Club Sale | It’s done!

Status
Not open for further replies.

Pexbo

Winner of the 'I'm not reading that' medal.
Joined
Jun 2, 2009
Messages
68,830
Location
Brizzle
Supports
Big Days
There isn’t going to be any minority investments. Investment implies the Glazers either selling or diluting their own investments and putting it back into the club. Why would they do this when all but two of them want a payday?
 

crossy1686

career ending
Joined
Jun 5, 2010
Messages
31,967
Location
Manchester/Stockholm
Why is now the right time? Because his documentary is out?
It's really worth asking why he's chosen to do this now? He's already super famous, everyone knows Inter Miami, they have Messi for fecks sake. Why is he out and about pushing his brand all of a sudden? Maybe there is competition for the 'face' of United if the Qataris/Jim take over? Maybe he wants to show them his level in regards to engagement? Who knows? But the documentary doesn't make much sense right now because he isn't selling anything?
 

bosnian_red

Worst scout to ever exist
Joined
Aug 13, 2011
Messages
58,183
Location
Canada
Beckham coming out recently seems to be like a tactic to try and get fans and put in pressure to swing it Qatar's way. Feels like it'll be SJR eventually, but starting with minority investment. Better than nothing, and I think it's basically a foot in the door for him and it'll be a slower process to get full ownership but it'll eventually come.
Happy with that. Realistically none of us know how we'll be run in either case, and taking the option where it is less a political play/morality issues works for me.
 

RedDevil@84

Full Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2014
Messages
21,787
Location
USA
It's really worth asking why he's chosen to do this now? He's already super famous, everyone knows Inter Miami, they have Messi for fecks sake. Why is he out and about pushing his brand all of a sudden? Maybe there is competition for the 'face' of United if the Qataris/Jim take over? Maybe he wants to show them his level in regards to engagement? Who knows? But the documentary doesn't make much sense right now because he isn't selling anything?
God Marketing works in mysterious ways.
 

croadyman

Full Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2018
Messages
35,140
So the Qatar side has asked Beckham to ramp up PR stuffs for them. This reeks of desperation to me. Sounds like the Qatar side is getting desperate due to little hope of buying from the Glazers.
Yeah I fear they are fighting a losing cause sadly
 

crossy1686

career ending
Joined
Jun 5, 2010
Messages
31,967
Location
Manchester/Stockholm
Beckham coming out recently seems to be like a tactic to try and get fans and put in pressure to swing it Qatar's way. Feels like it'll be Sir James Arthur Ratcliffe FIChemE eventually, but starting with minority investment. Better than nothing, and I think it's basically a foot in the door for him and it'll be a slower process to get full ownership but it'll eventually come.
Pressure? For the most part, the fans that the Glazers listen to (social media fans) are in massive favour of a Qatar takeover.
 

Rolaholic

Full Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2016
Messages
11,171




Not a contest if it's between Qatar/Becks and Sir Jim/INEOS
 

strandty

Full Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2007
Messages
1,627

feck
The Article:

Jim Ratcliffe is emerging as the frontrunner to buy into English football giants Manchester United Plc, people with knowledge of the matter said, with the British billionaire’s recently revised offer giving him the edge over a rival proposal from Qatari investors.
The chairman of chemicals company Ineos Group Holdings SA is in talks with the club’s US owners, the Glazer family, and their advisers over the structure of a deal, according to the people.

Under terms being discussed, Ratcliffe could make an offer for some of the shares held by both the Glazers and minority investors in Manchester United, the people said. Ratcliffe may end up with an initial stake of roughly 25% in Manchester United in a deal that could value the club at more than £5 billion ($6.1 billion), they said.

The Glazer family currently views Ratcliffe’s bid for a minority stake as more attractive than an alternative Qatari offer for the whole club, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information. Manchester United’s board is set to discuss the latest proposal at a meeting as soon as the next few days, the people said.

Deliberations are ongoing and there’s no certainty they’ll result in a transaction. While the Glazer family is closer than ever to finding a palatable deal, the situation remains fluid and the Qatari group could still increase its bid, the people said.

Shares in Manchester United have risen 55% in New York over the past 12 months, giving the club a market vale of about $3.3 billion.
Bloomberg News reported last month that Ratcliffe was restructuring an offer for Manchester United to address concerns from minority holders — which include the likes of Lindsell Train, Ariel Investments LLC and Eminence Capital — about being excluded from any deal.

An agreement would bring an end to the long-running battle for one of sport’s biggest prizes. Manchester United competes in the English Premier League and its rich history and sprawling global fan base mean it’s long been coveted by investors looking for a foothold in the world’s richest football league.

Fan Ire
Ratcliffe, a Manchester United fan, has been competing against a Qatari consortium led by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani. Ratcliffe’s proposal could give certain members of the Glazer family, including Joel and Avram Glazer, a chance to remain invested — at least in the short-term.

That would likely infuriate some supporters of Manchester United, who have blamed its US owners for presiding over years of under-performance on the pitch and want them out of the club.

Read More: In Manchester United Bidding War, Ratcliffe’s $16 Billion Fortune Might Not Be Enough

The sale is being handled by bankers at US-based advisory firm Raine Group LLC. Representatives for Raine, Ratcliffe and Manchester United declined to comment. A spokesperson for the Qatari group said its offer for 100% of Manchester United was still on the table and represented the best solution for the club.

It’s been almost a year since the Glazers publicly said they would conduct a strategic review into their ownership of the club. The bidding process has moved at a slow pace given the interests of the various stakeholders involved.

