Hicks "wants to sell up"

[Guest]

Parry seems quick to deny this story it's just a shame there were no such denials about Rafas job being on the line.

For the record I don't like Hicks and would be more than happy if he went.

His job description now run: 'PR Officer'.

They got rid of Dot Cotton.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

So we are losing the guy with all the money???

I hope Gillett finds a new partner with lots of money cause reading many thinks it seems Gillett is tight as fook with his money so i hope things change.

Although the way Hicks has acted its as well he's going

[Griswald]

The rest of the Echo article reads....

The report claimed that Hicks had placed a staggering guide valuation of £1billion on the Reds, and that the Dubai International Capital group - who were set to buy the club before the deal collapsed in acrimony - were considering a new bid.

But Anfield supremo Parry, who is in regular contact with the co-owners, insists the story is new to him.

The Americans are currently understood to be working on a £500m refinancing package to fund the new Anfield stadium and and refinance the £298m they borrowed from the Royal Bank of Scotland to buy the club this year.

There have been fears that the duo, who claimed to have “purchased the club with no debt on the club,” could sink the Reds into debt depending on the level of their own personal fortune sunk into the refinancing deal.

The Americans originally took over the club with a loan scheduled to be repaid by 2009.

They always intended to refinance, but a worldwide credit crunch means the terms they are refinancing under are likely to be worse than those received from the RBS.

A £500m loan is 16 times Liverpool’s operating profits for 2007, which are expected to be about £30m thanks to the Champions League run last season.

Manchester United’s level of debt is only eight times their operating profit, but the Americans believe the new stadium plan will very quickly become self-financing.
Arsenal’s move to the Emirates Stadium raised turnover from £37m in 2006 to £200m in 2007 and doubled their matchday revenue from £44.1m to £90.6m over the same period.

But in order to replicate that success, the Reds must maintain money-spinning Champions League progress in the short term.

Meanwhile Pepe Reina today called on the Reds to forget about their European exploits and to prepare for the physical challenge which will be posed by Bolton at the weekend.

He said: He said: “The dressing room is very confident because we are in a good moment.

“It is extremely important for us to keep winning and on Sunday we have a difficult game against a physical team so we have to prepare well for that.”


It is clear...

1) That G&H have been adversely affected by the recent credit crunch which has seen corporate borrowing costs skyrocket
2) Accordingly, failure to make the next round of the Champions League will dent our finances and lead to...
3) Reduced transfer funds. This is why G&H will not commit January funds until they know for sure we are through. Hence the Mid December meeting. And...
4) of course this is source of friction between Rafa & G&H
5) When I saw the numbers above showing how much LFC is leveraged I was shocked. G&H make the Glaziers look like generous benefactors...
6) Tell me does anyone else read the 'must maintain money-spinning Champions League progress' comment and not think of Peter Risdale?
7) In light of the declining economics of the Liverpool deal, it wouldn't surprise me if one or two of our current American owners are looking for an escape route. There is no smoke whithout fire.

Just my thoughts.

[JRG]

Just a few points to consider.

1. Why would hicks want to get out now after the new owners have put in investment that will increase the value of their shares by strengthening the balance sheet?

2. Who in their right mind would attempt to sell that value of shares when there is a major credit crunch making the use of debt to finance the acquisition very difficult and considerably more expensive than it is likely to be in a few years time?

3. As a businessman buying out a succesful business, why would hicks or Gillett consider getting rid of the company's most prized asset, the manager, who has been responsible for the rise in the brand value and hence the overall value of the club?

Please note the sensationalist tabloid journalism is no substitute for industry experience, an accounting qualification an MBA and a little common sense. These clowns put two and two together to make ****e.

[Tee]

The rest of the Echo article reads....

The report claimed that Hicks had placed a staggering guide valuation of £1billion on the Reds, and that the Dubai International Capital group - who were set to buy the club before the deal collapsed in acrimony - were considering a new bid.

But Anfield supremo Parry, who is in regular contact with the co-owners, insists the story is new to him.

The Americans are currently understood to be working on a £500m refinancing package to fund the new Anfield stadium and and refinance the £298m they borrowed from the Royal Bank of Scotland to buy the club this year.

There have been fears that the duo, who claimed to have “purchased the club with no debt on the club,” could sink the Reds into debt depending on the level of their own personal fortune sunk into the refinancing deal.

The Americans originally took over the club with a loan scheduled to be repaid by 2009.

They always intended to refinance, but a worldwide credit crunch means the terms they are refinancing under are likely to be worse than those received from the RBS.

A £500m loan is 16 times Liverpool’s operating profits for 2007, which are expected to be about £30m thanks to the Champions League run last season.

Manchester United’s level of debt is only eight times their operating profit, but the Americans believe the new stadium plan will very quickly become self-financing.
Arsenal’s move to the Emirates Stadium raised turnover from £37m in 2006 to £200m in 2007 and doubled their matchday revenue from £44.1m to £90.6m over the same period.

But in order to replicate that success, the Reds must maintain money-spinning Champions League progress in the short term.

