Krause Group Purchases Controlling Stake in Serie A Football Team Parma Calcio 1913

Parma Calcio 1913 brings a wellspring of energy, opportunity, expertise and drive. Iowa is primed and ready for its own professional soccer team. Having our community linked with Parma Calcio is a tremendous asset to the Pro Iowa cause. The relationship offers limitless opportunities for Pro Iowa and for our community overall.  

PARMA – September 18, 2020 – Nuovo Inizio - the company which brought together Parmesan entrepreneurs Guido Barilla, Mauro Del Rio, Marco Ferrari, Angelo Gandolfi, Giampaolo Dallara, Giacomo Malmesi, Paolo and Pietro Pizzarotti, and Krause Group, are pleased to announce the successful acquisition by Krause Group of the controlling stake in Parma Calcio 1913.

Krause Group, an American company led by Chairman and CEO, Kyle J. Krause, is the parent company to a diverse set of businesses in the United States and Italy that include convenience retail, logistics, wineries, hospitality, real estate, agriculture, and sports. Krause Group acquired 90% of Parma Calcio 1913 srl and 99% of Progetto Stadio Parma srl, the SPV company created to manage the renovation project of Tardini Stadium.

 Following the sale, completed today in Milan in front of the notary, Mario Notari, the ownership of Parma Calcio 1913 is now divided into three groups: 90% Krause Group, 9% Nuovo Inizio and 1% Parma Partecipazioni Calcistiche, the company that brings together fans as shareholders.

 "Once we returned the club of our city to Serie A, restarting from the amateur league only five years ago, Nuovo Inizio shareholders made the commitment to identify a new majority shareholder who would have solidity, passion and the skillset to guarantee a great future for Parma Calcio.”- said Marco Ferrari, Nuovo Inizio Chairman -  "The deal signed today signifies the completion of this mission: Kyle Krause’s passion for our country, sport and city makes him perfectly suited to write a new chapter in the history of Parma Calcio. Our greatest well wishes go to the Krause family, while our thanks go to all those who have helped and supported us over the years "

 “The acquisition of Parma Calcio 1913 is the fulfilment of a long-held dream,” said Kyle J. Krause, Chairman and CEO of Krause Group.  “My family and I have a deep-rooted, intergenerational passion for both football and our ancestral home of Italy. Parma Calcio 1913 are fighters and bouncing back from Serie D with three consecutive promotions in three years is a testament to their resilience. As president I promise to fight for them every step of the way. I am honored to don the yellow and blue, and play a small part in the venerable history of this proud team. I look forward to growing the team, the sport, and its fandom in Parma, Italy, and the world.”

This acquisition – of a storied, top-tier professional soccer team-- strengthens Iowa’s ties to the global soccer community and offers unprecedented growth opportunities. It will be a catalytic boon to Pro Iowa efforts and our ambitions to continue to grow the game here.  The commitment to growing the world’s game and bringing professional soccer to Iowa has never been stronger.