Report: Mets Want $200M For Minority Stake; Some Bidders Identified
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) — The New York Times is reporting the Mets are seeking $200 million for a minority portion of the team.
The Times cited a person briefed on the sale process in a story posted on its website late Wednesday night.
According to the paper, the Mets' owners are also telling potential bidders that they might sell a portion of their cable network SNY, but that negotiation would take place separately "and would probably not be seriously contemplated for a year or two."
$200 million could add up to as much as a 40 percent share of the club. The bidders have been told that any deal to sell a minority piece will not include a path to acquire the rest of the team. Fred and Jeff Wilpon, as they have asserted, will hold control over the franchise.
The Times reported that the contenders approved by MLB include: Jason Reese, the chairman of Imperial Capital, a Los Angeles-based investment bank.
David Heller, a Goldman Sachs executive, along with Marc Spilker, the president of Apollo Global Management, a private equity fund.
Steven Starker, a co-founder of BTIG, a global trading firm, with Kenny Dichter, a co-founder of Marquis Jets; Doug Ellin, creator of HBO's "Entourage"; and Randy Frankel, a minority owner of the Tampa Bay Rays.
James McCann, the founder of 1-800-Flowers.com, with Anthony Scaramucci, who runs the hedge firm SkyBridge Capital.
Marc A. Utay, managing partner of Clarion Capital, a private equity firm, and Leo Hindery, the first chief executive of the YES Network and a veteran media investor.
Mets fans: Do any of these bidders have you excited? Sound off in the comments below...
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