Kroenke snaps up more Arsenal shares to edge closer to Emirates takeover

24 November 2009 14:05
American Stan Kroenke is just 62 Arsenal shares away from being obliged to make a formal offer for the Barclays Premier League club.[LNB]The business tycoon purchased 10 more shares last Thursday, at a cost of £85,000, meaning his stake in the Gunners now stands at 29.9%.[LNB]Kroenke's latest acquisition continues thetrend of picking up stock at regular intervals, recently buying 100from chairman Peter Hill-Wood, yet without making a formal bid foroverall control at club.   [LNB] Money man: Arsenal's major shareholder Stan Kroenke (left) and chairman Peter Hill-Wood[LNB] What the back pages say: Stan Kroenke promises not make Arsenal the next Liverpool, two-tier Premier League with Rangers and Celtic in to be discussed next weekKroenke splashes £1.7m in another Arsenal shares raid - takeover imminentArsenal poised for US takeover as Kroenke nudges closer to ownershipArsenal share war: Billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Stan Kroenke set for takeover battle Uunder the strict financial rules of the City, were Kroenke - whoowns the Denver Nuggets basketball team - to cross the 29.99% takeoverthreshold, he would be obliged to make a formal offer for the remainderof the shares at the highest price paid for stock during the past 12months, which was £10,500 in May.   [LNB]However, shareholders would not be forced to sell, and so after theoffer had been made, if Kroenke, already on the Arsenal board, was notable to reach 50%, then he could not return to make another takeoveroffer for 12 months, unless invited to do so by the company.  [LNB] Attractive investment: Theo Walcott in action in Arsenal's loss to Sunderland [LNB] It has been suggested Kroenke's continued steady investment isdesigned to fend off possible aggressive moves by Russian AlisherUsmanov, whose Red & White Holdings have just over 25% of the club.  [LNB]Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith, who left the board during December lastyear, could well hold the balance of power with her family's 15.9%stake, which if sold to either Kroenke or Usmanov would push both wellpast the takeover threshold. [LNB] What the back pages say: Stan Kroenke promises not make Arsenal the next Liverpool, two-tier Premier League with Rangers and Celtic in to be discussed next weekKroenke splashes £1.7m in another Arsenal shares raid - takeover imminentArsenal poised for US takeover as Kroenke nudges closer to ownershipArsenal share war: Billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Stan Kroenke set for takeover battle [LNB] [LNB]  Explore more:People:Theo Walcott, Nina Bracewell-Smith, Peter Hill-WoodPlaces:Premier League club

Source: Daily_Mail