{"id":297603,"date":"2023-11-14T19:24:18","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T19:24:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/?p=297603"},"modified":"2023-11-14T19:24:18","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T19:24:18","slug":"us-billionaire-cooperman-purchases-one-million-shares-in-man-united","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/soccer\/us-billionaire-cooperman-purchases-one-million-shares-in-man-united\/","title":{"rendered":"US billionaire Cooperman 'purchases ONE MILLION shares in Man United'"},"content":{"rendered":"
US billionaire Leon Cooperman has reportedly bought just under one million shares in Manchester United.<\/p>\n
Bloomberg have reported that the shares purchased by Cooperman – who is a former hedge fund manager – are worth \u00a313.5m.<\/p>\n
The shock news of Cooperman’s investment comes as Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s deal to take over 25 per cent of the club for \u00a31.3bn is nearing completion after a\u00a0long-winded sale process that began last November.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ratcliffe and Qatari royal Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani were the front-runners in the bidding war and both parties submitted multiple offers, before Jassim withdrew from the process last month.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cooperman, 80, founded Omega Advisors which is a private investment partnership based in New York City and has a reported net worth of more than \u00a32bn.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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US billionaire Leon Cooperman has reportedly bought almost one million shares in Man United<\/p>\n
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It comes as Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s deal to purchase a 25 per cent stake is nearing completion<\/p>\n
Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n
However, he is expected to take a much smaller stake than Ratcliffe, meaning the unpopular Glazers will retain their majority ownership of the club.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ratcliffe, who is head of INEOS,\u00a0\u00a0is set to be in control of football matters at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n
The British billionaire has a sporting empire which encompasses cycling, rugby and sailing along with two football teams in French side Nice\u00a0and Swiss outfit\u00a0Lausanne-Sport, while he also owns a third of F1 team Mercedes.<\/p>\n
After the news of Cooperman’s investment, United’s share price on the New York stock exchange rose around 2.3 per cent to $18.60, the highest it has been since November 3, with the price having been highly volatile throughout the takeover process.<\/p>\n
Filings on the stock exchange from earlier this year have also shown a number of hedge funds have acquired small stakes in the club, including Psquared Asset Management AG and Antara Capital.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Eminence Capital, another hedge fund, is currently the third-largest shareholder in the club, according to Bloomberg.<\/p>\n
Their founder Ricky Sandler recently said he would ‘oppose any (takeover) deal that gives the majority Glazers a materially better deal than minority investors’.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Mail Sport had reported on Sunday how those with knowledge of the takeover situation say there is a chance the agreement for Ratcliffe’s 25 per cent stake could be announced this week, although next week is more likely.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The anniversary of a tiresome process, which began when the Glazers confirmed they were open to investment, is November 22.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cooperman, 80, is a former US hedge fund manager and has a net worth of more than \u00a32bn<\/p>\n <\/p>\n United’s hugely unpopular American owners have drained more than \u00a31bn out of the club since their leveraged takeover in 2005 (pictured – Avram Glazer (left) and Joel Glazer (right)<\/p>\n While Ratcliffe hopes to complete a full takeover one day, for United fans it will at least take some control away from the hugely unpopular Glazers.<\/p>\n The American family have\u00a0have been a source of contention at Old Trafford ever since they became majority owners in 2005, facing significant fan anger and backlash.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After taking over the club through a leveraged buyout which placed \u00a3525m worth of loans onto the brand of United, they have racked up the club’s debts to \u00a3536m.<\/p>\n Overall, they have taken more than \u00a31bn out of United in the form of dividends, interests, costs and fees during their 18-year-reign, which has been dominated by a decline in on-pitch performance and success.\u00a0<\/p>\n It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\nIT’S ALL KICKING OFF!\u00a0<\/h3>\n