Yesterday, Arsenal’s biggest shareholder – both in terms of shares and financially (and not fatness) – launched a full takeover of NFL side St Louis Rams, costing him in total a whopping £292 million just to complete the full takeover. Overall, the Rams are thought to be valued at just short of £500 million.
I think that whilst us fans see Stan Kroenke as the more friendly face of a potential takeover rather than the Uzbek metals magnate Alisher Usmanov, we still don’t really know what he is all about. Stan was present at the AGM but failed to say a word; the claim was that he couldn’t under legal grounds but a quick ‘hello’ might have helped a bit. Its a choice of the two unknowns still, and after quite a few years of takeover talk we know precious little more than we do the day Usmanov and Kroenke came on the scene.
One thing this purchase does mean for Kroenke is that we will not be seeing him invest in Arsenal any further for now – he is tantalisingly close to the share percentage that if he surpasses (29.9%), he will have to make a full takeover offer.
It is clear that whilst Kroenke loves to invest in sports he also likes to maintain a controlling stake before launching a takeover, and thus far, he is yet to sell any stake in any sports club he has owned. There was big talk earlier on this year about the possibility of him selling his stake in the Rams to finance a complete takeover of Arsenal but it seems he is happy with his lot for now.
On the subject of a takeover there were some interesting stats not so long ago suggesting that the majority of fans were against a takeover and were happy with things are now (will look for the stats and update). It surprised me to be honest, there are forever people, sometimes rightly, shouting from the rooftops about Arsenal not spending enough money on players or reinforcing the squad to make it stronger to challenge on four fronts every season – and a takeover would give the club the resources to finance that, and buy pretty much any player in world football if they offered enough money and were an attractive enough proposition. It doesn’t appear as if, when push comes to shove, Arsenal fans want to part with the last bit of tradition in their ownership.
Sadly though at some point there will be an issue where there will be a large chunk of Arsenal up in the air – Danny Fiszman’s chunk. He is gravely ill, and if the worst were to happen to him very few people, if any, know what is going to happen to the 16.1% he owns. Now, I sincerely hope that Danny keeps on fighting his illness and life is of course much more of an issue than a football club, but this does add a degree of uncertainty to the current regime even if you do not consider a takeover into the equation.
Personally, I do not welcome a takeover – the main reason being that I think the sacrifices the club have had to make in the last ten years to secure the move to a new stadium, one of the world’s very best, will be undermined. We have gone without players, have had to sell players and try to stay in the top four on a shoestring budget all with the aim of securing the financial future of the club and enabling it to compete with the biggest clubs in the world financially (before Citeh came on the scene). I’d hate for us not to be able to see what all the sacrifices were for and for some billionaire (or someone claiming to be one) to arrive on the scene, use his American Express card to purchase the club and pile all that debt back onto the club which has fought tooth and nail to secure its financial future by perfectly managing debt to become an organic club. A club which can be self-sustaining and a big financial power at the same time.
Time won’t stand still and things won’t stay as they are now – but lets hope that whatever happens the last 8-10 years have not been in vain.
Up the Arsenal.
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Stan wants a partnership with Arsenal. He can see the future. As the yanks call it, soccer, is growing in popularity in the States. The English Premier League is shown extensively on Fox and ESPN and the viewing figures reflect that. Arsenals link with the Colorado Rapids might well encourage stateside Arsenal fans to adopt the Rapids as their “second team”. It was plain to see how many Arsenal fans were at the game in New Jersey when Thierry scored against the spuds. For those reasons Stan will never make a move to take over Arsenal, he will just enjoy the win-win situation he has at the moment. It is very sad about Danny Fizman, unfortunately, his condition is terminal. Knowing Danny’s love for the club, he will have arranged matters in a way that his stake will not be gobbled up by any predator, specifically the fat rapist Usmanov. Incidentally, it is curious that even though Lady Nina has been touting her stake for months. no one has moved to snap up her shares. That to me suggests that all the main parties concerned are happy to hold their stakes in the Club. looking to long term profitability, rather than short term in fighting. I expect to see Usmanov offered a seat on the Board at some point. but there will not be a a takeover bid from anyone anytime soon, Status Qou. (shit one chord band btw)
Hello,I must say there has certainly been no statement from the club on the final buyout of shares from Stan the man!
I wonder if the club is still looking at allowing fans/supporters to buy shares in the club?
Cheers
Couldn’t agree more. The last thing we need is to end up like united. Very profitable debt free club then saddled with nigh on a billion that the revenues can’t pay off.
As you quite rightly say no one has moved for lady ninas shares which suggests if fizman declined then his share may not necessarily be sought after.
I think the current major players are just happy with what they have got and can see that the financial future in 5yrs will be unbelieveably fruitful.
Now the property debt has gone all we have is a mortgage to pay which is done easily with football revenues. Couple this with the fact our commercial revenues will only get stronger and off the field success will be envied the world over
LaDY Nina still can’t find a buyer for her shares, wont be easy to flog them
Lady Nina and others with lots of shares wont find anyone to buy because only billionaires could afford them, and billionaires tend to want control of things if they are going to invest that kind of money. 16% gets them nothing. I bet Usmanov and Kroenke both wouldn’t have bought 29% if they thought they had little chance of buying the club (which seems to be the situation now).
I think the current board are trying to increase the value of the club (and their shares!) by keeping huge amounts of cash in the bank. Any buyer would prefer there to be £200m in the bank when they buy.
I would like something to happen because I dont think the current situation is healthy but I absolutely dont want the club bought with debt which it seems like Kroenke would have to use. If a buyer can buy us with cash then I can accept that even if that person is Usmanov. Owners tend to want their club to do well – Usmanov wont buy Arsenal and then strip all the assets away and invest nothing – he’d want to beat Abramovich etc.