ADQ, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, has just acquired a minority stake in Sotheby’s. The aim is to reduce the auction house’s debt and consolidate its position in a slowing art market.
On August 9, 2024, auction house Sotheby’s announced that it was welcoming a new investor. Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, ADQ, has acquired a minority stake in Sotheby’s for $1 billion.
This investment, made in partnership with billionaire Patrick Drahi, majority owner of Sotheby’s, is intended to pay down the auction house’s debt, while strengthening its position in the global art market. The transaction is between Abu Dhabi and New York-based Sotheby’s.
ADQ’s investment in Sotheby’s
On August 9, 2024, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, ADQ, announced a significant investment in Sotheby’s, amounting to nearly $1 billion.
This minority shareholding comes as part of a fund-raising drive by Sotheby’s to reduce its considerable debt . Indeed, at the end of 2023, its parent company Bitfair declared a long-term debt of $3.5 billion.
A spokesman for the auction house confirmed that the majority of the investment would be made by ADQ.
Businessman and current majority owner of Sotheby’s, Patrick Drahi,will inject additional capital, bringing the total investment to around $1 billion.
Founded in 2018, ADQ is one of Abu Dhabi’s leading sovereign wealth funds, with a diversified portfolio operating across five verticals: energy, utilities, food, agriculture and healthcare.
This investment is in line with ADQ’s strategy of diversifying and strengthening its presence inthe luxury goods and art sectors. This investment reflects ADQ’s confidence in the enduring value of Sotheby’s and in its management’s ability to realize its development projects. ADQ plans to support Sotheby’s in its strategic initiatives, such as business expansion and innovation in the art and luxury sectors.
For Patrick Drahi, the Franco-Israeli billionaire and founder of the Altice group, who acquired Sotheby’s in 2019 for $3.7 billion, this injection of funds is crucial to alleviate the colossal $60 billion debt resulting from his rapid expansion in media and telecommunications during a period characterized by low interest rates. The injection of capital by ADQ will reduce Sotheby’s debt, stabilize its finances, strengthen its position in the fine and decorative arts and jewelry markets, andsupport its future growth plans while consolidating its position as a leader in its sector.
Outlook for Sotheby’s
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