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Manchester United (MANU) Announces Process to Explore Strategic Alternatives

  • November 22, 2022

POTENTIAL DEAL DETAILS

StockManchester United plcSymbolMANU
Date Announced11/22/2022Source Press Release
TypeCompany Seeking Strategic Alternatives

Manchester United plc (MANU), announces that the company’s Board of Directors is commencing a process to explore strategic alternatives for the club.

Update(s):

January 17, 2023: Jim Ratcliffe’s company INEOS has formally entered the bidding process to buy Premier League soccer club Manchester United (MANU), a spokesperson for the chemical firm.

February 9, 2023: British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has lined up banks including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to provide debt financing for a bid to buy Manchester United FC, a person familiar with the matter said.

February 13, 2023: According to Bloomberg, Qatari investors are set to make an offer for Manchester United Plc in the coming days.

February 17, 2023: Elliott Management said to offer financing for Manchester United bid (MANU).

March 22, 2023: Jim Ratcliffe to submit improved Manchester United bid above £5bn

March 23, 2023: Bloomberg reported Bidders for Manchester United Plc have been granted extra time to table new offers,

April 27, 2023: Manchester United Plc(MANU) has asked bidders to clarify the source of their wealth and who would become the club’s ultimate beneficial owner ahead of a looming third deadline for offers.

April 29, 2023: Reuters reported that Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos has outbid a Qatari group led by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani in the battle to buy Manchester United (MANU).

Ineos is the only bidder to have valued the club higher than 5 billion pounds ($6.29 billion), the report added.

May 16, 2023: Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani made an improved final offer for Manchester United (MANU) in an attempt to see off his main rival British petrochemicals billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Sheikh Jassim is offering to buy 100% of the club now for a price nearer to 5 billion pounds ($6.31 billion), the report said.

June 15, 2023: Reuters reported that, English football club Manchester United (MANU) is negotiating granting exclusivity to the consortium led by Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani in the talks to sell itself for more than $6 billion.

June 28, 2023: The Qatari group led by Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad J.J. Al Thani is increasingly confident it’s won the bidding war for Manchester United Plc, thwarting a rival offer from British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe as the sale of the football club extends into the crucial summer months.

August 2, 2023: Mirror reported, The Glazer family have reportedly decided to ‘pause’ the Manchester United (MANU)  takeover process and have not responded to offers tabled by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

The Mail says takeover negotiations are still ongoing with ‘multiple parties’ amid a view for a full sale or partial investment.

August 18, 2023: According to a Manchester Evening News report Qatari Sheik Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani is still awaiting a response from the Glazer family to his bid, and there is “real concern” that the Glazers may not sell the Premier League club.

August 22, 2023: Manchester United (MANU) sale may be announced next month – The Sun

September 26, 2023: According to Bloomberg, Jim Ratcliffe is restructuring his offer to buy Manchester United Plc.

October 14, 2023: According to Bloomberg, the Qatari group led by Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad J.J. Al Thani has withdrawn its bid to buy Manchester United (MANU).

November 15, 2023: Manchester United announced CEO Richard Arnold will step down ahead of the club’s reported stake sale to British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe. General counsel and board director Patrick Stewart, who has been with United for over 17 years, will become interim CEO.

November 17, 2023: According to Sky News report, Jim Ratcliffe is close to a deal to acquire a minority stake in the famed soccer club for about $33 a share.

December 24, 2023: Manchester United plc reaches agreement for Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS, to acquire up to a 25% shareholding in the company.

December 26, 2023: Manchester United rose 2.5% after the famed soccer club agreed to sell a 25% stake to billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.

February 13, 2024: Jim Ratcliffe extended his previously announced tender offer to buy up to 13.2 million shares to February 16, 2024, The tender offer had been set to expire on February 13, 2024, though it was extended until February 16, 2024, according to a regulatory filing.

February 20, 2024: Manchester United plc (MANU), and Trawlers Limited, an entity wholly-owned by Jim Ratcliffe, confirm that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has completed his acquisition of 25% of the club’s Class B shares and 25% of the club’s Class A shares, following the satisfaction of all conditions, including approvals from the Football Association and the Premier League.

 

Disclaimer: Our intent with this section of the website is to present potential deals that appear to be in the pipeline. These potential deals are ones where i) the company has indicated that it is "seeking strategic alternatives", ii) there has been an unsolicited bid for a company as mentioned in a press release by the company or iii) news about the deal has been published by a leading news organization like The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg, Financial Times, The Washington Post, Reuters and The Associated Press. As best as possible we will try to avoid baseless rumors. There is a high probability that many of these potential deals may not materialize and if they do, the terms of the deal may be different from what was initially reported. Please do your own due diligence before buying or selling any securities mentioned on this website. We do not warrant the completeness or accuracy of the content or data provided.