777 Partners
777 Partners was a Miami-based private investment company whose portfolio included financial services, aviation, sports, media and international football clubs.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
777 Partners was an American private investment company established in Miami in 2015 by Josh Wander and Steven Pasko. Rather than concentrating on a single asset class, it developed a cross-industry investment model spanning financial services, aviation, sports, media and related operating businesses. The company became especially prominent through its expansion into professional football, where it acquired or invested in clubs across several countries and promoted a multi-club ownership strategy. Its publicly reported football interests included a minority position connected with Sevilla FC in Spain, a controlling interest in Genoa CFC in Italy, Standard Liège in Belgium, Red Star FC in France, CR Vasco da Gama in Brazil and a majority stake in Hertha BSC in Germany, subject to Germany’s 50+1 ownership framework. It also held or pursued interests in other sports properties, including the London Lions basketball team, the British Basketball League and a minority investment in Melbourne Victory. In September 2023, it agreed to acquire Farhad Moshiri’s majority shareholding in Everton, but the transaction failed to complete after regulatory, financing and wider corporate concerns. Aviation was another important part of the portfolio. 777 Partners owned or financed interests in Canadian low-cost carrier Flair Airlines and owned Australian start-up airline Bonza until Bonza entered voluntary administration in 2024. Aircraft seizures, disputed lease payments and claims by creditors placed the group’s aviation activities under substantial pressure. The collapse of Bonza also affected relationships with other portfolio businesses and intensified scrutiny of 777’s financing model. The company faced civil litigation and payment disputes in several jurisdictions. Reported proceedings included claims involving aircraft leases, football-club obligations, creditors and former advisers. In Belgium, a court permitted the seizure of certain assets in connection with alleged unpaid obligations. In 2024, the operating company associated with the British Basketball League lost its licence, and the league was subsequently replaced by Super League Basketball. In July 2024, A-CAP, an insurance company that had invested in and lent to 777 Partners, informed several football clubs that it had assumed ownership interests. The company’s United Kingdom entity entered bankruptcy proceedings in October 2024. The status of the wider 777 Partners group, its remaining assets and its ultimate ownership arrangements became increasingly uncertain after these events. Later reporting described receivership and criminal investigations or charges involving company principals, but those matters should be distinguished between allegations, legal proceedings and established findings. Without current corporate filings or a definitive group-wide insolvency record, the company’s present operating status cannot be stated conclusively.
History
777 Partners was founded in Miami in 2015 by Josh Wander and Steven Pasko as a privately held investment platform. Its business model combined conventional investment activity with ownership, financing and operational involvement in companies and sports properties. Public descriptions of its activities covered financial services, aviation, media and sports, with the sports portfolio eventually becoming the group’s most visible area. The company’s first reported football investment was a minority interest connected with Sevilla FC, acquired in 2018 and increased to a reported 7.5% in 2020 through Sevillistas Unidos S.L. The arrangement was disputed by that organization, which objected to 777 presenting Sevilla as one of its portfolio brands. The investment reflected 777’s interest in clubs with commercially valuable player-development and trading operations. 777 then pursued a broad European and South American football strategy. In September 2021 it acquired 99.99% of Genoa CFC. In March 2022 it bought Standard Liège, and the following month it acquired Red Star FC in France. In February 2022 it purchased 70% of CR Vasco da Gama in Brazil. In March 2023 it acquired a 64.7% stake in Hertha BSC from Lars Windhorst. These investments made 777 one of the most prominent proponents of multi-club ownership, but they also generated fan protests and questions about spending, governance, sporting ambition and the suitability of a common investment owner across clubs with distinct local identities. The Vasco transaction was suspended on a preliminary basis by a Brazilian court in May 2024 after alleged delays in payments. Standard Liège supporters protested over investment and sporting performance, while Belgian authorities imposed an indefinite transfer ban in December 2023 over alleged delays involving taxes, wages and transfer fees. At Red Star, opposition focused on the tension between the club’s working-class local identity and the possibility that it might be used as a