Liverpool takeover - The Contenders

21 August 2010 11:27
TEAMtalk looks at the runners and riders in the race to become the new owners of Liverpool after Kenny Huang pulled out of talks.[LNB] Hong Kong businessman Huang and his company QSL Sports pulled out of takeover negotiations with the Reds on Friday evening.[LNB]Here, TEAMtalk looks at the list of potential suitors who may now move to buy the Merseyside club from its American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.[LNB]YAHYA KIRDI[LNB]Kirdi, a Syrian businessman who represents a group of investors from the Middle East and Canada, declared his interest in Liverpool earlier this month shortly after Huang, and his consortium is the only other party to have made their bid public. He claimed at the time to have stolen a march on his rivals, announcing that a price had been agreed with Hicks and Gillett and a formal purchase agreement was "in the final stage of negotiation".[LNB]THE RHONE GROUP[LNB]New York-based private equity firm identified as a possible candidate, although reports suggest there has been no contact between the group and Liverpool for more than two weeks. Fans are likely to be wary of another American investor after Hicks and Gillett's unpopular regime, although the company has been keen to stress that it is a global operation.[LNB]THE AL KHARAFI FAMILY[LNB]The Kuwaiti investment group were reported to be in talks with Hicks and Gillett about buying a stake in Liverpool earlier this year.[LNB]KENNY HUANG[LNB]Huang was the first party to openly declare an interest in buying Liverpool, but refused to comment when it was claimed his bid was backed by the Chinese government. Yesterday's statement presented no reason for his decision to pull out of talks and there is a chance it may be intended as an elaborate piece of brinkmanship and that he could yet return to the negotiating table.

Source: Team_Talk