Man U Valued at $1.5 Billion -- American takes control

[Imran Siddiqui]

No, the SYSTEM of promotion and relegation hinder any attempts at that attitude. In a lot of leagues, the top league is a seperate organization from the lower leagues. Because of the fact that 2-4 teams may drop out every year into another organization there is no push for a "let's work for the good of us all" attitude.

In fact, modern times seem to show that that is the opposite of where European soccer is heading and it is even more of a everyone for yourself thing.

[DanS]

All I'm saying is that the terms of relegation and promotion can be changed -- i.e., they can change the numbers of teams relegated and the circumstances under which they are relegated. The could make relegation relatively rare, if they wanted to.

[Imran Siddiqui]

All I'm saying is that the terms of relegation and promotion can be changed -- i.e., they can change the numbers of teams relegated and the circumstances under which they are relegated. The could make relegation relatively rare, if they wanted to.

Yeah, like that'll ever happen! Hell, that's why European fans rail on about our sports... without promotion and relegation they are boring. They aren't likely to take away relegation from their leagues!

[Dauphin]

Its not so much removing relegation that people would have the problem with, its having no way of promotion without relegation that is the major concern I'd think..

[DanS]

Wow, this sure is a lot of debt!

The overseas sales are pathetic!

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=334143&cc=5901

Glazer details £790m Man Utd takeover
Malcolm Glazer tonight laid bare the extraordinary details of the borrowings required to complete his £790million takeover of Manchester United.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner has already stated he intends to use United's assets as security against a £265million loan from bankers JP Morgan.

But, in the details of his formal offer document which was released to shareholders on behalf of Red Football today, Glazer has revealed a succession of steepling interest charges that take the approximate overall cost of the money lent on that loan alone to a massive £570million.

And that figure does not include a bridging loan of £18.9million which has to be paid back in March next year, plus another £90million as a credit and capital expenditure facility, which had never previously been mentioned and could be used to fund the much-heralded stadium expansion.

And there is still another £275million in preferred securities, which it is anticipated he will refinance almost as soon as the deal is done.

If United fans were shaky about the prospect of the 76-year-old American business tycoon running their club prior to Saturday's FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal, those fears will be acutely exacerbated now, with it estimated that the club's debt alone will turn out to be an horrific £650million, over six times the amount which almost sent Leeds to the wall.

It confirms why Red Devils chief executive David Gill described Glazer's business plan as `aggressive' and `potentially damaging' to the long-term interests of the club.

Yet, amazingly, Gill is likely to be charged with delivering the massively increased profits Glazer is convinced are available to the world's most profitable soccer club.

Within the offer document was again confirmation that the Glazer family wanted to work with the current management and a statement that not all the four current board members of Red Football - Joel and Avi Glazer, Mitchell Nusbaum and William Sondericker - will sit on United's board.

It is becoming clear though, that Joel, a 38-year-old graduate from American University in Washington, will patrol the Glazer family interests in the Old Trafford outfit.

Having taken a 76.2% stake in United, shareholder reaction to the offer document is largely irrelevant, although a deadline of 3pm on Monday, June 13 has been imposed.

The following morning, Red Football will confirm precise details of their stake in United. It is then envisaged Glazer will apply to cancel United's Stock Market listing on June 22.

It had been anticipated an informal statement to supporters from Joel Glazer would be incorporated within the offer document, but those rumours proved to be wide of the mark.

Instead, Glazer is likely to keep his counsel, at least until the share sale deadline has expired and possibly the delisting announcement before making any public utterances.

By then, the full scale of United's debt burden will have sunk in and Glazer will need to persuade supporters of the validity of his plans.

The £275million has been divided into four parts, £55million, two lots of £62.5million and £85million, with repayments taking between seven and 10 years at a rate between 2.75% and 6.5% above base rate.

Although the base rate is low - around two percent - the premiums are still huge and impossible to pay back without a massive increase in present profits.

The most recent half-year figure for United was £8.1million in March and after a third-place Barclays Premiership finish and another early exit from Europe, there is no immediate rise in prospect.

On the basis that the Glazers are far too astute to just throw their money away, precise details of their plans are awaited with eager anticipation.

It is has already been suggested that the price of corporate tickets will rise significantly, while there could also be the possibility of a naming rights package involving Old Trafford.

There has also been talk of a franchising arrangement allowing companies such as McDonalds to have stores inside the ground.

Glazer will also be keen to raise the percentage of turnover coming from overseas.

Of the £159million United earned last year, only £9million was spent from outside the United Kingdom, a paltry return on the club's vast global support.

