맨체스터 유나이티드는 INEOS의 회장인 짐 랫클리프 경이 회사의 지분 최대 25퍼센트를 인수함에 합의했다.
- 글레이저 일가가 보유한 클래스B 주식 25% 취득
- 전체 클래스A 주식 최대 25% 인수 제안
- 글레이저 일가와 클래스A 주주들은 동일하게 주당 33달러를 받을 예정
- 구단에 대한 3억 달러의 추가 투자
- INEOS는 축구 운영 매니지먼트에 대한 책임을 위임
- 해당 거래의 완성는 프리미어리그를 포함한 모든 규제에 대한 승인을 받아야 완료
맨체스터 유나이티드 PLC(NYSE: MANU)는 오늘 INEOS의 회장인 짐 랫클리프 경이 맨체스터 유나이티드의 클래스B주식 25%와 맨체스터 유나이티드의 클래스A 주식 25%를 인수하는 계약을 체결했음을 알린다. 올드 트라포드를 포함한 향후 투자를 위해 추가로 3억 달러를 제공한다.
이번 거래의 일환으로 INEOS는 구단의 축구 운영 관리에 대한 책임 위임에 대한 이사회의 요청을 수락했다. 이는 맨체스터 유나이티드 PLC 이사회는 맨체스터 유나이티드 풋볼 클럽의 이사회의 두 자리를 포함해 남성팀, 여성팀 그리고 유소년 운영에 대한 부분을 포함한다.
양자의 의지는 구단이 그라운드 밖에서도 지속적으로 성장함은 물론 기존 가지고 있는 다양한 강점을 바탕으로 세계적 수준의 축구단을 운영하는 것으로 일치한다.
공동 회장인 아브람 글레이저와 조엘 글레이저는 아래와 같이 밝혔다.
“INEOS 그리고 짐 랫클리프 경과 합의에 이르러 매우 기쁘다. 2022년 11월 발표한 전략적인 검토의 일환으로 남자팀, 여자팀은 물론 유소년팀의 성공을 중심으로, 맨체스터 유나이티드를 향후 발전시케는데 도움이 되는 다양한 대안을 모색하기로 중지를 모았다”
“짐 랫클리프 경과 INEOS는 풍부한 상업적 경험은 물론 상당하 재정적 기여를 구단에 제공한다. 또한 INEOS의 경험 많고 뛰어난 전문가들이 그라운드 안팎에서 최고의 팀을 만드는 경험을 맨체스터 유나이티드에 제공할 것이다. 맨체스터 유나이티드는 안팎으로 재능있는 인재들을 많이 보유하고 있다. 우리 모두의 바람은 모든 면에서 더욱 발전하고, 우리의 대단한 팬들에게 더 많은 성공을 미래에 안기는 것이다”
INEOS의 회장인 짐 랫클리프 경은 아래와 같이 밝혔다.
“이 지역에서 자라났고, 평생 맨체스터 유나이티드의 팬으로서, 맨체스터 유나이티드 이사진과 구단 운영의 책임에 대한 합의에 도달했음을 기쁘게 생각한다. 맨체스터 유나이티드는 상업적인 성공을 기반으로 최고의 결과물을 낼 수 있는 자금이 항상 확보되어 있었다. 최근에는 잠재력이 완전히 발휘되지 않았다. 우리는 더 넓은 분야에서 전문적인 지식과 글로벌 기반의 지식을 바탕으로 다양한 인재를 투입할 것이다. INEOS 스포츠 그룹은 구단에 대한 더 많은 발전은 물론 올드 트라포드에 대한 미래 투자를 지원하기 위한 자금도 제공할 것이다”
“우리는 장기적으로 많은 도전과 노력이 필요함을 인식하고, 전문성과 열정을 바탕으로 매사에 임할 것이다. 이사회는 물론 스태프, 선수, 팬 등 구단 안팎의 모든 이들과 협력하여 발전을 위해 최선을 다 할 것이다”
“우리가 가진 공동의 목표는, 맨체스터 유나이티드가 영국은 물론 유럽 그리고 세계 축구의 정상에 다시 오르는 것을 보고싶다”
이번 합의는 모든 관계 기관의 승인 하에 완료되며, 합의의 당사자들은 해당 건이 최대한 빠르게 완료되길 바란다.
