Money unlocked Monday, takeover by Wednesday. Today must be the day.
I've just seen the headline:
"Charlton owner Roland Duchatelet ready to sell with Australian consortium in talks over potential takeover of League One club"
In fact it's some 1,454 pages back and written almost two years ago. The wonderful Daily Mail, with their finger on the pulse, even told us that "The potential deal for the takeover is believed to be worth around £20 million".
Such are the vagaries of greedy owners due diligence and inflation.
Isn't it time we established a clear scapegoating policy for this latest episode of shambolic balls up and ensure it is based on the usual irrational prejudice and petty malice. The seven clear contenders are:
1. #JamesSeed. For returning to this site after a long absence, having contact with the hated Ozzies and generally being pleasant, well informed and reasonable. 2. #airmanbrown for consistently, shamelessly and incorrectly predicting the takeover since 11 March 1803. 3. STD/LDV/BLT for being a lacky and lickspittle of the dreaded Roland, for having no idea what is happening and lacking a proper name. 4. Jim White who is obviously just toying with our emotions for his own sadistic gratification. 5. Any random Australian (alive or dead) we can think of but in particular, Nicole Kidman, Kerry Packer, Rolf Harris, Les Paterson, Mel Gibson and Skippy the bush kangaroo. 6. Any new signing with a dodgy beard 7. Err.. that's it.
Well I dunno. I'v slept on this £70m "deterrent" thing, and it just doesn't ring right somehow. But...it is Duchatelet, so with that huge caveat, here is what I would I expect based on limited M&A experience involving relatively normal business people like Sir Martin Sorrell
1. If you believe a buyer has reached an advanced stage, and you believe it's a matter of ironing out detail, you offer them a period of exclusivity, which generally would mean you would not process parties with other discussions.
2. That however need not stop you providing basic sale documents, provided you inform the potential buyer that a period of exclusivity has been opened.
3. It's worth noting that the spivs did exactly this with the Vienna based consortium in 2014. By the time they had themselves in order, Duchatelet, who of course did minimal DD, was advanced. Slater told the consortium, sorry you are too late, we are advanced. Normal behaviour, no drama. Slater didn't upset them in saying that, for obvious rational reasons. Indeed they came back in March to see if RD wanted to consider a Peninsula move.
Last night it hadn't occurred to me the identity of a buyer that RD 'didn't like". Now that I've been reminded of Varney, well, OK. Would a really good businessman turn people away on the basis of personal enmity? I don't think so. I think he would only do that if by selling to that seller, that seller might present an increased business/market risk to the buyer's other interests. Otherwise, if you lose your preferred buyer at the last minute, and the unpreferred buyer seems serious, why would you not try to get your hands on that buyer's money?
If the answer was “£70M” are we sure we know what the question actually was? ‘How much to buy?’ or ‘How much over 5 years has it cost the risible old bungler to relegate the team, alienate the fan base and decimate all revenue streams?’ pause while questioner laughs their cock off
Well I dunno. I'v slept on this £70m "deterrent" thing, and it just doesn't ring right somehow. But...it is Duchatelet, so with that huge caveat, here is what I would I expect based on limited M&A experience involving relatively normal business people like Sir Martin Sorrell
1. If you believe a buyer has reached an advanced stage, and you believe it's a matter of ironing out detail, you offer them a period of exclusivity, which generally would mean you would not process parties with other discussions.
2. That however need not stop you providing basic sale documents, provided you inform the potential buyer that a period of exclusivity has been opened.
3. It's worth noting that the spivs did exactly this with the Vienna based consortium in 2014. By the time they had themselves in order, Duchatelet, who of course did minimal DD, was advanced. Slater told the consortium, sorry you are too late, we are advanced. Normal behaviour, no drama. Slater didn't upset them in saying that, for obvious rational reasons. Indeed they came back in March to see if RD wanted to consider a Peninsula move.
Last night it hadn't occurred to me the identity of a buyer that RD 'didn't like". Now that I've been reminded of Varney, well, OK. Would a really good businessman turn people away on the basis of personal enmity? I don't think so. I think he would only do that if by selling to that seller, that seller might present an increased business/market risk to the buyer's other interests. Otherwise, if you lose your preferred buyer at the last minute, and the unpreferred buyer seems serious, why would you not try to get your hands on that buyer's money?
Doesn't smell right to me.
Any chance the Vienna lot could resurface this time around?
I agree with Prague on this one. There's no need to offer an off-the-planet sale price if you feel another party is almost at the point of completing the deal, you simply say there is a period of exclusivity, or put them on hold, or whatever. The other party may not complete, in which case the party you have just mugged off with a 70m valuation may seem more appealing. I'm not saying some or all of this happened, just that the whole 70m over-valuation feels bizarre. Is Roland wishing to sell, or simply 'prepared to consider it'? There is obviously a lot we don't know about here, but you get get a lot more for 70m than the likes of Charlton.
