Manchester United news

Utd may delay Singapore float

September 16, 2011


Anti-Glazers banner Old TRafford
GettyImagesMan Utd fans have continued with anti-Glazer demonstrations

• Singapore flotation nears for Utd

United, who have privately dismissed renewed speculation about a potential £1.5 billion sale to the Qatari Royal Family, have been given permission to launch a flotation.

It had been thought the Glazer family would actively pursue a move that would allow the whole process to be completed by the end of next month, which is still possible. However, with the club keen to ensure a successful flotation, insiders say they are currently "in no rush'' to execute their plans.

One of the reasons for this could be to allow the Stock Market to settle, thereby maximising returns which the Glazer family are hoping will be around £600 million if, as anticipated, they opt to put 25% of the club on the market.

Details are yet to be released. However, it is expected the listing will involve a complicated mixture of primary shares, new shares which would dilute the Glazer family's interests, with the money going to the company, and secondary shares, which would involve the sale of existing shares, with the proceeds going directly to the Americans.


Opponents of the Glazer family have already called on them to use the money raised to clear United's debt, reduced to £308 million in the most recent accounts, released earlier this month. However. it is not known how the American owners managed to pay off £220 million of payment-in-kind notes in November last year.