Takeover of club - Imminent?

franksav63 · Post by **franksav63** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 6:34 am

Only in The Sun, but a story that's not going away...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/discussions/pos ... 18850.page

05/09/2009 02:13:15

Usmanov closes in on takeover bid!

ALISHER USMANOV'S grip on Arsenal is tightening with the Russian billionaire close to seizing full control of the club.
Usmanov has steadily been gaining power at the Emirates, taking his initial purchase of 14.58 per cent in 2007 to 25.1 this year.

Now he is ready to buy another chunk of the club from former board member Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith.

If successful, that will take him well over the 29.9 per cent mark and, under Stock Exchange rules, trigger an automatic takeover bid.

A source close to the Gunners confirmed: "This has been on the cards for some time.

"Mr Usmanov has gradually been acquiring additional shares and now there is the chance to buy a very hefty and significant amount.

"The Arsenal board will want to resist a takeover so there are some interesting times ahead."

SunSport understands Lady Bracewell-Smith is ready to sell her 15.9 per cent stake.

If she dealt with Usmanov, that would make him the Gunners' biggest shareholder with 41 per cent.

Arsenal's other major investors are Stan Kroenke (28.58 ) and Danny Fiszman (16.1).

Lady Bracewell-Smith has been considering her options since December when she was ousted from the board by Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood and Fiszman. Her shares are key in the growing battle for control being fought by Fiszman, Usmanov and his company Red & White Holdings and American sports tycoon Kroenke.

Lady Bracewell-Smith is also thought to have received overtures from a second Russian businessman interested in investing in Premier League soccer.

But the main focus remains on Usmanov and Kroenke.

Both were introduced to Arsenal in 2007 by former vice-chairman David Dein and have raced each other to buy up shares. Usmanov has been operating outside of the club, while Kroenke has been embraced by the board.

An ugly fight is forecast with Fiszman and Kroenke tipped to resist any takeover.

Recent Arsenal shares have exchanged hands at Â£8,500 each and Lady Bracewell-Smith can expect to receive around Â£100m for her stake.

But neither Fiszman or Kroenke want to sell and they certainly will not accept the going rate, so Usmanov will have to dig deep.

Usmanov, 55, made his fortune as a metal and mining mogul and has a reputation for being a hardman even among Russia's oligarchs.

Before investing in Arsenal his only previous involvement in sport came as president of the Russian and European fencing associations.

Red & White Holdings declined to comment.

But Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis said: "The club has a very clear philosophy which is that it is bigger than any single owner."

Post by **REB** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:18 am

at this stage i welcome a takeover, them *word censored* in charge now are only looking for the mortgage payments to go down so there share price goes up and will walk away with millions more then they ever thought they would

Robsy · Post by **Robsy** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:34 am

REBEL GOONER wrote:at this stage i welcome a takeover, them c**ts in charge now are only looking for the mortgage payments to go down so there share price goes up and will walk away with millions more then they ever thought they would

Don't be fooled.

Do you honestly think the fat Russian one would invest big over the long-term?

Of course he wouldn't. There would be an initial bit of big spending on players, but not on the club or fans, because that would be 'dead' money. But after 10 years, you'd find yourself looking back and realising that in reality spending had barely changed.

The grass is always greener on the other side, but never tastes different.

Post by **REB** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:43 am

and how much will kroenke and fiszman invest of there own money in the club

how much have they invested so far

sweet f a

and all they do us watch the share price rise while living outside the uk for tax reasons, not always better the devil you know.

augie · Post by **augie** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 8:42 am

Totally agree with Rebel - for a long time I wanted a takeover but not an usmanov controlled takeover but now I just want a takeover

People are knocking usmanov or kroenke or whoever else might attempt a takeover and saying that they wont spend big money in the long term etc etc but that is totally avoiding the situation with the current board. This board might be doing a lot of the plc side but they are doing fcuk all for the football club and there can be no dispute about that. They bought their shares for a hell of a lot cheaper than they are trading at now and have never put any of their own money into the club since and are now at the stage where they are watching the value of these shares soar through the roof - exactly how that translates into being committed about the club I am not sure