In business, M&A terms, absolutely. He has completed 100s of them, and they follow a rational process for valuing a company and doing the due diligence before completing. And all his rivals follow a very similar process. How he managed the empire he built is a different matter, of course.
He can simply deny anything we put to him unless we have evidence
If he’s the honest guy that some believe him to be then he won’t be comfortable lying. And he might want to consider what evidence may emerge to expose him if he does.
I'm aware that, until now, at least one member of the FF has stated he has no reason to believe that LDT has not been telling them the truth at the recent update meetings.
That Tony Keohane was always going to be dangerous once he escaped from his short albino-panda suit.
That fella has to get the push when the sale goes through. One horrid individual. Part of what Charlton are at the moment No place for nasty people like him once we get our club back
Well I dunno. I'v slept on this £70m "deterrent" thing, and it just doesn't ring right somehow. But...it is Duchatelet, so with that huge caveat, here is what I would I expect based on limited M&A experience involving relatively normal business people like Sir Martin Sorrell
1. If you believe a buyer has reached an advanced stage, and you believe it's a matter of ironing out detail, you offer them a period of exclusivity, which generally would mean you would not process parties with other discussions.
2. That however need not stop you providing basic sale documents, provided you inform the potential buyer that a period of exclusivity has been opened.
3. It's worth noting that the spivs did exactly this with the Vienna based consortium in 2014. By the time they had themselves in order, Duchatelet, who of course did minimal DD, was advanced. Slater told the consortium, sorry you are too late, we are advanced. Normal behaviour, no drama. Slater didn't upset them in saying that, for obvious rational reasons. Indeed they came back in March to see if RD wanted to consider a Peninsula move.
Last night it hadn't occurred to me the identity of a buyer that RD 'didn't like". Now that I've been reminded of Varney, well, OK. Would a really good businessman turn people away on the basis of personal enmity? I don't think so. I think he would only do that if by selling to that seller, that seller might present an increased business/market risk to the buyer's other interests. Otherwise, if you lose your preferred buyer at the last minute, and the unpreferred buyer seems serious, why would you not try to get your hands on that buyer's money?
Doesn't smell right to me.
Any chance the Vienna lot could resurface this time around?
Steve (the Addick) is just the enabler, the investment banker who brings the big names together. We are meeting in a couple of weeks, but AFAIK right now he has no other player now that Usmanov is out. His Arenacom guy is far too busy in Qatar apparently, anyway he wanted to move us to the Pen.
I agree with Prague on this one. There's no need to offer an off-the-planet sale price if you feel another party is almost at the point of completing the deal, you simply say there is a period of exclusivity, or put them on hold, or whatever. The other party may not complete, in which case the party you have just mugged off with a 70m valuation may seem more appealing. I'm not saying some or all of this happened, just that the whole 70m over-valuation feels bizarre. Is Roland wishing to sell, or simply 'prepared to consider it'? There is obviously a lot we don't know about here, but you get get a lot more for 70m than the likes of Charlton.
True, but when you take the several million square feet of real estate comprised of the Valley and Sparrows Lane, and you compare that to house prices in Kensington, £70m is a bargain
I agree with Prague on this one. There's no need to offer an off-the-planet sale price if you feel another party is almost at the point of completing the deal, you simply say there is a period of exclusivity, or put them on hold, or whatever. The other party may not complete, in which case the party you have just mugged off with a 70m valuation may seem more appealing. I'm not saying some or all of this happened, just that the whole 70m over-valuation feels bizarre. Is Roland wishing to sell, or simply 'prepared to consider it'? There is obviously a lot we don't know about here, but you get get a lot more for 70m than the likes of Charlton.
Well said Ken. Now I consider myself to have the least amount of business acumen a person can have but common sense would dictate that this £70m bollocks is well... bollocks!
Well I dunno. I'v slept on this £70m "deterrent" thing, and it just doesn't ring right somehow. But...it is Duchatelet, so with that huge caveat, here is what I would I expect based on limited M&A experience involving relatively normal business people like Sir Martin Sorrell
1. If you believe a buyer has reached an advanced stage, and you believe it's a matter of ironing out detail, you offer them a period of exclusivity, which generally would mean you would not process parties with other discussions.
2. That however need not stop you providing basic sale documents, provided you inform the potential buyer that a period of exclusivity has been opened.
3. It's worth noting that the spivs did exactly this with the Vienna based consortium in 2014. By the time they had themselves in order, Duchatelet, who of course did minimal DD, was advanced. Slater told the consortium, sorry you are too late, we are advanced. Normal behaviour, no drama. Slater didn't upset them in saying that, for obvious rational reasons. Indeed they came back in March to see if RD wanted to consider a Peninsula move.
