The Takeover Thread - Recon Group - NOW WITH NEW POLL

[Pat McMahon]

My friends in China haven't come up with too much so far - one (who I expected to be clued up) has never heard of him or the company and another was very negative about him. Am trying to get further information before I post more detail.

[cdward]

Teamax
http://www.txgis.com/

We are mentioned in their Group news section of the Teamax website
http://www.txgis.com/newsshow.asp?id=583

[Smirker]

He was interviewed by Midlands today - you don't learn much as I think his English isn't up to a proper interview. Could only find it on Facebook, I'm afraid but I think that link should work even if you don't have it yourself.

Edit: the general thrust of it is Di Mateo is a candidate but we have a team looking at options, will probably take two weeks and that he reckons 50 million will be the budget depending on what the manager's plans are.

https://www.facebook.com/midlandstoday/videos/10154165183099761/

He seems very nervous there. £50m seems a hell of a lot.

[Scott Nielsen]

My friends in China haven't come up with too much so far - one (who I expected to be clued up) has never heard of him or the company and another was very negative about him. Am trying to get further information before I post more detail.

That mirrors my experience so far. I have abused my company position terribly today by suggesting some tangible feedback on Tony Xia would likely result in immediately improved career-prospects but still no one (whether here in our Hong Kong or in any of our mainland offices) really knows who he is.

[chrisw1]

Hollis has spoken here: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/what-steve-hollis-thinks-aston-11356550

If Tony Xia can replicate the success he has achieved in China here in the Midlands, Aston Villa fans are in for something special.

That’s the message from departing chairman Steve Hollis who will leave once the takeover of the club is complete.

Hollis, who deserves a huge amount of credit for his part in getting a deal done, pending approval, said that Xia’s background is hugely impressive.

Over the last two decades he has worked closely with the government to help carry out a programme of moving a share of around 500 million people from rural to urban living.

“The reason we went with him is because of his background,” said Hollis.

“If you see what he has achieved in his business career, frankly it’s amazing.

MORE: Aston Villa LIVE: The latest news and reaction to the takeover

“He has been key to the development of over 60 cities in China,

“And when you look at the depth and breadth of the Recon Group, if he can replicate what he has achieved in China at Aston Villa, it will be transformational.

“That was one of the reasons why we and Randy Lerner himself is pleased he got it over the line.”

Whatever you think of Randy, Hollis is no mug and I doubt he will want his reputation tarnished by selling to a charlatan.  Whilst it's understandable that we are sceptical, I trust Hollis' ability to make this call over and above a few people with Google and a spare half hour.

[andyh]

http://birminghamupdates.com/post/144601009008/first-interview-with-chinese-businessman-dr-tony

Sorry, don't know if posted but Dr X speaks here

[Tuscans]

So far, Joe Bloggs hasn't found anything positive financially about this guy/group. Did Bernstein and King come to a disagreement with Lerner about the sale to this man or does Hollis firmly believe Xia is the right man to bring us success.

Interested to what isn't online for everyone to see that makes Hollis/ Lerner believe this is the best move.

[UK Redsox]

[Chico Hamilton III]

It's all a little depressing that so many people since the news have committed themselves to finding out as much information in order to debunk the validity of this takeover. Or constantly taking little jabs at the Chinese. It's all a bit of shame that this is what it has come to and there's only sprinklings of positivity about what pretty much everyone wanted.

Absolutely this.

You mean all these people who are interested in the man who's just bought our club? What I find depressing is that people are willing to accept the self-penned description of our new owner without challenging it. We did that with Lerner ( some people did it even more with Krulak - it was cringeworthy at times on here) so it's no surprise that people are trying to look at this new owner through a more critical lens. Nobody seems to know anything about him, which I find more than a bit worrying.   

[aj2k77]

So far, Joe Bloggs hasn't found anything positive financially about this guy/group. Did Bernstein and King come to a disagreement with Lerner about the sale to this man or does Hollis firmly believe Xia is the right man to bring us success.

Interested to what isn't online for everyone to see that makes Hollis/ Lerner believe this is the best move.

What Hollis says is online though, on RECON websites. It's not a claim made up with no evidence to suggest it's true.

The man himself, is more of an enigma, the companies though look legit.

[frank black]

Aston Villa "Lawn becomes Forrest"

[UK Redsox]

My friends in China haven't come up with too much so far - one (who I expected to be clued up) has never heard of him or the company and another was very negative about him. Am trying to get further information before I post more detail.

That mirrors my experience so far. I have abused my company position terribly today by suggesting some tangible feedback on Tony Xia would likely result in immediately improved career-prospects but still no one (whether here in our Hong Kong or in any of our mainland offices) really knows who he is.

Its Rex Lee playing a part

[damon loves JT]

It could be we worse: our owner could be called "Mike Poon". He could then disappear off the face of the earth following a corruption scandal during the multi-million pound sale of the club.

Fortunately Mike Poon was the one who was supposed to buying Toulouse Airport instead.

Departure of CEO fails to hold back finalisation of Toulouse Airport transaction It is useful to look first at what has happened at Toulouse Blagnac Airport since the last report. The Chinese consortium known as Symbiose created a French company, Casil Europe (China Airport Synergy Investment Limited). The sale was finalised in Jul-2015 despite a challenge to the transaction due to the disappearance of Mike Poon, the CEO of Casil (and of Friedmann Pacific Asset Management, one of the Symbiose partners, the other being Shandong High-Speed.
It was considered to be such a serious turn of events that French Prime Minister Manual Valls felt obliged to ‘calm nerves’ about it as the transaction was completed early in Jul-2015, insisting that Mr Poon had only “indirect links” with the project (he was however Chief Executive), which promised investment of EUR300 million in the airport. Mr Valls added that the government did not intend to exercise an option for the sale of its remaining 10.01%.

Mr Poon had stepped down from his position as CEO of China Aircraft Leasing in Jun-2015, bringing about a sharp reduction in the share price as he became uncontactable. 

Source

I bloody love the sound of Mike Poon.

[UK Redsox]

I suggest that we send our professional reporter over to China to find out what's going on.

[ChicagoLion]

At least we have not been bought by the other consortium headed by Ho Lee Fuk.