Usmanov ups Arsenal stake

Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has increased his holding in Arsenal to more than 27 per cent.

Red & White Holdings Limited - which is jointly owned by Usmanov and Farhad Moshiri - made the brief announcement on Tuesday without disclosing any details as to the additional stock acquired.
American Stan Kroenke remains the largest individual shareholder in the Premier League club, with 29.9%.
Under the strict financial rules of the City, were any party to cross the 29.99% takeover threshold, they would be obliged to make a formal offer for the remainder of the shares.

Committed

The news Usmanov - who unlike Kroenke does not yet have a seat on the Arsenal board - has continued his steady accumulation will fuel speculation that the Gunners are set for more changes behind the scenes.
The Red & White group released a statement in April 2010 maintaining that a full-blown offer was not on their agenda and they remained 'a committed long-term investor in Arsenal'.
However, Usmanov was then quoted in December as saying that his objective was to bring up a 'blocking state' of 29.9%, and from that point 'we will just keep looking'.
Former director Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith put her family's 15.9% stake up for sale in April, and these latest dealings could be the result of some minor tradings.

Non-executive director Danny Fiszman, who controls 16% of shares, is the club's other major shareholder