DUBAI TO MAKE BID

[hamstrung]

I have been to dubai and they certainly dont do things by halves. If they were gonna build a ground god only knows what it would be like.

 

 

A stadium built out of gold would be nice.

[Rashid]

I have been to dubai and they certainly dont do things by halves. If they were gonna build a ground god only knows what it would be like.

 

It will be the Burj Al Arab of Stadiums....

[Guest Stevo]

I have been to dubai and they certainly dont do things by halves. If they were gonna build a ground god only knows what it would be like.

 

They never ruled out a groundshare as far as I'm aware.

 

I think it's a case of 'grass is greener' with DIC, rich arabs, etc, but we could end up worse off.

[Roy Hobbs]

I would be amazed if DIC used their own cash to build the stadium. They will lend of the bank and pay it back over time but due to the stadium actually been built i cant see any problems in paying it back.

 

The advantage DIC have is they will have no problems getting the loans that they require as the cash to build stadium is fuck all to them but it would be bad business to pay for it out of their own pocket.

 

:eek:

 

Of course it will be done with loans. Importantly though, they will get them and get them on the very best of terms.

 

Very importantly though if the team needs an injection of talent they can afford it.

 

Most importantly though is that if we miss CL qualification they can afford to see us through.

 

The best bit is that they seem determined and they may see us as their flagship. If they do, it's going to be a fun ride.;)

[redrosetints]

Be very surprised if they don't borrow to finance the stadium

 

But borowing against the staidum isnt a problem though is it ? Making us, LFC pay for the yanks purchase is the thing that sticks in the throat. If we borrow to build the stadium and its against the club, fine, as the increased matchday revenue will cover the interest payments. For me it wasn't about being bankrolled, it was about a buyer enabling us to compete on an even financial playing field, by making LFC self sufficent. As then we are safe whatever happens it the long run.

 

So if DIC do get in and if they do borrow against the stadium, fine, just dont put he purchase cost on our books.

[coop]

Until i see it saying Hicks has agreed to sell im not getting my hopes up.

[Spy Bee]

I'm suprised that they are interested in joint ownership.

[hamstrung]

But borowing against the staidum isnt a problem though is it ? Making us, LFC pay for the yanks purchase is the thing that sticks in the throat. If we borrow to build the stadium and its against the club, fine, as the increased matchday revenue will cover the interest payments. For me it wasn't about being bankrolled, it was about a buyer enabling us to compete on an even financial playing field, by making LFC self sufficent. As then we are safe whatever happens it the long run.

 

So if DIC do get in and if they do borrow against the stadium, fine, just dont put he purchase cost on our books.

 

I wasn't saying it was a bad thing - just disagreeing with Pauls suggestion they will pay for it out of their own cash.

[Rashid]

I'm suprised that they are interested in joint ownership.

 

They aren't, but it will do for now.

[fivetimes]

They never ruled out a groundshare as far as I'm aware.

 

I think it's a case of 'grass is greener' with DIC, rich arabs, etc, but we could end up worse off.

 

As I said earlier on in this thread, without a doubt. It was a bit embarrassing that flag on the kop on tuesday "SOS Dubai".

 

Whats to say they wont just use us as a marketing tool and ruin us?

[Guest Stevo]

DIC are not bored Russian billionaires looking for a hobby, they're an investment vehicle and in it to make a return. They won't use their own money for anything and would probably want their own people in, including manager.

[Spy Bee]

We'd just be a good advertisinge icon for DIC.

[Guest Stevo]

As I said earlier on in this thread, without a doubt. It was a bit embarrassing that flag on the kop on tuesday "SOS Dubai".

 

Whats to say they wont just use us as a marketing tool and ruin us?

 

Probably why Moores went with the Americans in the end. Maybe a gut feeling that all was not right with DIC. Now that he's out of the way, DIC can worm their way back in again.

[Rashid]

DIC not affected by Credit Crunch says Ansari...

 

DIC not affected by woes

by Alex Livie, 17 January 2008

 

Dubai International Capital insist they will not be affected by the worldwide credit crunch amid speculation they are set to revive their interest in Liverpool.

 

The Dubai-based investment company are backed by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and they were beaten to the ownership of Liverpool by American pair Tom Hicks and George Gillett last year.

 

The uncertainty in the worldwide financial markets is believed to have prompted DIC to take a second look at Liverpool, amid suggestions Hicks is struggling to secure a refinancing deal.

 

DIC have refused to comment on their reported interest in Liverpool, but they claim the financial uncertainly will not prevent them from pushing through deals.

 

Chief executive Sameer Ansari said: "Even with the so-called credit crunch and turmoil in credit markets we are in a very strong position to do transactions at reasonable valuations and get debt for those transactions.

 

"We haven't felt the impact."

[Lofts]

Anfield fans in fear as Liverpool's future is on knife edge

Jan 17 2008 EXCLUSIVE by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo

 

DURING an exhaustive search for investment in Liverpool Football Club Reds chief executive Rick Parry spoke of the need for any deal to be absolutely right.

