British Richest Man Sir Jim Ratcliffe & Founder of Chemicals Group INEOS Jim Ratcliffe with $15 Billion Fortune Buys 25% of English Premier League Football Club Manchester United Class B Shares at $5.4 Billion Valuation from Glazer Family via Trawlers Limited, Offers to Buy Maximum of 25% of Class A Shares
28th December 2023 | Hong Kong
British richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe & founder of chemicals group INEOS Jim Ratcliffe with $15 billion fortune has announced to buy 25% of English Premier League football club Manchester United Class B Shares at $5.4 billion valuation from the Glazer Family via Trawlers Limited, and offering to buy a maximum of 25% of Class A shares. In 2022 November, Manchester United American owners Glazer family (Malcolm Glazer & children) announced they are open to selling the football club for $5 billion, having acquired the club for $1.3 billion (£790 million) over 2 years from 2003 to 2005 (17 years ago). In 2012, Manchester United became publicly listed on New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and has a market capitalisation of around $3.1 billion (24/11/22). Manchester United football club is one of the most successful football club in England, winning a record 20 league titles and 3 European Cup / Champions League Cup. More info below:
“ British Richest Man Sir Jim Ratcliffe & Founder of Chemicals Group INEOS Jim Ratcliffe with $15 Billion Fortune Buys 25% of English Premier League Football Club Manchester United Class B Shares at $5.4 Billion Valuation from Glazer Family via Trawlers Limited, Offers to Buy Maximum of 25% of Class A Shares “
British Richest Man Sir Jim Ratcliffe & Founder of Chemicals Group INEOS Jim Ratcliffe with $15 Billion Fortune Buys 25% of English Premier League Football Club Manchester United Class B Shares at $5.4 Billion Valuation from Glazer Family via Trawlers Limited
24th December 2023 – Manchester United plc (NYSE: MANU), announces today that it has entered into an agreement under which Chairman of INEOS, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, will acquire 25 per cent of Manchester United’s Class B shares and up to 25 per cent of Manchester United’s Class A shares and provide an additional $300 million intended to enable future investment into Old Trafford. As part of the transaction, INEOS has accepted a request by the Board to be delegated responsibility for the management of the Club’s football operations. This will include all aspects of the men’s and women’s football operations and Academies, alongside two seats on the Manchester United PLC board and the Manchester United Football Club boards. The joint ambition is to create a world-class football operation building on the Club’s many existing strengths, including the successful off-pitch performance that it continues to enjoy. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and all parties are hopeful it will be completed as soon as possible.
Transaction Details
Under the terms of the transaction agreements, Trawlers Limited will (i) acquire 25% of the Class B ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0005 per share (“Class B shares”), and (ii) initiate a tender offer to acquire up to a number of shares that, at launch, will represent 25% of the Class A ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0005 per share (“Class A shares”), in each case at a price of $33.00 per share in cash. Subject to a sufficient number of Class A shares being tendered in the offer, Trawlers Limited would own 25% of the Club following the closing of the transaction.
- Sir Jim will provide a $300 million fund intended to enable future investment into the Club’s infrastructure at Old Trafford, comprising $200 million paid upon the closing of the transaction and a further $100 million by the end of 2024. Trawlers Limited will be issued additional Class A and Class B shares at $33.00 in respect of such investment.
- The transaction will be fully funded by Trawlers Limited without any debt.
- The Board of Directors of Manchester United plc has approved the transaction and recommended that the Manchester United plc shareholders tender their shares in the tender offer and approve the change to the Articles of Association of Manchester United plc to, among other things, permit the transfer of Class B shares.
- The closing of the tender offer will be subject to the receipt of Premier League approval and other necessary regulatory approvals, shareholder approval of an amendment to the Articles of Association and other customary conditions.
- Trawlers Limited is a company incorporated under the laws of Isle of Man and is wholly-owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
- Trawlers Limited was advised by Slaughter and May, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, Goldman Sachs International and J.P. Morgan Cazenove. Manchester United was advised by The Raine Group and Latham & Watkins LLP. The Glazer family shareholders were advised by Rothschild and Co.