아래는 거래에 대한 세부 사항(영문)
Transaction details
Under the terms of the transaction agreements, Trawlers Limited will (i) acquire 25% of the Class B ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0005 per share (“Class B shares”
), and (ii) initiate a tender offer to acquire up to a number of shares that, at launch, will represent 25% of the Class A ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0005 per share (“Class A shares”), in each case at a price of $33.00 per share in cash. Subject to a sufficient number of Class A shares being tendered in the offer, Trawlers Limited would own 25% of the Club following the closing of the transaction.
Sir Jim will provide a $300 million fund intended to enable future investment into the Club’s infrastructure at Old Trafford, comprising $200 million paid upon the closing of the transaction and a further $100 million by the end of 2024. Trawlers Limited will be issued additional Class A and Class B shares at $33.00 in respect of such investment.
The transaction will be fully funded by Trawlers Limited without any debt.
The Board of Directors of Manchester United plc has approved the transaction and recommended that the Manchester United plc shareholders tender their shares in the tender offer and approve the change to the Articles of Association of Manchester United plc to, among other things, permit the transfer of Class B shares.
The closing of the tender offer will be subject to the receipt of Premier League approval and other necessary regulatory approvals, shareholder approval of an amendment to the Articles of Association and other customary conditions.
Trawlers Limited is a company incorporated under the laws of Isle of Man and is wholly-owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Trawlers Limited was advised by Slaughter and May, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, Goldman Sachs International and J.P. Morgan Cazenove. Manchester United was advised by The Raine Group and Latham & Watkins LLP. The Glazer family shareholders were advised by Rothschild and Co.
Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” relating to the proposed acquisition of Class A shares and Class B shares of the Company by Trawlers Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of the Isle of Man and wholly owned by James A. Ratcliffe, a natural person (together with Trawlers Limited, the “Offerors”). Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the parties’ ability to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Offer (as defined below), the expected timetable for completing the Offer and the other transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement (as defined below) and the ancillary agreements thereto (collectively, the “Transactions”), the Company’s and Offerors’ beliefs and expectations, the benefits sought to be achieved by the Transactions, and the potential effects of the completed Transactions on both the Company and the Offerors. In some cases, forward-looking statements may be identified by terminology such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “predict,” “goal,” “strategy,” “potentially,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “expect,” “seek” and similar expressions and variations thereof. These words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events, but there can be no guarantee that such expectations and projections will prove accurate in the future. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from current expectations due to a number of factors, including (but not limited to) risks associated with uncertainties as to the timing of the Transactions; uncertainties as to how many of the Company’s shareholders will tender their shares in the Offer; the risk that competing offers will be made; the possibility that various conditions to the Transactions may not be satisfied or waived; and the risk that shareholder litigation in connection with the Transactions may result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by law, the Company and the Offerors undertake no obligation to publicly release any revisions to the forward-looking statements after the date hereof to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations.
About the Offer and Additional Information
The Offerors expect to commence a tender offer (such tender offer, the “Offer”) for up to 13,237,834 Class A shares of the Company representing 25.0% of the issued and outstanding Class A Shares as of the commencement of the Offer, rounded up to the nearest whole Class A share, at a price of $33.00 per Class A share, in cash (subject to certain adjustments), without interest thereon, less any required tax withholding. The Offer is being made pursuant to the transaction agreement, dated as of 24th December 2023, by and among Trawlers Limited, the sellers party thereto, who are Glazer family members and affiliates, and the Company (the “Transaction Agreement”). The Offer has not yet commenced. This press release is for informational purposes only, is not a recommendation and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell Class A shares of the Company or any other securities. This press release is also not a substitute for the tender offer materials that the Offerors will file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) upon commencement of the Offer. At the time the Offer is commenced, the Offerors will file with the SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (the “Tender Offer Statement”) and the Company will file with the SEC a solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 (the “Solicitation/Recommendation Statement”). THE COMPANY’S SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE TENDER OFFER STATEMENT (INCLUDING AN OFFER TO PURCHASE, A RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CERTAIN OTHER TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SOLICITATION / RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT WHEN SUCH DOCUMENTS BECOME AVAILABLE (AS EACH MAY BE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME), BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE READ AND CONSIDERED CAREFULLY BEFORE ANY DECISION IS MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER. When filed, the Company’s shareholders and other investors can obtain the Tender Offer Statement, the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement and other filed documents for free at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by the Company will be available free of charge on the Investors page of the Company’s website, https://ir.manutd.com/. In addition, the Company’s shareholders may obtain free copies of the tender offer materials by contacting the information agent for the Offer that will be named in the Tender Offer Statement.