 

“You can only sell the family silver once,” he famously remarked.

 

Today Liverpool are facing up to the previously unimaginable possibility of half of the family silver being sold for the second time in less than a year – if Tom Hicks is willing to sell.

 

DIC loom large on the Anfield horizon again.

 

After missing out to Hicks and George Gillett last time around Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum is understood to be ready to do everything in his power to ensure it does not happen again.

 

But despite being one of the richest men in the world Sheikh Mohammed does not use his immense wealth to pay over the odds for any business.

 

When he was beaten to the punch by Hicks and Gillett last February one of his most trusted aides told the world bluntly “we won’t overpay for assets”.

 

So, if a deal is to be struck, it must suit all parties.

 

DIC chief executive and self-confessed Liverpool fan Sameer Al Ansari intimated the investment vehicle’s interest in the club ended when Hicks and Gillett took control.

 

But in reality their interest has never really gone away.

 

In the autumn they entered into talks with Hicks and Gillett with a view to snapping up a minority share of between 10-20% - only for any potential deal to founder on the Americans’ £1bn valuation of the club.

 

Now they are looking at setting up a deal in which they would buy, at the very least, a 50% share in Liverpool.

 

A firm bid could be forthcoming within days.

 

It is undoubtedly decision time for Hicks and Gillett who thought they had seen off DIC’s interest once and for all when they paid £218.9m for Liverpool last February.

 

But since then plans to refinance their initial purchase and pay for the long-awaited new Anfield with a new loan running into hundreds of millions of pounds have been slowed down by the American credit crunch making borrowing money much more difficult than it was 12 months ago.

 

There has also been a reticence from honorary life president and former chairman David Moores and Parry to sign up to a refinancing package which will plunge the club into hundreds of millions of pounds of debt.

 

As progress has stalled DIC has stepped up its long-standing interest and it is now ready to pounce.

 

Their desire is understood to have been fuelled by speculation Moores is becoming increasingly minded he should have gone with DIC rather than Hicks and Gillett when both parties put forward rival bids last year.

 

The fact Liverpool fans displayed their displeasure with the way the club is being run by the American pair at Anfield on Tuesday night did not go unnoticed in Dubai.

 

Banners unfurled on the Kop during the FA Cup tie against Luton Town sent an SOS to DIC and there were several negative chants directed at Hicks and Gillett.

 

It could be that, like his fellow countryman, Man United owner Malcolm Glazer, Hicks is prepared to ride out any storm of controversy whipped up by unsettled fans.

 

But as a businessman of international repute, he will also be aware such naked negativity from his customers is not sustainable in the long term.

 

Liverpool’s very future is today on a knife edge.

 

The family silver could be up for grabs again.

 

Although it is still too early to tell whether it will eventually change hands, DIC are certainly ready to test the water.

 

Aims and assets of DIC

 

DUBAI International Capital (DIC) was established in October 2004 as the international investment arm of Dubai Holding.

 

The purpose of DIC is to create a return for its shareholder Dubai Holding and its ultimate shareholders, the ruling family of the Emirate of Dubai.

 

Its assets and investments include:

 

Travelodge – the UK budget hotel group was purchased in 2006 for £675m.

 

Mauser Group – the German industrial packaging company – one of the world’s leaders in its field – bought in June last year for 850m Euros.

 

A 3% stake in Sony acquired for $1.5bn.

 

A substantial stake in HSBC.

 

A 2% stake in German carmaker Daimler. which cost $1bn

 

A $1.25bn stake in the New York hedge fund Och-Ziff.

[Filo]

Probably why Moores went with the Americans in the end. Maybe a gut feeling that all was not right with DIC. Now that he's out of the way, DIC can worm their way back in again.

 

A decision Moores has subsequently regretted if you are to believe the "speculation" mentioned in today's Echo (I wonder where that could have come from)

[Lofts]

Anfield fans in fear as Liverpool's future is on knife edge

Jan 17 2008 EXCLUSIVE by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo

 

DURING an exhaustive search for investment in Liverpool Football Club Reds chief executive Rick Parry spoke of the need for any deal to be absolutely right.

 

“You can only sell the family silver once,” he famously remarked.

 

Today Liverpool are facing up to the previously unimaginable possibility of half of the family silver being sold for the second time in less than a year – if Tom Hicks is willing to sell.

 

DIC loom large on the Anfield horizon again.

 

After missing out to Hicks and George Gillett last time around Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum is understood to be ready to do everything in his power to ensure it does not happen again.

 

But despite being one of the richest men in the world Sheikh Mohammed does not use his immense wealth to pay over the odds for any business.

 

When he was beaten to the punch by Hicks and Gillett last February one of his most trusted aides told the world bluntly “we won’t overpay for assets”.

 

So, if a deal is to be struck, it must suit all parties.

