Quelle: Pittsburgh Post Gazette (
http://www.postgazette.com )
[size=21px]West Coast group to buy Penguins[/size]
Team will stay here; Lemieux retains share
By Dave Molinari, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
West Coast investors have negotiated a letter of intent to purchase a majority interest in the Penguins.
Mario Lemieux, the hockey team's primary owner since it emerged from bankruptcy in 1999, will hold onto a reduced share of the franchise. Most, if not all, of the Penguins' other local investors are expected to do likewise.
Financial details of the agreement are not known, but the West Coast group is led by William "Boots" Del Biaggio, a San Jose, Calif. businessman. Del Biaggio is a friend of Lemieux's and one of his co-owners with the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League. He also holds a minority interest in NHL's San Jose Sharks.
Del Biaggio is president and CEO of Sand Hill Capital, a firm based in Menlo Park, Calif. Sand Hill's Web site describes it as "a leading provider of growth capital to emerging, venture-backed technology companies" that "delivers fast, innovative financial solutions resulting in exceptional returns for clients and investors alike."
Del Biaggio could not be reached for comment last night. The identities of his fellow investors were not known.
The continued presence of Lemieux and others from this area in the Penguins' ownership group reinforces the contention of team officials that there are no immediate plans to move the franchise.
The team's long-term future in Pittsburgh, though, apparently still hinges on getting a venue to replace Mellon Arena, the oldest facility in the National Hockey League. Lemieux long ago announced his intention to seek the license to operate a Downtown slots parlor and use proceeds from it to help finance a new arena.
Having a letter of intent means there is a framework in place for the deal to be finalized, but the process will not end anytime soon. The parties still must produce a signed purchase agreement and eventually will have to have the transaction approved by the NHL Board of Governors.
Barring complications, completing those steps is expected to take four to six months.
Although Penguins officials declined to talk about any aspect of the talks with Del Biaggio's group -- confidentiality agreements are common in such negotiations -- the team did release a statement by vice president of communications Tom McMillan.
"We continue to be in discussions with a group interested in investing in the Pittsburgh Penguins," he said. "The intention of this group is to keep the franchise in Pittsburgh, build a championship-caliber team on the ice and apply for a slots license that will fund a new arena for Pittsburgh.
"Even if there is a substantial new investment in the team, Mario Lemieux will continue to be involved in all aspects of the operation."
In addition to having a share of the Omaha Lancers and the Sharks, Del Biaggio owns part of the Sharks' American Hockey League affiliate, the Cleveland Barons. The NHL undoubtedly will compel him to give up his stake in the Sharks if the Penguins' deal is approved by the league.
According to the Sand Hill Web site, Del Biaggio started the company in 1996. Previously he had founded the Heritage Bank of Commerce and was a co-founder of Pacific Business Funding, a factoring company that was acquired by Greater Bay Bankcorp. in 1998.
Dazu gestern Mario Lemieux:
" hat geschrieben:[size=21px]
Lemieux hopes Penguins stay in Pittsburgh after sale to Del Biaggio[/size]
Bill Beacon
Canadian Press
MONTREAL (CP) - Player-owner Mario Lemieux hopes the Penguins stay in Pittsburgh if he sells controlling interest in the NHL club to a group headed by his friend William (Boots) Del Biaggio.
And Lemieux, who was visiting the Canadian-owned Jordan team at the Canadian Grand Prix on Saturday, confirmed that he would remain with the club if it is sold.
"Whatever happens, I'm going to keep a small piece of the team and I'll be involved in the organization," said Lemieux. "Hopefully, we can keep it in Pittsburgh.
"That's our goal and that's his goal as well."
The superstar player who has been primary owner of the Penguins since 1999 received a letter of intent to buy the team from Del Biaggio's group last week.
The investors from San Jose, Calif., want controlling interest, but want Lemieux and other Pittsburgh investors to retain a reduced share of the club.
Del Biaggio told a local newspaper on Saturday he also wanted the team to stay put.
"Our intent is to keep the team in Pittsburgh," he told the newspaper. "It would be very helpful to have local ownership, especially with me being from California."
He wants Lemieux, whom he met five years ago at a charity golf tournament, "actively involved in every facet of the organization."
Lemieux said an agreement has yet to be worked out. Once that is done, the sale would need approval by the NHL board of governors.
"It's still early in the process," he said. "It's just a letter of intent.
"It'll be three or four months before anything gets done. But I'm happy with it."
Neither side has said how much was offered for the team.
Lemieux was encouraged that people still wanted to invest in an NHL club even though the 2004-05 season was wiped out by a lockout.
He expects the lockout to be settled soon and the league will win back fans with rule changes aimed at creating more scoring.
"The NHL is ready to re-launch with a better game that is more exciting for the fans," he said. "More scoring, which we need desperately, small goalie equipment, bigger nets. . .
"Hockey will have a different look, so the value of a franchise should increase in future."
Lemieux and Toronto Maple leafs veteran Tie Domi were guests at the Grand Prix of Alex Shnaider, the Toronto businessman who bought the lowly Jordan team this year.
For once, the modest team's garage was packed with reporters and cameramen Saturday when the two hockey players stopped by after the qualifying session.
The two bright yellow Jordans, which are short on sponsors and have plenty of empty space to fill, had "bring hockey back" written on the side of the cars for the Montreal race.
"It's very exciting," said Lemieux of his first experience with Formula One racing.
Lemieux said he couldn't stay for the race on Sunday because he had a meeting to attend in Pittsburgh.
Domi, who is a partner of Shnaider's in a steel distribution business, went to F-1 races in Monaco and Barcelona earlier this season. "The speed is unbelievable," he said. "It's interesting to see how much it is a team game - not just the driver."
