Liverpool takeover (Chinese)

Liverpool takeover: State-backed Chinese group want to buy club from Fenway for £700m

An investment group supported by the Chinese state government is attempting to purchase Liverpool for £700million, The Independent can reveal.

It has emerged that Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group have been aware of the proposal from SinoFortone since March.

SinoFortone, who are fronted by managing director Peter Zhang, has committed £5.2billion towards new projects in the UK over the last 12 months.

They have already explored the potential of building a new stadium in the dockland area of Liverpool, appreciating that Anfield’s new main stand will be completed in September.

Their plans also involve the redevelopment of the club’s training ground at Melwood and the installation of a series of football academies across China.

It is believed that Fenway, who are led by John W. Henry, are reluctant to sell Liverpool at this moment and have been unreceptive to the approach.

While the Premier League’s new television rights deal potentially increases the value of all English top flight clubs to unprecedented levels, there is a confidence within FSG that Jürgen Klopp will lead Liverpool into a new era of sporting prosperity, an era, indeed, the current owners would like to be around for.

SinoFortone are also thought to be open to the idea of part-investment in Liverpool, offering FSG a medium to long-term exit strategy. This might appeal more to key yet ageing figureheads like Henry and chairman Tom Werner, who will both turn 67 at their next birthdays.

The bidder specialises in large-scale infrastructure projects, building roads, railways, airports, seaports and power stations across China and the Middle East.

In March SinoFortone agreed a green energy and affordable housing scheme investment with the Scottish government. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon signed off the contract, which might eventually be worth £10bn. She was later accused by opposition parties of misleading Scots over the secrecy around the agreement, which also involved the China Railway Group.

Last year, during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Britain, SinoFortone committed £2bn towards two eco-parks in north and south west Wales, which will see two biomass power stations built in Anglesey and Port Talbot.

SinoFortone has earmarked a substantial sum towards the London Paramount Entertainment Resort, which is due to open in Dartford, Kent, in 2021. It is also involved in the proposed Crossrail 2 rail line running through London into Hertfordshire as well as the building of new metro systems in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.

Liverpool is thought to be an attractive proposition to SinoFortone, not least because of the club’s history and reasonable current standing, but also because the city is home to Europe’s oldest Chinese community.

In April, work on the £200m New Chinatown project began less than a mile away from Liverpool’s city centre. The development will include 850 new houses, 150,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, and a new hotel.

Though SinoFortone are not behind this project, its plans were presented to President Xi’s delegation during his visit to Manchester last October.

Sorry if this is known news, haven't been paying a great deal of attention to the forum the last week. Anyway, would love FSG to pack up and bog off and have an owner capable of funding us back to the top. But that's just me.


http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/liverpool-takeover-state-backed-chinese-group-want-to-buy-club-from-fenway-for-700m-a7083836.html

Liverpool takeover: State-backed Chinese group want to buy club from Fenway for £700m

An investment group supported by the Chinese state government is attempting to purchase Liverpool for £700million, The Independent can reveal.

It has emerged that Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group have been aware of the proposal from SinoFortone since March.

SinoFortone, who are fronted by managing director Peter Zhang, has committed £5.2billion towards new projects in the UK over the last 12 months.

They have already explored the potential of building a new stadium in the dockland area of Liverpool, appreciating that Anfield’s new main stand will be completed in September.

Their plans also involve the redevelopment of the club’s training ground at Melwood and the installation of a series of football academies across China.

It is believed that Fenway, who are led by John W. Henry, are reluctant to sell Liverpool at this moment and have been unreceptive to the approach.

While the Premier League’s new television rights deal potentially increases the value of all English top flight clubs to unprecedented levels, there is a confidence within FSG that Jürgen Klopp will lead Liverpool into a new era of sporting prosperity, an era, indeed, the current owners would like to be around for.

SinoFortone are also thought to be open to the idea of part-investment in Liverpool, offering FSG a medium to long-term exit strategy. This might appeal more to key yet ageing figureheads like Henry and chairman Tom Werner, who will both turn 67 at their next birthdays.

The bidder specialises in large-scale infrastructure projects, building roads, railways, airports, seaports and power stations across China and the Middle East.

In March SinoFortone agreed a green energy and affordable housing scheme investment with the Scottish government. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon signed off the contract, which might eventually be worth £10bn. She was later accused by opposition parties of misleading Scots over the secrecy around the agreement, which also involved the China Railway Group.

Last year, during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Britain, SinoFortone committed £2bn towards two eco-parks in north and south west Wales, which will see two biomass power stations built in Anglesey and Port Talbot.

SinoFortone has earmarked a substantial sum towards the London Paramount Entertainment Resort, which is due to open in Dartford, Kent, in 2021. It is also involved in the proposed Crossrail 2 rail line running through London into Hertfordshire as well as the building of new metro systems in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.

