Exclusive: AGS Capital Global and others hold talks to invest in Newport County

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Investment and sports technology firm AGS Capital Global are among the parties to have held talks to acquire a stake in League Two strugglers Newport County, EFL Analysis can reveal.

Discussions between AGS Capital Global and majority shareholder and chairman Huw Jenkins began several months ago and were characterised as being at an ‘advanced stage’ by sources close to proceedings.

Jenkins told fans in a December meeting that the club was seeking third-party investment to help Newport move forward on and off the field. They are understood to have held talks with several would-be investors as part of that process.

Any proposed investment by AGS Capital Global would be subject to regulatory approval and people with knowledge of the process insist there are still several hurdles left to clear, while the issue of what division the club will be playing in next season is also clearly a significant variable.

AGS Capital Global markets itself as an ‘athlete-exclusive investment and financial wellbeing platform’. It was incorporated in December last year by Welsh businessman Nicholas Beddis, whose background – according to his LinkedIn profile – is primarily in real estate. The source of AGS Capital Global’s funds is not known at this stage, nor is the structure of any would-be deal.

Former long-serving Swansea City shareholder and chairman Jenkins owns around 52 per cent of the club, while the Newport County Supporters’ Trust control about 27 per cent.

The remaining equity is held by around 600 other small, individual shareholders, most of whom bought shares when the club re-formed in 1989. The club issued a statement in January detailing how those small shareholders could, if they wish, donate their shares either to the Supporters’ Trust or the club itself.

The club’s recently-released financial statements for 2024-25 – which reiterate Jenkins’ stance on seeking third-party investment – showed that he underwrote the Exiles’ £760,000 operating loss last season with an interest-free loan worth in excess of £1m.

The club’s payroll last season was £2.5m. One of their most significant expenses is playing at Rodney Parade, which they lease from Rugby union side Dragons RFC.

Newport County are in 22nd place in League Two, a single point above the drop zone with three matches remaining. After meetings with Cheltenham Town and Oldham Athletic over the next two weekends, they conclude their campaign against 23rd-place Barrow on 2 May in a potential relegation shootout.

AGS Capital Global and Newport County were approached for comment.