Man U seeks second listing

19 August 2011 - 02:20 By Reuters
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English Premier League soccer champions Manchester United plans to list on the Singapore Exchange.

A source with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed yesterday that the club had filed a preliminary application for a listing, looking to raise as much as $1-billion from the offering.

It had appointed Credit Suisse as the global co-ordinator of the deal, the source said.

Morgan Stanley and UBS are also in the running to become bookrunners, sources have said.

British media reported the main reason given for the application was to raise funds to pay debt.

United's 2010 full-year results showed gross debt attached to the club of $865-million, a debt pile that has helped make the owning Glazer family deeply unpopular with fans.

The Americans have been criticised despite the club's continued on-field success, inspiring slogans such as "Love United, Hate Glazer".

A Singapore initial public offering would be a second stock market incarnation for the club, which was listed in London before being taken over by the Glazers in 2005.

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