Gillett and Hicks (ownership saga)

[Section_31]

Ian Ayres in the Middle East? Is anyone else thinking....

 

U74s8nFE7No

 

haha

 

And here's Parry.

 

Rick's got a two day head start on Ayres which is more than he needs. Parry's got friends in every town and village from here to the Sudan, he speaks a dozen languages, knows every local custom, he'll blend in, disappear, you'll never see him again. With any luck, he's got the Kuwaiti investment already.

 

 

[YOUTUBE]rk5LuuOciEM&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

[Guest Ulysses Everett McGill]

Interesting that the story about the Kuwait investment was initially leaked by Freud Communications to The Sun, The Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph.

[The Dude Abides]

Interesting that the story about the Kuwait investment was initially leaked by Freud Communications

 

In what way? who are these Freud people you speak of? You'll need to be a bit less subtle mate.

[billybonzo]

Twat and twat employ them for pr purposes etc

[Slimmy]

Hicks searching for Liverpool funding in Mideast

 

LONDON (AP) -Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks is in negotiations with potential partners across the Middle East to help finance a new stadium, but is not looking to sell his entire 50 percent stake in the Premier League club, The Associated Press has learned.

 

Hicks has dispatched his key personnel from the United States to Kuwait and other countries in the region to find investors able to provide the capital that will help him meet his financial obligations to Liverpool - notably building a new stadium - and reduce the club's debt, people familiar with the negotiations told the AP on condition of anonymity because discussions are ongoing.

 

An official announcement about new partners in Kop Football (Holdings), the company that Hicks and 50-50 partner George Gillett Jr. used as the vehicle to buy Liverpool in 2007, could be weeks away, a high-placed executive said.

At one stage in October, the American owners came close to becoming one-third partners with an outside party, a person in the Gillett camp said.

 

A trip by Liverpool finance director Philip Nash to Kuwait this week sparked reports of a looming takeover, but those talks were restricted to plans for the replacement of the aging Anfield stadium and potential naming rights, the executive said.

 

Nash met with billionaire Nasser Al-Kharafi, who owns The Kharafi Group which is building the 60,000-seat Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait.

 

Al-Kharafi could be part of a group of investors being assembled by Hicks as he looks to cement his future at Liverpool and build the club's own 60,000-capacity stadium. Anfield seats only 45,300.

 

Loay al-Kharafi, the group's vice chairman, emphatically denied Friday that the negotiations were about buying part of the club, but didn't quash links to the Stanley Park development.

 

"We are a private company. We're not obliged to declare our business,'' he said Saturday.

 

Building the new stadium adjacent to the 125-year-old Anfield could require 400 million pounds, and escalating borrowings costs resulting from the global economic downturn prompted Hicks and Gillett to suspend the project in October.

 

But with planning permission received for the Stanley Park site and considerable sums already spent on architects' plans, there is a renewed determination by Hicks to restart work as costs start falling.

 

The search for new investors comes as a July deadline approaches to refinance the loan that funded the Americans' 218.9 million-pound takeover two years ago.

 

That financing package of around 250 million pounds must be renewed by July after a six-month extension was granted by the Royal Bank of Scotland and US investment bank Wachovia. But RBS may not be in a position to extend further financing.

 

On Monday, RBS announced the biggest loss in British corporate history of some 28 billion pounds ($38.5 billion) (?30.09 billion), weighed down by toxic assets that have prompted the government to take a nearly 70 percent stake in the bank.

 

The debt burden and stadium delays have provided frustrated fans with further ammunition in their campaign to force the Americans to sell.

 

The hostilities between Hicks and Gillett that raged in the first half of 2008 have eased, with the tycoons now working together on key future projects despite having differing opinions on the future of Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry and manager Rafa Benitez.

 

Hicks, who is a strong supporter of Benitez, called Parry a "disaster'' in April and still wants him replaced. Gillett, however, has reservations about Benitez's importance to the team and acumen in the transfer market.

 

There is no suggestion that either Hicks or Gillett want to abandon Liverpool, despite the ongoing hostility of fans, which they will encounter first hand next Sunday when Anfield hosts Chelsea in the Premier League.

 

The Reds are second in the standings and in their best position since the 1990 title triumph to win the English championship.

