Liverpool’s current owners Fenway Sports Group have dismissed speculation linking the club with an £800m takeover bid by China Everbright.
Fenway Sports Group have gone on record to rule out the possibility of sale of Liverpool, quashing the rumours linking the club to an £800m takeover bid from Chinese investors group called China Everbright. The Guardian had run a story right after Liverpool’s humiliating 2-0 loss to Burnley that their majority shareholder, Fenway Sports Group was considering sale of their stake to a Chinese consortium.
It is interesting to note that Timo Werner had denied such reports earlier as he was quoted as saying,“I’d say that from time to time somebody says they have made an offer to buy us but they are really saying that just for publicity. People throw offers to us which we don’t think are real. We haven’t had a discussion or a negotiation with anyone because this club is not for sale,” as per Liverpool Offside.
Fenway Sports Group have now come out and dismissed the rumours of a takeover bid from financial services conglomerate China Everbright, who are reported to be heading the consortium along with private equity firm PCP, in an effort to acquire a substantial shareholding, in a deal reportedly worth around £800m.
Senior FSG executives are adamant that they have received no bids and there are no ongoing negotiations in relation to their stake in the Premier League club. The report by Liverpool Echo, though, added that the club have always remained open to the idea of selling a minority stake but are not actively seeking an investment. The owners, FSG, have however revealed that the only discussions that they have been involved in recently are over sponsorship deals, as they seek a naming rights partner for Anfield’s new Main Stand.
Echo added that a private limited company called Everbright Development Liverpool Ltd. was registered at the Companies House in Cardiff in April, 2016 with its official address in Penny Lane, Liverpool with Gar Wo Chu and Lei Ma listed as the two company directors.
FSG were reported to have roped in investment bank Allen & Co. to advise during negotiations with the Chinese investors, the investment bank having a long-term relationship with the current owners of Liverpool, having advised them on a wide range of previous deals.
It will be interesting to see if China Everbright-led consortium follow up their interest with a real offer and whether Liverpool join the latest flurry of European clubs being fueled by Chinese investment with AC Milan being the biggest name thus far.
