Remaining partners revealed in local bid to purchase Predators

David Freeman, chief executive officer of 36 Venture Capital, is the lead investor who spoke on behalf of the group Aug. 1 when they confirmed their US$193 million offer included a $10 million deposit.

William (Boots) Del Biaggio, a minority partner in the San Jose Sharks, and Herb Fritch, CEO of HealthSpring, also were announced that day. But Freeman said the other partners needed time to prepare for the publicity and attention that would go with being part of the group.

The other investors include: Tom Cigarran, chairman of Nashville-based Healthways, Inc.; Chris Cigarran, senior vice president at Healthways; investment fund managers Joel and Holly Dobberpuhl of Franklin; De Thompson V, president of Thompson Machinery; and Johnson Thompson of Thompson Machinery.

The group has declined to reveal how much each party is investing. It is bidding to close its purchase of the team by mid-September

"These are Nashville guys pitching in out of love for Nashville and motivated by what this team means to economic activity downtown, to our international image as a city and to the overall community's quality of life," Freeman said in a statement.