BC Partners apparently aims to pull the strings at LIV Golf by seizing a strategic $50 million loan from the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF). This is no small feat, as this move could provide the private equity giant with massive leverage in the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.
Only recently, LIV seemed to be at an end after PIF turned off the money tap and the league filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2026, with PIF as a 98% shareholder. Previously, BC Partners itself had scuttled a planned $300 million deal for a "LIV 2.0" 2027 season, as top stars like Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, and Ian Poulter preferred to jump ship rather than stay on board.
High Stakes for Influence and Tax Billions
Such a debtor-in-possession loan, or DIP loan in jargon, finances a company during bankruptcy proceedings and is therefore an absolute game changer. BC Partners would thus buy directly into the restructuring and could have a significant say in whether LIV is liquidated or if some form of reorganization proceeds. But it's about more than just golf.
What's Behind the Deal?
BC Partners apparently doesn't just have the revival of tournaments in mind. Rather, it's also about securing a hefty $5 billion in accumulated tax losses in the US and UK – a financial chunk that could be truly golden in a successor structure. Whether LIV Golf truly stays alive or a 2027 season starts because of this is still completely open; this deal is primarily about gaining control over the liquidation process.
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Private equity firm BC Partners is reportedly pursuing a new effort to establish a successor to LIV Golf, seeking control of the circuit through its ongoing bankruptcy proceedings following the collapse of its previous rescue plan. 🔥Explore how private equity firms are
