Friday 12 June 2009

Gillett receives bid for Montreal Canadiens

Liverpool FC owner George Gillett has received a takeover bid from Quebec’s Molson family for the National Hockey League’s Montreal Canadiens, reports today’s Echo. Gillett bought the Canadiens from brewer Molson Inc. in 2001 and it is believed they are seeking to regain control of the 24-time Stanley Cup champions.

Geoff Molson, a 38-year-old director of the Canadiens and Molson Coors Brewing Co., is leading the investor group, which also includes brothers Andrew and Justin. The family said in a statement today:

“We have assembled a very solid and credible group of investors and financial institutions as part of our offer,” Geoff Molson said in the statement. “We think our offer has all the ingredients to be well received by the potential seller and the National Hockey League.”
Molson said he looks forward to meeting with Gillett, though he declined to comment further on the offer, citing a confidentiality agreement.

The Mirror is also running the story and values the hockey team at “£200m”. It also claims Tom Hicks is “close to selling half his stake in the Texas Rangers baseball franchise” The Mirror article headed under the screaming headline: “Liverpool secure loan to refinance club and top players look safe” declares: “Liverpool's owners have secured a £350million loan to refinance the club, after pledging more funds for Anfield.” However the loan has not yet been re-financed and the same article admits this later by saying: “the pair have been told that the refinancing with the Royal Bank of Scotland and American bank Wachoiva is a formality.” The so called new deal will allow: “manager Rafa Benitez to resist a Spanish armada trying to tempt three of his top stars away from Anfield,” the story claims.

No comments:

Post a Comment