English Premier League Manchester United Receives 3 Offers to Buy Football Club, British Richest Man Sir Jim Ratcliffe & Founder of Chemicals Group INEOS Highest at $8.75 Billion, Qatari Consortium Led by Chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank & American Hedge Fund Elliott Investment
18th February 2023 – English Premier League Manchester United has received 3 offers to buy the football club, with British richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe (Net worth $15 billion) & founder of chemicals group INEOS highest at $8.75 billion, and 2 other bids by Qatari consortium (led by Chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Than) and American hedge fund Elliott Investment Management. In 2022 November, Manchester United American owners Glazer family (Malcolm Glazer & children) announced they are open to selling the football club for $5 billion, having acquired the club for $1.3 billion (£790 million) over 2 years from 2003 to 2005 (17 years ago). In 2012, Manchester United became publicly listed on New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and has a market capitalisation of around $3.1 billion (24/11/22). Manchester United football club is one of the most successful football club in England, winning a record 20 league titles and 3 European Cup / Champions League Cup. More info below.
English Premier League Manchester United American Owners Glazer Family to Sell Football Club for $5 Billion, Bought the Club for $1.3 Billion in 2005
24th November 2022 – English Premier League Manchester United American owners Glazer family (Malcolm Glazer & children) is open to selling the football club for $5 billion, having acquired the club for $1.3 billion (£790 million) over 2 years from 2003 to 2005 (17 years ago). In 2012, Manchester United became publicly listed on New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and has a market capitalisation of around $3.1 billion (24/11/22). Manchester United football club is one of the most successful football club in England, winning a record 20 league titles and 3 European Cup / Champions League Cup. In 2006, Malcolm Glazer suffered a stroke and his children Joel Glazer & Avram Glazer took control of the club. Manchester United Announcement: “The Board will consider all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions involving the Company. This will include an assessment of several initiatives to strengthen the club, including stadium and infrastructure redevelopment, and expansion of the club’s commercial operations on a global scale, each in the context of enhancing the long-term success of the club’s men’s, women’s and academy teams, and bringing benefits to fans and other stakeholders.” In the latest financial update, Manchester United is projecting for FY2023, revenues of £580 million to £600 million and and adjusted EBITDA of £100 million to £110 million. Earlier in November 2022, English Premier League Liverpool football club owners Fenway Sports Group is also looking to sell the football club for around $5 billion, having acquired the club in 2010 (12 years ago) for $475 million (£300 million).
Manchester United Announcement
Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU), one of the most successful and historic sports clubs in the world, announces today that the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) is commencing a process to explore strategic alternatives for the club. The process is designed to enhance the club’s future growth, with the ultimate goal of positioning the club to capitalize on opportunities both on the pitch and commercially. As part of this process, the Board will consider all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions involving the Company. This will include an assessment of several initiatives to strengthen the club, including stadium and infrastructure redevelopment, and expansion of the club’s commercial operations on a global scale, each in the context of enhancing the long-term success of the club’s men’s, women’s and academy teams, and bringing benefits to fans and other stakeholders.
Executive Co-Chairmen and Directors, Avram Glazer and Joel Glazer said, “The strength of Manchester United rests on the passion and loyalty of our global community of 1.1 billion fans and followers. As we seek to continue building on the Club’s history of success, the Board has authorized a thorough evaluation of strategic alternatives. We will evaluate all options to ensure that we best serve our fans and that Manchester United maximizes the significant growth opportunities available to the Club today and in the future. Throughout this process we will remain fully focused on serving the best interests of our fans, shareholders, and various stakeholders.”
The Raine Group is acting as the Company’s exclusive financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP is legal counsel to the Company. Rothschild and Co. is acting as exclusive financial advisor to the Glazer family shareholders.
There can be no assurance that the review being undertaken will result in any transaction involving the Company. Manchester United does not intend to make further announcements regarding the review unless and until the Board has approved a specific transaction or other course of action requiring a formal announcement.
Manchester United is one of the most popular and successful sports teams in the world, playing one of the most popular spectator sports on Earth. Through our 144-year heritage we have won 66 trophies, enabling us to develop the world’s leading sports brand and a global community of 1.1 billion fans and followers. Our large, passionate community provides Manchester United with a worldwide platform to generate significant revenue from multiple sources, including sponsorship, merchandising, product licensing, new media & mobile, broadcasting and match day.
