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Articles on football club takeovers and related issues
The money man behind the Australian consortium interested in taking over Charlton from unpopular Belgian owner Roland Duchatelet has been identified by fanzine Voice of the Valley. He is Andrew Muir who sold his family owned electrical chain for £585m last year.
An unknown Chinese buyer has expressed an interest in buying out some of Manchester United’s shareholders. Negotiators claiming to act for a billionaire investor have contacted some of United’s independent shareholders in recent weeks over a possible deal to buy a stake in the club.
Chankoo Sim, leader of Sportzen, a Seoul-based marketing firm, is one of a number of potential bidders interested in Woking. The company were the first Koreans to invest in a European football club after acquiring Belgian second division side AFC Tubize in 2014.
Tottenham Hotspur have denied speculation about a takeover of the club. In a statement on its website the club said, ‘ The Club engaged Rothschild to secure the funding for the new stadium. As expected many proposals came forward including bank debt and equity investment. The Club announced on 31 May 2017 the completion of the bank debt financing for the new stadium with a consortium of banks involving Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, Goldman Sachs Bank USA and HSBC Bank plc.
Talks with a German consortium for the takeover of Sunderland have ended in failure. The club set a time limit on the talks so that preparations could begin for next season and have now brought in Simon Grayson as manager.
A Chinese firm 5USport has taken a stake in Northampton Town FC. The size of the stake has been revealed as 60 per cent. but the chairman of the Cobblers, Kelvin Thomas, insists that it is a partnership rather than a takeover.
It does show that Chinese firms from a variety of backgrounds are prepared to take an interest in football clubs below the Premier League level.
Francesco Becchetti is no longer in charge at Leyton Orient after a controversial period of ownership which saw the club relegated out of the Football League.
An Eagle Investments consortium led by Baskin Robbins and Dunkin’ Donuts chief executive Nigel Travis has taken over. He is a lifelong fan. The price paid has not been disclosed.
A consortium of Sunderland supporters bidding to take over the club has pulled out of the running. Because of film and television commitments they think it isn’t the right time to get involved. It is hoped that new owners will be in place before the end of the month.
A consortium of wealthy supporters is ready to rival a German bid for Sunderland. It is believed that there is a big gap between owner Ellis Short’s valuation of the club and its crippling debt and what the German consortium is prepared to offer.
Mike Ashley is considering an offer from a Chinese consortium to invest in Newcastle United. A stake rather than a full takeover seems to be on the table, but a minority investment could lead to a complete takeover in time.
Ashley values his stake at £350m -£400m which has so far deterred potential buyers, but the Chinese appetite for a slice of Premiership action is strong. A substantial investment would help Newcastle to recruit top players.