Golf club investors to meet over bids

No early decision on a counter-bid for the Wentworth golf club in England is expected today when Quinlan Private and other minority…

No early decision on a counter-bid for the Wentworth golf club in England is expected today when Quinlan Private and other minority shareholders meet in London.

The shareholders have a number of weeks before they will lose all opportunity to respond to the £110 million (€162 million) bid from retail entrepreneur Mr Richard Caring.

The London meeting was called by Quinlan Private but will not be attended by Mr Derek Quinlan, founder and main force behind Quinlan Private.

Many of the 26 holders of A shares in the club, who have pre-emption rights that allow them match or trump bids for the club, are expected at the meeting, where the club's value will be discussed. The 26 shareholders own 40 per cent of the club.

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Quinlan Private, which acquired its interest on behalf of a number of Irish investors following their £1.1 billion takeover of the Savoy Hotel Group in April, has exercised its pre-emption rights but has not said whether it intends to make a bid.

Colm Keena

Colm Keena

Colm Keena is an Irish Times journalist. He was previously legal-affairs correspondent and public-affairs correspondent