Meanwhile Pepe Reina today called on the Reds to forget about their European exploits and to prepare for the physical challenge which will be posed by Bolton at the weekend.

He said: He said: “The dressing room is very confident because we are in a good moment.

“It is extremely important for us to keep winning and on Sunday we have a difficult game against a physical team so we have to prepare well for that.”


It is clear...

1) That G&H have been adversely affected by the recent credit crunch which has seen corporate borrowing costs skyrocket
2) Accordingly, failure to make the next round of the Champions League will dent our finances and lead to...
3) Reduced transfer funds. This is why G&H will not commit January funds until they know for sure we are through. Hence the Mid December meeting. And...
4) of course this is source of friction between Rafa & G&H
5) When I saw the numbers above showing how much LFC is leveraged I was shocked. G&H make the Glaziers look like generous benefactors...
6) Tell me does anyone else read the 'must maintain money-spinning Champions League progress' comment and not think of Peter Risdale?
7) In light of the declining economics of the Liverpool deal, it wouldn't surprise me if one or two of our current American owners are looking for an escape route. There is no smoke whithout fire.

Just my thoughts.

Smoke machines - ask The Glove

[Dhav]

Parry seems quick to deny this story it's just a shame there were no such denials about Rafas job being on the line.

Is what I've been saying all along.

[AFII]

But Anfield supremo Parry, who is in regular contact with the co-owners, insists the story is new to him.

Maybe he could tell Rafa what they are telling him, then it wouldn't need to be any misunderstandings.

[carlton]

Hicks is a leveraged buy out master which is why funding is takeing so long as he doesnt want to sink any of his own equity into the refinance and is looking for the most favourable terms. Interest rates in the states are in all liklihood to be cut again soon as the Govt wants to keep the money markets liquid.In these type of deals debt is generally the smarter thing to do than equity because of things like tax incentives.

LFC is an extremely safe investment given the popularity of the EPL worldwide thats why there are so many investors lurking round the biiger clubs at the moment. Dont expect the new stadium to be quiet in the off season, the yanks will ring every conceivable penny and pound out of it and given the regeneration of the whole area I guess there could be quite a lot of activity there. Gillette owns the worlds 6th bigggest entertainment group alledgedly so Im sure he is thinking of how to make the best use of the new assett

As the EPL grows in popularity so does the value of the brand.If H&G ever want to sell there will not be a shortage of buyers because LFC is current and future potential is gi-normous. Its possibly even undervalued at the moment and the yanks got us for a very good price given the untapped potential of the Asian and Latin American markets.

Another thing not going in their favour is the exchange rate but they are going to be earning in sterling and who knows what will happen in the future. One would expect the the US economy will rebound it usually does.

Having said all that if they sold up-good. I dont think yanks get football.

[The_weatherman]

Hicks is a leveraged buy out master which is why funding is takeing so long as he doesnt want to sink any of his own equity into the refinance and is looking for the most favourable terms. Interest rates in the states are in all liklihood to be cut again soon as the Govt wants to keep the money markets liquid.In these type of deals debt is generally the smarter thing to do than equity because of things like tax incentives.

LFC is an extremely safe investment given the popularity of the EPL worldwide thats why there are so many investors lurking round the biiger clubs at the moment. Dont expect the new stadium to be quiet in the off season, the yanks will ring every conceivable penny and pound out of it and given the regeneration of the whole area I guess there could be quite a lot of activity there. Gillette owns the worlds 6th bigggest entertainment group alledgedly so Im sure he is thinking of how to make the best use of the new assett

As the EPL grows in popularity so does the value of the brand.If H&G ever want to sell there will not be a shortage of buyers because LFC is current and future potential is gi-normous. Its possibly even undervalued at the moment and the yanks got us for a very good price given the untapped potential of the Asian and Latin American markets.

Another thing not going in their favour is the exchange rate but they are going to be earning in sterling and who knows what will happen in the future. One would expect the the US economy will rebound it usually does.
Having said all that if they sold up-good. I dont think yanks get football.

Let's hope the dollar doesn't get any ideas then, it's probably good for them to have the income in sterling and the interes in dollars right?

[Griswald]

Hicks is a leveraged buy out master which is why funding is takeing so long as he doesnt want to sink any of his own equity into the refinance and is looking for the most favourable terms. Interest rates in the states are in all liklihood to be cut again soon as the Govt wants to keep the money markets liquid.In these type of deals debt is generally the smarter thing to do than equity because of things like tax incentives.

LFC is an extremely safe investment given the popularity of the EPL worldwide thats why there are so many investors lurking round the biiger clubs at the moment. Dont expect the new stadium to be quiet in the off season, the yanks will ring every conceivable penny and pound out of it and given the regeneration of the whole area I guess there could be quite a lot of activity there. Gillette owns the worlds 6th bigggest entertainment group alledgedly so Im sure he is thinking of how to make the best use of the new assett

As the EPL grows in popularity so does the value of the brand.If H&G ever want to sell there will not be a shortage of buyers because LFC is current and future potential is gi-normous. Its possibly even undervalued at the moment and the yanks got us for a very good price given the untapped potential of the Asian and Latin American markets.

