In the current era, some of the world’s wealthiest individuals and groups are involved in Premier League takeovers, and Everton is no exception.
Private equity firms, financial institutions, and sovereign wealth funds have all been linked to potential deals to acquire the Toffees, as current owner Farhad Moshiri is no longer able to finance the club. Moshiri had initially selected 777 Partners and Roma owner Dan Friedkin as preferred bidders, but both deals fell through for different, though connected, reasons.
Despite these setbacks, there should still be plenty of options for the British-Iranian billionaire if he is willing to lower his asking price of £25-50 million for his 94% stake in Everton.
Several groups have expressed interest in taking over Everton, with some even publicly declaring their intentions. Among those previously in the running were MSD Partners.
Now, Moshiri and his advisors are tasked with finding a new bidder for a club whose total debt, exceeding £600 million, likely surpasses the value of its equity. Recent developments involving the US merchant bank MSD Partners may hint at the likelihood of them re-entering the race for Everton’s ownership.
Given the complexity of the situation, particularly due to the club’s external debt, reaching an agreement is likely to take much longer than anticipated.
Everton has yet to announce a new preferred bidder, and any exclusive negotiations would likely take months to finalize.
In light of the failed bids from 777 Partners and Dan Friedkin, Moshiri and his advisors are once again searching for a suitable buyer. However, if Moshiri is willing to lower his asking price for his 94% stake in the club, he should have no shortage of interested parties.
Many groups have already been linked to a potential takeover of Everton, with some publicly expressing their interest. Among those previously in the mix was MSD Partners. The latest news about the US merchant bank suggests they could re-emerge as a serious contender for ownership.
MSD Partners, now merged with BDT & Company, have been linked to providing capital to one of the many potential buyers interested in Everton. Co-CEO Byron Trott, often described as Warren Buffet’s ‘favorite banker,’ is leading BDT & MSD as they oversee the sale of the NBA franchise, the Boston Celtics, a deal that could be worth £3.3 billion, making it the highest price ever paid for a sports team.
This is significant for Everton as BDT & MSD manage around £40 billion in assets and are increasingly focused on sports acquisitions. Everton fans will hope that this interest could lead to renewed focus on financing a takeover of their club.
TBR Analysis: When will the Everton takeover be complete?
Moshiri is reported to have set an eight-week deadline for finalizing an Everton takeover. However, football finance expert Kieran Maguire told TBR earlier this week that Moshiri’s timeline is unrealistic.
Considering the complexity and the club’s external debt, finalizing a deal will likely take much longer. Everton has not yet announced another preferred bidder, and exclusive talks would likely extend for several months.