development asset within a larger network. Hertha supporters also protested, although later reporting described a comparatively less hostile relationship than at some other clubs. The group also entered Australian football by taking a minority stake in Melbourne Victory in 2022, with a later shareholder vote allowing the possibility of increasing that stake. In England, 777 owned the London Lions basketball team and invested in the British Basketball League. The Lions later qualified for EuroCup playoffs, but the BBL’s operating company lost its licence in 2024 amid financing concerns. The Lions were subsequently sold to Tesonet, while Lenz Balan, a former 777 executive, remained involved in the club’s management. Aviation became a major source of financial and regulatory pressure. 777 owned or financed Flair Airlines, a Canadian low-cost carrier. The Canadian Transportation Agency determined in 2022 that Flair qualified as a Canadian airline for domestic operations, subject to restrictions on 777’s influence. In 2023, four Flair aircraft were seized over alleged unpaid lease obligations. Bonza, an Australian airline owned by 777 from 2021, entered voluntary administration in April 2024. Administrators later stated that funding supplied by 777 had been insufficient to cover the company’s growing debt. Bonza’s employees were made redundant and the business was wound up. 777’s proposed acquisition of Everton, announced in September 2023, became increasingly difficult as the group’s aviation and financing problems became public. The transaction for Farhad Moshiri’s 94.1% shareholding failed to complete by the June 2024 deadline. During this period, reports also described lawsuits, payment disputes and creditor claims in the United States, Belgium, Canada and the United Kingdom. A-CAP, a significant investor and lender, reviewed the portfolio and in July 2024 asserted ownership interests in several football assets. The United Kingdom entity entered bankruptcy proceedings on 9 October 2024. Subsequent reporting described additional receivership proceedings, investigations and criminal allegations involving 777 principals. These developments, together with the transfer or sale of several portfolio assets, make it difficult to describe 777 Partners as a normally operating investment company. The exact status of the broader group and its residual assets remains subject to current court records, insolvency proceedings and authoritative corporate disclosures.
- 2024
Bonza enters voluntary administration
[1]The Australian airline enters administration, contributing to heightened scrutiny of 777’s finances and portfolio support.
- 2024
UK bankruptcy proceedings begin
[1]777 Partners’ United Kingdom entity enters bankruptcy proceedings in October.
- 2023
Hertha BSC stake acquired
[1]777 acquires a reported 64.7% stake in Hertha BSC, subject to Germany’s 50+1 rule.
- 2023
Everton acquisition agreement announced
[1]777 agrees to acquire Farhad Moshiri’s majority shareholding in Everton, pending completion and approval.
- 2022
Expansion into Brazil, Belgium and France
[1]The group acquires a controlling interest in Vasco da Gama and ownership interests in Standard Liège and Red Star FC.
- 2021
Genoa CFC acquisition
[1]777 acquires 99.99% of Genoa CFC, expanding its direct ownership of European football clubs.
- 2018
First reported football investment in Sevilla FC
[1]777 acquires a minority interest connected with Sevilla through Sevillistas Unidos S.L.
- 2015
777 Partners is founded
[1]Josh Wander and Steven Pasko establish the Miami-based private investment company.
Products and positioning
A diversified private investment platform combining financial investments with direct ownership or control of operating companies and sports assets.
Investment management · 2015
Private investment platform
777 Partners operated as a diversified private investment platform rather than a consumer product brand. Its reported activities combined financial investments with direct or indirect ownership, lending and operating involvement in businesses across financial services, aviation, sports and media. The company’s structure and portfolio changed substantially as assets encountered financing, regulatory and insolvency pressure.
Sports investment · 2018
Football multi-club portfolio
The football portfolio included investments or ownership interests associated with Sevilla FC, Genoa CFC, Standard Liège, Red Star FC, CR Vasco da Gama and Hertha BSC. The strategy sought to combine club ownership with shared commercial, sporting and player-development opportunities, but drew criticism from supporters, politicians and regulators concerned about local identity, financial commitment and multi-club governance.
Aviation investment
Flair Airlines investment
777 Partners was a shareholder and lender connected with Flair Airlines, a Canadian low-cost carrier. The Canadian Transportation Agency reviewed the ownership structure and determined that Flair could operate domestically as a Canadian airline, while aircraft seizures and lease-payment disputes later placed pressure on the airline and its relationship with the investment group.
