Arsenal fans are again facing question marks over the future ownership of their club after it emerged that a major shareholder left the board yesterday (December 18th).
Chairman Peter Hill-Wood announced recently that the board had entered into a 'lockdown' agreement, in which shares could only be sold to "permitted persons" until next April.
However, Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith, the club's third-largest shareholder with a stake of 15.9 per cent, has departed and Hill-Wood admitted he is in the dark about her intentions.
He said: "Lady Nina is no longer representing the club and therefore is released from the lockdown. However, it was created to maintain stability in the club and those participants are committed to maintaining the ownership structure as it is.
"I don't know for certain what she wants to do with her shares. I do know that the Bracewell-Smith family have been involved with the club for many, many years and are great supporters."
One possibility is that the shares will be sold to Uzbeki billionaire Alisher Usmanov, which would take his current 24 per cent holding past the 30 per cent mark, thus triggering an obligatory formal takeover bid.
Arsenal's biggest shareholder at present is Danny Fiszman, who has a 24.11 per cent stake.
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21 October 2010
21 October 2010
21 October 2010
20 October 2010
20 October 2010
