Final bids for groups that are interested in purchasing the Mets are "due Aug. 31," according to sources cited by Tim Healey of NEWSDAY. Prospective buyers were "alerted to the deadline" yesterday in a letter from Allen & Co., the N.Y.-based investment bank "overseeing the process on behalf of the Wilpon and Katz families." The bidding "seems to be down to the same three competitors" who have been after the Mets for months: hedge fund billionaire Steve Cohen, 76ers and Devils owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer and a group of investors fronted by Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez, who are joined by Vitaminwater co-Founder Mike Repole and NHL Panthers Owner Vincent Viola. Among the other information sought by Allen & Co. includes each group's "source of financing and a list of members." Sterling Equities -- the Wilpon-Katz family business -- "intends to retain its stake in SNY despite wanting to part with the team itself" (NEWSDAY, 8/12). In N.Y., Kosman & McEnery cite sources as saying that the three main bidders "have not seen the detailed Mets financials and are expected to start reviewing the numbers in depth later this week." With the Mets losing roughly $90M in a normal season, that "could impact the offers" (N.Y. POST, 8/12).
