James Pallotta

James Pallotta (Boston, 13 March 1958), is an American investor and hedge-fund manager and, since August 27, 2012, the president of the Italian football club A.S. Roma. Mr. Pallotta is the Chairman and Managing Director of Raptor Group, a Boston-based investment management firm. In his portfolio management role at Raptor Capital Management LP, he manages individual, institutional and his own personal capital.

In 2005, he had income of about 200 million dollars as Managing Director of Tudor Investment Corporation. Pallotta's net worth has been estimated to be more than a billion dollars. In addition to his investment in A. S. Roma and other investments, Pallotta is a shareholder in the Boston Celtics.^[1]

AS Roma

After starting the process of sale of AS Roma, James J. Pallotta, along with three other American investors, Thomas R. DiBenedetto, Michael Ruane and Richard D'Amore, submitted a bid for the acquisition of the club A.S. Roma in an equal ownership ratio between the 4 people. The Italian-American manager was already interested in the team following the failure of negotiations with George Soros.^[2] On 15 February 2011 Unicredit starts exclusive negotiations with the U.S. consortium.

On 16 April 2011, following the signing of the contracts in Boston, a JV company "DiBenedetto AS Roma LLC" (which the 4 American were the shareholders in equal ratio) became the new majority shareholder of A.S. Roma Group. Under the agreement, another JV formed in order to acquire all the share held by Sensi family (67.097%) on AS Roma SpA, as well as 100% shares of two sister companies, "Brand Management S.r.l.", which actually the brand of Roma was held, and "ASR Real Estate S.r.l.", which the shares of Roma Group (as "Roma 2000") already de facto owned by Unicredit for debt reconstruction. The new JV, "NEEP Roma Holding", was a joint venture of "DiBenedetto AS Roma LLC" (later renamed to AS Roma SPV LLC) and Unicredit in 60% and 40% ratio. "DiBenedetto AS Roma LLC" had option to purchase more shares from Unicredit in the first quarter of 2012.^{[citation needed]} On 27 October 2011 Pallotta officially joined the board of directors of A.S. Roma and the executive committee of the same. Since August 27, 2012, he is the president of the Italian football club A.S. Roma, the 23rd of the club's history after Thomas R. DiBenedetto.^[3]

The "NEEP Roma Holding", with share capital of €120,000 in 2011–12 financial year,^[4][5] planned a complete takeover by purchased all the shares held by the public (thus de-list AS Roma from Borsa Italiana) but failed. However NEEP now owned 78.038% of AS Roma SpA. Converted to ownership ratio, Pallotta held 25% times 60% times 78.038% of the shares of AS Roma SpA (equal 11.7057%), but more controlling power in terms of majority voting rights of "NEEP Roma Holding" on "AS Roma SpA" and "AS Roma SPV LLC" on "NEEP Roma Holding".

In 2013 the ownership ratio of "NEEP Roma Holding" had changed to "AS Roma SPV LLC" 60% UniCredit 31% and Raptor HoldCo, LLC 9%. It is reported the deal was financed by Pallotta solely and Raptor purchased the shares from UniCredit for par value; co-currently with the new ownership ratio, "NEEP" had increased the share capital to €160,008,905 ^[6][7] in order to re-capitalize "AS Roma SpA" the football club itself, which the share capital stood at €19,878,494.4 on 31 December 2012.^[8] The deal de facto made UniCredit did not fully subscribe the new shares by withdrew its shareholder loan.

After the purchase, Pallotta owned the shares of "AS Roma SpA" indirectly for 16.16% (9% times 78.038% plus original 11.7057%); however in terms of voting rights unchanged as his ratio in "AS Roma SPV LLC" unchanged.

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