{"url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-26/development-holding-slough-town-stake","markdown_url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-26/development-holding-slough-town-stake.md","title":"Development Holding Buys 70% Slough Town FC Stake","headline":"Development Holding to Acquire 70% of Slough Town FC Owner A23 Football Group","description":"Development Holding agreed to acquire 70% of A23 Football Group, Slough Town FC's owner, in a three-year phased deal with regulatory approvals secured.","section":"Mergers & Acquisitions","published_at":"2026-10-26T14:17:28+00:00","modified_at":"2026-10-26T14:17:28+00:00","author":"News Desk","key_takeaways":["Development Holding entered a binding agreement to acquire a 70% shareholding in A23 Football Group Limited, the owner of Slough Town Football Club.","The acquisition will be phased over three years, with Development Holding's shareholding increasing progressively to 70%.","Talal Al Ajmi, Founder and Chairman of Development Holding, said football has always been a personal passion of his."],"companies":[{"name":"Development Holding","is_primary":true,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0049k6a/development-holding","website":"https://dhc.com.kw"},{"name":"Slough Town FC","is_primary":false,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0023aoz/slough-town-fc","website":"https://www.sloughtownfc.net"}],"source":{"publisher":"EIN Presswire","title":"Development Holding Company Announces Strategic Investment in Slough Town Football Club","url":"https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/952344528/development-holding-company-announces-strategic-investment-in-slough-town-football-club"},"other_sources":[{"publisher":"Devdiscourse","url":"https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/international/3997044-pitchwise-to-buy-42-valencia-cf-stake-values-the-spanish-football-club-at-14-billion"},{"publisher":"PRESSBEE","url":"https://eng.pressbee.net/show4929636.html?title=sanjay-govil-eyes-melbourne-renegades-and-hobart-hurricanes-but-r"}],"tags":["Mergers & Acquisitions","Development Holding","Slough Town FC"],"body_markdown":"[Development Holding](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0049k6a/development-holding) Company, a Kuwait-based diversified investment group and public holding company, has entered a binding agreement to acquire a 70% shareholding in A23 Football Group Limited, the ownership company of Slough Town Football Club. [EIN Presswire](https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/952344528/development-holding-company-announces-strategic-investment-in-slough-town-football-club) published the announcement on October 26, 2026. The transaction is structured as a phased deal over three years.\n\n## Development Holding's Phased Deal for A23 Football Group\n\nDevelopment Holding's shareholding in A23 Football Group will increase progressively to 70% across the three-year transaction, according to the announcement. The transaction has received all applicable regulatory and football authority approvals, the company said.\n\nDevelopment Holding is a Kuwait-based diversified investment group and public holding company focused on building and scaling high-potential businesses, according to [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data). [Slough Town FC](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0023aoz/slough-town-fc), founded in 1890 and known as \"The Rebels\", has competed at the highest level of the non-league game, appeared at Wembley Stadium in the 1973 FA Amateur Cup Final and pursued a strategy centred on sustainability, talent, fan experience and community.\n\n\"Football has always been a personal passion of mine, and I strongly believe in the extraordinary potential of the global sports industry,\" said Talal Al Ajmi, Founder and Chairman of Development Holding. Ashley Smith, CEO of Slough Town FC, said the club had made significant progress since the group took over in 2023, including improvements to its sporting venue, community presence and academy structure.\n\n## Development Holding's Portfolio and Leadership\n\nDevelopment Holding's portfolio spans 10 sectors, including health, entertainment, real estate, transportation, energy, technology, finance, AI, retail and crypto, according to akta.pro company records. The same records list 10 brands, among them VI Markets, Canteen, 20 Grams, TFK, Wave, Edion Kuwait, Masader, Crew, Economic and Serve. Development Holding acquired The Fragrance Kitchen, a Kuwaiti-founded luxury fragrance house, in June 2024, expanding its portfolio into the international luxury goods vertical. In November 2025, Development Holding appointed Mohammed AlJouan as Head of Mergers and Acquisitions, bringing more than 19 years of investment experience from HSBC, National Investments Company, Global Investment House and ABK Capital.\n\n## Football Club Stakes Draw New Buyers\n\nPitchwise Holdings will acquire a 42% stake in Valencia CF in a deal that values the Spanish football club at €1.25 billion ($1.4 billion), Valencia said on Friday, [Devdiscourse](https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/international/3997044-pitchwise-to-buy-42-valencia-cf-stake-values-the-spanish-football-club-at-14-billion) reported on October 23, 2026. Sanjay Govil is eyeing a stake in Melbourne Renegades or Hobart Hurricanes but refuses to enter a bidding war, [PRESSBEE](https://eng.pressbee.net/show4929636.html?title=sanjay-govil-eyes-melbourne-renegades-and-hobart-hurricanes-but-r) reported on October 17, 2026. Govil already owns Washington Freedom and a stake in Welsh Fire, and Cricket Australia has opened the Renegades sale process.\n","publisher":{"name":"News for Agent","url":"https://newsforagent.com"}}