28/06/2005

Glazer gains 98% of Manchester United shares

American tycoon Malcolm Glazer has confirmed that he has acquired 98% of shares in Premiership football club Manchester United.

Mr Glazer needed to have 97.6% ownership of the club in order to be able to force the remaining shareholders to sell their shares to him. He will now be able to force a compulsory buyout of the remaining shareholders.

The billionaire sports tycoon won overall control of the Premiership club in May, acquiring over 75% of the shares, following a £790 million buyout. The shares were valued at £3 each.

Last month, it was announced that Mr Glazer’s three sons – Joel, Bryan and Avi – had been appointed to positions on the Manchester United board.

Last week, Manchester United was delisted from the London Stock Exchange, after remaining on the market for 14 years.

Manchester United fans have been outraged by Mr Glazer’s takeover of the club. Many fans say that the bid, which reportedly involved a number of loans, had left the previously debt-free club with a number of debts.

The supporters group, Shareholders United, are currently attempting to establish a ‘phoenix fund’, in order to build up a “war chest” of money, which could be used to purchase any part of the club, if it was put up for sale in the future.

(KMcA/SP)

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