London’s Sunday Times and the Financial News both repeated today the news we broke last week in a Sailing Anarchy world exclusive; it appears they have their hands on an embargoed press release confirming the sale of North Technology Group to Oakley Capital, founded by UK entrepreneur Peter Dubens.
They report the sailmaker being ‘valued at $130m’ instead of the >$400m sale we reported – a value that may be explained by the complexity of the numbers games in a multi-subsidiary debt + equity deal like this one as well as the fact that the current owner will retain a minority equity stake. The Times reports that Tom Whidden will stay on as CEO, while Dubens will take over as Chairman and superyacht owner and maxi racer Sir Charles Dunstone will join as a non-exec director.
Mostly useless discussion in the thread, but if you have something to add, have at it. UPDATE: North Sails Press Release hit the street today.
