A group of investors led by TX business exec David
Bonderman, which includes DC real estate exec Ted Lerner,
"may try to purchase" the Redskins when the first round of
bid submissions are made today, according to Heath & Maske
of the WASHINGTON POST. Sources called a Bonderman-Lerner
bid "formidable" because their assets and ability to
generate bank loans are "outstanding." Also, N.Y. financier
Andrew Penson said yesterday that he is "reevaluating" his
bidding for the team. While Penson said that he still
planned to go ahead with a bid, sources said "misgivings
about raising" his $450M offer "would likely eliminate him
after the first round" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/22).
HUGH, THAT'S A RELIEF: In Atlanta, Len Pasquarelli
reported that Redskins President John Kent Cooke has aligned
with NationsBank CEO Hugh McColl and has secured financing
for his bid (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 11/23). In N.Y., Luke
Cyphers wrote on Mort Zuckerman's role in a group with Isles
co-Owner Howard Milstein and MD exec Daniel Snyder.
Zuckerman: "I am really there as an assist to my business
partner, Dan Snyder, and not as a major player" (N.Y. DAILY
NEWS, 11/21). In BUSINESS WEEK, Mark Hyman wrote that MD
Senate President Thomas Miller said if Orioles Owner Peter
Angelos also owned the Redskins, "it would help him block a
baseball team in the metropolitan Washington area." Miller:
"He'd have an inordinate amount of influence. Fact is, he'd
be king of the franchises" (BUSINESS WEEK, 11/23 issue).
ANGELOS' WINDFALL: Orioles Owner Peter Angelos, whose
law firm represented the state of MD in its suit against
tobacco companies, could request 25% of the recent
settlement with MD -- more than $1B -- should he act on a
provision that would allow him to go to arbitration and
collect from the tobacco industry rather than the state.
Angelos could receive 12.5% of any money MD recovers --
"probably more than" $600M -- should he not risk going to
arbitration (Scott Shane, Baltimore SUN, 11/21).
