Santos FC awaits US fund Saint Dominique's R$1 billion SAF proposal

Brazilian club Santos FC is in the final stages of converting to a Sociedade Anônima do Futebol (SAF). The club has received a non‑binding offer of roughly R$1 billion from Saint Dominique, a private investment fund based in the United States and funded by the Colombian Santo Domingo family. The proposal includes the purchase of 80 % of the club’s SAF shares and the assumption of an equivalent amount of Santos’ debt.

Saint Dominique completed a diligence process in March to verify the club’s financial and administrative documents, and Santos conducted its own review of the fund’s capacity to finance the transaction. The next step is a binding proposal that will set concrete terms, values, and obligations. Even if a binding offer is received, the sale still requires the club to amend its statutes to allow a majority share sale and then obtain approval from its members at a General Assembly.

If approved, the club would be controlled by the Saint Dominique group, which includes founder Lauren Santo Domingo and has interests in media and beverage companies such as Grupo Valorem, TV Caracol, AB InBev, and a stake in the NFL’s Washington Commanders. No prominent figures are expected to take operational roles at Santos.