The Takeover Thread - Recon Group - NOW WITH NEW POLL

[Dante Lavelli]

I would assume that the books could and would be checked electronically but just like you wouldn't buy a house solely off rightmove as part of your due dilegence you'd probably want to see the place with your own eyes too. See what the neighbours were like etc.

Sadly the fact that they've been here a week and no-one has seen than on the tour of VP suggests they were here for other reasons.

[mattjpa]

Was there any more info on those two planes that trees spotted a week or so ago and everyone was getting excited about ?

Someone was trying to convince me on here that one belonged to the new owners and the other the lawyers, to good a coincidence not to be true that they were both there at the same time

I remained unconvinced

One left after three days, the one belonging to the law firm left at 7.50 this morning.

But why would any potential buyer fly to Brum complete with his lawyers when the bloke selling is in New York?
It don't make sense.

If the lawyers are doing the due dilligence, then I'd expect them to be in Bham, because I'd guess all the books etc. they have to check concerning Aston Villa are in B6 or VP. I'm not saying it's certainly Rich and his possible consortium, but he said it couple years ago that he's not interested in PL...it is possible that he has changed his mind since then.

I don't get it why people in here are so adamant that there's no deal in place or being done, god, Villa fans are even more miserable pessimistic basta...geezers than we finns are, and that really takes some doing :D.

If they're looking at the books I would expect them to be wherever their offices are, with the books in electronic form in front of them.

Exactly. This notion that anything would be done at B6 is very old world. Buying a business accountants and solicitors work from their offices with the electronic details.

I did a management negotiation course recently which involved trying to strike a deal between two companies. Without going into detail it highlighted the difficulty of trying to complete a deal via the telephone and email when finances (ie the clubs value) are subjective. We were only able to complete once a face to face meeting was set up.

[silhillvilla]

Merrill Lynch will surely have all the info on the club. You don't need to fly to Birmingham at all.

[Jarpie]

I would assume that the books could and would be checked electronically but just like you wouldn't buy a house solely off rightmove as part of your due dilegence you'd probably want to see the place with your own eyes too. See what the neighbours were like etc.

Sadly the fact that they've been here a week and no-one has seen than on the tour of VP suggests they were here for other reasons.

Seen what on tours? I don't think they wear big placards around their necks with text "Lawyer from USA". I don't think random people on tours could tell a difference someone working for Villa and lawyer if both are wearing dress-shirt or suit and tie.

They might not be in bham for Villa but I'm willing to keep open mind.

[Jarpie]

Merrill Lynch will surely have all the info on the club. You don't need to fly to Birmingham at all.

You don't think the buyer's lawyers would want to see VP and B6, and everything about Villa by their own eyes and talk to people face-to-face before they strike the deal so they're not getting screwed?

When you buy a house, you're gonna go through it first to see it by yourself and get moist-tests etc. done so there wouldn't be any surprises.

They want to do the same with Villa, if B6 and Villa Park is valued...say 50 million altogether in the deal, they want to see them to make sure they're not overvalued in the books they've been given.

[silhillvilla]

Merrill Lynch will surely have all the info on the club. You don't need to fly to Birmingham at all.

You don't think the buyer's lawyers would want to see VP and B6, and everything about Villa by their own eyes and talk to people face-to-face before they strike the deal so they're not getting screwed?

When you buy a house, you're gonna go through it first to see it by yourself and get moist-tests etc. done so there wouldn't be any surprises.

They want to do the same with Villa, if B6 and Villa Park is valued...say 50 million altogether in the deal, they want to see them to make sure they're not overvalued in the books they've been given.

Google maps Streetview ?

[john2710]

Sadly the fact that they've been here a week and no-one has seen than on the tour of VP suggests they were here for other reasons.

Perhaps they're here to buy the Blues? He said he'd never buy a Premier League club?

[mr underhill]

I think trying to persuade anyone to part with £200m without physically seeing what they are buying is impossible.

[Dante Lavelli]

Merrill Lynch will surely have all the info on the club. You don't need to fly to Birmingham at all.

You don't think the buyer's lawyers would want to see VP and B6, and everything about Villa by their own eyes and talk to people face-to-face before they strike the deal so they're not getting screwed?

When you buy a house, you're gonna go through it first to see it by yourself and get moist-tests etc. done so there wouldn't be any surprises.

They want to do the same with Villa, if B6 and Villa Park is valued...say 50 million altogether in the deal, they want to see them to make sure they're not overvalued in the books they've been given.

Google maps Streetview ?

Not a chance. We're talking a £200m deal here, the cost of sending a team over to inspect the properties properly is peanuts by comparison.