Aviation · 2021
Bonza
Bonza was an Australian low-cost airline owned by 777 Partners from 2021 until it entered voluntary administration in April 2024. Administrators reported that funding provided by 777 was insufficient for the company’s increasing debt. The airline’s staff were later made redundant and the company was wound up.
Basketball · 2019
London Lions
777 Partners acquired the London Lions in 2019 and supported the club’s participation in British and European basketball. The Lions became the first British team to qualify for EuroCup playoffs. In 2024, amid wider financial problems affecting the British Basketball League operating company, the team was sold to Tesonet.
Media and film · 2022
STX Entertainment investment
In 2022, 777 Partners invested in STX Entertainment, a global film studio associated with feature-film production and distribution. The investment extended 777’s diversification beyond financial services, aviation and sports into entertainment media.
Controversies
2024
Payment disputes, asset seizures and insolvency proceedings
777 Partners and related businesses faced lawsuits and claims concerning alleged unpaid debts, contract breaches, aircraft leases and football obligations. Reported consequences included asset-seizure proceedings in Belgium, aircraft seizures connected with Flair Airlines, Bonza’s administration and bankruptcy proceedings involving the group’s United Kingdom entity.
2024
Scrutiny of football ownership and financing
Supporters and public figures in several countries questioned 777’s investment commitments, multi-club ownership model and financial capacity. The disputes affected Vasco da Gama, Standard Liège, Red Star, Hertha BSC and the proposed Everton transaction.
2024
Bonza collapse
Bonza entered voluntary administration and was later wound up. Administrators stated that 777 funding was insufficient for the airline’s level of debt, intensifying scrutiny of the group’s financing practices.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Multi-club football expansion
Italy · Belgium · France · Brazil · Germany
777 Partners expanded its football investment network through acquisitions and stakes in several clubs, presenting a multi-club model intended to create shared sporting and commercial value across markets.
Outcome. The strategy increased the company’s visibility but was accompanied by supporter protests, legal disputes, transfer restrictions and later transfers or challenges to several ownership interests.
- 2022Vasco da Gama investment program
Brazil
777’s acquisition of a controlling interest in Vasco da Gama was promoted as a major injection of private capital into Brazilian football after legal reforms enabled clubs to adopt corporate structures.
Outcome. Supporters protested during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, and a Brazilian court provisionally suspended the takeover agreement in May 2024 following alleged payment delays.
Brand decisions
2024
Restructure control of football assets through secured interestsStrategyBackground
A-CAP, an investor and lender to 777 Partners, reviewed the group’s portfolio as payment disputes and insolvency concerns grew.
Action taken
A-CAP notified several football clubs that it had assumed ownership interests connected with 777’s assets.
Aftermath
Ownership of individual clubs became contested or changed, with some assets later offered for sale or transferred to new owners.
2024
Enter United Kingdom bankruptcy proceedingsOtherBackground
The group faced creditor claims and significant uncertainty over its ability to fund portfolio companies and satisfy obligations.
Action taken
777 Partners’ United Kingdom entity entered bankruptcy proceedings in October 2024.
Aftermath
The proceedings further complicated the status of the group’s investments and led to continued administration, ownership and creditor disputes.
2023
Agree to acquire Everton shareholdingM&ABackground
777 Partners agreed to purchase Farhad Moshiri’s 94.1% stake in Everton while seeking to expand its football portfolio into the English Premier League.
Action taken
The parties proceeded with the proposed transaction, which required completion conditions and regulatory approval.
Aftermath
The agreement expired on 1 June 2024 without completion, amid scrutiny of 777’s finances and related businesses.
Recent events
Reported
777 Partners announces acquisition of Uown Leasing[2]
777 Partners announced its acquisition of Uown Leasing from Shepard Capital Partners. The announcement said Uown would combine operations with Mollie Financial and continue under the Uown Leasing name.
Reported
777 Partners acquires Uown Leasing[3]
777 Partners announced its acquisition of Uown Leasing from Shepard Capital Partners. Uown Leasing will combine operations with 777 Partners' Mollie Financial and operate solely under the Uown Leasing name.
Sources4 sources
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