Guest sicko2ndbest Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Shepherd gives no comfort to United admirers FREDDY Shepherd last night warned any potential investors to forget about launching a takeover bid for Newcastle United. With Manchester City expected to become the next Premiership club to fall into foreign hands later this summer, speculation over Newcastle's financial future is continuing to mount. US hedge fund Polygon and Jersey-based investment group Belgravia have already opened formal takeover talks with the club, only to pull out of discussions before a formal bid was tabled. advertisementA number of other finanical institutions are believed to be eyeing Newcastle's position closely, and the club's share price has risen to a five-month high of 79.5p in anticipation of a potential future offer. But having recently appointed his fifth new manager since taking over from Sir John Hall in the late 1990s, Shepherd has insisted he has no intention of relinquishing his position at the head of Newcastle's board. The Magpies chairman currently holds a 29 per cent stake in the club and, with former chairman Sir John Hall controlling a 28.8 per cent stake, and his son, Douglas, holding a further 13 per cent, Shepherd has told any prospective investors that an attempt to launch a buy-out would be futile. "It's a plc matter so I can't say too much," said the Newcastle chief, who will meet with new manager Sam Allardyce later this week to discuss summer spending plans. "But none of the talks have come to anything for one simple reason - I'm not selling. "It's an impossible club to buy. If the Halls don't sell and I don't sell, there's no way anybody can buy this club. "The both of us need to agree to sell the club, otherwise nobody will ever get the 75 per cent that they need to buy it." Earlier this year, Shepherd challenged Sir John Hall to decide what he wanted his role in the club to be. Claiming that the continuing uncertainty was hampering his attempts to plan for the future, he urged his St James' Park predecessor to "stick or sell". Hall has refused to reply to Shepherd's comments publicly but, behind the scenes, moves are believed to be afoot that could eventually to lead to the latter purchasing the Halls' combined shareholding and assuming more than 70 per cent of the club's stock. "I can't comment on possibly buying the Halls' stake," was all that Shepherd would say yesterday, but discussions are expected to continue throughout the summer. In the meantime, the Newcastle chairman is determined to support Allardyce's plans as he attempts to overhaul a squad that failed to finish in the top half of the Premiership this season. The former Bolton boss is hoping to sign "four or five" players this summer, and one of his major priorities will be to ensure that Newcastle are a far stronger side on their travels next term. The Magpies lost 12 Premiership away games this season - three more than an Allardyce-led Bolton - and their brittleness on the road has proved costly for a number of years. Allardyce is hoping to oversee a significant improvement next season and, while he is aware of the need to entertain the Newcastle faithful, he insists that the priority must be to regain the habit of grinding out results. "If we can be undefeated at St James' then that will be a great start," he said. "But I think we will have to be a different team away from home. "We're here to entertain but, away from home, we have to travel with the attitude that we're going to win. "If that means spoiling the opposition then so be it - winning will be all that counts. "Winning and entertaining at the same time is great but, first and foremost, we have to win. I have to look at the players and assess which way we will set them up and find a combination that will suit them." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlufPurdi Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Nothing we didn't already know, no? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtype Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 oh God, I'm so positive these days that I can't even be bothered to hate Fat Fred when he says something like that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToonTastic Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Another party owning the Halls shares would surly cause Freddy problems though and could in a sense remove him from his position within the club therefore he would only be a shareholder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cronky Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Nothing we didn't already know, no? True. He's going to hold out and force the Halls to sell to him, regardless of whether there are people out there who can invest more money in the club. Sad because it's an opportunity of more investment that's going to be missed, and we'll slip further behind the top clubs. Sad because a bad Chairman who needs to take advice and listen more, will be given unrestricted power. Still, at least he's dropped the dishonest pretension that he didn't sell because the potential buyers were 'time-wasters'. He wasn't going to sell no matter what. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stozo Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Another party owning the Halls shares would surly cause Freddy problems though and could in a sense remove him from his position within the club therefore he would only be a shareholder. I'm sure Freddy would take measures to protect his position, like have Bruce or Kenny buy up some shares. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToonTastic Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 I'm sure if someone came in bought 41.8% of the shares and then went to the Chronicle and made a point that they want the club they would end up with more than 50% of the shares and could therefore have at least control over Freddy so much so that he may decide he has to sell ? I could be very wide of the mark though not sure how all this share dealing works. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnypd Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 I'm sure if someone came in bought 41.8% of the shares and then went to the Chronicle and made a point that they want the club they would end up with more than 50% of the shares and could therefore have at least control over Freddy so much so that he may decide he has to sell ? I could be very wide of the mark though not sure how all this share dealing works. yeah, they only need 75%+ to take the club private iirc. nothing to stop someone else coming in and buying the Halls shares or becoming majority shareholder. i think shepherd is coming out saying he'll never go/wants to buy up more shares because he is worried about the halls selling up and wants to frighten away potential investors by appearing intransigent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stozo Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 I'm sure if someone came in bought 41.8% of the shares and then went to the Chronicle and made a point that they want the club they would end up with more than 50% of the shares and could therefore have at least control over Freddy so much so that he may decide he has to sell ? I could be very wide of the mark though not sure how all this share dealing works. You can't buy more than 30% of the shares without launching a takeover bid. Then for any takeover bid to be successful Freddy would need to sell. That's why any takeover bid would be impossible without Freddy's support. