Wayne and Coleen Rooney are set to take a stake in protein powder firm Applied Nutrition when it floats in London this month.
The listing, which will value the JD Sports-backed group at up to £400million, will net Liverpudlian founder Thomas Ryder an immediate windfall of up to £94million while still holding shares worth as much as £120million.
Ryder, 40, a father of four, who left school aged 16, holds a 53.5 per cent stake, worth up to £214million.
Stake: Former England footballer Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen (pictured) will invest in protein powder firm Applied Nutrition when it floats in London this month
He will reduce his ownership to 30 per cent in the so-called initial public offering (IPO).
Alongside former England footballer Rooney, 38, and his wife Coleen, also 38 – a brand ambassador for the firm – other big-name backers will invest £25million.
Billionaire Mohsin Issa, who stepped down as chief executive of Asda last month, has committed to buying £10million worth of shares.
Construction entrepreneur William Ainscough, the boss of housebuilder Wain Group, will buy a £4million stake.
Tom Morris, the retail billionaire who founded Home Bargains – another Liverpool success story – will invest £6million.
Liverpudlian property magnate George Downing, who made an unsuccessful bid for Everton Football Club this year, plans to buy £5million worth of shares.
Applied Nutrition said on Wednesday it would offer up to 137,408,477 shares at a price range of 136p to 160p, implying a value of £340million to £400million.
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