 

Hicks searching for Liverpool funding in Mideast - - SI.com

[1892-LFCWasBorn]

ARABS PULL OUT OF ANFIELD TAKEOVER

 

Hicks and Gillett face nightmare endgame to Liverpool reign

 

By CHRIS BASCOMBE, 24/01/2009

 

LIVERPOOL were reeling from a £1billion blow last night when the Kuwaiti consortium pulled OUT of negotiations to buy the club.

 

Anfield chiefs had been in talks with billionaire (above) but were stunned last night when the Arabs walked away.

 

It was a body blow to co-owner Tom Hicks, who had been at the forefront of bringing the Kuwaitis to the table.

 

He’d dispatched Liverpool finance director Phillip Nash, and his Dallas negotiating team of Roy Bailey and Casey Coffman to secure the deal in talks held in Kuwait and London with the world’s 48th richest man.

Bidders

 

Al-Kharafi is reported to be worth as much as £11bn, but he called off talks over the price and due to Hicks’ demands.

 

Hicks valued the club at £600m, as much as £200m more than the Kuwaitis were prepared to pay. The new owners would also have had to stump up £400m for a new ground.The Texan also wanted to retain at least a 25 per cent share in the club.

 

That was a prospect rejected not only by the Kuwaitis, who insisted on full control at Anfield, but also by Kop co-owner George Gillett Jr.

 

Gillett Jr, who is in talks with FIVE rival bidders, made it clear he would not sell the club unless Hicks was run out of town too.

 

A source close to the Kuwaiti group said: “It is absolutely definite, there will be no bid from the Kharifi camp. Any interest is now over.”

 

The Anfield civil war is now in the midst of an explosive endgame, with the latest developments seriously undermining Hicks’ chances of staying at Liverpool.

 

After a period of relative calm, the co-owners are at loggerheads again, with both fully aware the clock is ticking and they must find investment before a summer refinancing deadline. Their uneasy truce was shattered when Gillett discovered Hicks had arranged private meetings with representatives of the al-Kharafi family.

 

Gillett, who owns 50 per cent of Liverpool, is prepared to sell 100 per cent of the club to the right bidder, but is adamant no deal will be agreed which keep Hicks at Anfield.

 

His message to all interested parties is simple: “I’ll go, but only if Hicks comes with me.”

 

Hicks is desperate to force his rival out first, and has been using his support of manager Rafa Benitez to promote his chances of survival.

 

On the back of the manager’s hardline stance on a new contract, Hicks is trading on what he perceives as Benitez’s popularity among Liverpool fans and Rafa’s distrust of Gillett and chief executive Rick Parry.

 

He’s offering himself to investors as the man who can convince Rafa to stay at the club.

 

But he can do nothing without Gillett’s agreement. And, thanks to the bitterness between the co-owners, the chances of a smooth sale of Liverpool now appears remote.

 

The only scenario which can be ruled out is both Hicks and Gillett keeping a joint controlling interest in the club.

 

An Anfield source told Sport of the World: “George is frustrated because he’s happy to sell for the good of the club, but not if it means Tom keeps a stake. A deal can be done for 100 per cent ownership with one of the five interested parties currently in negotiations — if Tom agrees to sell too. The real obstacle is Tom’s unwillingness to walk away from the club. George is fearful Liverpool will make a big mistake if they allow Tom to remain in some form of management role.

 

“He appreciates the fans want them both out, and is saddened by how it’s gone over the last 18 months, but he doesn’t want things to be any worse by walking away and leaving Tom at the club.

Pivotal

 

“If George gets the impression the fans would really accept a situation where he goes and Tom stays, he may change his position but at the moment he is sure that’s not the case.”

 

Gillett also insists he is under no immediate pressure to sell his 50 per cent shareholding and will go out of his way to thwart a bid by Hicks to retain any stake in Anfield.

 

Yet again, Liverpool are left in a sorry mess behind the scenes during a pivotal point in their season.

 

The Kop will be in a rage that a campaign which was progressing so promisingly on the field is in danger of being completely overshadowed by fighting in the boardroom.

 

Last year, it was Hicks’ refusal to surrender total control to Dubai International Capital which contributed to the collapse of talks.

 

As now, Gillett was more willing to walk away from the club on the condition Hicks left with him.

 

Hicks and Gillett will attend next week’s Anfield clash with Chelsea. They will sit in the directors box — just yards from each other, but miles apart in their views of the club.

 

ARABS PULL OUT OF ANFIELD TAKEOVER | Sport | News Of The World

[Dan Vito Corleone]

Whooo boy.....