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stozo Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 I'm sure if someone came in bought 41.8% of the shares and then went to the Chronicle and made a point that they want the club they would end up with more than 50% of the shares and could therefore have at least control over Freddy so much so that he may decide he has to sell ? I could be very wide of the mark though not sure how all this share dealing works. yeah, they only need 75%+ to take the club private iirc. nothing to stop someone else coming in and buying the Halls shares or becoming majority shareholder. i think shepherd is coming out saying he'll never go/wants to buy up more shares because he is worried about the halls selling up and wants to frighten away potential investors by appearing intransigent. You need 90% to take the club private. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 He's stated his postion, he's a businessman. The Allardyce move is a big step in the right direction and we can all feel it inc him. He would be mad to sell the club at this point when its value could easily increase by 40 or 50 percent in the next 5 years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnypd Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 I'm sure if someone came in bought 41.8% of the shares and then went to the Chronicle and made a point that they want the club they would end up with more than 50% of the shares and could therefore have at least control over Freddy so much so that he may decide he has to sell ? I could be very wide of the mark though not sure how all this share dealing works. yeah, they only need 75%+ to take the club private iirc. nothing to stop someone else coming in and buying the Halls shares or becoming majority shareholder. i think shepherd is coming out saying he'll never go/wants to buy up more shares because he is worried about the halls selling up and wants to frighten away potential investors by appearing intransigent. You need 90% to take the club private. pretty sure 90% is the level whereby you can force other stockholders to sell. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbeth Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 If anyone buys 25%, so not the 30% required to go for a full takeover, just 25%, and tried to install a new chairman then Shepherd can resign and demand two years wages. Same with Douglas Hall So someone buying a stake of 25% or more would also have to pay H&S £1m each. It's great when you can write your own contract. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NUFC06 Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Can someone tell me if Shepherd wants to buy Hall's shares some day from where he'll get so much money? How rich is he btw? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest devlin_adl Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 I'm sure if someone came in bought 41.8% of the shares and then went to the Chronicle and made a point that they want the club they would end up with more than 50% of the shares and could therefore have at least control over Freddy so much so that he may decide he has to sell ? I could be very wide of the mark though not sure how all this share dealing works. yeah, they only need 75%+ to take the club private iirc. nothing to stop someone else coming in and buying the Halls shares or becoming majority shareholder. i think shepherd is coming out saying he'll never go/wants to buy up more shares because he is worried about the halls selling up and wants to frighten away potential investors by appearing intransigent. You need 90% to take the club private. pretty sure 90% is the level whereby you can force other stockholders to sell. 50.1% gives you control of general meetings of shareholders. 75% allows you to take a company private. 90% allows you yo squeeze out the other shareholders. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
womblemaster Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 fredy might have to sell all his greggs shares to raise the dosh ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Monkey Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Can someone tell me if Shepherd wants to buy Hall's shares some day from where he'll get so much money? the bank? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NUFC06 Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Can someone tell me if Shepherd wants to buy Hall's shares some day from where he'll get so much money? the bank? He'll get a loan or what? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Can someone tell me if Shepherd wants to buy Hall's shares some day from where he'll get so much money? the bank? He'll get a loan or what? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitman Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Can someone tell me if Shepherd wants to buy Hall's shares some day from where he'll get so much money? the bank? He'll get a loan or what? Overdraft facility? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Can someone tell me if Shepherd wants to buy Hall's shares some day from where he'll get so much money? the bank? He'll get a loan or what? Overdraft facility? Nah cashpoint. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitman Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Can someone tell me if Shepherd wants to buy Hall's shares some day from where he'll get so much money? the bank? He'll get a loan or what? Overdraft facility? Nah cashpoint. He could flash his baps on Barrack Road while Bruce holds the bucket out to the motorists. Whip the money up in no time Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bonk Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Can someone tell me if Shepherd wants to buy Hall's shares some day from where he'll get so much money? the bank? He'll get a loan or what? Overdraft facility? Nah cashpoint. He could flash his baps on Barrack Road while Bruce holds the bucket out to the motorists. Whip the money up in no time Ahahaha.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Monkey Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Can someone tell me if Shepherd wants to buy Hall's shares some day from where he'll get so much money? the bank? He'll get a loan or what? Probably a second mortgage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Can someone tell me if Shepherd wants to buy Hall's shares some day from where he'll get so much money? the bank? He'll get a loan or what? Probably a second mortgage. Top up loan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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