According to The Athletic, London-based businessman of Armenian descent Vatche Manoukian has made a £400 million bid to buy Everton F.C. alongside investors from the United States and the Gulf countries.
Vatche Manoukian is the nephew of Armenian entertainment and property tycoon Vatche "Bob" Manoukian, and London socialite Rafi Manoukian, both from the Armenian diaspora in Beirut. Vatche is a partner in the global investment firm IMS Digital Ventures, specializing in technology.
Currently, Vatche Manoukian has become the latest contender to acquire Everton. The group of international investors led by Manoukian has joined the growing number of potential new owners of the club by making a £400 million all-equity bid.
Among the contenders are British businessmen and long-time Everton fans Andy Bell and George Downing, who are already part of a group led by American investment firm MSP Sports Capital. Last year, MSP Sports Capital lent Everton £158 million, giving Bell and Downing additional incentive to protect their existing investment in the club. Their bid, made last week, includes a mix of new equity and a £350 million loan secured against the club’s new stadium, which would refinance Everton’s existing debts. This loan would be provided by the merchant bank BDT & MSD Partners, originally set up to invest the wealth of American IT billionaire Michael Dell.
The third bid, paradoxically, comes from Bell and Downing’s partners, MSP Sports Capital. This New York-based fund has put together a new group with the aim of taking full control of the club. The bid is believed to be a complex mix of equity and debt.
Besides this trio, there are also John Textor and Dan Friedkin, two American businessmen who have already built multi-club groups. Despite the prominence of these figures, Vatche Manoukian, the latest name to emerge, has a lower profile.
Who is Vatche Manoukian?
Vatche Manoukian, 45, is a partner in the global technology investment firm IMS Digital Ventures. His group of investors includes representatives from the Gulf countries and the United States. The Manoukian family is known for its successful business projects and active participation in the Armenian community. In 2021, Vatche and his wife Tamar Manoukian pledged $1 million to support the expansion of programs and activities of AGBU (Armenian General Benevolent Union).
