Will Indonesia Soccer Club Hold IPO?

VIVAnews - Indonesia will make history with possibile initial public offering (IPO) of a soccer club PT Persib Bandung Bermartabat in the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) ahead. 

For the Indonesian public, the listing of a soccer club in the stock market is unusual in contrast with well-known soccer clubs such as Manchester United and Liverpool which have been listed in the London Stock Exchange.

In a discussion with an analyst at PT Valbury Asia Securities, Robin Setiawan, the IPO plan of a soccer club company is not impossible. “In countries overseas, more soccer teams did the IPO,” he told VIVAnews. 

Robin acknowledged that Indonesia's understanding over soccer as business is way from excellent. However, he expected that those businesspeople focusing on soccer ecosystem will pay more attention to the promising opportunity.  

He cited the Indonesian Super League, a professional competition for soccer clubs in Indonesia.  

“[The competition proves] conglomerates or businesspeople are trying to pay more attention to the soccer business,” said Robin. “Perhaps, in the years to come, soccer teams would become very important.”

Robin believed that the Indonesian public knows a lot about soccer.  Therefore, the chance for soccer clubs to become public companies in Indonesia is wide open. 

“The chance and prospect are there. We just have to see the momentum,” he said. 

Now, soccer clubs in the nation must be smart in searching for capital to finance their business.  Among other club managements that no longer rely on compensation budget is Persib Bandung.