Everton poised for takeover by former Arsenal shareholder Farhad Moshiri
[http://i]
Farhad Moshiri is in pole position to buy Everton
By Matt Law
9:03AM GMT 27 Feb 2016
Exclusive: British-Iranian businessman has sold his stake to Red and White holdings in bid to out-manoeuvre American consortium
Former Arsenal shareholder Farhad Moshiri has manoeuvred himself into position to buy Everton from under the noses of the American consortium led by John Jay Moores.
Red and White Holdings on Friday confirmed that Moshiri had sold his stake in the company to Arsenal’s second largest shareholder Alisher Usmanov in a move that allows him to make a bid for Everton, with an announcement over the ownership of the Goodison Park club expected in the next few days.
Everton had been in talks over a £200million sale with former San Diego Padres owner Moores and fellow entrepreneur Charles Noell, but sources close to the club now believe Moshiri is hopeful of agreeing a deal.
Other than Moores, Everton have held negotiations with a wealthy Jordanian over the ownership of the club while there has also been interest from two China-based groups.
But Moshiri’s apparent willingness to allow Everton’s 70-year-old chairman Bill Kenwright to remain in a position of power at the club, at least in the short term, gives him an advantage.
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[http://i]Everton's current chairman Bill Kenwright
It is unclear whether Moshiri is operating on his own or has formed a group to buy Everton. Forbes estimate that his personal wealth stands at around £1.3billion and that figure will have been swollen by the sale of his Red and White shares to Usmanov.
Usmanov and Moshiri had hoped to buy Arsenal from owner Stan Kroenke, but the American is unwilling to sell and their 30.04 per cent share of the Gunners did not even earn them a place on the club’s board.
According to Arsenal’s official website Red and White’s share in Arsenal had been split equally between Moshiri and Usmanov, meaning the sale of his stake will have been worth almost £200million to Moshiri – roughly the same amount of money it will take to buy Everton.
It is understood Moshiri has now decided to turn his attention to Everton, having finally grown frustrated with a lack of influence for his money at the Emirates.
[http://i]Alisher Usmanov
A statement released by Red and White on Friday read: “Red & White Holdings Limited (“Red & White”) today announces that Mr Alisher Usmanov has purchased Mr Farhad Moshiri’s stake in Red & White and as a result Mr Usmanov now owns 100 per cent of Red & White, which represents 18,695 shares or 30.04% in Arsenal Holdings plc (“Arsenal”).”
In the statement, Usmanov said: “In line with my previously stated objective, I can confirm that I have purchased the whole stake of Farhad Moshiri, thereby increasing my holding in Arsenal to over 30 per cent and securing my position as the second largest shareholder.
“I am committed to Arsenal and I will proudly retain my holding as a long-term investment for myself and my family to enjoy and benefit for generations to come. I want the absolute best for Arsenal and am prepared to do whatever is necessary to ensure the success of the club.”
After meeting Usmanov in the early 90s, Moshiri became the Russian’s partner in several companies, his representative in the UK and head of Gallagher, Usmanov’s British investment company.
In November 2012, the 60-year-old became co-owner of USM Holding together with Usmanov and billionaire Andrei Skoch. He is a chartered certified accountant who worked for Ernst & Young, Pannell Kerr Forster and Deloitte Touche and also holds shares in Russian mining and steel manufacturing giant Metalloninvest and Russian mobile phone operator Megafon.
[http://i]Fans protest at Bill Kenwright's regime
Kenwright has been looking for major investment into Everton for over a decade after buying the club from Peter Johnson for £20m on December 26, 1999.
In November 2007, Kenwright said: “If the right person stands in front of me and wants to take this club forward, then I will sell.”
The fact Moshiri appears to be willing to work with Kenwright will be welcomed by Everton manager Roberto Martinez, who, earlier this month, said: “I’ve always said what the chairman is for Everton and I wouldn’t want Bill Kenwright to lose his association with Everton, ever. I think it would be a loss if we do that. Whatever the investment or whatever the situation is in the future, in 10 or 15 years I would love to see Everton benefit from our chairman for the rest of his life.”
[http://i]Everton are in dire need of new investment
Everton granted Moores and Noell, who had also looked at investing in Swansea City, a period of exclusivity to perform due diligence on the club’s accounts in December but a period of inactivity has allowed other indivduals, including Moshiri, to come forward.
One of Moshiri’s biggest tasks will be to attempt to see off summer bids for star trio John Stones, Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku if he manages to complete his Everton takeover.