Maybe at times I am harsh on the board and dont give them enough credit for things that have acheived in the past but the problem is that we are now a club lying in a stagnant state and not alone have stopped progressing but have also regressed

Those "acheivements" that this board may have contributed to have been all too long ago and players and managers are not allowed to trade of past glories forever so why should board members ? Why is it that so many fans are quite happy to stick with underperforming managers and boards but would dispense with an underperforming players in a heartbeat ? I find it laughable that the board and some fans come out with shite about not wanting 1 person to control our club........has fcuking fiszman not been calling all the shots in our club for the past few seasons now anyway ? Dont lets pretend that it is run like a democracy cos the evidence suggests a far different story

At the end of the day it is my belief that we need a change of direction. The current board seem ok with the plan that 4th place is the new 1st and are not willing to raise cash to put a quality squad together. It appears that DD & usmanov are the only people who have complained about the lack of team investment so I would suggest that we change focus, start behaving like a proper football club and less like a commercial business and try and stop the days where we are ranked 15th and 16th in the premier league spending behind such superpowers as a financially fcuked west shammers

Post by **Chippy** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 8:54 am

1 comment, just because he would be forced to launch a takeover bid doesn't mean anyone has to sell to him.

Secondly if the Sun is right on its numbers

then its going to cost him about Â£500m to buy the rest of the shares. Why would someone who's just spent that, spend millions on players?

tel · Post by **tel** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:52 am

augie wrote:Totally agree with Rebel - for a long time I wanted a takeover but not an usmanov controlled takeover but now I just want a takeover People are knocking usmanov or kroenke or whoever else might attempt a takeover and saying that they wont spend big money in the long term etc etc but that is totally avoiding the situation with the current board. This board might be doing a lot of the plc side but they are doing fcuk all for the football club and there can be no dispute about that. They bought their shares for a hell of a lot cheaper than they are trading at now and have never put any of their own money into the club since and are now at the stage where they are watching the value of these shares soar through the roof - exactly how that translates into being committed about the club I am not sure

Maybe at times I am harsh on the board and dont give them enough credit for things that have acheived in the past but the problem is that we are now a club lying in a stagnant state and not alone have stopped progressing but have also regressed Those "acheivements" that this board may have contributed to have been all too long ago and players and managers are not allowed to trade of past glories forever so why should board members ? Why is it that so many fans are quite happy to stick with underperforming managers and boards but would dispense with an underperforming players in a heartbeat ? I find it laughable that the board and some fans come out with shite about not wanting 1 person to control our club........has fcuking fiszman not been calling all the shots in our club for the past few seasons now anyway ? Dont lets pretend that it is run like a democracy cos the evidence suggests a far different story

At the end of the day it is my belief that we need a change of direction. The current board seem ok with the plan that 4th place is the new 1st and are not willing to raise cash to put a quality squad together. It appears that DD & usmanov are the only people who have complained about the lack of team investment so I would suggest that we change focus, start behaving like a proper football club and less like a commercial business and try and stop the days where we are ranked 15th and 16th in the premier league spending behind such superpowers as a financially fcuked west shammers

Great post sir. Like yourself I'm now ready to see change at the club and the sooner it comes the better for exactly the same reasons you've given. The shambles we've just had with 40 million coming in and only 10 of it being spent outlines what we've thought all along i.e. 4th is the new winning the league.

Post by **Chippy** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:05 am

I am as pissed off as anybody about the direction the club is taking. My point is there is no guarantee that a "new" owner saddled with debt is going to be any better. I'd be much happier if someone, (the board, Kroenke, Usmanov) could give us a vision of how the club can move forward, debt repayments, player funds (tranfer and salaries), ticket prices, supporter facility improvements etc.. Then I'd at least know who was likely to lead us in the best direction.

olgitgooner · Post by **olgitgooner** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:17 am

Usmanov wants our club for a reason. He likes making money.

