NZR has ramped up the PR offensive in recent weeks, publishing an open letter about the benefits of the Silver Lake transaction. And while the rugby body has invited Forsyth Barr to discuss its rival plan, it remains sceptical about the proposal, and committed to the US buyout firm. How do the competing offers stack up? The Forsyth Barr listing values the sports rights roughly $300m to $700m higher. The company says its estimate is based on comparable deals for global sporting assets and the anticipated level of investor demand. It believes NZR can secure a better valuation if investors take a slightly smaller gross yield than the PE house.
NZ Rugby seeks meeting with Forsyth Barr to discuss IPO proposal, despite reservations
17 May, 2021 06:13 AM
5 minutes to read
Everything you need to know about the Forsyth Barr deal. Video / NZ Herald
New Zealand Rugby has invited Forsyth Barr to discuss its proposal for a public flotation of part of its commercial revenues, after US private equity giant Silver Lake waived its right to block talks.
However the union has sent David Kirk - who is chairman of both Forsyth Barr and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association - a lengthy explanation of why it does not believe its proposal met the objectives of its proposed sale.
New Zealand Rugby has reacted angrily to a players association proposal for a public share float which the association believes is better than the Silver Lake deal.
The Rugby Players Association and investment company Forsyth Barr has put together a proposal that would see NZR sell a 5% stake in of its commercial right via a public share float.
New Zealand Rugby s chief executive, Mark Robinson, said in a statement the organisation has been let down by the Players Association. We are shocked and disappointed that Rob Nichol (NZRPA chief executive) has shared another counter proposal with media before sharing it with New Zealand Rugby.
Photo: RNZ
New Zealand investment company Forsyth Barr has suggested the sale of 5 percent stake in NZR s revenue generating assets through through an NZX-listed entity to the New Zealand public and institutions (NZ Inc IPO).
Forsyth Barr and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) believe the valuation of NZR s commercial rights (Commercial Co) is between $3.4 and $3.8 billion, 12-23 percent higher than the Silver Lake valuation of $3.1 billion.
Selling 5 percent of NZR s commercial rights at the Forsyth Barr valuation is expected to deliver between $171 and $191 million.
This is significantly less than the cash boost of $387 million that NZR is expected to receive under the Silver Lake deal.