Saudi Investor buy 25% liverpool stock

[Soup]

I have my suspicions. I saw him, Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie all turn up to Anfield on the same bike.

 

spit roast...

[RedinSweden]

We have to be just as wary of any new investors. We are on the rebound. We don't want to jump into bed with any slag with cash. You only sell the family silver twice.

[navbasi]

So if it is Citigroup we're dealing with, how much money have they got?

 

I doubt very much Citi Group will have anything to do with any bid, if they were serious, do you not think they would have been involved in the bidding for the shirt sponsorship deal?

 

From a Citi Group perspective - how fucked up would it be that you own the club but have to promote a rival bank on your shirts and everywhere else for the next 4 years? Doesn't make sense to me.. so I think you can rule out Citi Group.

[The Woolster]

Citigroup are in the shit, and much like RBS/Lloyds over here, have been bailed out by the government, so it is not them who will be making any investment.

 

The guy mentioned is Citigroups largest individual shareholder though I think.

[Kurt]

We have to be just as wary of any new investors. We are on the rebound. We don't want to jump into bed with any slag with cash. You only sell the family silver twice.

 

That made me laugh. You can almost believe you are a comedian ;)

[Bogman]

Gillett rubbishes Liverpool takeover reports

 

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has played down speculation that a buy-out of the Barclays Premier League club is imminent.

 

 

Widespread reports suggested Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah al-Saud's F6 investment vehicle had been given the go-ahead to carry out exclusive due diligence with a view to buying into the club after he attended Liverpool's 6-1 win over Hull at Anfield on Saturday.

 

However, Gillett insisted the future ownership of the club was not on the agenda at the meeting while F6 director Barry Didato confirmed the due diligence process taking place relates to other commercial opportunities and "does not involve the possibility of an immediate investment in Liverpool", with any possible transaction being "several months away".

 

Gillett told Press Association Sport's The Sport Briefing: A sport business information website and newsletter service "We had a marvellous meeting with them on Saturday and they were impressed with the club, but the academies in Saudi Arabia and North Africa and their possible involvement in NASCAR-type racing in the Middle East were the only items on the agenda.

 

"We have entered into a period of exclusive discussions regarding the possibility of introducing NASCAR-type racing to the Middle East, but the memorandum of understanding does not cover anything else."

 

Gillett and co-owner Tom Hicks confirmed on Tuesday that they had "retained Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Rothschild to evaluate the possibility of new investors injecting equity into Liverpool FC".

 

A joint statement added: "The process is at an early stage, there is no agreement with any party and reports to the contrary are wholly inaccurate."

 

Didato, F6's director of strategic investment, told The Sport Briefing: A sport business information website and newsletter service that the agreement signed at the weekend focused on the creation of football academies in Saudi Arabia and North Africa as well as an opportunity in stock car racing, while the prospects of a possible investment in Liverpool lagged behind the first two projects as a "distant third".

 

Didato said: "As far as investment in Liverpool is concerned, that would be a long way off. A lot of people have jumped the gun and any possible investment would be several months away.

 

"The agreement signed (at the weekend) leaves the door open for it (possible future investment in Liverpool), but that was certainly not the focus of it."

 

Didato added that no talks have been staged between F6 and Hicks, who, like Gillett, owns 50% of Liverpool.

 

"George has a partner there and has his own issues to work through," Didato added. "Mr Hicks will also have his own issues and we are not sure what he wants to do.

 

"Another issue is the club's debt (of around £245million). Prince Faisal will not put forward investment capital to just clean up a balance sheet. He would only want to use money to take the club forward. It would be long-term money."

Didato said that Prince Faisal would have an open mind regarding the ultimate stake he could hold in the club.

 

"His Highness is open to anything and is open to being a minority shareholder, but he has tremendous favourability towards the brand and institution of Liverpool," Didato added.

 

"His Highness would need to be invited by George and it would have to be at the right time for George. There would need to be a shared vision between all of the parties."

 

Gillett recently agreed to sell the Montreal Canadiens National Hockey League ice hockey team for a reported US dollars 575million, but he insisted that transaction had nothing to do with any developments regarding the rest of his sporting portfolio, which includes the Richard Petty Motorsports NASCAR team as well as Liverpool.

 

Gillett also said that the Canadiens, arguably the most famous team in NHL history, were in safe hands under the new owners, the Molson family, who agreed to the takeover earlier this month.

 

"It was with great reluctance that I decided to sell the Canadiens," Gillett added. "It is a fabulous club and I have been very fortunate to have had more than one love affair in sport.

