Cardiff announce Helford Capital Limited as new majority investors

Cardiff Arms Park is the home ground of Cardiff

Cardiff have confirmed their takeover is set to be completed after Helford Capital Limited acquired a majority shareholding in the side.

Contracts have been exchanged with the investment group spearheaded by British businessmen Phil Kempe and Neal Griffith.

This will secure the shareholding of the Thomas family and other significant shareholders of the club.

A general meeting will be called to approve the transaction.

Cardiff had announced in September that they were going to be taken over by new investors after a heads of term agreement had been reached. It followed the death of former chairman and benefactor Peter Thomas in March 2023.

The investment group have already secured approval from the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and from Cardiff Athletic Club, who will retain a minority shareholding in the club. The new group have also invited Sir Gareth Edwards to become the club's honorary president.

"Following the passing of Peter Thomas, our long-standing president and benefactor, a number of interested parties, who could invest in the club, were identified," said Cardiff Rugby chair Alun Jones.

"We are delighted to now confirm contracts have been exchanged with Helford Capital Ltd, who will become the company's new owners pending a general meeting.

"Cardiff remain enormously grateful to Peter Thomas for his passionate and unwavering support over so many years and also to his family, who have stood beside us following his sad passing in March.

"We are also very grateful to a number of other significant shareholders, who have agreed to pass on the baton to Phil, Neal and their partners.

"This is a historic and significant moment for the club and we are all enormously excited about the future for Cardiff.

"We look forward to sharing the vision and strategy for the club to supporters in due course, and implementing it with Helford Capital at the helm."

Kempe, Neal Griffith and their business partners say they have a long-term aim to fulfil the vision and ambition of Peter Thomas, but will immediately look to stabilise the club, while building solid foundations for future success.

Kempe is a Welshman with an association stretching more than a decade with the club and is aware of the Welsh rugby landscape and the unique structure of Cardiff Rugby.

Cardiff say he has a range of successful business interests across multiple industries in the UK, Canada and the Middle East.

Griffith, who also has Welsh roots, is a former investment banker with numerous global business interests as an investor and director.

The duo already have significant business relationships in the United Arab Emirates, which they plan to leverage for the benefit of Cardiff Rugby.

"Following the sad passing of Peter, the time was right to hand the baton on to others, those who possess the same passion and vision as Peter, and have the ability to lead and invest in the club," said Craig Davies, who was speaking on behalf of Peter Thomas' family.

"Peter gave so much to Cardiff over so many decades and it is vitally important that the club is passed to the right people.

"We are entrusting Peter's legacy to Phil and Neal and having known Phil for number of years, Neal for some time, and listened to their thorough plans, we know Cardiff is in safe hands and supporters can be confident they will deliver."

Stable future

Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt welcomed the news.

"It means the club is on stable ground," said Sherratt.

"Peter Thomas and his family have done a massive amount for the club and none of us would still be working for Cardiff without Peter.

"After his passing the club had to try and find external investment. I have met the guys who are involved, they are Cardiff supporters, they have the best interest of the club at heart and want to build a foundation here.

"It's not going to be a Chelsea football situation or we are not going to be signing Antoine Dupont but we want to build foundations.

"Like things on the field, it is not a quick fix but we have to look past the immediate future and build the club again. This new ownership gives us an opportunity to do that."

Former Cardiff wing and board member and current WRU interim chief executive Nigel Walker added: "Congratulations to Cardiff Rugby and everyone involved in the negotiations and process to seek new investment, which has reached a hugely successful conclusion.

"We welcome Helford Capital ltd wholeheartedly to Welsh rugby with a sense of excitement and optimism about what the future holds."