I'm not saying that they're here for that reason but I'd be worried about their commitment/methods if they were happy to buy an asset of £200m off the internet.

[dave.woodhall]

Merrill Lynch will surely have all the info on the club. You don't need to fly to Birmingham at all.

You don't think the buyer's lawyers would want to see VP and B6, and everything about Villa by their own eyes and talk to people face-to-face before they strike the deal so they're not getting screwed?

When you buy a house, you're gonna go through it first to see it by yourself and get moist-tests etc. done so there wouldn't be any surprises.

They want to do the same with Villa, if B6 and Villa Park is valued...say 50 million altogether in the deal, they want to see them to make sure they're not overvalued in the books they've been given.

Google maps Streetview ?

Not a chance. We're talking a £200m deal here, the cost of sending a team over to inspect the properties properly is peanuts by comparison.

I'm not saying that they're here for that reason but I'd be worried about their commitment/methods if they were happy to buy an asset of £200m off the internet.

It's a business investment. The only thing that matters to them is whether the figures add up.

[olaftab]

However some, probably most,  self made Zillionaires  do like to do things by instinct as well after getting the right feel for the deal.

[Russ aka Big Nose]

Merrill Lynch will surely have all the info on the club. You don't need to fly to Birmingham at all.

You don't think the buyer's lawyers would want to see VP and B6, and everything about Villa by their own eyes and talk to people face-to-face before they strike the deal so they're not getting screwed?

When you buy a house, you're gonna go through it first to see it by yourself and get moist-tests etc. done so there wouldn't be any surprises.

They want to do the same with Villa, if B6 and Villa Park is valued...say 50 million altogether in the deal, they want to see them to make sure they're not overvalued in the books they've been given.

Google maps Streetview ?

Not a chance. We're talking a £200m deal here, the cost of sending a team over to inspect the properties properly is peanuts by comparison.

I'm not saying that they're here for that reason but I'd be worried about their commitment/methods if they were happy to buy an asset of £200m off the internet.

It's a business investment. The only thing that matters to them is whether the figures add up.

One way the figures sometimes fail to add up is when the physical assets (VP, BMH etc.) do not match the book value attributed to them - not suggesting dodgy accounting at Villa, but for a deal of this value a trusted advisor would be sent to have a look and get a feel for the place, people etc.

Also, if (big if) a deal is being seriously considered then, I imagine, someone trusted would be sent to check on the senior team at Villa - questions like will they want to work with Paul F? and others, what are the immediate areas of operation to address? etc.

None of this means a deal is close, just that in my view, if someone is actively negotiating then they would have people on the ground - it's happened in all the mergers/acquisitions I've been close to through work.

[ktvillan]

Was there any more info on those two planes that trees spotted a week or so ago and everyone was getting excited about ?

Someone was trying to convince me on here that one belonged to the new owners and the other the lawyers, to good a coincidence not to be true that they were both there at the same time

I remained unconvinced

One left after three days, the one belonging to the law firm left at 7.50 this morning.

But why would any potential buyer fly to Brum complete with his lawyers when the bloke selling is in New York?
It don't make sense.

If the lawyers are doing the due dilligence, then I'd expect them to be in Bham, because I'd guess all the books etc. they have to check concerning Aston Villa are in B6 or VP. I'm not saying it's certainly Rich and his possible consortium, but he said it couple years ago that he's not interested in PL...it is possible that he has changed his mind since then.

I don't get it why people in here are so adamant that there's no deal in place or being done, god, Villa fans are even more miserable pessimistic basta...geezers than we finns are, and that really takes some doing .

If they're looking at the books I would expect them to be wherever their offices are, with the books in electronic form in front of them.

Exactly. This notion that anything would be done at B6 is very old world. Buying a business accountants and solicitors work from their offices with the electronic details.

Due diligence sometimes involves physical verification of assets. Not that easy to do electronically.

[RossLeach]

Due diligence sometimes involves physical verification of assets. Not that easy to do electronically.

'...and finally, one replica Intertoto Cup: check'

[godzvilla]

Sadly the fact that they've been here a week and no-one has seen than on the tour of VP suggests they were here for other reasons.

Perhaps they're here to buy the Blues? He said he'd never buy a Premier League club?

Apparently Bloose takeover is imminent ..................Godzvilla!

"Birmingham City's parent company Birmingham International Holdings (BIHL) have today announced to the stock exchange a halt to trading in shares ahead of a 'price sensitive' announcement.

Trading was suspended at 0855 HKT (1.55am) ahead of the news which will affect the way the company is run.

It's likely that news of a potential takeover could be announced shortly with the identity of the preferred bidder being released "