[King Emlyn]

So we're not being taken over by the Arabs?.................Didn't see that one coming.

[ToxtethTerror]

I think Hicks has it right; worra guy - his opening pitch is "we want you to give us £600m for a club we bought for £218m two years, and we oh we want to retain 25% each. In addition we want full say on footballing matters so you stand in the corner and shut the fuck up until you're paying £400m for a new stadium that is"... the Arabs known for being pushed around in the world of business just can't resist ... oh wait.

[Harry Squatter]

114 pages of dead spunk on the horizon then....

[Harry Squatter]

The lazy thick twats are deluded as well.

 

"Lets buy a football club for 220M, we'll put none of our money in, borrow off banks and pretend to buy some of the worlds top players whilst putting the debt on the club and never investing a penny of their own money or progressing the club in any way. We'll stay away for the majority of the season, leave the club to run itself and bitch every now and again through the press. When we get bored of it we'll flog it to some camel jockeys for 600M jobs a goodun". They wonder why the fans hate them.

[King Emlyn]

The lazy thick twats are deluded as well.

 

"Lets buy a football club for 220M, we'll put none of our money in, borrow off banks and pretend to buy some of the worlds top players whilst putting the debt on the club and never investing a penny of their own money or progressing the club in any way. We'll stay away for the majority of the season, leave the club to run itself and bitch every now and again through the press. When we get bored of it we'll flog it to some camel jockeys for 600M jobs a goodun". They wonder why the fans hate them.

 

Do the fans hate them though? On internet sites for sure, but in the big outside world apathy rules.

[liver bird]

How can Hicks think anyone will pay over the odds right now, as well as allow him to keep a minority share in the club when they could pick up the entire club from the bargain bin in a few months time? it makes so little sense that the only thing I can believe is that hicks and gillett are absolutely desperate to sell but are still trying to maintain a cover through their PR agencies that they aren't as deserate as we all actually know they are right now to keep some semblance of a price/profit going for them.

 

Their sheer desperation, the time constraints now in place as the clock ticks down, their misjudgement, greed and unwillingness to sell before now will cost this club dear.

 

The most interesting aspect of the whole piece was the Rafa and Hicks combo that some people have been banging the drum about for ages now, keep Rafa and keep Hicks? to think Hicks could be using his support and alliance with Rafa as a selling point to kick Gillett out of the club so he can keep a foot in the door makes me sick, they all do, bored of it now, can't they all just fuck off .

 

We are everything I used to laugh about at other clubs, we are a comedy club, the fact that there is so many distractions in a season where the mancs will finally (I believe) equal our league record is ridiculous.

 

Can't believe this is what this club has been reduced too.

[sir roger]

The lazy thick twats are deluded as well.

 

"Lets buy a football club for 220M, we'll put none of our money in, borrow off banks and pretend to buy some of the worlds top players whilst putting the debt on the club and never investing a penny of their own money or progressing the club in any way. We'll stay away for the majority of the season, leave the club to run itself and bitch every now and again through the press. When we get bored of it we'll flog it to some camel jockeys for 600M jobs a goodun". They wonder why the fans hate them.

 

Doctor , How did you get hold of their mission statement ?

[Harry Squatter]

Do the fans hate them though? On internet sites for sure, but in the big outside world apathy rules.

I know what you mean, i was moaning about them the other day to some lad who hasn't gone the game for 7 years and he said "why are you moaning, they put up the money for Torres, Babel and Keane and we were top of the league until a week ago?"

[Harry Squatter]

Doctor , How did you get hold of their mission statement ?

 

I am banging Amamnda Staveley and she showed me the documents in between sessions.

[Harry Squatter]

How can Hicks think anyone will pay over the odds right now, as well as allow him to keep a minority share in the club when they could pick up the entire club from the bargain bin in a few months time? it makes so little sense that the only thing I can believe is that hicks and gillett are absolutely desperate to sell but are still trying to maintain a cover through their PR agencies that they aren't as deserate as we all actually know they are right now to keep some semblance of a price/profit going for them.

 

Their sheer desperation, the time constraints now in place as the clock ticks down, their misjudgement, greed and unwillingness to sell before now will cost this club dear.

 

The most interesting aspect of the whole piece was the Rafa and Hicks combo that some people have been banging the drum about for ages now, keep Rafa and keep Hicks? to think Hicks could be using his support and alliance with Rafa as a selling point to kick Gillett out of the club so he can keep a foot in the door makes me sick, they all do, bored of it now, can't they all just fuck off .

