- 閱讀權限
- 90
- 最後登錄
- 16-1-20
- 精華
- 0
- UID
- 82666
- 帖子
- 32752
- 積分
- 127
- 註冊時間
- 03-6-26
- 在線時間
- 5834 小時
      
- UID
- 82666
- 帖子
- 32752
- 積分
- 127
- Good
- 1295
- 註冊時間
- 03-6-26
- 在線時間
- 5834 小時
|
Liverpool takeover: £500m bid 'on the table'
Liverpool's owners face a decision this week over their continuedpresence at Anfield. Observer Sport understands that Tom Hicks andGeorge Gillett Jr have now received a formal offer of about £500millionfor their shares in the club.
The offer - which would allow the Americans to pay off the borrowing with which they purchased Liverpool last February and to net personal profits of £75m each - has been lodged by Dubai International Capital, an Arab investment group that has long targeted Liverpool.
The takeover bid arrives at a particularly difficult moment for Hicksand Gillett, who have drawn the ire of Liverpool supporters forentering into a public dispute with Rafa Benítez over transfer fundingand Hicks' admission that they talked to Jürgen Klinsmann aboutreplacing the manager. A sizeable contingent of supporters has calledfor the Americans to leave the club, with a further protest arrangedfor tomorrow's meeting with Aston Villa.
While the manager spent much of a press conference fending offquestions about anything other than football, he reiterated his beliefthat he will stay at the club. 'I have a lot of confidence in thefuture and that I will be involved in it,' Benítez said. 'The mostimportant thing here is the club and the players know that. The key isto keep winning, then everyone is happy.' But the prospects of both theSpaniard and his American employers remain in doubt.
Hicks and Gillett have encountered problems refinancing the £350m ofdebt they incurred in taking over the club, a loan that is due toexpire at the end of next month. In an attempt to generate additionalfunds for the development of a new stadium, the pair have sought totransfer borrowings for which they are personally responsible on to theclub.
While the Royal Bank of Scotland has indicated that it expects therefinancing deal to be concluded this week, senior club figures areconcerned about the implications of a new loan. According to Citysources, the arrangement fee could be as high as £40m, with annualinterest payments of up to £30m depending on the percentage of personalequity injected into the deal by the Americans.
Hicks and Gillett are understood to be in disagreement over the bestway to progress. Hicks, the wealthier of the two, has consistentlystated that their shares are not for sale and expressed confidence thatthe refinancing package would be successfully concluded. Gillett hasremained in the background, but is thought to be receptive to DIC'soffer. A spokesman for Hicks said: 'Any suggestion Hicks and Gillettare contemplating a sale of the club or any portion of it iscategorically untrue.'
While DIC sources say it is 'too close to call' whether their currentbid will be accepted, the group believes the Americans will selleventually and DIC will continue to pursue their interest in the clubeven if the refinancing package is approved.
DIC is ultimately controlled by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who hasan estimated wealth of £7billion. Chief executive Sameer Al Ansari is aLiverpool fan. If successful, the group would invest heavily in theteam and infrastructure, constructing the stadium required to achievelevels of match-day income comparable with Arsenal and ManchesterUnited.
Hicks and Gillett purchased Liverpool for £174.1m, also taking onoutstanding debts of £44.8m. The entire sum and subsequent spending wasfunded with borrowed monies and they are yet to invest any of their owncapital in the club.
The Observer . |
-
總評分:
Good + 5
查看全部評分
|