www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/oct/10/charlton-takeoverCharlton Athletic set to release statement amid takeover talk•
'Dubai-based investors' to take over at the Valley, say reports
• Club preparing to make announcement later todayJohn Ashdown guardian.co.uk, Friday October 10 2008 17.11 BST
Article history
Middle East investors have reportedly been attracted to the bright lights of Charlton Athletic. Charlton Athletic are preparing to release a statement this afternoon amid rumours that the club are about to be bought by a Middle East consortium.
Some news sources are reporting that a deal has already been done, with 'Dubai-based investors' set to be the new owners. Charlton, who dropped out of the Premier League in 2007, were forced to sell several player over the summer, with Chris Iwelumo, Marcus Bent, Madjid Bougherra and Amdy Faye all leaving the club.
[font size=7 color=red]زعبيل[/font]
Comments
"Charlton Athletic are to become the latest club to be taken over by Dubai based investors, according to reports.
A stock exchange statement is expected to reveal that the club will receive significant investment as part of a takeover from the Middle East.
More to follow..."
I thought I recognised them ;-)
lmfao
Didnt see that one coming, Cant be a bad thing though ?
'Founded in February 2006, Zabeel Investments is a Dubai-based
diversified investment company with business interests spanning
commercial real estate development and management, private equity and
asset management across a wide range of economic sectors in the GCC
and other international markets.
Zabeel Investments property portfolio currently comprises of
approximately AED15 billion (US$5 billion) of prestigious residential,
commercial and hospitality developments.'
Found this here:
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS209862+04-Mar-2008+BW20080304
The UAE Llanera!
The Valley club's efforts to play down the deal last night by insisting there is "no certainty" that the "indicative" bid will become a formal offer will not restrain unbridled excitement in south-east London. The involvement of Sheikh Hamdan Al-Maktoum, son of Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed, through his Zabeel Investments vehicle would make the ascendancy of a club that dropped out of the Premier League with only 34 points in 2007 almost a certainty.
Superficially there would seem to be few motives for taking over a club who lie only 14th in the Championship today. But there was an influential link with Liverpool in that Rothschilds, the investment bank, had represented the five-times European champions and also worked for Charlton.
The Valley club have been scouring the market for fresh investment in recent months but few could have considered that the Dubai ruling caste would be interested in a Championship club. One close observer of Dubai's football negotiations expressed surprise at the deal, saying: "They usually go for the front of the grid."
Buying Charlton may appear a strange choice but their location in London and the fact that they own the freehold on their stadium and training ground makes them attractive. Their manager, Alan Pardew, is understood to be aware of the deal and has already been reassured by the club's board – and the prospective new owners – that his job is safe and that he will receive funds in the January transfer window.
Zabeel, which has links with Dubai International Capital \, the group that was interested in buying Liverpool, claims to have assets of $5 billion (about £3 billion) from its interests in property in Dubai and the United States.
However, it is not interested simply in throwing money at football. It is understood to have had talks with Mike Ashley, the owner of Newcastle United, but regarded his asking price of £480 million as too steep.
Instead of bidding for an established Barclays Premier League club, it has followed the lead of Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, who took over Queens Park Rangers for an investment of £14 million and are looking to take them into the top flight — a more economical way of acquiring a Premier League club, if it comes off.
Charlton are fourteenth in the Championship after losing their Premier League status in 2007 and may not seem an obvious attraction when, for example, Portsmouth are reported to be on the market for a similar amount. However, while the South Coast club are in the Premier League, they cannot match the solid foundations of the London club, who have a modern stadium with good facilities and plans to expand.
The potential riches that could be pouring into SE7 are in contrast to the slump in fortunes at some of their London neighbours, whose backers have been adversely affected by the financial situation. Just across the Thames Barrier from The Valley, West Ham United face an uncertain future after Landsbanki, the Icelandic bank of which Björgólfur Gudmundsson, the West Ham chairman, was a major shareholder, was nationalised.
Lakshi Mittal, who has bought into QPR, has lost an estimated $16 billion in the value of his shares over the past four months, according to reports last weekend, while Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea owner, is reported to have seen the value of his holdings drop by around £12 billion. The last English club to beat Chelsea at their own ground may be about to beat them in a more unexpected field.
After failing with attempts to buy Liverpool and Arsenal, businessman Mohammed Al Hashimi — whose company Zabeel Investments is worth more than £3billion — is poised to take control at The Valley.
Should his offer be accepted by Charlton’s shareholders — and this seems certain — Al Hashimi will also wipe out the club’s debts of £20m.
Current chairman Richard Murray, in charge at the club since 1995, will advise the new owners and remain at the club.
For the time being at least, Alan Pardew’s position as manager seems to be safe.
A Charlton source said: “Financially, many people thought the club was going to be in a lot of trouble so they cannot believe what is now happening.
"The talks have only lasted for a few days but the board have wasted no time in making a decision.
“The takeover is even sweeter as Crystal Palace are looking for new investors but they are not having a lot of luck.”
The Telegraph doesn't seem bothered but says there's a "cash-rich" buyer for West Ham.
£20m + taking on the clubs debts = £40-50m
http://www.southlondon-today.co.uk/tn/Sport.cfm?id=20173