News today links the investment interests of Steve Kaplan to Inter Milan and a huge financing package for the club for the new season. To update our readers on swans co majority owner Kaplan ( with Jason Levien ) who stepped down as a director in October last year - our article today is extremely revealing. Kaplan and his continued investments and interests are varied and display quite a CV. We have put together an interesting tour of how in eight years his successful financial profile has increased twenty fold.

For those new to Steve Kaplan we need to look at some context.

Steve Kaplan, one of Oaktree Capital’s founding members, completed a takeover of the Swans in 2016 along with Jason Levien, who was a business partner for former Inter owner Erick Thohir at DC United. Oaktree Capital are one of the largest ‘distressed securities’ investors in the world, specialising in helping companies who are experiencing financial difficulties. Oaktree Capital are expected to provide Inter with a €250 million financing deal, which will help Inter meet their various payment obligations before the end of June. The US-based firm purchased 80% of Ligue 2 side Caen in September last year, and they also have links to Championship side Swansea City.

Their assets under management disclosure is currently $350,000,000 ( three hundred and fifty billion dollars )

Inter Milan
Oaktree Capital, who are on the verge of purchasing a 30 per cent stake in Inter, are no strangers to sport or indeed the world of football. American media report a deal is practically done for them to buy 30 per cent of the club from Suning for €275m. Milano-Finanza instead suggest it will be a leveraged loan with Suning owing 66.8 per cent of the club if they fail to keep up repayments. Oaktree are already heavily involved in football, as in 2020 they joined with media producer Pierre-Antoine Capton to purchase 100 per cent of French side Caen, now in Ligue 2. Steven Kaplan, one of their co-founders, is a co-owner of Welsh club Swansea City, who play in the English Championship.

Other investments linked with Oaktree, as listed by Calcio e Finanza, include NBA side the Memphis Grizzlies. Although Oaktree are American, they too are run by Canadian fund Brookfield. As of December 31, 2020, the company managed $148 billion for its clientele which includes 73 of the 100 largest U.S. pension plans, as well as public funds, foundations, corporate and insurance companies, endowments, and sovereign wealth funds. The company's co-chairman, Howard Marks ( not that one ) is widely known in the investment community for letters to investors called the "Oaktree memos”.

Kaplan began his career as a lawyer / an attorney. Day by day, he grew up as an investor. Now Steve Kaplan is world-famous in his field of expertise. He was and remains involved at various companies. Some of those are listed below:-

Co-founder & Advisory Partner: Oaktree Capital Group LLC. It is a firm of global alternative investment management. It was started in 1995. It has 13 branches globally. Its headquarter is in California.

* Chairman: Naplak Capital Agency LLC.
* Co-Managing Partner: Swansea City Football Club.
* Committee Member: Major League Soccer’s Board of Governor.
* Co-Chairman: Memphis Grizzlies
* Managing Director: Trust Company of the West (TCW)
* Partner: Law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
* Member: Board of Townsquare Media, Inc
* Member: UCLA Jonsson Cancer Foundation
* Board Member: NY University School of Law foundation

Without these, Mr. Kaplan is an owner of many other businesses across the whole world. He is the owner or partner of these companies: MLB’s San Jose Padres, Alongside Indonesian Coal magnate, Minnesota Timberwolves Club / professional sports team, Michigan Manufacturer, Bloomington Maker of Solar Panels etc.

Kaplan has a net worth of over sixty five million dollars, he is married with six children.

We wonder if the next level often referenced by the co owners of Swansea City will appear if the swans are successful in this months play offs for the Premier League ?

What do you think ?
Comment below or join us on our forums.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

ReslovenSwan1 added 13:37 - May 20 I think the SCST ought not to take these guys to court. It makes no sense. If the SCST want to make big money they should cosy up and start networking. They should be eating lobster with thse guys in San Francisco not drinking sherry with a London QC in Knigsbridge. They have to be on good terms and be ready to sell up when Kaplan and co sell up to one of the buddies in Asia or USA or Arabia. They need to ditch the philosophy of their 'small town' predesesors. Some fans contininue to compare Kaplan with Petty which demonstates their total ignorance

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