Inter Milan owner warns over club's stability as loan expiry date looms

MILAN :The owner of Italian soccer champions Inter Milan warned over the club's stability on Saturday after failing to reach an agreement with debt holder Oaktree, as a deadline rapidly approaches to repay a multi-million euro loan.

Chinese conglomerate Suning, which holds a 68.5 per cent stake in Inter Milan, has to hand back roughly 375 million euros ($408 million) to Oaktree, a U.S.-based investment fund, by the beginning of next week.

"We have been making every attempt with our partner to find an amicable resolution, including multiple paths for Oaktree to achieve a full and immediate financial return," said Inter Milan Chairman Steven Zhang in a letter to supporters published on the club's website.

"Unfortunately, our efforts to date have been exasperated by legal threats, and a lack of meaningful engagement from Oaktree. Not only has this been deeply frustrating and disappointing, such behaviour now poses potential risks to the Club that could seriously jeopardize its stability," he said.

He gave no further detail of the content of the discussions.

Oaktree declined to comment.

In 2021 Suning secured an emergency deal to get a three-year financing package from Oaktree to help Inter Milan weather the COVID-19 pandemic.

Granted to the Luxembourg-based vehicle through which Suning controls Inter, the loan was initially worth 275 million euros and carried an interest rate in the region of 11 per cent.

It was guaranteed by Suning's stake in Inter Milan under a scheme which gave Oaktree the potential right to take control of the club in case of a default.

Suning took control of Inter Milan in 2016, in one of the highest profile forays of a Chinese firm into European soccer.

Since then, Chinese authorities have imposed curbs over