He would do to us exactly the same as Glazer has done to Manyoo.

Robsy · Post by **Robsy** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:33 am

olgitgooner wrote:Usmanov wants our club for a reason. He likes making money.

He would do to us exactly the same as Glazer has done to Manyoo.

Totally correct.

He's a Manwho fan, so he isn't buying into us because of his passion for the club, its purely to make money.

Yes, he'd invest at first, but over a 10 year cycle he'd want a nice, fat, return.

This board - who augie continually rages against - has transformed the club over the past 20 years. Yes the make-up has changed, but the Hill-Woods have been there throughout. They've transformed it to such an extent that we're known internationally and now we are an attractive club for those who want to MAKE MONEY out of football to invest in.

And please stop going on about lack of transfer spending...aren't you use to Wenger never spending the money...he's been fairly consistent over the past 13 years! Thought people might have realised how he works as a manager

!

It's really easy to destroy things buying making wholesale changes...from those who want to sack the manager, to those who want the board to go, be careful what you wish for, it doesn't always turn out how you think it might

Personally, I'd prefer people to get behind the club at a time when the press and UEFA are out to get us, rather than moan about things that, quite frankly, we can do nothing about and aren't broke!!

Exiled-Gooner · Post by **Exiled-Gooner** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:50 am

Good post Augie,and i have to agree with you.I don't get the in's and out's of the boardroom malarkey but to continue with the present board seems detrimental to the playing side of the club as there seem more interested in the share price and commercial side of the club.

DD was ousted coz he wanted to bring outside invest to improve the club in the guise of Kroenke and that famous hill-wood statement but the board invited him to join,so i believed that the board via kroenke wanted to break into the US market to generate more funds!!?but this hasn't happened,like moving would put us on par with wealthier clubs

,so instead the board have actually not invested significantly in the playing side but have let our experiene go without replacing like for like.

Fizman is calling the shots and hill-wood is just a figure head and that says it all,and seem happy to clinch 4th so to reap the millions from the C/L without really reinvesting said money into the club to ACTUALLY win the bloody thing.All i know about Usmanov except he's russian billionaire but i won't except or believe what the pathetic tabloids write about him!!and who can honestly say he won't do any good for us?he is the only share holder to complain about the footballing side and haS BEEN THE ONLY 1 TO SUGGEST A WAY TO GENERATE MORE FUNDS FOR WENGER.

The papers say Usmanov is a hard man maybe thats what we need,someone to tell wenger SPEND THE MONEY if required not use THE ARSENAL as a personnel quest to fulfil his dream of a club of youngsters but a club which wins trophies and who can say if the take over is done that we go the same way as manure and chavski and get lumbered with a huge debt...on the plus side thou there have won leagues and cups over the past 4/5 yrs.Lets just wait and see.

Jumpers For Goalposts · Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:53 am

This is probably going to be "Out of the frying pan and into the fire".

Whatever happened to the traditional old Club I fell in love with many years ago??

franksav63 · Post by **franksav63** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:58 am

Yes top post again Augie,

it's a shame there's not a wealthy Arsenal fan out there, who actually goes to all the games, has the club etched on their heart and isn't looking for a quick buck who could hoover up all these shares and get a place on the board.

GunnerDude · Post by **GunnerDude** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 11:18 am

olgitgooner wrote:Usmanov wants our club for a reason. He likes making money.

He would do to us exactly the same as Glazer has done to Manyoo.

Buy players who helped them win the league 3time, the CL and in the process making them the most valuable sports team in the world?

olgitgooner · Post by **olgitgooner** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 12:00 pm

GunnerDude wrote:
olgitgooner wrote:Usmanov wants our club for a reason. He likes making money.

He would do to us exactly the same as Glazer has done to Manyoo.
Buy players who helped them win the league 3time, the CL and in the process making them the most valuable sports team in the world?

Fair comment, Dude.

I was thinking in terms of Glazer lining his pockets and placing Manyoo into massive debt, which is creeping up towards the Â£1,000,000,000 mark.