Posted on November 8, 2021 at 8:30 p.m. by Dan Marciano
The project led by Jean-Michel Roussier and Mathieu Bodmer would be on pole to buy ASSE. Norodom Ravichak and the Terrapin project are out of the race.
Last April, in an “open letter to those who love ASSE so much” addressed to Progress, Roland Romeyer, chairman of the board, and Bernard Caïazzo, chairman of the board surveillance of the Saint-Etienne club, had publicly expressed their desire to sell ASSE. Present in Forez since 2004, the two leaders entrusted the KPMG firmto select the best projects. Candidates have until Monday to send “their best offer” to the cabinet. Subsequently, the candidate who will have retained the intention of the Saint-Etienne leaders will enter into exclusive negotiations to discuss the takeover in depth. Asked about the sales process, Roland Romeyer hopes to complete this file before the end of December: “At one point or another we will end up getting there, we have to. I would like this to be done before the end of the calendar year. If we find the right candidate, who meets our criteria, the change will normally only be beneficial for the club ”. And according to several media, things are becoming clearer behind the scenes ..
The project led by Roussier/Bodmer is holding the rope
As But Football Club explains, a project would have caught the attention of Roland Romeyer and Bernard Caïazzo . This is the one worn by Jean-Michel Roussier and Mathieu Bodmer, supported by Swiss funds. According to the portal but also RMC, this project is currently on pole. In case of victory, the former leader of OM should take the role of president, while Mathieu Bodmer would be in charge of the sports sector. According to information from Foot Mercato, the current Prime Video consultant has already activated several avenues to relaunch the ASSE . The former PSG player would follow in particular the situation of Tanguy Kouassi (Bayern Munich), but also of Eliaquim Mangala, free of any contract. But Football Club specifies that the project led by Olivier Markarian is still in the race, but behind. The former CEO of Markal is said to be wondering and now doubting, in particular because of the surprising position of Roland Romeyer and Bernard Caïazzo . According to the media outlet, the leaders would be keen “to stay in business a bit” before finally handing over, which would cool Markarian .
A complaint filed against Norodom Ravichak
Other projects are out of the race, such as the Terrapin project. Eager to afford the ASSE, Norodom Ravichak is accused of having provided a false document to the cabinet KPMG on Monday. The ASSE announced that she would file a complaint against the Cambodian Prince. “ASSE shareholders have started a divestiture process entrusted to KPMG since last April. KPMG invited candidates for the club's takeover to submit their best offer on Monday, November 8. This process made it possible to highlight the lack of credibility of certain candidates. This is the case of Norodom Ravichak and his counsel Maitre Carlos Bejarano who provided a financial guarantee document of 100 million euros from a major international bank which turns out to be a forgery. The shareholders therefore questioned their lawyers on the legal and judicial consequences resulting from the production of these false documents with a view to being authorized to participate in the transfer process. In view of their findings, it was resolved to file a complaint with the public prosecutor of Paris for acts of forgery, use of forgery and attempted fraud. Shareholders are hoping this episode will cause some publications not to give credit to fanciful, unverified information. ASSE shareholders confirm that KPMG is exercising the utmost vigilance in monitoring the financial credibility of each candidate. The shareholders intend to continue the sale process in order to sell the club to an investor representing all the pledges of seriousness and the financial standing necessary to give ASSE the means to fulfill its legitimate ambitions ”confided the communication agency commissioned by the ' ASSE to communicate on this subject.