 

"They (the Molson family) have a relationship with the club that goes back 50 years, and that's awfully important. They are young and enthusiastic and will bring great energy to the Canadiens.

 

"They will also bring passion, new ideas and a fresh perspective, which is always good."

[Major Tom]

It's fucking sad to see our club being fucking pawned round like this.

 

I fucking hate those two twunts. I really fucking do.

 

Fucking.

[Guest Ulysses Everett McGill]

Gillett rubbishes Liverpool takeover reports

 

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has played down speculation that a buy-out of the Barclays Premier League club is imminent.

 

 

Widespread reports suggested Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah al-Saud's F6 investment vehicle had been given the go-ahead to carry out exclusive due diligence with a view to buying into the club after he attended Liverpool's 6-1 win over Hull at Anfield on Saturday.

 

However, Gillett insisted the future ownership of the club was not on the agenda at the meeting while F6 director Barry Didato confirmed the due diligence process taking place relates to other commercial opportunities and "does not involve the possibility of an immediate investment in Liverpool", with any possible transaction being "several months away".

 

Gillett told Press Association Sport's The Sport Briefing: A sport business information website and newsletter service "We had a marvellous meeting with them on Saturday and they were impressed with the club, but the academies in Saudi Arabia and North Africa and their possible involvement in NASCAR-type racing in the Middle East were the only items on the agenda.

 

"We have entered into a period of exclusive discussions regarding the possibility of introducing NASCAR-type racing to the Middle East, but the memorandum of understanding does not cover anything else."

 

Gillett and co-owner Tom Hicks confirmed on Tuesday that they had "retained Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Rothschild to evaluate the possibility of new investors injecting equity into Liverpool FC".

 

A joint statement added: "The process is at an early stage, there is no agreement with any party and reports to the contrary are wholly inaccurate."

 

Didato, F6's director of strategic investment, told The Sport Briefing: A sport business information website and newsletter service that the agreement signed at the weekend focused on the creation of football academies in Saudi Arabia and North Africa as well as an opportunity in stock car racing, while the prospects of a possible investment in Liverpool lagged behind the first two projects as a "distant third".

 

Didato said: "As far as investment in Liverpool is concerned, that would be a long way off. A lot of people have jumped the gun and any possible investment would be several months away.

 

"The agreement signed (at the weekend) leaves the door open for it (possible future investment in Liverpool), but that was certainly not the focus of it."

 

Didato added that no talks have been staged between F6 and Hicks, who, like Gillett, owns 50% of Liverpool.

 

"George has a partner there and has his own issues to work through," Didato added. "Mr Hicks will also have his own issues and we are not sure what he wants to do.

 

"Another issue is the club's debt (of around £245million). Prince Faisal will not put forward investment capital to just clean up a balance sheet. He would only want to use money to take the club forward. It would be long-term money."

Didato said that Prince Faisal would have an open mind regarding the ultimate stake he could hold in the club.

 

"His Highness is open to anything and is open to being a minority shareholder, but he has tremendous favourability towards the brand and institution of Liverpool," Didato added.

 

"His Highness would need to be invited by George and it would have to be at the right time for George. There would need to be a shared vision between all of the parties."

 

Gillett recently agreed to sell the Montreal Canadiens National Hockey League ice hockey team for a reported US dollars 575million, but he insisted that transaction had nothing to do with any developments regarding the rest of his sporting portfolio, which includes the Richard Petty Motorsports NASCAR team as well as Liverpool.

 

Gillett also said that the Canadiens, arguably the most famous team in NHL history, were in safe hands under the new owners, the Molson family, who agreed to the takeover earlier this month.

 

"It was with great reluctance that I decided to sell the Canadiens," Gillett added. "It is a fabulous club and I have been very fortunate to have had more than one love affair in sport.

 

"They (the Molson family) have a relationship with the club that goes back 50 years, and that's awfully important. They are young and enthusiastic and will bring great energy to the Canadiens.

 

"They will also bring passion, new ideas and a fresh perspective, which is always good."

 

As I was saying....

[Ted]

I wish peoplpe would bold improtant parts of articles. I don't have the attention span to read through, oh look, clouds...

[PaulMcC]

I wish peoplpe would bold improtant parts of articles. I don't have the attention span to read through, oh look, clouds...

 

I agree with this post.

[RedinSweden]

I wish peoplpe would bold improtant parts of articles. I don't have the attention span to read through, oh look, clouds...

 

he did

[Skidfingers McGonical]

Fookin prawns.

[Baldi]

Al this nonsense makes me embarrassed to be a Liverpool fan. If I saw Parry in the street I would fuckin punch the clown right in his stupid face. I am so angry right now!

