CVC Capital Partners Ltd. "revived plans for an initial public offering of Formula One in the event that talks to sell the auto-racing group fall apart," according to Koh, David & Porter of BLOOMBERG. Sources said that the London-based buyout firm "is working with Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Morgan Stanley and UBS AG on a possible IPO of the company in Singapore in early 2015." CVC has been in discussions with John Malone’s Liberty Global Plc. and Discovery Communications Inc. about a deal for several months, "but discussions have stalled" over a valuation gap of about $1B. CVC previously attempted an IPO of the company in '12, "halting the plan as the Eurozone crisis affected global equity markets." Representatives for CVC, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and UBS "declined to comment" (BLOOMBERG, 10/3). In London, Daniel Johnson wrote Formula One's board appeared to be at odds, as CEO Bernie Ecclestone "strenuously rejected suggestions he has been denied a return to the sport's top table." Ecclestone stood down from Delta Topco "when he went on trial for bribery in Munich." After handing over a £60M ($96M) settlement when the prosecution's case collapsed in August, "he was bullish that he would return to the board given the charges against him had been dropped." But well-informed sources said that "he had not been reinstated and at the last board meeting, last month, conditions were placed on his return." However, Ecclestone said claims that he was not back on the board were “complete and utter rubbish” (TELEGRAPH, 10/3). Also in London, Jonathan McEvoy wrote the delay "undermines Ecclestone’s bullish back-to-business mantra." It also contradicts his insistence in January, "when he stepped down from Delta Topco to fight the accusations in Munich, that he would return in total command the moment the case was resolved." He paid £60M "to end the trial and left with his innocence intact" (DAILY MAIL, 10/2).
