Editing Hibernian F.C. (section)

==Ownership and finances==
Although the football club was formed in 1875, it was not incorporated until 1903.<ref group = "note">Hibernian FC was registered on 11 April 1903 with [[Companies House]] as The Hibernian Football Club Limited, company number SC005323.</ref> The club remained a private company until 1988, when it was publicly listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/edinburgh-hibernian-loses-1-1-m-in-first-year-1.597669|title=Edinburgh Hibernian loses £0.5m in first year|last=McConnell|first=Tom|date=23 December 1989|work=The Herald|publisher=Herald & Times Group|access-date=25 February 2013}}</ref><ref name = "hostile bid">{{cite news |url=http://www.carlukegazette.co.uk/sport/local-sport/mercer-merger-20-years-on-hibs-chairman-s-revolution-ended-in-club-being-open-to-hostile-bid-1-1246616 |title=Mercer Merger 20 years on: Hibs chairman's revolution ended in club being open to hostile bid |work=Carluke Gazette |publisher=Johnston Publishing |date=2 June 2010 |access-date=25 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104204805/http://www.carlukegazette.co.uk/sport/local-sport/mercer-merger-20-years-on-hibs-chairman-s-revolution-ended-in-club-being-open-to-hostile-bid-1-1246616 |archive-date=4 January 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> This public listing, combined with poor financial performance, made Hibs vulnerable to an attempted takeover in 1990 by [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Hearts]] chairman [[Wallace Mercer]].<ref name = "hostile bid"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/sport/mercer-merger-20-years-on-scheme-to-join-hearts-and-hibs-is-unveiled-1-1246542 |title=Mercer merger 20 years on: Scheme to join Hearts and Hibs is unveiled |work=Fife Today |publisher=Johnston Publishing |date=1 June 2010 |access-date=25 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104204805/http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/sport/mercer-merger-20-years-on-scheme-to-join-hearts-and-hibs-is-unveiled-1-1246542 |archive-date=4 January 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="mercer">{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/mercer-merger-20-years-on-wallace-mercer-decides-to-call-it-quites-as-david-duff-digs-in-1-1243770|title=Mercer Merger – 20 years on: Wallace Mercer decides to call it quites as David Duff digs in|date=4 June 2010|work=Edinburgh Evening News|publisher=Johnston Publishing|access-date=25 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104204804/http://www.scotsman.com/sport/mercer-merger-20-years-on-wallace-mercer-decides-to-call-it-quites-as-david-duff-digs-in-1-1243770|archive-date=4 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> This attempt was averted when Mercer was unable to acquire the 75% shareholding needed to liquidate the company.<ref name = "hostile bid"/><ref name = "mercer"/> The club's parent company, Forth Investments plc, entered receivership in 1991<ref name="history">{{cite web |url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/page/TimelineDetail/0,,10290~1750388,00.html |title=Hibernian History |date=11 August 2009 |access-date=25 February 2013 |work=hibernianfc.co.uk |publisher=Hibernian FC |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121175233/http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/page/TimelineDetail/0,,10290~1750388,00.html |archive-date=21 January 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name = "stake"/> and Sir [[Tom Farmer]] acquired control of the club from the receiver for £3&nbsp;million.<ref name = "backseat"/><ref name = "stake"/> Farmer funded redevelopments of [[Easter Road]] and financial losses made by Hibs, although he delegated control to other figures such as [[Rod Petrie]].<ref name = "backseat">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/6089742.stm|title=Farmer content with Hibs backseat|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 October 2006|access-date=2 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806025407/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/6089742.stm|archive-date=6 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/4094791.stm|title=Petrie takes over as Hibs chair|publisher=BBC Sport|date=14 December 2004|access-date=2 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806030709/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/4094791.stm|archive-date=6 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/3225299.stm|title=Farmer backs ground decision|publisher=BBC Sport|date=29 October 2003|access-date=2 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031031082326/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/3225299.stm|archive-date=31 October 2003|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name = "stake">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/3109551.stm |title=Hibs reveal Farmer stake|publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 July 2003 |access-date=25 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="shares">{{cite web|url=http://www.football-finances.org.uk/hibs/2008/clubownership.htm|title=Hibs – Shareholders|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130423192250/http://www.football-finances.org.uk/hibs/2008/clubownership.htm|archive-date=23 April 2013|url-status=usurped|work=football-finances.org.uk|access-date=25 February 2013}}</ref>

In December 2014, the club said it intended to sell up to 51% ownership of the club to its supporters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30624431 |title=Hibernian: Club move a step closer to fan ownership |publisher=BBC Sport |first=Brian |last=McLauchlin |date=29 December 2014 |access-date=29 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230015422/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30624431 |archive-date=30 December 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> By November 2017, supporters had increased their shareholding in the club to 34%.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/final-season-in-championship-results-in-300k-loss-for-hibs-1-4617582 |title=Final season in Championship results in £300k loss for Hibs |work=Edinburgh Evening News |date=20 November 2017 |access-date=20 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123072409/http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/final-season-in-championship-results-in-300k-loss-for-hibs-1-4617582 |archive-date=23 November 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The majority ownership of the club was sold in July 2019 to Peruvian-born US-based businessman Ronald Gordon, who became the executive chairman.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48837235 |title=Hibernian: Ronald Gordon takes ownership from Sir Tom Farmer |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 July 2019 |access-date=2 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702105743/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48837235 |archive-date=2 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 21 February 2023 Hibernian announced that Gordon had died of cancer at the age of 68,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64721109 |title=Ron Gordon: Hibernian owner dies aged 68 after cancer diagnosis |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 February 2023 |access-date=21 February 2023 }}</ref> and his majority shareholding was passed to his family.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cl4z83ymrpgo |title=Gordon moves from Hibs head of recruitment to executive role |website=BBC Sport |date=4 May 2023 |accessdate=8 October 2023 |first=Brian |last=McLauchlin}}</ref>

The [[annual general meeting|agm]] held in February 2024 ratified a deal with Black Knight, the majority shareholder of English club [[AFC Bournemouth]].<ref name = foley>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68418733 |title=Bill Foley: Hibernian shareholders vote through American's £6m investment in club |website=BBC Sport |date=27 February 2024 |accessdate=27 February 2024 |first=Brian |last=McLauchlin}}</ref> The result of the deal is that the Gordon family will retain majority control (60%), with Black Knight acquiring 25% for a £6 million investment.<ref name = foley/> Minority shareholders, such as fans group Hibernian Supporters Limited, saw their holdings diluted.<ref name = foley/>