NFR: Manchester United to float on NYSE

[Logicalman]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18699885

Manchester United seeks $100m New York stock sale



Manchester United has applied to list on the US stock market in a share sale aimed at raising $100m (£64m).

In documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Premier League giant said it was listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

The club had earlier explored the possibility of a $1bn flotation on the Singapore stock market.

United, among the best-supported clubs in the world, said it would use money from the listing to repay debt.

The club has been controlled since 2005 by the Glazer family, the billionaire US sports investors who also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers American football franchise.

The Glazers borrowed large sums of money to buy the club and the interest payments on this debt are onerous.

In 2010, the owners converted these loans into a bond in order to reduce the interest, but analysts say the share sale demonstrates how the club remains weighed down by its heavy debts, despite its huge global fan base and promotional and marketing efforts.

The club currently owes £423m.

"We intend to use all of our net proceeds from this offering to reduce our indebtedness," the prospectus filed with the SEC said.

The club will issue two categories of share to ensure that the Glazer family remains in control.

The $100m figure in the initial public offering (IPO) paperwork is what is known as a "placeholder" figure, and it is envisaged that the club will want to raise significantly more than this sum.

In September, United received approval for a share sale in Singapore, but the process was delayed because of volatility in the stock markets.

Several high-profile flotations have been pulled in recent months as investor appetite has been dampened by the European debt crisis and worries that Asian economies are slowing.

[Logicalman]

Interesting note is that they have reduced the initial offering amount to 1/10th of the original expectations of last year, and its still less than 25% of what the Glaziers still owe on the monies loaned against the purchase in 2005.

There is speculation that this is likely to be the initial positioning for the sale of the club by the Glaziers in the future. Then again, how many more oligarchs are out there ready to stump up a cool 1/2 Billion dollars to own the team?

[ImperialWhite]

Other point of interest: they're going to become a Cayman Islands company.

Manchester United: PAY YOUR TAX

[AlFayedsChequebook]

Other point of interest: they're going to become a Cayman Islands company.

Manchester United: PAY YOUR TAX

Aren't Fulham headquartered in the Caribbean?

[ImperialWhite]

Other point of interest: they're going to become a Cayman Islands company.

Manchester United: PAY YOUR TAX

Aren't Fulham headquartered in the Caribbean?

Wouldn't surprise me.

edit. It's Bermuda!

Fulham FC: PAY YOUR TAX

[Berserker]

Probably in the middle of the triangle knowing Fulham!

[Terry Angus]

Interesting note is that they have reduced the initial offering amount to 1/10th of the original expectations of last year, and its still less than 25% of what the Glaziers still owe on the monies loaned against the purchase in 2005.

yeah but one assumes it's only for 10% of the stock they intended to list last year; they still have the option to sell the rest later.