Lazio deny reported JP Morgan approach and flag Consob complaint
SS Lazio has denied reports of a €450m takeover approach linked to JP Morgan and said it will ask Italy’s markets regulator to review what it called repeated unsubstantiated claims that could affect its share price.
SS Lazio have issued a formal denial of reports claiming a €450m offer linked to JP Morgan to acquire the club, describing the claim as baseless and unsupported.The Serie A club said it had not received any proposal, expression of interest, preliminary approach or communication of any kind from JP Morgan or from any party acting on its behalf.The club’s response matters commercially because SS Lazio are a listed entity, and speculation about ownership or capital transactions can trigger market volatility, distort price formation and create uncertainty for investors and partners.SS Lazio said: “No proposal, expression of interest, preliminary approach or communication of any kind relating to a potential acquisition of the Company has ever been received from JP Morgan or from any party acting on its behalf.“Accordingly, the information contained in the article is entirely unfounded and lacks any factual basis.”SS Lazio also demanded a correction from the outlet that published the allegation, calling for it to be given equivalent prominence to the original claim in order to restore what the club described as accurate information for readers, supporters, the transfer market and stakeholders.The club said the allegation was presented as fact without objective evidence, and positioned its statement as part of a wider effort to protect market integrity around its shares.SS Lazio said it intends to bring the matter to the attention of CONSOB, Italy’s financial markets regulator, citing what it described as repeated circulation of unsubstantiated reports concerning alleged transactions involving its share capital.SS Lazio said: “Such reports may adversely affect the orderly functioning of the market, interfere with the proper price formation process of the Company’s shares and create uncertainty among investors.”The episode underlines the sensitivity around takeover and investment narratives in European football, particularly where clubs have public shareholders and disclosure duties that raise the stakes around rumour-driven coverage.The next steps are a requested correction from the publishing outlet and a CONSOB notification as SS Lazio seek to deter further speculation around ownership or capital activity.