Another thing not going in their favour is the exchange rate but they are going to be earning in sterling and who knows what will happen in the future. One would expect the the US economy will rebound it usually does.

Having said all that if they sold up-good. I dont think yanks get football.



Remember there is a difference between the rates the central banks set and the rate at which corporates can borrow. In Japan in the 1990s rates were near zero but corporate and home loans were double digit as banks were reluctant to lend due to poor economic outlook. This is what we are heading for in the West: rate cuts from CBs but banks won't lend and people become reluctant to take on more debt. Credit growth contracts and the econony goes into a tailspin.

[Rocket]

Please note the sensationalist tabloid journalism is no substitute for industry experience, an accounting qualification an MBA and a little common sense. These clowns put two and two together to make ****e.

yes fella, i agree.

alot of the takeover stories would be alot more credible if they were written by the business section of the broadsheets rather than the sports section of the tabloids

[Colemere]

Liverpool dismiss claim Tom Hicks is set to sell outNov 30 2007

by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL today emphatically denied reports that co-owner Tom Hicks is looking to sell his shares.

A report claimed that Hicks was preparing an exit strategy, just nine months after joining business partner George Gillett in a £298m takeover.

Chief executive Rick Parry said: “I have seen the story, and as far as I am aware it is complete rubbish.”

consdering parry isn't even aware that his shirts rarely match his tie, i'm not taking that as a complete denial to be honest

So it's probably true then

[Tee]

As if Hicks would consult Parry about this!! If he were looking for a way out, his 'people' would already be on the case.

[Sir Bob]

The rest of the Echo article reads....

The report claimed that Hicks had placed a staggering guide valuation of £1billion on the Reds, and that the Dubai International Capital group - who were set to buy the club before the deal collapsed in acrimony - were considering a new bid.

But Anfield supremo Parry, who is in regular contact with the co-owners, insists the story is new to him.

The Americans are currently understood to be working on a £500m refinancing package to fund the new Anfield stadium and and refinance the £298m they borrowed from the Royal Bank of Scotland to buy the club this year.

There have been fears that the duo, who claimed to have “purchased the club with no debt on the club,” could sink the Reds into debt depending on the level of their own personal fortune sunk into the refinancing deal.

The Americans originally took over the club with a loan scheduled to be repaid by 2009.

They always intended to refinance, but a worldwide credit crunch means the terms they are refinancing under are likely to be worse than those received from the RBS.

A £500m loan is 16 times Liverpool’s operating profits for 2007, which are expected to be about £30m thanks to the Champions League run last season.

Manchester United’s level of debt is only eight times their operating profit, but the Americans believe the new stadium plan will very quickly become self-financing.
Arsenal’s move to the Emirates Stadium raised turnover from £37m in 2006 to £200m in 2007 and doubled their matchday revenue from £44.1m to £90.6m over the same period.

But in order to replicate that success, the Reds must maintain money-spinning Champions League progress in the short term.

Meanwhile Pepe Reina today called on the Reds to forget about their European exploits and to prepare for the physical challenge which will be posed by Bolton at the weekend.

He said: He said: “The dressing room is very confident because we are in a good moment.

“It is extremely important for us to keep winning and on Sunday we have a difficult game against a physical team so we have to prepare well for that.”


It is clear...

1) That G&H have been adversely affected by the recent credit crunch which has seen corporate borrowing costs skyrocket
2) Accordingly, failure to make the next round of the Champions League will dent our finances and lead to...
3) Reduced transfer funds. This is why G&H will not commit January funds until they know for sure we are through. Hence the Mid December meeting. And...
4) of course this is source of friction between Rafa & G&H
5) When I saw the numbers above showing how much LFC is leveraged I was shocked. G&H make the Glaziers look like generous benefactors...
6) Tell me does anyone else read the 'must maintain money-spinning Champions League progress' comment and not think of Peter Risdale?
7) In light of the declining economics of the Liverpool deal, it wouldn't surprise me if one or two of our current American owners are looking for an escape route. There is no smoke whithout fire.

Just my thoughts.

Some great points mate.

As ever with these behind the scenes financial issues, they are extremely complex and very hard to judge.

It would make alot of sense to me if Hicks wanted out. The credit crunch in USA has had a massive impact worldwide. Financing the new stadium has become a major problem with costs going throughthe roof. Hicks may well consider the whole venture is becoming just too expensive with any return on his investment looking very long term. He may well be hoping DIC are still interested. Just because they didn't secure the club last time means nothing. They may well consider it to be still a very good investment opportunity.

Also Parry & Hicks have been very quick to deny the whole thing. People tend to be much quicker to deny things that are true than they are when theres no substance to it.

I'm no fan of Hicks but I see no difference between him, DIC, Kraft. they are all in it to make cash and will all do whatever they feel with give them the best return on their investment.

[dww]

While I think that there is a lot to be said for many of the arguments made I think there should be a ban on the phrase 'no smoke without fire' especially when talking about football runours. There are no end of stories that go around with little or no basis.