Man United takeover: More bids on the cards after Sheikh Jassim falls short – sources
The Glazer family could demand a third round of bids for Man United, Football Insider has learned.
Interested parties are waiting for a response from takeover brokers Raine Group to their second bids, which was advertised as the final stage of the tender process.
Outright offers from a Qatari group fronted by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos group as well as financing proposals from four US investment firms were lodged on 25 March.
That followed an initial round of bids in February.
But a mergers and acquisitions source has told this site that there is a real possibility that the Glazers could invite another set of offers if their valuation – believed to be around £6billion – has not been met.
Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim’s bids are believed to be closer to the £5bn mark, and both parties have stressed that they will not be strongarmed into overpaying.
There also remains a possibility that the current owners could choose to remain in situ entirely or that Joel and Avram Glazer could use funds from one of the US investment firms to buy out the four other Glazer siblings.
It is not known when the Glazers will inform the bidders of their decision, but the mergers and acquisitions source speculated that it would be within the next seven days.
Elliott Management are confirmed as one of the financial groups looking to provide the capital for a deal, while it is believed that Ares Management are also in the mix.
In other news, Man United now want to sign Marcel Sabitzer permanently as dressing room claim revealed.