Ratcliffe put forward a proposal earlier this year to acquire 69% of shares in Manchester United owned by the Glazers. That left little benefit for holders of the club’s remaining stock. A top-three shareholder in Manchester United previously sent a letter to the club’s board warning that independent directors could be at risk of being sued for recommending any bid that favors one set of shareholders over another.
 

VP89

Pogba's biggest fan
Joined
Dec 6, 2015
Messages
32,050
@VP89 How reliable is this Bloomberg story? Thoughts?
Its consistent with what David Hellier has said previously - the Qatari's were leading the race a couple months ago and Ratcliffe's bid was dead in the water unless he changed the structure to appease Class A shareholders or offered a minority. He's done the latter.

What I will say though, is the situation is very fluid. David Hillier has only said that Ratcliffe is "edging it", or similar, so I wouldn't be surprised if there is another turn.
 

bosnian_red

Worst scout to ever exist
Joined
Aug 13, 2011
Messages
58,183
Location
Canada
Pressure? For the most part, the fans that the Glazers listen to (social media fans) are in massive favour of a Qatar takeover.
To rally them to be more vocal. Otherwise why would he stay silent for years and then suddenly talk about it multiple times in a short period amid reports that SJR will just get in on a minority basis?
 

Big Ben Foster

Correctly predicted Portugal to win Euro 2016
Joined
Mar 19, 2008
Messages
13,150
Location
BR -> MI -> TX
Supports
Also support Vasco da Gama
So it's a Ratcliffe bid after all? This whole time I thought it was INEOS who was bidding for us.

Yes, I know he's the majority owner of INEOS, but these are still two very different scenarios.
 

crossy1686

career ending
Joined
Jun 5, 2010
Messages
31,967
Location
Manchester/Stockholm
To rally them to be more vocal. Otherwise why would he stay silent for years and then suddenly talk about it multiple times in a short period amid reports that Sir James Arthur Ratcliffe FIChemE will just get in on a minority basis?
They sing "we want Glazers out" every single game and have done since all this started. I'm not sure how much more vocal the match going fans can be.
 

croadyman

Full Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2018
Messages
35,140
Definitely looking like Becks is the PR guy for Qatar bid but Ratcliffe looks in the box seat. Always feared Bloomberg talking up him buying the club and now it's happened
 

VP89

Pogba's biggest fan
Joined
Dec 6, 2015
Messages
32,050
"The situation remains fluid and the Qatari group could still increase its bid, the people said."


^ Qatar are going to make a bid, you can just tell.

David Hellier said when Qatar were in the lead that Ratcliffe's deal was dead unless he changes it to minority or gives Class A holders what they want. He did that. This is an easter egg for Qatar just giving another bid, Give it time?
 

bosnian_red

Worst scout to ever exist
Joined
Aug 13, 2011
Messages
58,183
Location
Canada
If this is a 25% deal, they can go feck themselves.
Think you gotta embrace the "take what you can get" mentality. The Glazers own the club and very clearly don't want to sell unless it's for an absurd amount. That's not happening. If we get minority investment from SJR where he still has the end goal of an eventual takeover, then it's not too bad. He'll be able to pump some money in, and slowly buy up more of the club over time. It's still an improvement so it's still a win, if it happens.
 

V.O.

Last Man Standing finalist 2019/20
Joined
Jan 12, 2019
Messages
8,147
Weren't Bloomberg saying it was done dealio for Qatar back in June?
 

Berbaclass

Fallen Muppet. Lest we never forget
Joined
Jan 23, 2010
Messages
39,627
Location
Cooper Station
"The situation remains fluid and the Qatari group could still increase its bid, the people said."


^ Qatar are going to make a bid, you can just tell.

David Hellier said when Qatar were in the lead that Ratcliffe's deal was dead unless he changes it to minority or gives Class A holders what they want. He did that. This is an easter egg for Qatar just giving another bid, Give it time?
Qatar FC we ride.
 

Ahmer Baig

Full Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2017
Messages
3,301
Either the PRs of parties are in full throttle mode or someone is lying about Ratcliffe so Qatar may raise their bid.
 

Yorke to Cole

Full Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2020
Messages
924
"The situation remains fluid and the Qatari group could still increase its bid, the people said."


^ Qatar are going to make a bid, you can just tell.

David Hellier said when Qatar were in the lead that Ratcliffe's deal was dead unless he changes it to minority or gives Class A holders what they want. He did that. This is an easter egg for Qatar just giving another bid, Give it time?
That seems to be the insinuating thought. How long does anyone think they have to decide that they will raise it's offer?
 

Zora

New Member
Newbie
Joined
May 18, 2023
Messages
383
The same Bloomberg who reported on two different occasions that Qatar were favourites?

Ladies and gents, guess what? No one knows feck all. It’s all guess work and rumours.
 

FujiVice

Full Member
Joined
May 8, 2013
Messages
7,365
Beckham and the Qataris are used to getting what they want. If they increase their offer, we'll probably be still here next October wondering when it'll be sold.
 

VP89

Pogba's biggest fan
Joined
Dec 6, 2015
Messages
32,050
The same Bloomberg who reported on two different occasions that Qatar were favourites?

Ladies and gents, guess what? No one knows feck all. It’s all guess work and rumours.
Its not guesswork with Bloomberg. Believe it or not, there isn't one favourite party to win an acquisition from start to end. It changes over the course of negotiations and as the offers change.
 

Roboc7

Full Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2014
Messages
6,728
I’m sure the revised bid from INEOS was an attempt to appease the Glazers and probably a reflection of what their preference is. It’s no surprise that his is probably leading the race, the Qatari’s might come back with an improved offer but it’s hard to imagine them offering the kind of additional funds that Glazers are probably looking for.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.