June 11 – Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has reportedly received a £400 million cash offer for the club from a consortium of international investors which include an unamed member of the Saudi royal family and high net worth investors from the US.
London-based businessman and lawyer Vatche Manoukian is leading the bid which reportedly would take on the club’s debt on top of the cash offer.
Manoukian is a partner at tech investment firm IMS Digital Ventures and is backed by Australia’s Myer family.
Moshiri returned to the markets to find a buyer for the club after his agreement to sell his 94% stake to 777 Partners in September fell through last month.
Everton’s fan advisory board (FAB) in an open letter to prospective buyers has called for “open, transparent and regular engagement” with supporters.
Following the protracted takeover attempt by 777 and seeing the sales and purchase agreement end on 31 May, the FAB is hoping any future process is concluded in a “much shorter timeframe”.
The group added in a statement: “Now is the time for us to look forward and turn our attention to the parties who are in the process of bidding for our club.
“As one of the greatest sporting institutions in club football, we hope any new ownership will nurture, invest and most importantly acknowledge that their role as the steward of Everton FC is to run the club in partnership with its supporters in a way that recognises its heritage, sustainability, creativity and commercial potential,” said the letter.
Part of that challenge, and much of the interest and added value created in the club will be the transition to the new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium once completed. The fan group hopes that a new ownership deal is concluded swiftly.
No bidder has yet been announced as having a period of exclusivity to complete the deal.
Manoukian’s bid is up against local businessmen Andy Bell and George Downing, as well as MSP Sports Capital, who have lent Everton about £158 million – are also in the running for a period of exclusivity after lodging bids.
Advantage Capital Holdings, another US-based investment firm, has offered to refinance all of Everton’s existing debt in return for a non-controlling equity stake.
Advantage Capital is a major lender to 777 Partners, who in turn loaned Everton $200 million before their business imploded.
Meanwhile Roma owner Dan Friedkin, an American businessman with a net worth of £4.8 billion is aiming for an exclusivity agreement to purchase current owner Farhad Moshiri’s 94% stake in the club.
John Textor, whose multi-club ownership group Eagle Holdings hold 45% of Crystal Palace, said he is interested in the club, but would first have to sell his Palace stake. That is unlikely to happen in time to keep him in the race for Everton.
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