Stan Kroenke completes Arsenal takeover as fans forced to sell shares

Full control: Stan Kroenke
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James Benge26 September 2018

Stan Kroenke has completed his buyout of Arsenal and is now the sole owner of shares in the club.

The American billionaire agreed a £600million deal with Alisher Usmanov in August that took him beyond the 90 per cent ownership threshold after which he was obliged to buy all remaining shares.

Though many supporters were reluctant to sell up to Kroenke, they were left with no choice and those that did not immediately accept KSE UK’s offer of just under £30,000 have now had their shares compulsorily purchased.

A statement from Arsenal Holdings PLC confirmed: “Further to the announcement made by KSE, UK, Inc. on 28 August 2018 confirming the closing of its offer for Arsenal Holdings PLC, the compulsory acquisition by KSE of all of the Arsenal shares not assented to the offer completed on September 25 2018.

“As stated in KSE's announcement on 28 August, the trading in Arsenal shares on the NEX Exchange Growth Market will be withdrawn with effect from close of business today.”

The Arsenal Supporters Trust, in particular, had aimed to drag out the process of Kroenke’s takeover in a purely symbolic struggle, though it appears their hopes of forcing a final AGM are now over.

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