American Stan Kroenke increases stake in English soccer club Arsenal, nears takeover

October 24th, 2009 LONDON - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned the club's major shareholder, Stan Kroenke, not to mess with the team. The Yank, dubbed Silent Stan after refusing to answer any questions at the annual general meeting this week, is on the verge of a takeover bid after increasing his stake in Arsenal to 28.9 per cent.

October 22nd, 2009 Kroenke silent about intentions for ArsenalLONDON — American businessman Stan Kroenke kept Arsenal's shareholders in the dark Thursday about whether he plans to mount a takeover of the Premier League club. Kroenke has been steadily increasing his stake in Arsenal, with his latest acquisition of shares taking him to 28.9 percent — nearing the 29.9 percent threshold after which he would have to launch a buyout.

October 15th, 2009 Kroenke edges closer to Arsenal takeoverLONDON — American businessman Stan Kroenke increased his stake in Premier League club Arsenal on Thursday, edging closer to a full takeover. The Gunners announced that Kroenke bought 90 more shares for $1.2 million, increasing his holding from 28.7 to 28.9 percent.

October 15th, 2009 American Kroenke edges closer to Arsenal takeoverLONDON — American businessman Stan Kroenke is increasing his stake in Premier League club Arsenal, edging closer to a full takeover. The Gunners announced Thursday that Kroenke has spent $1.2 million buying 90 shares to increase his holding from 28.7 to 28.9 percent.

October 11th, 2009 LONDON - Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has bluntly told manager Arsene Wenger to end the club's four-year trophy drought this season. "It's absolutely our ambition to win a trophy this year.

October 8th, 2009 League demands clubs reveal owners identitiesLONDON — The English Football League is demanding that all its clubs reveal the identities of their owners. Notts County's takeover by a Middle Eastern business consortium left the League in the dark about who actually was putting up the money for the League Two club.

October 6th, 2009 Hong Kong businessman takes over BirminghamLONDON — Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung's takeover of Birmingham is complete after his investment company Grandtop Holdings took its share of ownership past the 90 percent mark. Tuesday's stock exchange announcement means that Grandtop can complete a compulsory purchase of the remaining shares and take the club off the Alternative Investment Market and into private ownership.

October 4th, 2009 Kroenke backed by MLS boss for buyout of ArsenalLONDON — MLS commissioner Don Garber says Stan Kroenke would be a positive addition for Arsenal if the American businessman completes his buyout of the Premier League club. Kroenke, who owns the Colorado Rapids, increased his stake in the Gunners to 28.7 percent last week, 1.2 percent short of the threshold that instigates a mandatory offer for the remaining shares.

October 1st, 2009 Bari calls off buyout deal with US businessmanBARI, Italy — American businessman Tim Barton's bid to buy Bari has fallen apart, with the Serie A club rejecting a delay in the takeover process. The Matarrese family, which has controlled Bari for 32 years, issued a statement Thursday saying the deal was off.

September 30th, 2009 Saudi eyes 50 percent stake in Liverpool clubCAIRO — A Saudi prince wants to buy half of the debt-saddled football club Liverpool, in a deal worth up to $560 million that would mark the latest buy-in by Gulf investors in an English Premier League team. Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah al-Saud — who chairs Saudi holding company FAMA Group and the F6 sports investment firm — was quoted by the Saudi Al-Riyadh newspaper on Sunday as saying that "we are seeking, at present, to own a 50 percent stake in the club." "The value of the transaction, which is nearing resolution, will be between 200 million pounds ($320 million) and 350 million pounds ($560 million)," al-Saud was quoted as saying.

September 30th, 2009 English soccer club Arsenal reports $56M profitsLONDON — English soccer club Arsenal has announced record profits of $56 million following a big increase in turnover and manager Arsene Wenger's refusal to pay huge transfer fees. Releasing figures Monday for the year that ended May 31, Arsenal said that turnover increased to $498 million thanks largely to TV revenue and ticket sales gained when the team reached the semifinals of both the Champions League and FA Cup.

September 16th, 2009 CEO, chairman to leave Birmingham after takeoverBIRMINGHAM, England — Birmingham chief executive Karren Brady, the highest-ranking female executive in English soccer, will leave the Premier League club along with chairman David Sullivan if Carson Yeung completes his takeover. Since taking charge of Birmingham when it was in financial administration in 1993, Brady and Sullivan have turned around the club's fortunes.

August 19th, 2009 US businessman Barton to buy Serie A club AS BariMILAN — AS Bari has signed a preliminary deal for the sale of the Serie A club to American businessman Timothy Barton. The transfer of ownership is to be completed by Oct.

July 21st, 2009 UAE businessman becomes chairman of PortsmouthPORTSMOUTH, England — A businessman from the United Arab Emirates became chairman of Portsmouth on Tuesday after his proposed financial takeover of the soccer club was approved by the English Premier League. Sulaiman al-Fahim, who helped broker the takeover of Manchester City last September on behalf of an Abu Dhabi investment group, needed the league to be satisfied he was a fit and proper person to take control of the club from current owner Alexandre Gaydamak, who has decided to sell.

July 10th, 2009 Kroenke increases Arsenal stake to 28.58 percentLONDON — American businessman Stan Kroenke has increased his stake in Arsenal. The 61-year-old director spent $2.21 million to raise his holding to 28.58 percent from 28.3.