(Reuters) -Mercury13 has snapped up a majority stake in English second-tier club Bristol City Women, the multi-club ownership group said on Thursday, marking their second European investment after acquiring a controlling stake in Italy's Como Women last year.
Stephen Lansdown, who has owned Bristol City for more than three decades, will hand over stewardship of the women's side while retaining a minority shareholding.
The Bristol-born co-founder had pumped millions into the club, including a 50 million-pound ($68.2 million) Ashton Gate Stadium redevelopment.
"My family and I have watched and supported the women's team for nearly two decades... We are proud to have helped be a part of growing the women's game," Lansdown said in a statement.
"The growth in women's football is astounding. We have always said we would look at investment if it was the right partner at the right time, and I believe now is that time for City Women.
"Mercury13's ambition for women's football matches our own. Their dedicated investment and focus on women's football will accelerate Bristol City Women's growth and I look forward to seeing what the club can achieve in the years to come."
Mercury13 targeted Bristol City for their promotion push back to the Women's Super League after the South-Western city demonstrated its appetite for women's football, twice selling out England women's matches in recent years.
Mercury13 is a group led by sports entrepreneur Victoire Cogevina Reynal, who has promised to invest $100 million in acquiring women's soccer clubs in Europe and Latin America.
"Bristol City Women represents everything we look for in a club: a rich history, a track record of performance, world-class infrastructure, and incredibly loyal supporters," Mercury13 co-founder and co-CEO Mario Malave said.
($1 = 0.7331 pounds)
(Reporting by Lori Ewing, Writing by Rohith Nair, editing by Ed Osmond)
