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Tom Hicks starts to intensify search for Liverpool investors in Middle East | Liverpool - Times Online Tom Hicks starts to intensify search for Liverpool investors in Middle East Tony Barrett Financiers acting on behalf of Tom Hicks, the Liverpool co-owner, have offered a minority stake in the club to potential investors in the Middle East. Merrill Lynch, the investment bank, has been instructed by Hicks, who is recovering from a hip operation, to open and conduct negotiations with interested parties with a view to selling a 25 per cent share in the club at a price of £100 million as Liverpool continue attempts to reduce their levels of debt. Although wealthy individuals and organisations in the Middle East have been sounded out about the possibility of buying into Liverpool, none have indicated that they would be willing to enter into what would become a three-way shared ownership venture featuring Hicks, George Gillett Jr, his co-owner, and a third party. Liverpool will require substantial success at home and abroad if they are to realise the full potential of their lucrative new sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered, the London-based international bank. Under the terms of the agreement, Liverpool have the potential to earn £80 million over the course of the four-year deal, which begins next July. But The Times understands that a significant element of the deal is performance-related with bonuses to be paid out to the club should they win either the Barclays Premier League or the Champions League. Liverpool’s annual income from Standard Chartered is not dependent on qualification for the Champions League, but only by being in that competition will they stand a chance of receiving the full £20 million a season on offer. Standard Chartered is delighted with its newly forged association with Liverpool. It believes that paying to have its brand name displayed on the shirts of Britain’s most successful club is a wise investment, particularly given the international television exposure afforded to Liverpool. “Given how popular football is in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, where most of our business is, and Liverpool’s brand and huge fan base there, this is a great deal for both of us and a cost-effective way to raise our name recognition and drive growth,” the bank said. “We can’t wait to have Standard Chartered on the millions of Liverpool shirts sold every year.”