Moshiri did not respond by attempts from Telegraph Sport to contact him over his desire to buy Everton.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ormer-Arsenal-shareholder-Farhad-Moshiri.html
[http://i]
Farhad Moshiri is in pole position to buy Everton
By Matt Law
9:03AM GMT 27 Feb 2016
Exclusive: British-Iranian businessman has sold his stake to Red and White holdings in bid to out-manoeuvre American consortium
Former Arsenal shareholder Farhad Moshiri has manoeuvred himself into position to buy Everton from under the noses of the American consortium led by John Jay Moores.
Red and White Holdings on Friday confirmed that Moshiri had sold his stake in the company to Arsenal’s second largest shareholder Alisher Usmanov in a move that allows him to make a bid for Everton, with an announcement over the ownership of the Goodison Park club expected in the next few days.
Everton had been in talks over a £200million sale with former San Diego Padres owner Moores and fellow entrepreneur Charles Noell, but sources close to the club now believe Moshiri is hopeful of agreeing a deal.
Other than Moores, Everton have held negotiations with a wealthy Jordanian over the ownership of the club while there has also been interest from two China-based groups.
But Moshiri’s apparent willingness to allow Everton’s 70-year-old chairman Bill Kenwright to remain in a position of power at the club, at least in the short term, gives him an advantage.
ADVERTISEMENT
[http://i]Everton's current chairman Bill Kenwright
It is unclear whether Moshiri is operating on his own or has formed a group to buy Everton. Forbes estimate that his personal wealth stands at around £1.3billion and that figure will have been swollen by the sale of his Red and White shares to Usmanov.
Usmanov and Moshiri had hoped to buy Arsenal from owner Stan Kroenke, but the American is unwilling to sell and their 30.04 per cent share of the Gunners did not even earn them a place on the club’s board.
According to Arsenal’s official website Red and White’s share in Arsenal had been split equally between Moshiri and Usmanov, meaning the sale of his stake will have been worth almost £200million to Moshiri – roughly the same amount of money it will take to buy Everton.
It is understood Moshiri has now decided to turn his attention to Everton, having finally grown frustrated with a lack of influence for his money at the Emirates.
[http://i]Alisher Usmanov
A statement released by Red and White on Friday read: “Red & White Holdings Limited (“Red & White”) today announces that Mr Alisher Usmanov has purchased Mr Farhad Moshiri’s stake in Red & White and as a result Mr Usmanov now owns 100 per cent of Red & White, which represents 18,695 shares or 30.04% in Arsenal Holdings plc (“Arsenal”).”
In the statement, Usmanov said: “In line with my previously stated objective, I can confirm that I have purchased the whole stake of Farhad Moshiri, thereby increasing my holding in Arsenal to over 30 per cent and securing my position as the second largest shareholder.
“I am committed to Arsenal and I will proudly retain my holding as a long-term investment for myself and my family to enjoy and benefit for generations to come. I want the absolute best for Arsenal and am prepared to do whatever is necessary to ensure the success of the club.”
After meeting Usmanov in the early 90s, Moshiri became the Russian’s partner in several companies, his representative in the UK and head of Gallagher, Usmanov’s British investment company.
In November 2012, the 60-year-old became co-owner of USM Holding together with Usmanov and billionaire Andrei Skoch. He is a chartered certified accountant who worked for Ernst & Young, Pannell Kerr Forster and Deloitte Touche and also holds shares in Russian mining and steel manufacturing giant Metalloninvest and Russian mobile phone operator Megafon.
[http://i]Fans protest at Bill Kenwright's regime
Kenwright has been looking for major investment into Everton for over a decade after buying the club from Peter Johnson for £20m on December 26, 1999.
In November 2007, Kenwright said: “If the right person stands in front of me and wants to take this club forward, then I will sell.”
The fact Moshiri appears to be willing to work with Kenwright will be welcomed by Everton manager Roberto Martinez, who, earlier this month, said: “I’ve always said what the chairman is for Everton and I wouldn’t want Bill Kenwright to lose his association with Everton, ever. I think it would be a loss if we do that. Whatever the investment or whatever the situation is in the future, in 10 or 15 years I would love to see Everton benefit from our chairman for the rest of his life.”
[http://i]Everton are in dire need of new investment
Everton granted Moores and Noell, who had also looked at investing in Swansea City, a period of exclusivity to perform due diligence on the club’s accounts in December but a period of inactivity has allowed other indivduals, including Moshiri, to come forward.
One of Moshiri’s biggest tasks will be to attempt to see off summer bids for star trio John Stones, Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku if he manages to complete his Everton takeover.
Moshiri did not respond by attempts from Telegraph Sport to contact him over his desire to buy Everton.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ormer-Arsenal-shareholder-Farhad-Moshiri.html
