Bayern could enter stock market

UEFA Champions League holders FC Bayern München could float on the stock market after club members gave their overwhelming backing for the plan at an extraordinary general assembly on Thursday evening.

Rummenigge to chair company
The reigning 1. Bundesliga champion club has now become a limited company valued at €770m, with the professional football section split off to form a new wholly-owned subsidiary called Bayern-AG. Former West Germany striker and club vice-chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is to be chairman of the new company, with current general director Uli Hoeness and executive secretary Karl Hopfner also on the board. Club president Franz Beckenbauer will chair the new supervisory board as well as continuing in his current role.

adidas invest €77m
Ten per cent of Bayern shares will be owned by sportswear company adidas following a €77m investment, with the money going towards the club's planned new stadium. No other shares will go on sale for the time being, with Rummenigge admitting: "We don't need this kind of pressure with looking at how our shares are doing at the stock market while a game is on." However, Hoeness has suggested that the club may make a public offer of shares in three or four years' time.

Boavista test
Bayern continue their bid to retain the Champions League on 20 February, when they travel to face Portugese side Boavista FC.