne means something extremely powerful. I am extremely excited and proud to have the opportunity to join a legendary club, fully aware of the responsibility that this entails. With Larry, who I have known for 20 years, we share the same values ​​and passion for football that we found in the Greens. We want to build an ambitious project that strengthens the club’s influence and its positive role for the people of Stéphane. The strength of the club lies not only in its identity and its supporters, but also in the work done in recent years by its management, which has been able to build a solid model to build on. We want to work hand in hand in the long term with everyone who wants the Greens to succeed! »