SISU agrees deal to sell Sky Blues to local businessman

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SISU agrees deal to sell Sky Blues to local businessman

Postby rebbonk » Wed Nov 16, 2022 9:53 pm

Coventry City: SISU agrees deal to sell Sky Blues to local businessman Doug King

Coventry City owner SISU have agreed to sell a majority 85% stake in the Championship club to local Stratford-based businessman Doug King.

The club say that the deal, subject to English Football League approval, will clear all the Sky Blues' debts.

Coventry say the club have also made a late bid to buy the CBS Arena.

Arena Coventry Limited, which has run the stadium since it opened in 2005 and is now owned by Wasps, is expected to enter administration on Thursday.

That followed the Premiership rugby union club, who took over as Arena landlords to the Sky Blues in 2014, entering administration themselves on 18 October.

Former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley's Frasers Group is regarded as the preferred bidder for ACL.

"We have made it a priority - and one of our first acts as majority owners - to submit a bid to acquire the CBS Arena," said King.

"We are keen to meet with Coventry City Council representatives and others as soon as possible to set out our vision - which includes the regeneration of the area."

CBS Arena operators to enter administration
Offer to buy Wasps accepted by administrators
Coventry explore other venues amid stadium uncertainty

Administrators are set to officially be appointed at 10:30 GMT on Thursday, with Ashley having agreed a deal to buy the company straight out of administration.

It is a reported £17m deal, including a £1.2m exclusivity payment up front to fund the ongoing operations of the arena.

This is how the stadium stayed open, allowing City to carry on playing home games.

FRP, the CBS Arena advisors expected to be named as administrators on Thursday, said in a statement that only Ashley's advance payment saved the Coventry stadium from closure.

"Having conducted an accelerated sales process, the ACL board entered into an exclusivity agreement with a preferred bidder on 1 November, which, crucially included the payment of a non-refundable deposit to provide the necessary funding for the arena to continue to trade.

"This was essential as the businesses are insolvent and had run out of cash. No other interested parties were willing to provide the required level of funding as set out in the bidding process, in the necessary timescales.

"Without this, the arena would have been forced to close immediately on 2 November, at which point the businesses would have petitioned for their compulsory liquidation.

"All staff would have been made redundant, and likely resulting in no return at all for any class of creditor."

The SISU years in Coventry

London-based hedge fund SISU rescued Coventry from being wound up when they took over the club with 20 minutes to spare in 2007 - but the past 15 years have not always been the smoothest ride.

A long-running row over ground rent twice forced the Sky Blues to seek temporary groundshare homes outside the city, first at Northampton in 2013, later followed by two seasons with Birmingham City before returning to Coventry in 2021.

SISU chief executive Joy Seppala said: "This is a fantastic moment for Coventry City - and the city. I know that Doug has long been an admirer of the Sky Blues.

"He shares our ambition to deliver the most successful football club possible, to climb the football pyramid, and invest both on and off the field.

"The sale of the CBS Arena does provide short-term uncertainty and with Doug on board we intend to set out a robust bid for the stadium which, if successful, will provide a platform for long-term success."

Who is Doug King?

Former Loughborough University mathematical engineering graduate King, who has a background in trading grains, non-grain feeds and petroleum, is chief executive of Stratford-upon-Avon-based oilseed processing facility Yelo Enterprises, who have invested more than £70m in the region.

He previously co-founded investment firm RCMA Capital LLP - which has overseen investments of more than $400m (£337m) - and of which he remains majority owner.

"It is no secret that Coventry City has faced challenges in recent years," said King. "Joy and her team have done an exceptional job to bring the club back to Coventry and deliver on-field success.

"We know fans, and others across the region, want long-term security and the guarantee of playing football in our city. This is critical to our ambition."

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63656013
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Re: SISU agrees deal to sell Sky Blues to local businessman

Postby dutchman » Thu Nov 17, 2022 4:08 am

Am I the only one who smells a rat? :roll:
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Re: SISU agrees deal to sell Sky Blues to local businessman

Postby dutchman » Wed Jan 11, 2023 4:16 am

Doug King completes Coventry City takeover with deal signed off by EFL

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Doug King has become Coventry’s majority shareholder after his purchase of the Championship club was signed off by the EFL.

Coventry have had several financial struggles in recent years, including issues with the lease of their Coventry Building Society Arena home. King has purchased 85% of the club, making him the majority owner, with the previous owner Sisu Capital retaining 15%.

King, a businessman based in Stratford-upon-Avon, agreed to a purchase of Coventry in November and the deal was signed off by the EFL on Tuesday, making the club debt free.

“I am honoured and excited to be taking this club forward into its next chapter,” King said. “To get this deal ratified in just over six weeks and over the Christmas period was a great effort from all involved.

“Already I have been struck by the enthusiasm of Sky Blues fans, with many personally wishing me well and I thank them for those sentiments. I am looking forward to the future of this great club and what we can achieve together.”

King previously failed to buy the CBS Arena, with the former Newcastle owner Mike Ashley purchasing the 40,000-seat stadium.

Confirmation of King’s takeover came as Mark Robins’s side secured a loan move for the Manchester City full-back Josh Wilson-Esbrand [pictured] for the rest of the season.

“[Josh] is a very talented footballer, with pace, power and technical ability, and a lot of potential,” Robins told the club’s official website. “He has been in and around the first-team setup at Manchester City over the last 12 months. We’re looking forward to working with him.”

Wilson-Esbrand, a left-back capped up to England under-20 level, has made two Champions League substitute appearances for Manchester City this season. He joined City from West Ham’s academy in 2019 and was handed his senior debut last season in the 6-1 Carabao Cup success against Wycombe.

Coventry sit 14th in the Championship having been promoted in 2020 after the season ended prematurely because of the pandemic. The club have not played in the top flight since being relegated from the Premier League in 2001.

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