 

DIC chief executive and self-confessed Liverpool fan Sameer Al Ansari intimated the investment vehicle’s interest in the club ended when Hicks and Gillett took control.

 

But in reality their interest has never really gone away.

 

In the autumn they entered into talks with Hicks and Gillett with a view to snapping up a minority share of between 10-20% - only for any potential deal to founder on the Americans’ £1bn valuation of the club.

 

Now they are looking at setting up a deal in which they would buy, at the very least, a 50% share in Liverpool.

 

A firm bid could be forthcoming within days.

 

It is undoubtedly decision time for Hicks and Gillett who thought they had seen off DIC’s interest once and for all when they paid £218.9m for Liverpool last February.

 

But since then plans to refinance their initial purchase and pay for the long-awaited new Anfield with a new loan running into hundreds of millions of pounds have been slowed down by the American credit crunch making borrowing money much more difficult than it was 12 months ago.

 

There has also been a reticence from honorary life president and former chairman David Moores and Parry to sign up to a refinancing package which will plunge the club into hundreds of millions of pounds of debt.

 

As progress has stalled DIC has stepped up its long-standing interest and it is now ready to pounce.

 

Their desire is understood to have been fuelled by speculation Moores is becoming increasingly minded he should have gone with DIC rather than Hicks and Gillett when both parties put forward rival bids last year.

The fact Liverpool fans displayed their displeasure with the way the club is being run by the American pair at Anfield on Tuesday night did not go unnoticed in Dubai.

 

Banners unfurled on the Kop during the FA Cup tie against Luton Town sent an SOS to DIC and there were several negative chants directed at Hicks and Gillett.

 

It could be that, like his fellow countryman, Man United owner Malcolm Glazer, Hicks is prepared to ride out any storm of controversy whipped up by unsettled fans.

 

But as a businessman of international repute, he will also be aware such naked negativity from his customers is not sustainable in the long term.

 

Liverpool’s very future is today on a knife edge.

 

The family silver could be up for grabs again.

 

Although it is still too early to tell whether it will eventually change hands, DIC are certainly ready to test the water.

 

Aims and assets of DIC

 

DUBAI International Capital (DIC) was established in October 2004 as the international investment arm of Dubai Holding.

 

The purpose of DIC is to create a return for its shareholder Dubai Holding and its ultimate shareholders, the ruling family of the Emirate of Dubai.

 

Its assets and investments include:

 

Travelodge – the UK budget hotel group was purchased in 2006 for £675m.

 

Mauser Group – the German industrial packaging company – one of the world’s leaders in its field – bought in June last year for 850m Euros.

 

A 3% stake in Sony acquired for $1.5bn.

 

A substantial stake in HSBC.

 

A 2% stake in German carmaker Daimler. which cost $1bn

 

A $1.25bn stake in the New York hedge fund Och-Ziff.

 

if this all true, we might have done our bit and moores is doin his bit

[Rashid]

I think Parry and Moores might be trying to get DIC now in the hope that a "favour" will lead to them keeping their jobs.

[Roy Hobbs]

They aren't, but it will do for now.

 

Too right! Anything that sees the end of Hicks is welcome:drool:

[Rashid]

The fans on forums, at the ground and in general have done more than their bit. The media have also been incessant and for that the likes of Bascombe have have played a blinder. I am impressed at how passionate us the fans are when it comes down to it.

[Alias75]

I think DIC would fund things the same way the Americans have, but they have much deeper pockets and as has been said if there needed to be an injection of cash for players or if we didnt make the CL then they can handle those possibilities.

 

If the stories of Gillett and Hicks falling out are accurate where does that leave Hicks on the board? the stories are that Moores, and Parry were angry with him, if you add Gillett and Foster Gillett thats 4 v 1 could they force him to sell his share?

[jackofdk]

Chief executive Sameer Ansari said: "Even with the so-called credit crunch and turmoil in credit markets we are in a very strong position to do transactions at reasonable valuations and get debt for those transactions.

 

"We haven't felt the impact."

 

 

Well thats about the closest thing to "Fuck off cheapskate yanks, we're loaded", that Ansari could say. Especially with the timing of it.

[coop]

Tony Barrett mentions in that last article there that the DIC interest is for at least 50% so i wouldnt be surprised if they are looking at still buying us outright.

[Rashid]

Chief executive Sameer Ansari said: "Even with the so-called credit crunch and turmoil in credit markets we are in a very strong position to do transactions at reasonable valuations and get debt for those transactions.

 

"We haven't felt the impact."

 

Well thats about the closest thing to "Fuck off cheapskate yanks, we're loaded", that Ansari could say. Especially with the timing of it.

 

That interview was taken from the Telegraph a week ago. He was talking about Northern Rock at the time and in the same interview said "I will never forget not getting Liverpool, it took me weeks to get over it"

[Guest Stevo]

Gutting all this. So much hope at the start of the season ruined by greedy business people. I hate football.

 

So if DIC and Gillett both own the club, who does Rafa go to to sign a player he wants?