By Rory Smith
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His advisers, the Wong
Partnership, on Tuesday submitted a letter to the High Court
detailing Lim's "surprise" at learning NESV had come to an
agreement with Liverpool's three non-shareholder directors less
than 12 hours after he was informed his offer was "preferred and
superior".
Paul Girolami QC, for Tom Hicks and others, revealed Lim had
taken legal advice on the decisions taken by the club's directors
between 3pm on Oct 5 – when Lim was informed he remained the
preferred bidder – and when the agreement with NESV was struck.
He has also submitted a request to discover whether the terms of
his offer, which sources close to the billionaire believe was
financially more attractive until NESV improved its own bid by
promising to pay £10 million to the Royal Bank of Scotland in fees,
were revealed to his rivals, breaching his confidentiality
clause.
Despite that, on Tuesday Lim improved his original bid, believed
to be worth the £300 million NESV wishes to pay, to £320 million,
plus £40 million for manager Roy Hodgson to spend in the January
transfer window.
Lim's offer, through his Meriton vehicle, would wipe Liverpool
clear of debt and is funded entirely from the former stockbroker's
own $1.6 billion (£1 billion) fortune.
He said in a statement: "My offer pays off the existing owners'
bank acquisition debt and also frees the club of its own bank debt.
If the board accepts this offer, the monies are available
immediately, thereby removing the threat of administration."
Lim accepts he remains an outsider to land the club – his bid
would be considered only if NESV walk away or Liverpool go into
administration – but he is determined to push ahead with a
deal.
Though his background running Manchester United-themed cafés in
the Far East is unlikely to impress Liverpool fans, it is thought,
should he land the club, he would pull out of that deal when his
contract expires in 2012.
