Gabriel Brener Scores with Acquisition of AEG's Interest in the Houston Dynamo

News provided by

Dec 16, 2015, 05:36 ET

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A group led by Gabriel Brener, CEO of Brener International Group, LLC, has successfully acquired majority control and ownership of the Houston Dynamo organization from AEG.

The Dynamo organization includes the Major League Soccer professional soccer club known as the "Houston Dynamo," the National Women's Soccer League professional soccer club known as the "Houston Dash" and the state-of-the-art sports facility known as BBVA Compass Stadium in downtown Houston, Texas.

Brener had been a minority owner of the Dynamo organization since 2008 together with boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya and AEG. Through the acquisition of AEG's interest, Brener now becomes majority owner, alongside new owners Jake Silverstein, a Portland-based philanthropist and investor, and Houston-based businessman Ben Guill.

"This is an exciting time for soccer in the U.S. and we look forward to the continued growth and success of the Dynamo and Dash in Houston and beyond," says Chris Hopkins, COO of Brener International Group, LLC, and EVP of Forever Orange, LLC, the new parent company of the Dynamo organization.

"Under our new ownership, we look to focus on the fan experience and giving back to the community," Brener states. "We are a committed and passionate group looking to take winning to the next level. Forever Orange!"

The buyer group led by Gabriel Brener is represented by Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP of Los Angeles, and the Houston, Austin and Dallas offices of Winstead PC. Ben Guill is represented by Locke Lord LLP, and Jake Silverstein is represented by Latham & Watkins LLP.

Denis Braham, who led the Winstead team stated, "We were delighted to have the opportunity to co-counsel with Iran Hopkins and her team at Ervin Cohen & Jessup. Our combined legal team's strength in representing the Brener group and Gabriel Brener on the acquisition was virtually seamless. Our firms worked very collaboratively to harness our collective expertise in corporate, tax, banking, real estate and sports matters to bring this transaction to a successful conclusion for our mutual client."

SOURCE Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP