06/05/2024 17comments  |  Jump to last

Josimar are reporting that, according to "multiple sources in Belgium", two main creditors of 777 Partners – former owner Bruno Venanzi and shareholders of Standard Liege's stadium – have instructed their lawyers to begin proceedings to attempt to seize the private equity firm's assets in the country. 

777, the would-be owners of Everton if their takeover bid is ever approved by the Premier League, hold a majority stake in Standard but their ownership of the club has been plagued by difficulties, including transfer bans, a general lack of investment in the squad and the club almost failing to be granted a license to play in the Belgian Pro League this season due to unpaid player salaries.

Now, Josimar and DH report that Venanzi and the shareholders of the Immobilière du Standard, the company which owned the Stade de Sclessin (which include former players like Nacer Chadli and Axel Witsel), are taking action after 777 failed to deliver two tranches of monies owed, the most recent on 15 April, coincidentally also the date by which Josh Wander's firm needed to repay MSP Sports Capital's £158m loan before they were granted an extension.   

If Auclair's information true, this would be yet another legal wrangle dogging 777 Partners who made headlines last week when their budget Australian airline, Bonza, went into voluntary administration and they were sued in a New York court for allegedly "double-pledging" around $350m to two London-based companies.

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Their bid to buy out Farhad Moshiri's stake in Everton has dragged on for almost eight months and appears no closer to being given the green light despite the firm pumping over £200m into the Club via loans, albeit via funds that critics claim were simply borrowed from elsewhere.

777 have also faced opposition from fans for their ownership of Vasco da Gama in Brazil and Hertha Berlin in Germany. 

Quotes sourced from Josimar



Reader Comments (17)

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Pat Kelly
1 Posted 06/05/2024 at 18:39:10
At this stage, who would lend 777 more funds? Moshiri needs to get his finger out and find a creditable buyer.
Craig Harrison
2 Posted 06/05/2024 at 18:44:04
Is there any possibility that 777 creditors could start seizing EFC assets to cover losses in other business ventures?

Seeing as we owe them £200M…

Dennis Stevens
3 Posted 06/05/2024 at 18:45:19
Bad people, Pat.
Lyndon Lloyd
4 Posted 06/05/2024 at 18:47:15
Craig, that wouldn't be possible unless the takeover goes through. At that point, EFC's assets would be theirs, which is the biggest concern now regarding 777 buying the club, in my opinion.

As The Esk tweeted earlier, it's hard to see how 777's creditors don't now stampede to try and recover their money as quickly as possible before what appears to be a house of cards collapses.

Martin Farrington
5 Posted 06/05/2024 at 19:28:07
Pat (1)

He can't as there is an exclusivity deal in place. End of May(?) is mentioned for 777 to get a lump sum together. Let's assume that is the final chance they are given.

Meantime, Moshiri can't be caught smooching other suitors. Let's face it, who wants in on this mess?

Peter Hodgson
6 Posted 06/05/2024 at 20:02:04
From memory, the end of May date was only mentioned by 777 as a date they hoped to have everything in place to complete (or something like that).

Take that date as gospel if you wish but I would caution against that on the basis of them mentioning dates previously has meant nothing at all.

Not saying they are liars but… make up your own mind. They are good at giving dates for this and that, none of which have come to fruition so far!

Paul Hewitt
7 Posted 06/05/2024 at 20:53:28
What an absolute shit show.
Craig Harrison
8 Posted 06/05/2024 at 21:31:48
Lyndon @4.

I was more asking if 777 go bankrupt or Chapter 11 across all their business, what happens to the £200M they have given us?

Jamie Crowley
9 Posted 06/05/2024 at 21:38:08
Anyone seen George Bailey?

There's a run on the bank!

I knew these fuckers were crooked. We need the Premier League to step up, reject any more extensions, force MSP to take control with a new buyer in the wings.

It's A Wonderful Life – Bank Run

Jamie Crowley
10 Posted 06/05/2024 at 21:42:21
Craig,

I'm no specialist and have limited knowledge but, as of now, I believe 777 s simply a creditor. They own nothing. They'd have to get in line to get their £200 million repaid.

If they file bankruptcy, anyone in line to get the scraps from 777 would probably request Everton satisfy their loan with 777 in order to pay 777 creditors.

As Paul Hewitt perfectly puts it, it is without a doubt a shit show.

Craig Harrison
11 Posted 06/05/2024 at 22:47:52
It is indeed a shit show. What I can't work out (and I know very little about this crap) is: Who is the 777 loan with?

In theory, they gave Moshiri £200M on the promise of his shares in EFC. Moshiri used this money to run the club. But if Moshiri is not allowed to sell his shares to 777, would he not be on the hook to pay them back?

Bob Parrington
12 Posted 07/05/2024 at 00:59:15
As my mum used to say, “Oh what a tangled web you weave when first you practice to deceive!”

777 seems to be one massively tangled web!

Darryl Ritchie
13 Posted 07/05/2024 at 03:39:47
If Everton FC emerges, once this is over and done, recognizable as anything close to the EFC we now know; I will be very surprised.

What a mess!

Mihir Ambardekar
14 Posted 07/05/2024 at 06:10:18
I hope this paves the way for other parties to look at us and buy us out. Surely this should be the final nail in the coffin for 777. Hope Moshiri realizes this and we get a buyer with deep pockets, business acumen and hopefully no controversies.

Correct me if I am wrong that we are at least secured till the end of June and the stadium is almost secured with the funding. Maybe more funding might be needed to finish the stadium but at a later stage. In the meanwhile, we should be able to get a buyer who can change our fortunes for good.

Michael Kenrick
15 Posted 07/05/2024 at 08:43:03
Mihir,

"Correct me if I am wrong that we are at least secured till the end of June and the stadium is almost secured with the funding."

If you're talking overall funding, I believe we're okay to the end of the season, so end of May. Then, at some point after that, I believe we get a substantial payment of the Sky monies for TV exposure and also the merit payments (cough!) for finishing a lowly 15th in the Premier League table.

What that does not guarantee necessarily is full funding for the ongoing construction of the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, which will continue to require substantial monthly payments at least until the scheduled completion date of December 2024.

In short… No.

Bill Fairfield
16 Posted 07/05/2024 at 09:42:07
Banners from the street end on Saturday should read:

‘NO TO 777'

The situation has become pathetic.

Jerome Shields
17 Posted 08/05/2024 at 08:07:06
Craig #11,

My understanding is that 777 Partners are using money provided by 777 Re in Bermuda and A-Cap in USA. Both of as these have dried up as dources of funds due to financial regulation.

A-Cap and 777 Partners ties have emerged as closer than thought from information arising from the Bonza collapse.

777 Partners PR machine has them talking to a new source every week. The last tranche payment to Everton source is unknown. whilst in September it rumoured that 777 Partners paid R&MF demands, which MSP Sports would not, hence the buy agreement between Moshiri and 777 Partners.

It is also rumoured at the end of September that R&MF extended and topped up their loan.

777 Partners loan is secured by conversion of Moshiri shares on takeover completion or probably by a charge against his equity if not.


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