 

We are everything I used to laugh about at other clubs, we are a comedy club, the fact that there is so many distractions in a season where the mancs will finally (I believe) equal our league record is ridiculous.

 

Can't believe this is what this club has been reduced too.

 

I know mate, we are all frustrated, none of us could have ever thought that these two shitheads would be as bad as they have been. It's depressing that once more we are our own worst enemy and the Mancs will profit from our incompetence.

[Captain]

The lazy thick twats are deluded as well.

 

"Lets buy a football club for 220M, we'll put none of our money in, borrow off banks and pretend to buy some of the worlds top players whilst putting the debt on the club and never investing a penny of their own money or progressing the club in any way. We'll stay away for the majority of the season, leave the club to run itself and bitch every now and again through the press. When we get bored of it we'll flog it to some camel jockeys for 600M jobs a goodun". They wonder why the fans hate them.

 

I wonder how DIC feel today about walking away from us back then? After all, they could easily have upped their offer and we still would have been a fucking bargain for them.

[Antynwa]

I'm confused.

 

Why the hell aren't they selling up if they can't make a profit when the banks call the loans in?

 

Either they have a very cunning plan, or they are very stupid (Which they aren't)

 

I'm worried.

[billybonzo]

The're playing a very dangerous game of brinkmanship by the looks of it.

[coop]

I wonder how DIC feel today about walking away from us back then? After all, they could easily have upped their offer and we still would have been a fucking bargain for them.

 

Wind back abit there mate.

 

How do DIC feel.

 

How about how does Parry feel for refusing to talk to DIC whilst he was too busy stalling because he had been told by George Gillett that he was coming back with a partner Tom Hicks.

 

How does Moores feel for letting Gillett and Hicks in without doing any kind of background check on Hicks because he trusted his word that he was going to do good for the club.

 

Moores sleeps soundly at night in his bid house with his extra millions made from selling Liverpool and Parry sleeps soundly looking at the window at his nice new shiny car he got as a bonus for selling the club and he managed to keep his job something he wouldnt have done under DIC.

 

Should DIC have upped their bid, yes i would have hoped they would but after agreeing a fee with both Moores and Parry and making plans that weekend to come over and do the press conference they knew exactly what Parry was playing at and therefore their interest ended.

[Captain]

You kinda misread that post of mine completely, Coop.

[coop]

You kinda misread that post of mine completely, Coop.

 

Sorry mate.

 

Do you mean because it will now cost them more.

[Captain]

I meant it as an honest question: I wonder if they regret not upping their offer and buying us instead of walking away?

 

I don't even know if they're still interested, but if they are then it's pretty clear the price is going to be a lot steeper this time around.

[Catch22]

Wind back abit there mate.

 

How do DIC feel.

 

How about how does Parry feel for refusing to talk to DIC whilst he was too busy stalling because he had been told by George Gillett that he was coming back with a partner Tom Hicks.

 

How does Moores feel for letting Gillett and Hicks in without doing any kind of background check on Hicks because he trusted his word that he was going to do good for the club.

 

Moores sleeps soundly at night in his bid house with his extra millions made from selling Liverpool and Parry sleeps soundly looking at the window at his nice new shiny car he got as a bonus for selling the club and he managed to keep his job something he wouldnt have done under DIC.

 

Should DIC have upped their bid, yes i would have hoped they would but after agreeing a fee with both Moores and Parry and making plans that weekend to come over and do the press conference they knew exactly what Parry was playing at and therefore their interest ended.

 

 

DIC should feel humiliated & defeated because that is what they were.

 

Parry stalled because he was offered cash & to remain in his job.

Why did DIC not offer him more cash? £3m severance should have done it.

 

Moores stalled beacuse he got extra cash & kept his vanity titles.

Why did DIC not offer a little bit more cash & the vanity titles which mean nothing anyway?

 

DIC are meant to be international M&A experts.

But in the last paragraph you say they were out-witted by Parry.

 

The vast majority of M&A deals have these sort of sweetners in but suddenly they are a surprise to DIC?

 

The only justification for not using a few extra quid to grease the wheel of the deal is if the price is already at full value.

It clearly wasn't even close to it as our value has stayed the same in the middle of the biggest crash for 70 years.

 

DIC cocked it up pure & simple.