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Hardball is a Norwegian investment company founded in 2004 to finance player transfers for the association football team Brann from Bergen, Norway. Former news editor at Norwegian TV 2 and managing director of software company Vizrt, Bjarne Berg, fronted Hardball and was one of several members of the investors group until his death in 2010.
Eivind Kåre Lunde is the company's Managing Director.
When a Hardball financed player is sold, Hardball is to have their investment back after expenses are withdrawn. Any profits are to be divided 50-50 between Hardball and Brann. Hardball has no ownership in Brann, and the power to sell or trade players stays with the club.
The investors are predominantly local businessmen from Bergen and are known Brann supporters, and have expressed desire to help Brann becoming a top class team. According to Bjarne Berg, the company's long-term goal is to make itself redundant without losing money in the process. [1]
The company has partially or fully financed the following player transfers:
Note! All transfer fees are approximates.
| Bought from | Date | Transfer fee (NOK) | Player | Transfer fee (NOK) | Date | Sold to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryne | December 2003 | 2.200.000 | Ragnvald Soma | 6.000.000 | March 2006 | Viking |
| Northern Spirit | February 2004 | 750.000 | Dylan Macallister | 750.000 | March 2006 | Lyn |
| Salzburg | August 2004 | 5.000.000 | Paul Scharner | 32.000.000 | January 2005 | Wigan Athletic |
| Stabæk | December 2004 | 10.000.000 | Martin Andresen | Free transfer | November 2007 | Vålerenga |
| KR Reykjavik | December 2004 | 1.000.000 | Kristján Örn Sigurðsson | Free transfer | January 2010 | Hønefoss |
| Ham-Kam | November 2005 | 10.000.000 | Petter Vaagan Moen | Free Transfer | January 2011 | Queens Park Rangers |
| FH Hafnarfjarðar | August 2006 | 2.000.000 | Ármann Smári Björnsson | Free transfer | August 2009 | Hartlepool United |
| Vålerenga | August 2006 | 7.000.000 | Ardian Gashi | 6.000.000 | July 2007 | Fredrikstad |
| Leeds | August 2006 | 5.000.000 (sign on fee) | Eirik Bakke | Free transfer | January 2011 | Sogndal Fotball |
| Rosenborg | March 2007 | 6.000.000 | Jan Gunnar Solli | Free transfer | January 2011 | New York Red Bulls |
| Løv-Ham | July 2007 | 2.500.000 | Knut Walde | Contract expired | January 2010 | - |
| Elfsborg | July 2007 | 2.500.000 | Joakim Sjöhage | Undisclosed | November 2008 | Trelleborg |
| Free transfer | July 2007 | Unknown (sign on fee) | Hassan El Fakiri | - | - | - |
| Benfica | August 2007 | 3.000.000 | Azar Karadas | 2.000.000 | September 2009 | Kasımpaşa |
Investors of Hardball: [2]
- Svein Ove Strømmen - IT
- Rolf Westfal-Larsen - Shipping
- Eivind Kåre Lunde - Managing Director of Hardball
- Bjarne Berg - Managing Director of Hardball
- Reidar Andreas Madsen - Real estate and supermarkets
- Oddvar Leiv Holmedal - Catering
- Arne Veidung - Importer of wine and liquor
- Tor-Inge Måkestad - Fruit and vegetable importer
- Per Jæger - Automobile sales
- Knut Herman Holler Gjøvaag - Automobile sales
- Hermund Sigfred Linde - Real estate
- Bjarne Davidsen - IT
- Karl Kvalheim - Shipping broker
- Arne Viste - Shipping
- Tore Brynjulfsen - Real estate