Who are the Rhône Group?

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I am sure you all heard the news this morning about this New York firm is in investment talks with Liverpool Story here

This is what the website Venture Capital and Private Equity directory has to say about them.

“Specialise in mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, recapitalization and partnerships with particular focus on European and Trans- Atlantic investments. Rhône is headquartered in New York, and has offices in both London and Paris. Rhône Group was established in 1997 and has been under its present ownership since. It is a private company which has been owned and managed by Robert F. Agostinelli and M. Steven Langman since inception.”

http://www.private-equity.org.uk/profile.php?contact=Rhône+Group+LLC

While Business Week had the following to say about them:

“Rhône Group LLC operates as a boutique investment banking firm that offers financial advisory services. The firm offers mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, joint partnerships, and business valuation services. Its clientele include Nestle and Florida Crystals. Rhône was founded in 1995 and is based in New York, New York with additional offices in London, United Kingdom and Paris, France.”

http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=1920714

And for those interested in politics you should know that the Co-Founder of the group also made donations to the McCain/Palin ticket during the US Presidential elections info here

Does not excite me at all.
-Antoine

antoine@empireofthekop.com

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14 Comments

  1. Nonononononononoooooo this sounds really bad…. This sounds like a company that will do to liverpool what røkke and gjeldsten did to wimbledon a few years back….

  2. Why doesn’t it excite you Antoine ?

    Do you think that the news is a rumour and will pass off??
    or
    Do you think these blokes are no better than H&G..?

    I mean if not these reasons then Why should it not excite you as we all want to see the back of those Cowboys fast..It should be a good thing robbing the H & G of their powers if not totally eliminating them..

  3. Also if it’s to be believed, Rhône Group says they will pay ‘cash’. No loans on their purchase for their stake so…

    I really wish Kraft was more serious with his curiosity a few years back.

  4. The face that you’re commenting on politics (Obama v McCain) and jus posting info on the company and then saying you’re not excited at all show how narrowminded or ignorant you are. Having American owners isn’t the best thing in my eyes, but give us SUBSTANCE rather than bollocks on why they’re no good for the club. Thought you were better than this, mate.

  5. This sentence should explain it “Specialise in mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, recapitalization and partnerships with particular focus on European and Trans- Atlantic investments”

  6. Antione, while I share your concerns about the new potential investors, it’s important that we get the debt down. And I am inclined to think that H&G will sell if they don’t get a better offer. Right now all we can do is hope that these guys actually will bring us forward. But frankly, even then, I feel that 40% stake is a bit on the high side. 30% might be more realistic.

  7. i’ve been involved with venture capitalists at this level before; i would say that should Rhone acquire the share the impact on our club wont be the positive outcome we’re all looking for. i would suggest:

    they will acquire the share on behalf of a major investor or but more likely a number of smaller different investors.

    most capital investments have fixed terms, go in, make some money, and then get out. there could quite comfortably be a 5 yr plan on the table and i’ll get onto that in a second. i very much doubt the company has an interest in football let alone this club, though some of the smaller shareholders may have, so i wouldnt expect to see any passionate investment.

    as antoine points out, Rhones engagement could quite be what they specialize in – come in as partners but work with hicks and gillete and prospectic investors further down the line and administrate a takeover of the club whereby H&G can leave the club by gradually reducing their stake, and not losing their shirts, and another investor/client taking more of a share.

    i see the 100 mill more as a bridge to sure up the debts only, and the ongoing management, or even mediation by rhone being in place to create a bridge between HG going and a new owner coming. seems to me no-one is able to buy the club outright because HG dont want that, and no-one is prepared to take a minority stake, so Purslow, having failed to get the deal done has turned to a ‘qualified’ investment firm that will help him mediate between the parties,clear the immediate debts and start working toward new ownership; rhones payback with be the interest return on their 100 million when they eventually hand over the property to the new owners, liverpools payback in the longer term with be the eventual club takeover of the right owners purslow knows we need.

    unfortunately if this deal goes through i really dont think its going to change the face of things as much as we would like, we’ll have a continued and procrastinated period of time, maybe a year or two, before we see the sort of money coming into the club that we would like. in the meantime

    i’m not sure though who would make the final calls regarding rafa;s position at the club, or the players, or any new manager, or motivate our players and manager? perhaps there is one investor within rhone that does actually know what they’re talking about; maybe we’ll be suprised in a few days or so when something ’emerges’.

    there are some positives i suppose – clear some debt so we can spend the interest, a small step closer to getting rid of GH, a small step closer to a better owner, and i wouldnt expect rhone to do anything damaging.

    the other thing is, this really will be a take it or leave it offer as has been quoted in the media already, it’ll be the get in, make some cash, and get out scenario i’ve mentioned, albeit it be an above the board process – rhones clients wont be that fussed whether they acquire the gig or not, the investment will be a play thing for rich people who may or may not have an interest in seeing liverpool back to the top.

  8. I know the common feeling is them two clowns out of our club, but what do we actually want from investors? Do we want a company who is going to plug some cash into us, get the money back and a little extra and go without a care for the club, or do we want someone who lives and breaths the club. I think I’m right in saying that those days are long gone and the future looks bleak and anonymous for the whole part.

    I just wonder do we want a cash cow to come in and Man City us or not? That is a question and not my feeling, just wondering what poeple on here thought.

  9. Guys, we ought to be honored and graciously accept and support of Rhone coming in to help us like this. Liverpool FC needs exactly this! Don’t you see, support from a firm (Rhone) that has a tremendous amount of power and influence both financially and politically is quite literally priceless! Honestly we should consider ourselves lucky to get them, especially in these harsh economic times. These Rhone guys are billionaires and not only that, they’re powerful people with serious connections, just think how far they could take Liverpool! I whole heartedly accept the potential new owners of Liverpool FC…Welcome Agostinelli and Langman!

  10. Rhone is owned by billionaires Robert Agostinelli and Steven Langman, both are American but widely connected on an international level. Agostinelli in particular has very close relationships with president Sarkozy and former president Bush among several other major public figures. Langman has also been noted for some heavty political donations to the republican party.

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