Blacks Leisure Share Discussion Threads

[strutt12] 19/12/2011 15:47

I see Richard Griffiths has added to his holding via Barnard nominees!!!

DYOR IMHO

[hyper al] 18/12/2011 19:32

Just my opinion, I think Millets will be sold off with some of the debt. Blacks will remain listed.

[sir rational] 18/12/2011 18:38

Pre pack admin

Hilco considers Blacks Leisure move with Go Outdoors also poised
Hilco, the retail restructuring specialist, is considering a move for Blacks Leisure in the event a buyer cannot be found for the company as a whole.

Blacks Leisure issues profits warning By James Quinn
8:30PM GMT 17 Dec 2011
Comment
The company, which in July sold the remnants of Habitat to Home Retail Group, is understood to be interested in buying the trading business either as a pre-packaged administration or if the business falls into administration.

But it is believed to have no interest in buying the quoted entity which owns Blacks.

At this point, however, Hilco is not thought to have had access to any information from KPMG, the accountancy firm brought in by Blacks' board to run the sale process.

KPMG has set a deadline of Thursday, December 22 for declarations of interest, rather than indicative bids.

Industry sources indicated that KPMG is still talking to a number of trade and financial buyers, some of whom are interested in rescuing the entire company, some of whom are interested in one of either the Blacks or Millets brands and a "handful of shops".

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Paul Caplan, founder and one of the major shareholders in Go Outdoors, the 3i-backed outdoor retailer, confirmed to the The Sunday Telegraph that it is interested in Blacks.

"We're in talks with KPMG to try and understand more about Blacks," said Mr Caplan, whose company has 36 stores nationwide. "There's an opportunity here not only to look at the brands but also the nearly 3,000 employees, and see whether any of those jobs can be saved."

Mr Caplan stressed, however, that there is no certainty it will make an offer for any or all of the Blacks business, which has 300 shops under the Blacks and Millets fascias.

However, another source indicated that there is likely no value in Blacks' equity, and that in all likelihood the company would be subject to a break-up.

On Friday, Sports Direct, the sports retailer led by Mike Ashley, said it did not intend to make an offer for the whole company, ruling out a bid for the next six months. However, it is known to be still interested in looking at particular brands in the event of a break-up or pre-packaged administration.

Shares in Blacks have fallen back from highs of almost 600p in 2006 to close at 1.85p on Friday night, valuing its equity at just £1.55m.

The company, which has a £36m debt pile, was put up for sale after banks and shareholders could not agree on which should fund a strategic review led by chief executive Julia Reynolds.

Blacks' shareholders include a number of key suppliers and competitors, including Sports Direct, which has a 22.49pc stake, along with Pentland and VF Corporation, which owns the North Face brand.

Spokesmen for KPMG and Hilco declined to comment.

[simonhatter37] 18/12/2011 17:18

Administrators in this week I am informed.

[strutt12] 18/12/2011 17:16

Or selling the crock off!!!

[jpjp100] 18/12/2011 08:46

I don't think it takes a business genius to spot that the whole is a crock

The clever game is extracting the good bits, at minimum cost, under the nose of the other interested parties. If Ashley pulls that off, it will be excellent for SPD

[dugganjoe] 17/12/2011 16:13

Sports Direct: 'No to Blacks bid'

knows a crock when it sees it.

[bankboy001] 16/12/2011 23:22

Probably about time Blacks became an online niche retailer for their specialist trekking and camping gear, I've been going their for the discounts for the last 20 years to grab the sales for the clothing to my watersking, wakeboarding and trekking gear, basically I pick some stuff up because its 60 down to 30, 25, 20 or 20 down to 10, 5

They used to have a nice border surf shop at ludgate nr st pauls

Let me know we go for the clobber going forward,

[clocktower] 16/12/2011 14:28

He holds the cards but not be seen to act in a manner that would suggest he is taking advantage of long suffering small holders.

[jpjp100] 16/12/2011 14:23

I suppose it depends on whether SPD and its allies have enough shares to block a takeover by an SPD 'competitor' now....

I think that what has happened here is that Ashley couldn't convince the banks to take a big enough haircut on the debt for him to feel that he had won, so he is now trying to nudge it into administration in the expectation that he will pull something out of the ensuing mess later on.

[strutt12] 16/12/2011 12:47

Flojo,

I have no idea that anyone out there, Go Outdoors, mountain warehouse, etc, etc, would want to purchase the debt, or be able to pay enough for Ashley to sell his stake. I am however hopeful that the business will be able to reduce it's overheads and return to being a viable business again.

I'm happy to take my chance and see what happens, if I'm wrong then I lose alot of money, if I'm right :-)))))))))

[flojo] 16/12/2011 12:20

strutt12, are there any potential other buyers for the company out there,cheers .

[strutt12] 16/12/2011 12:11

Credit,

Best tell Frank Scolaro, Griffiths and Schroders!!!

LOL

[strutt12] 16/12/2011 10:08

Nothing's changed here, Ashley's still wants Blacks to succeed, was never going to buy due to suppliers not going to deal with him, offer of distrubuction centre still available, banks supportive of company, other interested parties, not going to steal this, Ashley has big say!!!!

[targatarga] 16/12/2011 09:47

Edmond - field and trek is part of sports direct... imho

[edmondj] 16/12/2011 09:38

I started off buying outdoors gear at Millets and Blacks, then Cotswold and Snow & Rock - simply because they offered what I needed. Lately I have bought kit cheaply from Field & Trek also a small Scottish firm, online. Maybe I am typical of the trend and Millets/Blacks have not been best enough with their marketing, to prosper against all these new entrants.

[shammytime] 16/12/2011 09:28

Watch this space. Everyone knew there was more than one interested party.

John Lewis apparently about to announce it's interest this side of Christmas...

[hyper al] 16/12/2011 09:01

well some are still buying

[hyper al] 16/12/2011 08:37

"If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a paper offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3. "

[sweepie2] 16/12/2011 08:16

Now losing my pennies, seems no hope, agree with above

[sir rational] 16/12/2011 08:12

Ran the ruler over it, ruled it out: prepack admin coming up pronto

[hyper al] 16/12/2011 08:06

I see Millets getting Sold

[sweepie2] 16/12/2011 08:03

Sports Direct withdraws takeover offer, going to be a bad day lucky I only invested in pennies, still in profit just