UK newspapers The Financial Times and the Guardian reported today that the owner of Asia’s largest low-cost airline hopes to conclude a deal to buy a 51 per cent stake in the West London club from Formula One motor racing chief Bernie Ecclestone.
The Financial Times said Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, who already owns a 33 per cent stake in QPR, will acquire the rest of Ecclestone’s 62 per cent share.
The Guardian also reported former Brazil coach and captain Dunga claiming that the Premier League club owed him £750,000 (RM3.75 million).
AirAsia recently finalised a share swap with MAS, where the former’s main shareholder Tune Air Sdn Bhd will swap 10 per cent stake in the budget carrier for 20.5 per cent share of the ailing flag carrier.
Fernandes has tried several times but failed to buy West Ham United, the biggest football club in east London.
The Malaysian entrepreneur also owns the Team Lotus Formula One outfit.
With Fernandes becoming a significant shareholder in MAS, he now has interests in five airlines, with two more expected to launch next year, in addition to the Formula One team, as well as Tune Group’s hotel, financial services and telecoms interests.
The Financial Times reported last Friday that there are concerns within AirAsia and elsewhere over whether Fernandes is stretching himself too thin.
The influential business newspaper said the worry is that the various interests may slash Fernandes’s daily focus on cost control that he has identified as the key to long-term success.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.