Sunday, April 23, 2006
From 2004: Paladini Investing in QPR
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From QPR1st via Dave's QPR - April 2004
http://www.queensparkrangersfc.com/newsnow/apr16.htm
Three investors circle QPR
from www.qpr1st.co.uk QPR1st has learnt that a third potential investor in QPR has emerged. In some respects this could be positive news if it means that people are beginning to see Rangers as a viable business proposition. However, there is still plenty of room to be cautious, since two have previously explored investing in QPR and have not yet gone through with it while the third has plenty of history elsewhere in the football world.The latest interested party to emerge is Gianni Paladini. This was reported in the Daily Express this morning but the story has subsequently been confirmed to QPR 1st by QPR chief executive David Davies. Davies stated that Paladini is looking to invest, rather than take a controlling stake.Gianni Paladini came very close to a majority buyout of Port Vale in December 2003, through a corporate vehicle named Vantis. However, at the very last minute, another party was given priority by the Port Vale board. Some sources say that this was related to Paladinis' stated desire to be the new Port Vale Chairman, others that he simply wasn't a credible bidder with sufficient funds. In an interview with BBC Stoke he claimed he had shown the Port Vale board proof of funds before they pulled-out of the deal. http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/sport/portvale/2003/12/vale_takeover3.shtml Whatever the truth, there does appear to have been a significant falling-out between Paladini and Bill Bratt the Port Vale Chairman.QPR 1st continues to explore Paladinis' provenance. It is understood that Vantis had recently taken an interest in 'investing in' or 'acquiring' a couple of clubs ... Port Vale and Notts County.Opinion amongst Vale supporter groups appears to back the Port Vale boards' position in rejecting Paladinis' advances. Port Vale Supporters' Trust (VAST) and Supporters Direct uncovered a series of County Court Judgments against him. Davies explained to us that these are public knowledge and arose from disputes between Paladini and another football agent. That does not mean that they should be ignored, however.Supporters groups also discovered that, despite his early denials, Paladini was a director of several companies, including a Leeds-based property development company. Davies confirmed that the critical difference between the Vantis interest in Port Vale and the current Paladini interest in QPR is that at Vale Vantis was attempting a complete takeover attempt, whilst Paladini is seeking to invest in QPR as an individual and not to take a majority stake. This,claims Davies, should ease supporters' worries about the ground being property-developed, as the rest of the QPR board would have to agree to such a thing. At the time of the Paladini takeover attempt at Vale, it was claimed by some that he was only interested in Vale for property development.Meanwhile Milwaukee Wave, whose owner Tim Krause has long been looking at investing in QPR, remains interested and looks to be moving to reflect that through investment. Last, but not least, the Brian Rowe-led consortium, which also includes the Anelka brothers, is still looking to invest.Davies confirmed that there was a possibility of a combination of two of the three parties/ groups working together and being able to invest independently. He also confirmed that an announcement about this could come earlier or later than this Monday, as stated in the Express.Meanwhile, the board must pick none, one or two from three. QPR1st calls on the board of QPR to take great care making their decision. Whilst recognising that failure to secure inward investment will almost certainly leave the club dangerously exposed as the season draws to a close, we recommend that prospective bidders be examined as closely as ever. At a time when the club is about to play a crucial promotion game, we have a critical weekend ahead of us.
http://www.queensparkrangersfc.com/newsnow/apr16.htm
From QPR1st via Dave's QPR - April 2004
http://www.queensparkrangersfc.com/newsnow/apr16.htm
Three investors circle QPR
from www.qpr1st.co.uk QPR1st has learnt that a third potential investor in QPR has emerged. In some respects this could be positive news if it means that people are beginning to see Rangers as a viable business proposition. However, there is still plenty of room to be cautious, since two have previously explored investing in QPR and have not yet gone through with it while the third has plenty of history elsewhere in the football world.The latest interested party to emerge is Gianni Paladini. This was reported in the Daily Express this morning but the story has subsequently been confirmed to QPR 1st by QPR chief executive David Davies. Davies stated that Paladini is looking to invest, rather than take a controlling stake.Gianni Paladini came very close to a majority buyout of Port Vale in December 2003, through a corporate vehicle named Vantis. However, at the very last minute, another party was given priority by the Port Vale board. Some sources say that this was related to Paladinis' stated desire to be the new Port Vale Chairman, others that he simply wasn't a credible bidder with sufficient funds. In an interview with BBC Stoke he claimed he had shown the Port Vale board proof of funds before they pulled-out of the deal. http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/sport/portvale/2003/12/vale_takeover3.shtml Whatever the truth, there does appear to have been a significant falling-out between Paladini and Bill Bratt the Port Vale Chairman.QPR 1st continues to explore Paladinis' provenance. It is understood that Vantis had recently taken an interest in 'investing in' or 'acquiring' a couple of clubs ... Port Vale and Notts County.Opinion amongst Vale supporter groups appears to back the Port Vale boards' position in rejecting Paladinis' advances. Port Vale Supporters' Trust (VAST) and Supporters Direct uncovered a series of County Court Judgments against him. Davies explained to us that these are public knowledge and arose from disputes between Paladini and another football agent. That does not mean that they should be ignored, however.Supporters groups also discovered that, despite his early denials, Paladini was a director of several companies, including a Leeds-based property development company. Davies confirmed that the critical difference between the Vantis interest in Port Vale and the current Paladini interest in QPR is that at Vale Vantis was attempting a complete takeover attempt, whilst Paladini is seeking to invest in QPR as an individual and not to take a majority stake. This,claims Davies, should ease supporters' worries about the ground being property-developed, as the rest of the QPR board would have to agree to such a thing. At the time of the Paladini takeover attempt at Vale, it was claimed by some that he was only interested in Vale for property development.Meanwhile Milwaukee Wave, whose owner Tim Krause has long been looking at investing in QPR, remains interested and looks to be moving to reflect that through investment. Last, but not least, the Brian Rowe-led consortium, which also includes the Anelka brothers, is still looking to invest.Davies confirmed that there was a possibility of a combination of two of the three parties/ groups working together and being able to invest independently. He also confirmed that an announcement about this could come earlier or later than this Monday, as stated in the Express.Meanwhile, the board must pick none, one or two from three. QPR1st calls on the board of QPR to take great care making their decision. Whilst recognising that failure to secure inward investment will almost certainly leave the club dangerously exposed as the season draws to a close, we recommend that prospective bidders be examined as closely as ever. At a time when the club is about to play a crucial promotion game, we have a critical weekend ahead of us.
http://www.queensparkrangersfc.com/newsnow/apr16.htm
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