Sir Jim Ratcliffe has quietly put Lausanne-Sport up for sale as INEOS continues to scale back its sports investments, with the Swiss Super League club becoming the latest asset on the market.
The club, which Ratcliffe took over in November 2017 as his first step into the sporting world, is now being advertised to potential buyers. The petrochemicals billionaire is seeking to offload the side as part of a wider pattern of retreat from sports ownership beyond Manchester United.
Lausanne-Sport on the Market
According to The Athletic, a prospectus has been circulated to potential buyers to advertise Lausanne. Consultancy firm Alvarez & Marsal have been tasked with selling the club, who currently sit bottom of the Swiss Super League after five straight league defeats.
In the five-page document, Lausanne are described as having "a unique infrastructure set-up" and "an asset-light model". Despite their current league position and having been relegated twice under INEOS' ownership, they are billed as "an established top-flight contender" with seven Swiss league titles and nine Swiss cup wins in their history.
Financial Pressures and Portfolio Changes
Lausanne are poised to make a loss of around £5 million this year and do not own their stadium or training ground. INEOS bought the club after establishing their global headquarters in the Swiss city between 2010 and 2016.
INEOS also owns French club OGC Nice and has a one-third stake in the Mercedes F1 team. The company cut ties with Sir Ben Ainslie's sailing team in January 2025 as part of a money-saving effort. INEOS have been unsuccessfully trying to sell Nice for the past few years, and have been forced to reduce their €250 million (£209.5 million) asking price for the French club they bought in 2019.
Impact on Manchester United
INEOS' cost-cutting measures have made regular headlines since Ratcliffe took over at Manchester United in December 2023. Hundreds of staff have lost their jobs at United, with other benefits and luxuries cut.
Ratcliffe previously had commercial interests across football, sailing, F1, rugby and cycling, but INEOS has been contracting that area of their business in recent years. Sponsorship deals with New Zealand rugby and Tottenham were stopped, while there was a fierce argument with Ainslie over the removal of funding ahead of the America's Cup.
The commitment remains at United, where INEOS inherited sporting control from the Glazer family, but criticism has ramped up recently, with fans protesting against their owners. United sit 16th in the Premier League following a miserable start to the campaign, with Michael Carrick expected to be sacked months after INEOS handed him the role permanently.
Ratcliffe's approach to business is reflected in the insight Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff gave back in October 2023. "This is a no bull**** organisation," he said of INEOS. "They are huge in terms of revenue and profit. Decisions are being made quickly – three bullet points on a page and 'here we go'. With Jim all the bull**** is cut out."