Liverpool is thought to be an attractive proposition to SinoFortone, not least because of the club’s history and reasonable current standing, but also because the city is home to Europe’s oldest Chinese community.

In April, work on the £200m New Chinatown project began less than a mile away from Liverpool’s city centre. The development will include 850 new houses, 150,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, and a new hotel.

Though SinoFortone are not behind this project, its plans were presented to President Xi’s delegation during his visit to Manchester last October.

Sorry if this is known news, haven't been paying a great deal of attention to the forum the last week. Anyway, would love FSG to pack up and bog off and have an owner capable of funding us back to the top. But that's just me.

You forgot to include a source mate.

Given the topic I think it's important to know that.

Weren't we linked with this take over before a few years back? Taking this with a pinch of salt, I'd need to hear more about their plans, but it could be a good thing if it were true.

You forgot to include a source mate.

Given the topic I think it's important to know that.

Saw on Facebook that it's from the Indepedent. Sure it will be in other sources too if it's for real.

Just posted about this is in the FSG thread. I'm mixed, I know we've not exactly made huge improvements under FSG with their restrictive transfer policy but I've yet to see a European club have success under a Chinese owner.

Saw on Facebook that it's from the Indepedent. Sure it will be in other sources too if it's for real.

Ah okay, thanks.

IT'S NOT HAPPENING

How many of these threads do we need? There is 0% this happens.

You forgot to include a source mate.

Given the topic I think it's important to know that.

Source is Simon Hughes  of the Independent. Link included in thread now.

Zzzzzzzzzzz

IT'S NOT HAPPENING

How many of these threads do we need? There is 0% this happens.

No way will FSG sell at this point, but a part investment from China is much more believable.

No way will FSG sell at this point, but a part investment from China is much more believable.

Whether the do or not it's still news worthy. From what I hear this isn't just some paper talk, this is a firm offer with a clear exit strategy for FSG over the medium to long term. I have nothing against FSG per se, I simply do not believe they are financially capable, or willing, to propel us back to the big time in a league that more than most is reliant upon large investment.

No way will FSG sell at this point, but a part investment from China is much more believable.

Maybe they'll buy LeBron out!

No way is this happening.

IT'S NOT HAPPENING

Why not?

Don't think FSG will sell. They would make money if sell for 700 mil now but they will make more in the long run if they keep Liverpool.
-------------------------------
https://twitter.com/TheAnfieldWrap/status/743148651002929152

Why not?

1. Long term manager in place. Someone they've always wanted.

2. Long term investment strategy for players.

3. Just forked out over £100m for the upgrade of Anfield.

4. TV deal.

Whatever they sell for now, they'd get multiple times more in a decade. Not a lazy amount, but potentially £1bn+.

There is absolutely zero chance.

Don't think FSG will sell. They would make money if sell for 700 mil now but they will make more in the long run if they keep Liverpool.

https://twitter.com/TheAnfieldWrap/status/743148651002929152

Wtf is this nonsense? Invest in a new stadium? Rebuild Anfield and Melwood? This is a fake right?

Wtf is this nonsense? Invest in a new stadium? Rebuild Anfield and Melwood? This is a fake right?

Certainly a fake, prank I think.

I wouldn't go so far as zero chance, an opening offer (if it even exists) of £770m could easily be upped to £1bn.

That's a tidy profit to rid yourself of 'those scousers'.

Won't happen.  These guys didn't get rich selling appreciating assets too early.  1bn is nothing. Offer them 3bn and their pants might get tight.

Wtf is this nonsense? Invest in a new stadium? Rebuild Anfield and Melwood? This is a fake right?

Why are you barging around the thread shouting at people?

Why are you barging around the thread shouting at people?

I wouldn't go so far as zero chance, an opening offer (if it even exists) of £770m could easily be upped to £1bn.

That's a tidy profit to rid yourself of 'those scousers'.

Tidy profit? That's nothing. Why would they sell for roughly 100% ROI when they could get 400%+ in just a couple years?

Regarding the letter, Simon Hughes who has broken the story has spoken to The Anfield Wrap in the last hour or so (they've put a pod out of it behind the paywall) so I suspect the letter may have come from him. Seems that there is legit and serious interest - how serious we don't know.

Here is the letter in nice big easy to read size.

Now I'm now expert but this looks like a piss take.

Sent early this year and going on about a new build the Docks area, that's the Blue sh*te FFS.

Look at the signature, lovely penmanship.

ZHANG or ZHENG?

If you look here, at then end of the PDF, is the real signature  http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0049/00498660.pdf

What is it? 1st April?

They have apparently managed to get to a negotiation stage with FSG - further than anybody else has. As stated, FSG in no rush to sell for the time being.

Getting that from Simon Hughes on TAW podcast.