Fenway Sports Group to Sell English Premier League Liverpool Football Club Owners for $5 Billion, Bought in 2010 for $475 Million
16th November 2022 – English Premier League Liverpool football club owners Fenway Sports Group is looking to sell the football club for around $5 billion, having acquired the club in 2010 (12 years ago) for $475 million (£300 million). Fenway Sports Group owns Major League Baseball club Boston Red Sox and NHL Pittsburgh Penguins. During the ownership of Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool football club won its first Premier League title in 30 years, winning the 2019/2020 Premier League, the 2019 European Champions League and the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup. For 2021/2022, Liverpool football club is expected to achieve revenue of around $700 million. John W. Henry who made his wealth from his investment firm, is the founder & largest shareholder of Fenway Sports Group. Tom Werner who was from the TV production industry, is the Chairman & 2nd largest shareholder of Fenway Sports Group. See below for recent football club deals:
Fenway Sports Group to Sell English Premier League Liverpool Football Club Owners for $5 Billion, Bought in 2010 for $475 Million
During the ownership of Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool football club won its first Premier League title in 30 years, winning the 2019/2020 Premier League, the 2019 European Champions League and the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup. For 2021/2022, Liverpool football club is expected to achieve revenue of around $700 million.
Italy Inter Milan Chinese Owners Suning Group Zhang Family to Sell Football Club for $1 Billion, Acquired in 2016 for $263 Million & Won Italy Serie A Championship in 2020/2021 Season
21st October 2022 – Italy top football club Inter Milan (Football Club Internazionale Milano) Chinese owners (Zhang Jindong & family, Suning Holdings) is looking to sell the football club for $1 billion, having acquired majority stake in the club in 2016 for $306 million (pledging $750 million to invest in the club) & winning the Italy Serie A championship in the 2020/2021 season. The chinese owners Zhang family had been reported to engage United States investment bank Raine Group & Goldman Sachs to find a buyer. Raine Group had also acted in the sale of Chelsea ($5.4 billion) earlier in June 2022. In the same month in June 2022, Redbird Capital, founded by former Goldman Sachs banker Gerry Cardinale, bought Italy football club AC Milan for $1.29 billion (EUR 1.2 billion) from Elliott Management. Redbird Capital has also recently acquired a 10% stake in Fenway Sports Group, which also owns Liverpool football club and baseball club Boston Red Sox. AC Milan is the newly crowned Champions of Serie A (2022), and is one of Italy’s most popular football club alongside Juventus and Inter Milan.
Suning Holdings Group, Founder & Billionaire Zhang Jindong with $7.5 Billion Fortune
Chinese owners (Zhang Jindong & family, Suning Holdings) acquired a majority stake in Italy top football club Inter Milan (Football Club Internazionale Milano) in 2016 for $306 million (pledging $750 million to invest in the club) & winning the Italy Serie A championship in the 2020/2021 season.
Suning Holdings Group is one of the largest privately owned company in China. Suning.com is one of the largest non-government retailers in China, and is listed on Shenzhen stock exchange. Suning Holdings Group is founded by billionaire Zhang Jindong (China) and has a personal fortune of around $7.5 billion.
United States Investor & NBA LA Lakers Part-Owner Todd Boehly Buys Chelsea Football Club for $5.4 Billion from Sanctioned Russian Billionaire Roman Abramovich
In June 2022, United States investor Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital ($72 billion AUM, portfolio includes Cirque du Soleil) have jointly acquired Chelsea Football Club for $5.4 billion (GBP 4.25 billion) from sanctioned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, after 20 years of ownership and being forced to sell the football (International pressure due to Russia war in Ukraine). Todd Boehly is also the part-owner of Los Angeles Lakers (NBA club), and has investments in Penske Media which owns Billboard, Rolling Stone, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. Chelsea football club received more than 250 enquiries with 12 credible bids. Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich had bought Chelsea football club in 2003 (19 years ago) with GBP 140 million. Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital will have joint control of Chelsea football club.
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