Nigerian billionaire rules out Arsenal investment 25/05/2010 |
|
| |
| |
Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote has denied he is planning to buy a 15.9 per cent stake in Arsenal.
Reports at the weekend claimed he was interested in Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith's shares, which are available for about £100m.
In a statement, Dangote confirmed he had "been involved in conversations around investment in the past".
But he added: "I can say categorically at this time that I have no intention of investing in the club and will not be acquiring a stake."
Dangote, group president and chief executive of the Dangote Group, is said to be Africa's richest man, with Forbes magazine estimating his fortune two years ago at $3.3bn.
He recently told Nigerian newspaper ThisDay that he had been an Arsenal supporter for a "long time" and stated: "It started in 1980 when I forged a relationship with Mr David Dein, former vice-chairman of the board of Arsenal."
Last month, Bracewell-Smith instructed UK brokers Blackstone to find a buyer for her stake in the club.
Stan Kroenke and Alisher Usmanov are Arsenal's two largest shareholders and it was thought that her decision to sell might lead to a bidding war – but that has so far yet to materialise.
|
| Back |
| |
| |
|
|
 |
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