[ali]

Meanwhile, a report in Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal on Monday said that Hicks Sports Group met with a group of creditors last week to present a review of the three bids that have been received.

 

The report said Hicks owes $525million to the creditors and has borrowed $60 million from MLB's credit facility and an additional $16 million from MLB to fund payroll.

 

Borbon in center of Texas Rangers' plans | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News

[ratcatcher]

Al this nonsense makes me embarrassed to be a Liverpool fan.

 

You shouldnt think that way. No way am I embarassed to be a fan. The two owners are embarassing but the club, never.

[Redzawi]

Richard Petty Motorsports owner George Gillett confirmed he has held conversations with Saudi Prince Faisal about expanding stock car racing in the Middle East and possibly getting him involved as a minority owner of his Sprint Cup team.

 

Gillett, who also co-owns Premier League club Liverpool, is reportedly in negotiations with Prince Faisal to sell him his stake in the football team.

 

Speaking at Kansas Speedway, Gillett said that during conversations with a group representing the Saudi Prince, it emerged that there were common interests in motor racing and that expanding NASCAR-type series in the Middle East and building oval tracks, looked to be possibilities.

 

"We have had extended conversation about developing a race series," Gillett said. "They have several extraordinary road courses but they've actually identified 14 sites or more where you might put an oval track or two, or 14.

 

"In the process of our conversation we signed a confidentiality agreement, which is a very standard corporate procedure. We signed it with regards to keeping matters confidential with regards to anything that we discussed about our [team's] cars, our engines and so forth."

 

Richard Petty Motorsports is currently working on a merger deal with Yates Racing to become a Ford team next season, after running Dodges since the early years of the squad founded by Ray Evernham in 2000.

 

Both Yates and RPM signed a letter of intent, but the deal still has to be finalised although Gillett said dealings are ongoing and progressing well.

 

Gillett reckons that having Prince Faisal become a minority owner of his Sprint Cup team would help have aligned interests in order to pursue their business initiatives related to racing in the Middle East. He clarified, however, that there were just preliminary talks on the matter.

 

"In the midst of [our] conversation it became clear that we should have aligned interests," Gillett added. "If they had a small interest in RPM... majority? Heck no! A small interest... If we had aligned interests we could have complete and open discussion. There would be no issues with regard to confidentiality and that's what happened.

 

"There had been no negotiations, no discussions of value or anything. It was a very early conversation. If he or they became small investors with us, I can't imagine it would be anything but positive for the sport."

 

Richard Petty Motorsports currently fields four cars in the Sprint Cup series and driver Kasey Kahne is among the title contenders in this year's Chase, having won two races in the first year of their partnership with Petty.

 

Gillett bought a majority stake in the squad known as Evernham Motorsports back in 2007, and the team was renamed after seven-time Sprint Cup champion Richard Petty for this year.

 

autosport.com - NASCAR News: Gillett set to expand in Middle East

[maverick786]

Can anyone confirm whether the Kuwaiti Royal Family were at the match?

 

------------------------------------------------------

 

Kuwaiti royal family keen viewers at Chelsea v Liverpool06 October 2009 | By Adam

 

 

Kuwaiti royal family, long since linked with a move to buy an English soccer club, attended Chelsea's match with Liverpool this weekend, which ended in a 2-0 victory for the London team.

 

Though Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is not believed to be seeking any investment in his team, the same cannot be said of Liverpool's co-owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who have appointed Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Rothschild to advise on possible investments.

 

Last week Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah, a member of the ruling family of Saudi Arabia, claimed that he was close to agreeing a deal to invest in Liverpool. He attended the match against Hull last weekend to discuss tie-ups between F6, his investment company, and Gillett's Richard Petty Motorsports Nascar franchise, as well as the possibility of establishing Liverpool-supported youth academies in Saudi Arabia.

 

This weekend also saw more controversy for Liverpool, with Gillett reportedly criticising both Hicks and coach Rafa Benitez in an interview with a representative of the fans' union Spirit of Shankly.

[RedinSweden]

Can anyone confirm whether the Kuwaiti Royal Family were at the match?

 

------------------------------------------------------

 

Kuwaiti royal family keen viewers at Chelsea v Liverpool06 October 2009 | By Adam

 

 

Kuwaiti royal family, long since linked with a move to buy an English soccer club, attended Chelsea's match with Liverpool this weekend, which ended in a 2-0 victory for the London team.

 

Though Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is not believed to be seeking any investment in his team, the same cannot be said of Liverpool's co-owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who have appointed Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Rothschild to advise on possible investments.

