Microsoft founder linked with Southampton bid!!

[Morrison]

Microsoft founder linked with Southampton bid | the Daily Mail

Paul Allen, one of the world's richest men and co-founder with Bill Gates of global software giant Microsoft, is the latest American businessman to target an English football club.

Sportsmail can reveal that Allen has expressed an interest in making a takeover bid for Southampton, the listed football club vying for promotion to the financial riches of the Premiership.

A bid would see Allen join the ranks of ultra-wealthy Americans snapping up English football clubs: Malcolm Glazer at Manchester United, George Gillett and Tom Hicks at Liverpool, and Randy Lerner at Aston Villa.

Most recently, Stan Kroenke has tried to wrest control of Arsenal, while Chelsea and West Ham are among other major clubs to fall to foreign owners in recent times.
Any bid from Allen is likely to be at a significant premium to last night's Southampton Leisure closing price of 47½p.

The shares have risen 20 per cent in recent weeks. Including debt relating to the club's move from The Dell to St Mary's Stadium, a bid could approach £50m, with analysts suggesting it may be worth as much as 65p a share to Southampton Leisure shareholders.

The deal would be a drop in the ocean for Allen, reckoned by Forbes magazine to be the world's 19thrichest man with an $18bn (£9bn) fortune. He owns the Seattle Seahawks American football team and the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team.

He retains his interests in Microsoftis an investor in the Dream-Works animation studio, a backer of the SpaceShipOne project racing Sir Richard Branson to launch commercial space flights, and owns two huge private yachts.

A source close to Allen said he "believes there is long term investment value in UK soccer."

He added: "Southampton is a sleeping giant, a family-supported club with traditional values, and we see the value in taking the brand global."

An Allen takeover could save the club's £10m-rated teenage international Gareth Bale courted by Manchester United, Arsenal and Spurs.

The Southampton board has been in turmoil after the oustings of chairmen Rupert Lowe and Michael Wilde, who both failed to find a financial saviour for the club, which is likely to lose £8m this year.

[Morrison]

Southampton added to US shopping list-Sport-Football-Championship-TimesOnline

The nineteenth-richest man in the world has made a preliminary approach to Southampton with a view to a possible takeover. The Coca-Cola Championship club confirmed yesterday that Paul Allen, who is worth an estimated £18 billion and owns the Seattle Seahawks American football franchise and the Portland Trail Blazers, the basketball team, is the latest American tycoon to show an interest in moving into English football.

Allen, 54, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates and retains a stake in the company, is also an investor in the DreamWorks animation studio, a backer of the Space-ShipOne project racing Sir Richard Branson to launch commercial space flights, and owns two huge private yachts.

News of the possible takeover boosted the price of shares in Southampton Leisure Holdings plc from 47p overnight on Thursday to 65p yesterday afternoon, taking the company’s market value to £17.7 million. Any bid by Allen is expected to be about £50 million.

A statement issued to the Stock Exchange yesterday said: “The board notes the recent rise in the company’s share price and confirms that it has received and is considering a preliminary approach which may or may not lead to an offer being made for the company.”

Michael Wilde, who replaced Rupert Lowe as chairman last summer, resigned in February after failing to attract new investment. Jim Hone, the chief executive, and Ken Dulieu, the plc chairman, appear to have done better.

Initially, Allen is setting his sights lower than other American owners of English clubs – such as Malcolm Glazer, of Manchester United, George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks, of Liverpool and Randy Lerner, of Aston Villa.

However, while Southampton are outsiders to win promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship, they have a modern stadium and respected academy, which produced Theo Walcott, of Arsenal and England, and Gareth Bale, the Wales left back, for whom bidding this summer was expected to open at £7 million. That may change.

Allen has been quoted as saying that he believes there is long-term investment value in UK soccer, adding: “Southampton is a sleeping giant, and we see the value in taking the brand global.”

Southampton have a loyal fan base but the idea of the brand becoming global is improbable. The club have little or no penetration beyond Hampshire and would probably require sustained success to become a strong regional brand, let alone a national one.

Allen also does not have an impressive record in improving a team’s profile. Although the Seahawks reached the Super Bowl in 2006, they do not have the identity of less successful teams, such as the New York Jets or Miami Dolphins.

[Morrison]

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A spokesman for Microsoft co-owner Paul Allen has denied that the billionaire has made an approach for Southampton.

Allen, who already owns American football franchise Seattle Seahawks and basketball outfit Portland Trail Blazers, was reported to be behind a bid for the Saints.

Earlier on Friday Southampton revealed that they were considering a preliminary takeover approach and Allen was linked.

However, spokesman for Vulcan Ventures - owned by Allen - denied knowing of any potential bid.

"To the best of his knowledge, this spokesperson is not aware of any interest," said Michael Nank.

[Jager]

Interesting to say the least.

I wonder if these "americans" have another motive for buying up your teams?

Paul Allen is not what I would call "ideal" as a owner.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

A spokesman for Microsoft co-owner Paul Allen has denied that the billionaire has made an approach for Southampton.

That's too bad.What Saints really need is a fresh owner with a lot of fresh money...They got St. Mary's.They only need a big takeover.I doubt someone will invest in Saints as they are a Championship club.They need a promotion first.

[Huckerbys right foot]

i'm jealous that clubs are getting brought by billionaires

our majority shareholder is a famous tv cook - Delia Smith..she said she would sell ....but i really doubt a foreign billionaire would buy us

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Originally Posted by Huckerbys right foot

i'm jealous that clubs are getting brought by billionaires

our majority shareholder is a famous tv cook - Delia Smith..she said she would sell ....but i really doubt a foreign billionaire would buy us

You never know.But first you have to reach promotion back to Premiership I think where all the money is.If you do, then all can happen.If a billionaire buys you then all will changed.New stadium, maybe new staff and the best...better players.A billionaire with high ambitions really can do a club attractive to play for.

[Huckerbys right foot]

we wont get a new stadium

we only just finished re building a new stand ..well 2 years ago ..and its specially made so it can have another tier added on top...also a hotel has just been done building in the corner of our stadium

[wwfc4me]

Who wants a new souless bowl stadium anyway?

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Saints confirm approach

Southampton have confirmed they have received a takeover approach for the St Mary's club.

Saints have been on the rise in the Championship and it has been a similar story on the Stock Exchange as their share price has been on the increase.

Michael Wilde has been seeking investment since replacing Rupert Lowe as chairman last summer and the club have released a statement to the Stock Exchange confirming an approach has been made.

A statement released by the club to the Stock Exchange read: "The board note the recent rise in the company's share price and confirm we have received and are considering a preliminary approach which may or may not lead to an offer being made for the company.

"The board's consideration is at an early stage and there is no guarantee that any offer will be forthcoming."

Source: Skysports

Better hope it's not Graeme Souness who again makes a new approach...

[skeeta]

Not to curb anyone's enthusiasm, but Paul Allen is generally thought to have been anything but a good thing by supporters of either of his primary North American sports investments (Seattle Seahawks gridiron and Portland Trailblazers basketball).

It is important to realise that these North American guys come from a very different sports business culture than the likes of Abramovich, Thaksin or the Makhtoums.