Hicks: Other ventures won't affect Texas Rangers

04:57 AM CDT on Sunday, March 9, 2008
By RICHARD DURRETT / The Dallas Morning News

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks made it clear Saturday that the possibility of additional investors, whether in the Liverpool Football Club or Hicks Sports Group, will not affect the Rangers.
"It has absolutely no impact whatsoever," Hicks said in his second visit to spring training. "The Rangers are a separate entity, like the other teams. Nothing changes."
Hicks said his representatives continue to negotiate with Dubai International Capital, which is seeking to become a minority partner in Liverpool, the Premier League soccer club Hicks co-owns with George Gillett. Hicks said there are other groups he's talking to in addition to DIC and that negotiations aren't as far along as reported.
Hicks said he was in the Middle East a few weeks ago and met with Sameer Al Ansari, the CEO of DIC.
"We had a good meeting; he's a sharp guy," said Hicks, who bought Liverpool with Gillett for $431 million last March. "That doesn't mean anything. At the end of the day, it depends on 'What are their true intentions?' Are they willing to accept a position as a passive, minority investor, or do they want more than that? If they want more than that, they're not going to be involved."
Hicks said he sent DIC a 60-page draft of a shareholders agreement that would define what terms he is seeking if it wants to own 49 percent of the club. Gillett, who owns 50 percent of the team, could sell a portion of his stake to Hicks and the rest to DIC or another group. That would leave Hicks as the majority partner.
Hicks told The Associated Press that he's upset with DIC's lead negotiator, Amanda Staveley, saying she has been leaking private correspondence between the pair to the British media.
No matter what Hicks does, he says it won't alter his plans with the Rangers. He doesn't plan on being as active with the baseball team now that Nolan Ryan is president and has operational control.
"As the owner, you only have to get involved when there are issues," Hicks said. "With Nolan and [general manager] Jon Daniels, there are no issues. I try to help with sponsors and do what I can to help grow the revenues of the team."