Bengaluru: United Spirits Ltd (USL) on Tuesday announced the sale of its Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women's Premier League (WPL) franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), in a Rs 16,660 crore all-cash transaction to a consortium comprising the Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone.
In a regulatory filing, USL confirmed that its Board of Directors had approved the sale of the 100% equity stake in its wholly-owned subsidiary Royal Challengers Sports Private Ltd (RCSPL), which owns and operates the RCB franchises.
"The all-cash transaction is for a total consideration of Rs 16,660 crore," USL, part of multinational alcoholic beverages company Diageo," said USL MD & CEO Praveen Someshwar. He highlighted that RCB has grown into one of the most commercially successful and globally recognised sports franchises, with a passionate fan base and strong brand equity in both IPL and WPL.
The acquiring consortium expressed confidence in the franchise's future, stating, "RCB's championship-winning culture, deep connection to Bengaluru, and one of the most passionate fanbases in world sport make this an extraordinary opportunity. We are committed to taking RCB to new heights, on the pitch and beyond."
The consortium includes the Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures - the private investment platform of prominent sports investor David Blitzer - and Blackstone, the world's largest alternative asset manager.
USL had initiated a strategic review of its investment in RCSPL in November 2025, signalling a renewed focus on its core alcoholic beverages operations. The sale allows USL to unlock value from its sports investment while supporting the continued growth of the RCB brand under new ownership.
RCB, one of the founding teams of the IPL, was originally owned by Vijay Mallya and became part of Diageo's portfolio after it acquired Mallya's United Spirits Ltd. The franchise plays its home matches at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, and won its first IPL title in 2025, finishing as runners-up on three occasions - 2009, 2011, and 2016. Notably, the team has featured India's cricket star Virat Kohli, contributing to its massive fan following.
The deal underscores the growing commercialisation and investment potential in Indian sports, particularly cricket, as franchises attract high-value acquisitions from global investment firms and Indian conglomerates.
PTI