Gladystweet
Player Valuation: £50m
Is it time to open this poll again? If I may be so bold, I'd like to change my vote.
Is it time to open this poll again? If I may be so bold, I'd like to change my vote.
Not tellin ya...then you'll know...Which way do you wish to change it?
I'll raise you an 8-trackShowing my great age matelol

hmm...i dont know jack about these things but this just doesnt add up.Beat me to the same question. Why would Usmanov buy out Moshiri, allowing him to fulfil his initial plans at Everton, if by doing he increases a holding at Arsenal that is of no operational use to him other than being a store of considerable value?
I'll raise you an 8-track![]()
But it is weird. Like Finners said, why did he buy Moshiri out if it wouldnt make a blind bit of difference?
The fact that everyone is perplexed by this and having to hazard guesses suggests that Usmanov is making an unusual business decision in helping out Moshiri by buying out his share (9% was it?) in R&W Holdings. Do businessmen at this level do unusual and sentimental? Surely such decisions would have to be logical, calculated and with an underlying business rationale?
They are business partners.
Business yes, so what is the business upside for Usmanov? Just a simple case of increasing his ownership of Arsenal shares, or rather now gaining complete control of R&W Holdings, an asset of considerable value to him that is unlikely to diminish.
BUT, my question to the panel, bearing in mind what The Esk has said is this: how does a billionaire and one of if not the richest man in Russia allow himself to be in a situation where essentially, his hands are tied despite his big investment in Arsenal. For me, a billionaire of his cunning and experience would not allow this. I cannot see him being stuck.
The story goes back to 2007 - it's fairly lengthy but I'll give the shortest version I can
David Dein introduced Stan Kroenke in early 2007 believing that his money could help Arsenal be more competitive in the PL. Kroenke bought Granada's shares and a few from Danny Fiszman to take his holding to around 12 %. The Arsenal board were not happy with Dein and he was removed from the board in April 2007.
At about the same time Usmanov started becoming interested in acquiring Arsenal shares, forming R&W Holdings with Moshiri. Dein sold all his shares (14.6%) to R&W and became their Chairman. R&W started actively buying shares in the market, acquiring 21% by May 2008. Dein then resigned from R&W thinking it would improve Usmanov's relationship with the then Arsenal board.
The Arsenal board feared an attempted takeover by Usmanov and agreed to a "lockdown" meaning they would not sell their shares to anyone other than "permitted persons" through to April 2009. There was a further agreement giving the board first option on any director sales up to October 2012.
The board invited Kroenke to join them in September prior to the lockdown period, to ensure Dein could never return. However in December 2008, a director called Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith who owned 15.9% left the board meaning her shares were no longer subject to the lockdown - critically she never showed any interest in selling to Usmanov.
Over the next two years Kroenke acquired another 3 blocks of shares taking his holding to 28.58 % in 2010, just below the critical 30% threshold. Eventually in April 2011 he had acquired 29.99%. By this time R&W had got their holdings up to 27% through acquiring non board holdings (not Bracewell-Smith's though).
On April 11th 2011 Kroenke in a takeover bid acquired the board's shares taking him to 62%, R&W immediately refused to sell. Since this date both Kroenke and R&W have increased their holdings when shares have become available to today's figure of 68% and 30% respectively.
So Usmanov ends up with this minority position and total deadlock because the Arsenal board chose to sell their shares to Kroenke not Usmanov. They did so under the advice of Rothschild Bank and Danny Fiszman. Fiszman was seriously ill at the time, and in fact died 2 days after the takeover bid by Kroenke.
So there's the answer as to why Usmanov finds himself a 30% shareholder with no influence - the board sold out to Kroenke and he calls the shots.
Hope that helps.