Hed: Former NHL player, two others join Hurricanes ownership group

Abstract: Brett Jefferson, Marc Grandisson and former NHL player Bobby Farnham purchased minority ownership interests in the Carolina Hurricanes.

Brian Murphy, WRAL News

The Carolina Hurricanes are no longer solely owned by Tom Dundon.

The NHL franchise added three minority owners in Brett Jefferson, Marc Grandisson and Bobby Farnham, the club announced Thursday. Dundon is still the Hurricanes majority owner.

Sportico previously reported that Dundon was selling a 12.5% stake in the franchise at a $2.66-billion valuation. Dundon bought a majority share of the franchise in 2018 at a $420-million valuation and the rest in 2021. The Hurricanes have made the playoffs in each season with Dundon as owner and own one of the top records in the NHL this season.

Dundon has the rights to develop 80 acres around the Lenovo Center and has said repeatedly he wants to bring a Major League Baseball franchise to Raleigh. He is also leading a group to purchase the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers.

“Brett, Marc and Bobby are accomplished business executives whose experience and knowledge will help us continue to grow our team’s success and impact in the Triangle,” Dundon said in a statement.

Farnham, 37, played 67 NHL games with the Penguins, Devils and Canadiens and had a lengthy career in the AHL. After his hockey career, Farnham graduated from Harvard Business School and co-founded Fourth Line Capital, a private investment platform. He is part of a family ownership group of Market Basket, a supermarket chain in New England. Farnham and his family live in Boston.

Jefferson, who played lacrosse and won a national championship at Syracuse, is the founder and president of Hildene Capital Management, an asset management firm. He is part-owner of the Oshawa FireWolves of the National Lacrosse League. Jefferson and his family live in Durham, and he is a Canes season-ticket holder.

Grandisson, a retired insurance executive, is the former chief executive of Arch Capitol Group. He plans to move to Raleigh.

“Brett lives in the Triangle and Marc will soon relocate to Raleigh, so their influence will be locally-based,” Dundon said in a statement. “As a former NHL player, Bobby is uniquely positioned to help our ownership group as we move forward.”