Last night it hadn't occurred to me the identity of a buyer that RD 'didn't like". Now that I've been reminded of Varney, well, OK. Would a really good businessman turn people away on the basis of personal enmity? I don't think so. I think he would only do that if by selling to that seller, that seller might present an increased business/market risk to the buyer's other interests. Otherwise, if you lose your preferred buyer at the last minute, and the unpreferred buyer seems serious, why would you not try to get your hands on that buyer's money?
Doesn't smell right to me.
I’ve slept on it too and agree with this. We were told I believe that there was no period of exclusivity granted to the Australian bid ? That being the case I can’t see any way on earth that (and here we have a problem) a sane businessman turns away prospective buyers for what would now be months if Ricks assertion that Usmanov was told £70 million in order to close down any interest. It just wouldn’t happen.
The reality being that “a willing seller” receives a nibble from a Ukrainian Oligarch with a history of football club involvement and tells him to do one while all the time allowing another bid that has failed over more than 18 months room for manoeuvre.
I’m not sure if what @PragueAddick could smell was old fish puns but whatever it is I can smell it too.
Does anyone even know if talks did actually happen yesterday? I suppose we have to wait for Mr White’s show at 10am for an update.
If I’m not mistaken, Jim White stated that a 1.5 hour conference call between the Australian & American consortium took place.....the outcome is of course not known........as yet. No doubt someone else will confirm this as I’m not 100% sure where I picked up on that info.
It is a takeover promised but it hasn't happened. How many times bitten, how shy do you gotta be?
I get all nostalgic for protests and disruption, things which might now need to develop to a more sophisticated level I suppose.
If Eddie Stobart quoted £70million to somebody we know as supporters that we're unconscious, going to be wrapped in duck tape, and converted into part of a motorway flyover. There is to be no release today or any other day.
Comments
"Charlton owner Roland Duchatelet ready to sell with Australian consortium in talks over potential takeover of League One club"
In fact it's some 1,454 pages back and written almost two years ago. The wonderful Daily Mail, with their finger on the pulse, even told us that "The potential deal for the takeover is believed to be worth around £20 million".
Such are the vagaries of
greedy ownersdue diligence and inflation.PS This was not intended as a slight on Happy Valley who is one of my favourite posters :-)
1. If you believe a buyer has reached an advanced stage, and you believe it's a matter of ironing out detail, you offer them a period of exclusivity, which generally would mean you would not process parties with other discussions.
2. That however need not stop you providing basic sale documents, provided you inform the potential buyer that a period of exclusivity has been opened.
3. It's worth noting that the spivs did exactly this with the Vienna based consortium in 2014. By the time they had themselves in order, Duchatelet, who of course did minimal DD, was advanced. Slater told the consortium, sorry you are too late, we are advanced. Normal behaviour, no drama. Slater didn't upset them in saying that, for obvious rational reasons. Indeed they came back in March to see if RD wanted to consider a Peninsula move.
Last night it hadn't occurred to me the identity of a buyer that RD 'didn't like". Now that I've been reminded of Varney, well, OK. Would a really good businessman turn people away on the basis of personal enmity? I don't think so. I think he would only do that if by selling to that seller, that seller might present an increased business/market risk to the buyer's other interests. Otherwise, if you lose your preferred buyer at the last minute, and the unpreferred buyer seems serious, why would you not try to get your hands on that buyer's money?
Doesn't smell right to me.
‘How much to buy?’
or
‘How much over 5 years has it cost the risible old bungler to relegate the team, alienate the fan base and decimate all revenue streams?’ pause while questioner laughs their cock off
Is Roland wishing to sell, or simply 'prepared to consider it'? There is obviously a lot we don't know about here, but you get get a lot more for 70m than the likes of Charlton.
But then again. "I am NOT listening!"
The experiment is working.
Roland don't go!
What?
The reality being that “a willing seller” receives a nibble from a Ukrainian Oligarch with a history of football club involvement and tells him to do one while all the time allowing another bid that has failed over more than 18 months room for manoeuvre.
I’m not sure if what @PragueAddick could smell was old fish puns but whatever it is I can smell it too.
No doubt someone else will confirm this as I’m not 100% sure where I picked up on that info.
How many times bitten, how shy do you gotta be?
I get all nostalgic for protests and disruption, things which might now need to develop to a more sophisticated level I suppose.
If Eddie Stobart quoted £70million to somebody we know as supporters that we're unconscious, going to be wrapped in duck tape, and converted into part of a motorway flyover. There is to be no release today or any other day.