 

Last week Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah, a member of the ruling family of Saudi Arabia, claimed that he was close to agreeing a deal to invest in Liverpool. He attended the match against Hull last weekend to discuss tie-ups between F6, his investment company, and Gillett's Richard Petty Motorsports Nascar franchise, as well as the possibility of establishing Liverpool-supported youth academies in Saudi Arabia.

 

This weekend also saw more controversy for Liverpool, with Gillett reportedly criticising both Hicks and coach Rafa Benitez in an interview with a representative of the fans' union Spirit of Shankly.

 

DD causing trouble again.

[RedBadger]

"exclusive" from the Mirror

 

George Gillett to sell half his stake in Liverpool to Arab investor

 

Exclusive: George Gillett to sell half his stake in Liverpool to Arab investor

 

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett is flying to Saudi Arabia next week for talks in a bid to sell his 50 per cent stake to Prince Faisal bin Fahd.

 

Gillett is due to arrive in the Middle East on Wednesday and is scheduled for a three-day stay to sort out the deal with the Prince's advisers and his financial company F6 Sports.

 

Prince Faisal has been at Anfield as a guest of Gillett and - despite the American's denials - a sale is top of the agenda to be done rather than just an investment.

 

Gillett can sell his half of the Kop and leave the Arabs to deal with his partner Tom Hicks if they want complete control – or they may prefer to work with the Texan.

 

 

The 70-year-old Gillett is so keen to sell up that he is going to travel to the Arab's territory to conclude the transaction - with sources in the Middle East convinced that this will happen.

 

Prince Faisal's investment company has allies in the banking world and they would look at Liverpool as a club to make their name - and with potential for development down the line.

 

The Arab is looking to become a major player and building a new Anfield would make the business world look up to him. He certainly has the cash behind him to fulfil the plans that the Americans gave up on.

 

There are no figures being released on what Gillett is looking to get for his share in Liverpool but it is anticipated that the deal will be good enough to get him out of his current hole.

 

Gillett has tried to appease the club's fans but he knows that his lack of funds leaves Liverpool's support frustrated - and puts a strain on their bid to stay as a top four force

[coop]

"exclusive" from the Mirror

 

George Gillett to sell half his stake in Liverpool to Arab investor

 

Exclusive: George Gillett to sell half his stake in Liverpool to Arab investor

 

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett is flying to Saudi Arabia next week for talks in a bid to sell his 50 per cent stake to Prince Faisal bin Fahd.

 

Gillett is due to arrive in the Middle East on Wednesday and is scheduled for a three-day stay to sort out the deal with the Prince's advisers and his financial company F6 Sports.

 

Prince Faisal has been at Anfield as a guest of Gillett and - despite the American's denials - a sale is top of the agenda to be done rather than just an investment.

 

Gillett can sell his half of the Kop and leave the Arabs to deal with his partner Tom Hicks if they want complete control – or they may prefer to work with the Texan.

 

 

The 70-year-old Gillett is so keen to sell up that he is going to travel to the Arab's territory to conclude the transaction - with sources in the Middle East convinced that this will happen.

 

Prince Faisal's investment company has allies in the banking world and they would look at Liverpool as a club to make their name - and with potential for development down the line.

 

The Arab is looking to become a major player and building a new Anfield would make the business world look up to him. He certainly has the cash behind him to fulfil the plans that the Americans gave up on.

 

There are no figures being released on what Gillett is looking to get for his share in Liverpool but it is anticipated that the deal will be good enough to get him out of his current hole.

 

Gillett has tried to appease the club's fans but he knows that his lack of funds leaves Liverpool's support frustrated - and puts a strain on their bid to stay as a top four force

 

No he can't otherwise he would have already sold his half by now.

 

There is a little stumbling block called 'veto' which will stop Gillett getting rid of his share without selling 2% to Hicks.

[WaltonRed]

Who's going to say this is bull 1st?

[Unrighteous]

I don't care if its bullshit. I just want to see them out.

[t1971]

No he can't otherwise he would have already sold his half by now.

 

There is a little stumbling block called 'veto' which will stop Gillett getting rid of his share without selling 2% to Hicks.

 

Can he veto it? I have heard that he can, but ive also heard that the contract just states that if one wants to sell, he has to offer it to the other one at the same price. I have no idea if either of them are true.

[maverick786]

No he can't otherwise he would have already sold his half by now.

 

There is a little stumbling block called 'veto' which will stop Gillett getting rid of his share without selling 2% to Hicks.

 

Can RBS and Wachovia force through a sale? and could that "veto" have been changed as part of the extension and refinancing of the debt?

[Dan Vito Corleone]

This is the saga that just won't die.