Dubai International to make bid for Liverpool FC

[Jayesh87]

Normally yes, but they had wrong the last time. Much can still happen.

The problem is that DIC would be shafted in other business deals if they pay over the odds for us. So if G&H want unrealistic money then it won't be any deal.

What was that?

Altho i agree about DIC won't overpay, the one thing we have in our favour is that Sameer Al Ansari is a massive red and he will be hurting as much as we are about how these two numpties have run the club.

[rushscored4]

stupidly I only realised today that a mate of mine (who's also a mad liverpool fan) works for RBS so I rang him and asked him about the situation.

He said that RBS were definitely involved in the arrangement for the loan and that yes there were some last minute issues. He is not directly involved in the deal and neither is he allowed to ask questions about this as this is handled by a certain team and nobody from that team is talking.

Its only what he's heard - but he does work there. As of 5.00pm today those issues had not yet been resolved.

I hope these two get shafted by RBS and then the club is sold onto DIC.

RBS have over 20,000 people working for them in the UK alone so I'd be more surprised if you didn't know someone who worked for them! Sorry fella but the chances of someone as junior as your mate knowing what's going on with a massive corporate deal like this is about as likely as Tom Hicks being sent a Valentines Card by Kevin Sampson...

[sonsofthedesert]

RBS have over 20,000 people working for them in the UK alone so I'd be more surprised if you didn't know someone who worked for them! Sorry fella but the chances of someone as junior as your mate knowing what's going on with a massive corporate deal like this is about as likely as Tom Hicks being sent a Valentines Card by Kevin Sampson...

His mate does know it, why shouldn't a bank teller in liverpool know what is going on with this deal.

[Joe King]

Here's some optimism:

Hicks promised the board to have had the club re-financed by last week -not done so far.
He has to now do it with an initial year's loan within a fortnight.
RBS are one half of the club's lenders. If Hicks can't raise the capital, cue some sort of leak from the club, DIC will buy.

[andyhanrahan]

given the u.s stock exchange made a good recovery today given interest rates were cut by 0.75% I'd imagine that the american bank hicks deals with will be in a stronger position to give RSB more assurances about Hick's

[kurtangle01]

Here's some optimism:

Hicks promised the board to have had the club re-financed by last week -not done so far.
He has to now do it with an initial year's loan within a fortnight.
RBS are one half of the club's lenders. If Hicks can't raise the capital, cue some sort of leak from the club, DIC will buy.

I don't understand that....

[rushscored4]

His mate does know it, why shouldn't a bank teller in liverpool know what is going on with this deal.

I know several people at the RBS at a very senior lending level (I used to work there and we've placed several £1m+ deals with them) but even they are way down the ladder from the people involved with this. With a huge loan like this and public interest with lots of journalists sniffing round, never mind the Data Protection Act, there's no ****ing way anybody at that level would jeopardise a £350m deal by shouting their mouth off.

[Joe King]

I don't understand that....

It was in bullet point form. Couldn't be bothered to put it in.

Basically, Hicks has to agree with the bank within the next two weeks. If the economy suffers more in the next two weeks, he is shafted. Everything in Wall Street, the City etc is very much panic, panic, panic. They will try and do everything they can do decrease the possibility of a global recession. If there is a global recession threat in two weeks, banks won't lend because debtors are less likely to pay back.

Expect DIC to takeover IF this happens.

Someone with more finance knowledge can help me out.

[Slinky Skills]

I know several people at the RBS at a very senior lending level (I used to work there and we've placed several £1m+ deals with them) but even they are way down the ladder from the people involved with this. With a huge loan like this and public interest with lots of journalists sniffing round, never mind the Data Protection Act, there's no ****ing way anybody at that level would jeopardise a £350m deal by shouting their mouth off.

Didn't someone say the other day they'd seen load of arab guys in suits with Liverpool scarfs around their necks at the RBS office Scotland.....classic!!

[Dhav]

I know several people at the RBS at a very senior lending level (I used to work there and we've placed several £1m+ deals with them) but even they are way down the ladder from the people involved with this. With a huge loan like this and public interest with lots of journalists sniffing round, never mind the Data Protection Act, there's no ****ing way anybody at that level would jeopardise a £350m deal by shouting their mouth off.

I would have thought the same, which makes me wonder what the source is for these constant leaks that this deal is imminent.

[DannyMan2006]

I know several people at the RBS at a very senior lending level (I used to work there and we've placed several £1m+ deals with them) but even they are way down the ladder from the people involved with this. With a huge loan like this and public interest with lots of journalists sniffing round, never mind the Data Protection Act, there's no ****ing way anybody at that level would jeopardise a £350m deal by shouting their mouth off.

I agree its unlikely, but theres nothing to say that his mate isn't higher up than your mates. And the job I do is all about confidentiality, and I can guarantee that people talk, which is a shame. Where do you think Journos get there info from.

[kurtangle01]

I would have thought the same, which makes me wonder what the source is for these constant leaks that this deal is imminent.

The leaks will be from Gillett and Hicks themselves.

[Dhav]

The leaks will be from Gillett and Hicks themselves.

Makes sense, and means in turn we can't really take them at face value

[kurtangle01]

Makes sense, and means in turn we can't really take them at face value

They might be telling the truth though. Perhaps all that's needed now is for them to put their signatures on the contract hence their confidence.

[Joe King]

Liverpool owners suffer refinancing setback

Liverpool could be plunged into fresh turmoil amid reports their American owners have suffered a setback in their refinancing plans.
Already destabilised by speculation that George Gillett and Tom Hicks are considering selling the club, reports have emerged that the American duo's plans to refinance their loan have been hit.

The pair are understood to be struggling to secure the loan they require to pay back the original loan with which they bought the club last February.

The Daily Telegraph claims that the 'refinancing deal is on the verge of collapse' while The Times states that 'sources in the City believe that the Americans' regime is crumbling by the day'.

If Hicks and Gillett are thwarted in their plans, then the pair may conclude they have no choice but to sell their club to the Dubai-based Dubai International Capital (DIC) group.

The Daily Telegraph reports "Time is running out for the Americans to conclude the loan agreement".

"Contrary to reports that they had until the end of February to sign the deal, it is now understood their one-year loan with RBS expires in just under two weeks."

Speculation was rife at the weekend that DIC had formally bid £500m for the Anfield club.

However, it is now believed that the offer was informal and only in the region of £300m - prompting Hicks to issue a defiant statement announcing he had no intention of selling his stake.

DIC, however, will not launch a formal offer until they have held talks with RBS but Hicks has refused to grant DIC permission to talk to the bank until any refinancing deal is completed.

Should the refinancing collapse, then DIC - run by Liverpool fan Sameer Al Ansari - would be in a position to move in.

Stuff we know but with multiple sources.