Stan Kroenke may agree not to sell his 12 percent stake in Arsenal to prevent Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov from gaining control of London’s most successful soccer club.
Kroenke, a real-estate developer, owns the Colorado Rapids, the Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Avalanche.
Arsenal directors, who control about 46 percent of the equity, a week ago pledged not to sell their stock to anyone other than close family until April 18, 2009. After that and until Oct. 18, 2012, they must first offer their shares to fellow directors.
“I don’t have any problem with” the agreement, Kroenke told reporters in London on Thursday. Asked whether he’ll sign it, he replied: “We’ll see.”
The agreement was made after Usmanov and fund manager Farhad Moshiri built a 23 percent stake in the Gunners, 1 percentage point less than director Danny Fiszman, the biggest investor. Usmanov has said his long-term aim is to own the club, while Kroenke didn’t rule out a purchase.
Bloomberg News