It also appears inevitable that Glazer will attempt to alter the structure of the current television contract, either by wrecking it completely through a court challenge or by forcing the Premier League to allow United a greater percentage of income.

Glazer is expected to go before the NFL finance committee, of which he is a member, to explain the deal when team owners meet in Washington tomorrow.

The repayment figures are worked out as follows:

# Debt repayment terms of the £275million loan from JP Morgan secured against Manchester United.

# £55million - payable over seven years at 2.75% above LIBOR (London InterBank Offered Rate). Repayment cost - £90million.

# £62.5million - 50% payable over seven years, six months, 50% payable over eight years at 3.25% above LIBOR. Repayment cost - £110million.

# £62.5million - 50% payable over eight years, six months, 50% payable over nine years at 3.75% above LIBOR. Repayment cost - £128million.

# £85million - payable by April 2015 at 6.5% above LIBOR. Repayment cost - £242million.

# LIBOR rate approximately 4.6%.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

see, relegation and promotion gives incentives to owners to actually DO something. so you dont end up with a TB devil rays or Expos situation, where the club is still worht millions even if they havnt had a winning season in 10 years.

[DanS]

After thinking about Man U's situation with regard to the US, I don't think Glazer will do much of any promotion here. The only thing I can think of is if he were to buy DC United and somehow create a link between the two clubs, as Chivas has done with Chivas USA.

But really, this seems far fetched. Or in any event would be such a small move not really worthy of note, as DC United has a payroll of some $3 million, bonuses included.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Ouch, Glazer COULD be in trouble with the NFL:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=334244&cc=5901

The National Football League have admitted Manchester United's plans to build a casino next to Old Trafford is a 'potential issue' for new owner Malcolm Glazer.

As owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Glazer is subject to NFL rules which prohibit an ownership interest in a casino and bars all teams and league personnel from having any promotional arrangements with gambling establishments.

Although American football's governing body is confident the purchase of United itself does not break their regulations on cross-ownership, Old Trafford's joint interest with Las Vegas Sands Corp in building a luxury hotel and casino development could be a problem.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, speaking at the league's spring meeting in Washington, said: 'The only potential issue concerns that reported Man U venture with the Las Vegas casino, what that means, and does it have any implications regarding our policies.'

The plans for the Trafford Park side of the stadium have been raised with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue by Shareholders United, a supporter-investor group opposed to Glazer's takeover which has delivered 76% of the club's shares to the American.

In a statement to Tagliabue, SU's American representative JD Deitch stated: 'Manchester United has more than just a passive relationship with gambling and gaming.

'It is and has been very active in this regard and has plans to become much more active in the future.

'As such, it is our view that these arrangements clearly conflict with Mr Glazer's position as an NFL franchise owner.'

Meanwhile, a leading analyst has tried to allay fears that United under Glazer are heading for financial meltdown similar to Leeds.

The Yorkshire club's debts spiralled to £103million, leading to a fire sale of players and eventual relegation from the Premiership.

Glazer's formal offer document displayed a succession of steepling interest charges, taking the approximate overall cost of a £265million loan to a massive £570million.

On top of his loan he has to pay back a bridging loan of £18.9million by March next year and another £90million as a credit and capital expenditure facility.

There is also another £275million in preferred securities - and fans are horrified at the scale of the debt and fear for the club's future.

However, Hilary Cook, investment analyst at Barclays Stockbrokers, said: 'What you have to make sure is you have a cushion between your trading profits and the costs that go with servicing your debt.

'The problem with Leeds was their costs of borrowing were greater than their profits.

'It is not in Glazer's interests to put so much expensive debt in that they cannot afford to trade any more.'

Meanwhile it was revealed today that Vodafone have held talks with Glazer about their £36million sponsorship contract with Manchester United.

Chief executive Arun Sarin said he met with representatives of Red Football Ltd, Glazer's investment vehicle, about the sponsorship deal which is due to run out in three year's time.

'Obviously when we close a sponsorship, we are mindful of their (the company's) brand and our association with the brand,' Sarun told The Times.

'We have had conversations. We will have to wait and see.'

[DanS]

I think the NFL will be very patient in waiting for an answer to their questions, given Glazer a lot of time to set things right.

Regarding Glazer himself, it seems like he was lucky that the only picture anybody has of him is when he is celebrating Tampa Bay's victories. How can you dislike the guy with the ****-eating grin?

[MikeH]

With Abramovich's wealth and income it's equivalent to me spending something like £100 on my new hobby.

[Dauphin]

And your new hobby being washing notes.