The Financial Times says Credit Suisse is preparing the deal, which will see 25-30% of the club made available to investors.
However estimates of how much such an initial public offering (IPO) would raise, and the implied valuation of the club, vary. The BBC reports that a sale of 25% of the club would raise £400m ($660m), while Reuters and the Financial Times put the figure closer to $1bn.
Reuters says its IPO estimate implies a “potential value” of up to $4bn. The Financial Times, meanwhile, reports that the partial flotation “could establish a value of £1.7bn [$2.8bn].”
An IPO in Singapore would allow Manchester Unit to strengthen its ties in the region, while raising cash to pay down debt incurred during the leveraged buy-out of the club by the Glazer family in 2005. Last year the club launched a £500m bond scheme to refinance its loans.
