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***Official Takeover Talk Thread***


Guest smoggeordie
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Guest stormrider

Newcastle confirm Polygon takeover bid

 

Newcastle today confirmed they have received a potential takeover approach from US hedge fund Polygon.

 

The club issued a statement to the Stock Exchange this afternoon confirming that St James' Park Group Limited, a consortium backed by Polygon Global Opportunities Master Fund, are among the parties currently in talks with shareholders.

 

Chairman Freddy Shepherd informed the company's members of the development during yesterday's annual general meeting, and today's announcement formalises that in line with Stock Exchange rules following fresh speculation.

 

The statement read: 'The board of Newcastle notes the press comment following yesterday's AGM and confirms that St James' Park Group Limited (a consortium backed by Polygon Global Opportunities Master Fund) is one of the parties that has made an approach to the board of Newcastle regarding a possible offer for Newcastle.

 

'The board wishes to reiterate that it has not accepted any proposals for the company from any party nor is any due diligence being conducted on the company.

 

'Therefore, there can be no certainty that an offer will be made, nor as to the terms on which any offer would be made. A further statement will be made as appropriate.'

 

Polygon have held a long-term interest in Newcastle, and a report last week stated they had made and had approved a £227million offer for the club in conjunction with the United Bank of Switzerland.

 

Shepherd was swift to deny that, and repeated the denial at yesterday's meeting.

 

A bullish chairman also again challenged potential investors - the club revealed talks with the Jersey-based investment group Belgravia back in August - to 'put up or shut up' after months of rumours.

 

Former chairman Sir John Hall, his son Douglas and Shepherd are the three major shareholders, between them controlling stakes amounting to around 70%.

 

However, while the Halls appear to be keen to sell out, the man who took over at the helm nine years ago has given the prospective buyers less encouragement.

 

Shepherd has previously admitted he could happily walk away if the club finally ended its 37-year search for a major trophy - this season's Intertoto Cup will not fulfil that requirement - and insists he would welcome a 'Geordie Abramovich' with open arms.

 

But a man who has ploughed millions into the club he supported as a boy retains great affection for it and for his hands-on, day-to-day involvement, which could prove difficult to relinquish.

 

The Belgravia Group maintain that their interest remains, despite playing down talk of an imminent bid last month, and confirmation of Polygon's approach will do little to calm speculation.

 

Fans are also growing weary of the repeated claims, and Frank Gilmour, of the Independent Newcastle United Supporters' Association, called for a decisive move one way or the other.

 

Gilmour said: 'It has been going on that long, you wonder if there is any truth in it.

 

'If they are going to make a bid, make it now or just leave it alone. All the speculation just affects the club.

 

'A lot of supporters would be happy to see the Halls disappear, but all the uncertainty is bound to affect the manager and the playing staff.

 

'The supporters will just go on exactly as they have done for years and years, just wanting somebody decent to come in a make the club successful.'

 

________

source: ESPN Soccernet

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=396835&cc=5739

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Newcastle confirm Polygon takeover bid

 

Newcastle today confirmed they have received a potential takeover approach from US hedge fund Polygon.

 

The club issued a statement to the Stock Exchange this afternoon confirming that St James' Park Group Limited, a consortium backed by Polygon Global Opportunities Master Fund, are among the parties currently in talks with shareholders.

 

 

aye just read in the mirror the group is called "St James' Park Group Limited". interesting coffee.gif

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Guest stormrider

I agree that this whole thing is stretching too far...

Please, either do it before the January transfer window or just leave us alone  blueupset.gif

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  • 3 weeks later...
Guest smoggeordie

Just released a statement on SSN saying that they're still very much interested in buying us and are "optimistic" that a deal can be made.

 

Couldn't be arsed looking for the takeover talk thread :lol:

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I'm curious as to whether the people who want us to be taken over by this lot are the same people who are complaining about our dealings in the transfer market?  If only they'd had a plan... bluecool.gif

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The Belgravia Group have revealed their determination to push forward with their interest in Newcastle United after seeing rivals Polygon opt out of making a bid for the Premiership side.

 

The St James' Park Group, backed by American investors Polygon, announced on Thursday that they were no longer interested in launching a takeover bid in the latest twist to the Magpies ownership saga.

 

With former chairman Sir John Hall and his son Douglas keen to sell their stake in the North East club though, Belgravia are still aiming to strike a deal that would see them take control on Tyneside.

 

"We are still in talks and are still hopeful of doing a deal," said a spokesman from the Belgravia group.

 

Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd has previously called for the ownership issue to be brought to a swift resolution, and Belgravia have claimed they are keen to complete a takeover before the end of the January transfer window.

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"Apparently FFS has spent a cak load of Newcastle UTDs money on this whole take over business. "

 

 

 

can u clarify that so it makes any sense plz.

 

why would william frederick shepherd being spending money on this?  If he has to travel about down to london then isnt this a legite expense?    I mean a takeover is in the long term interest of the plc....although i guess this is debatable )

 

hes the chairman and not just one of the major share holders.    if you are claiming hes using club money to try and market the plc for a takeover then surely this is very GOOD news; sounds like he wants out.!

 

what excatly are you accusing him of?

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The Belgravia Group is still hopeful of mouting a takeover bid for Newcastle after seeing rivals Polygon pull out of the race to buy the club.

Polygon-backed St James' Park Group announced it would not make an offer after talks with major shareholders.

 

But a spokseman for Jersey-based Belgravia said: "We are still in talks and are still hopeful of doing a deal."

 

Chairman Freddy Shepherd has admitted he is growing impatient with continuing takeover talk surrounding the club.

 

Former chairman Sir John Hall and his son Douglas are understood to be keen to sell their holding in the club, which amounts to in excess of 40%, but Shepherd has been less willing to relinquish his hold.

 

Shepherd has been critical of constant speculation about interested parties - particularly the suggestions emanating from the Belgravia camp which suggested in November that they would like to be in control before the January transfer window closes.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/6234899.stm

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Well, now they're the only bidders to the price will be lower...

 

Still be nice if we knew who was behind them. Finance groups don't go round buying football clubs because they think there's money in it. They go round buying them because someone is paying them to...

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Guest smoggeordie

Do you have to post a thread every time you read an article?

 

Can't you just discuss the topic instead of wanting to talk about something else?

 

:winking:

 

We are discussing the topic, in the TAKEOVER TALK thread.

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I fully expect the "Belgravia group" to be some sort of non-existant entity created by Fat Fred to toy with our minds.

 

Seriously, wth do they think they're doing? At this rate they'll be "interested" forever.

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