Usmanov Ups Arsenal Stake Past 25%

A potential takeover bid of Arsenal by Alisher Usmanov has moved a step closer after the Russian billionaire’s investment group Red and White Holdings increased its stake in the club to more than 25%.

Red and White Holdings, which initially bought shares in the north London club two years ago from former vice chairman David Dein, was already the biggest shareholder before announcing that it now had a stake ‘in excess’ of a quarter.

The investment group, which has Dein as its chairman, can launch a formal takeover bid if it owns 30% of the issued shares in the Premier League club.

Investors including American businessman Stan Kroenke, the owner of the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer, and who possesses 12.4% of Arsenal, agreed last year not to sell to Usmanov.

A lockdown agreement means that none of the investors can sell their stake until April at the earliest.

However Nina Bracewell-Smith was forced off the board in December, freeing her 15.9% holding from the agreement.
 
Arsenal is lauded as one of the best run and potentially profitable clubs in the Premier League, but is in danger of missing out on lucrative revenue from the Champions League if it fails to qualify for next season’s tournament by not finishing in the top 4 at the end of the season.

The club also broke its transfer record in the January window spending a reported £15m to bring in Russian midfielder Andrei Arshavin.