http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6684573.stm Billionaire businessman Mike Ashley has launched a ￡133.1m ($263m) offer for Newcastle United football club. The offer came after the retail entrepreneur said he had bought a 41.6% stake in the Premiership team from Sir John Hall's family for more than ￡55m. Newcastle has been trying to improve its position in the Premiership and fans have been getting increasingly frustrated with the team's performance. The club recently replaced its manager, the third in as many years. 'Wonderful heritage' Mr Ashley said his firm St James Holdings Limited (SJHL) had bought 55.3 million shares in the club at 100 pence a share. He added that his offer priced the rest of the club's shares at the same level. Earlier this year Mr Ashley earned himself more than ￡900m after the flotation of his Sports Direct retail chain which he set up in 1982. The group runs the Sports World retail chain and Lillywhites, and its brands include Dunlop, Kangol and Karrimor. SJHL - which was set up specifically for the takeover by Mr Ashley - added that the offer price represented a 19% premium on the 84p closing price of Newcastle's shares on Tuesday 22 May. "Newcastle United has a wonderful heritage and the passion of its fans is legendary," Mr Ashley said in a statement. "I am sure that, like me, they are already excited about the prospects for next season under the new manager's stewardship." Bid target Mr Ashley's approach is not the first to target the club. Last year the Belgravia Group investment fund said it was considering a bid - but then dropped its plans in January, saying it had failed to agree a price and transaction structure. Meanwhile, in December last year, hedge fund Polygon tried to take over the club, but pulled out of negotiations a month later. In October 2006, Newcastle United announced a ￡12m financial annual loss after heavy investment in players and a fall in revenues due to its failure to qualify for Europe. The result was a reversal in financial fortune for the Premiership club which made a ￡620,000 profit the year before. Mike Ashley从Sir John Hall家族那购买了41.6%的股份 同时牧羊人很有可能被从主席台上赶下来... --

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