Everton takeover: 777 accuse Russian oligarch of attempt to exploit bid with ‘insane’ ploy
777 Partners have been caught up in a new “bitter and colourful legal dispute” as their Everton takeover wait continues, according to Josimar.
The Norwegian outlet reported via their website on 19 March that Josh Wander and the American company are targets of a lawsuit in Miami where a restraining order has been requested by Russian oligarch Oleg Boyko’s company Nakula Management Limited.
777 claim via their forceful response at the same court that the filing is a “sham” which is deliberately aimed at threatening matters at a “delicate” stage of their attempted takeover of the Toffees, while branding Nakula’s attempt to have all their assets frozen “literally insane”.
A spokesperson for the company also told Josimar they: “firmly asserts that Nakula’s petition is devoid of any legitimate cause of action, unmistakably reflecting a sham pleading under any degree of legal examination.
“Our motion to strike Nakula’s groundless legal tactics brings to light a transparent agenda: Nakula seeks to exploit 777 Partners’ widely publicized acquisition of Everton FC to compel undue pressure in ongoing negotiations over a credit facility.”
777 Partners set for Everton takeover verdict amid legal issues
The delicate stage of the takeover is expected to come to an end imminently with a decision from the Premier League due any time.
There has been no shortage of complicating factors elsewhere in 777’s business recently, which have until recently been dismissed as irrelevant to the Toffees bid.
But of late court filings have more often referred directly to the takeover attempt at Goodison Park, with the move claimed to have caused the company’s set up to start to unravel under the extra scrutiny.
From the club’s point of view it certainly sounds far from ideal for there to be any risk of an asset freeze when 777 have been providing millions in loans towards the club’s running costs in recent months and still hope to be the new owners.
And with Josimar previously reporting (13 March) that Boyko had been sanctioned by Ukraine, Canada and Australia over his alleged links to the Kremlin it might set alarm bells ringing on Merseyside.
Alisher Usmanov’s sanctioning by the British government over his own alleged proximity to Russian president Vladimir Putin in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine saw the club lose major sponsorship deals to contribute to the perilous financial situation the club is still in the thick of.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are hoping for a fine from their second commission hearing as an “almost guaranteed” verdict emerges on the likely sanction.
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