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Germany's most successful football club, Bayern Munich, reportedly plans to sell the final 5% stake in its public limited company, FC Bayern Munchen AG, to Munich-based Viessmann Generations Group for €250 million ($289.5 million), local media reported.
The sale would make Viessmann the fourth strategic shareholder in the club, while Bayern Munich’s parent association would retain 70% of the shares and therefore continue to hold a clear majority.
The reported deal would take Viessmann’s long-standing relationship with Bayern beyond sponsorship and into direct ownership.
Viessmann became an official regional partner of Bayern in China in 2018. The partnership expanded to Southeast Asia in 2021 before becoming a global cooperation at the start of the 2022/2023 season. The company has also been a partner of Bayern’s women’s team since the 2023/2024 season.
The international partnership was extended ahead of schedule until 2029 in February. Max Viessmann, CEO of Viessmann Generations Group, already sits on Bayern’s supervisory board.
According to Bild, Max Viessmann would acquire the stake through Viessmann Generations Group rather than Viessmann Climate Solutions, the company’s existing corporate partner.
The Viessmann Group sold its climate solutions division to Carrier Global in 2023 for around €12 billion while retaining shares in the company. Max Viessmann has since invested in sustainable ecosystems, co-investments, and equity stakes.
The transaction is possible under Bayern’s 50+1 ownership structure. Adidas, Audi and Allianz each currently hold 8.33%, leaving the club with the ability to sell its final 5% stake without seeking approval from its members.
Former Bayern president Uli Hoeneß explained in November 2025 that the club could sell 5% without a member vote, while any sale beyond the 30% threshold would require a two-thirds majority.
Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen also indicated that the club was looking for the right strategic shareholder rather than simply the highest bidder, with the investor expected to fit the club’s identity and long-term strategy.
Bayern has used previous minority stake sales to strengthen its finances and fund major projects. Adidas paid €77 million for its stake in 2002, with the money helping finance the Allianz Arena, while Audi’s €90 million investment in 2009 was used to accelerate repayment of the stadium loan.
Allianz then paid €110 million for its 8.33% stake in 2014, helping Bayern clear the remaining Allianz Arena debt and invest in its youth training center.
Founded in Munich in 1900, Bayern has grown into Germany’s most successful football club and one of Europe’s biggest sporting institutions, ranking sixth in Football Benchmark’s 2026 report with a valuation of $5.5 billion.
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