Sanctuary Group to be sold?

[Nytunz]

Will this affect Guns N`Roses and the release on Chinese Democracy?

Here's the article:

LONDON, June 3 (Reuters) - Britain's Sanctuary Group, the independent music company whose artists include the Strokes and Axl Rose, said on Friday it was in talks that could lead to the sale of the company.

Several venture capital groups have approached the company over the past year and some of the global music majors could also be interested, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Sanctuary's largest shareholder is billionaire television producer John de Mol, whose investment company owns about 19 percent of the company.

The company's board said that "during the past 12 months, and indeed on a continuing basis, it has had exploratory discussions with a number of third parties about a wide range of future potential business development and investment opportunities."

Shares of Sanctuary, the world's biggest independent record label and a major player in artist management, touring and merchandising, are up more than 20 percent since May 31.

The stock was off earlier highs but still up 1.15 percent at 44-1/2 pence by 1029 GMT on Friday, giving the company a market capitalisation of about 165 million pounds ($299.4 million).

The company could be a target for venture capital and private equity groups after last year's lucrative deal to buy Warner Music, the fourth-largest global music group.

Bain Capital, Providence Equity Partners, and Thomas H. Lee Partners banked a quick return on their investment after Warner went public about a year after the deal closed.

"We are not surprised the group has attracted consolidation speculation. While on a standalone basis our target price is 45p, we believe a premium for control would be required were an acquisition to take place at current levels," Numis Securities said in a research note.

Investec Securities said Sanctuary might fare better without agreeing to a takeover.

"Sanctuary has historically argued that its very independence from the majors is one of the key features that attracts talent to it, as both a management company and record label," the brokerage said in a note.

"We believe that the logic of such an argument continues. A major record label buying Sanctuary could in effect destroy the model that has so successfully attracted key artists."

The bid talks come amid a spat between the company and British rock star Morrissey, one of Sanctuary's highest-profile artists. Morrissey blasted the company over the weekend for confusion over whether he would appear at the Isle of Wight festival later this month and whether he has parted ways with his drummer, Dean Butterworth.

"The announcement that I would play was made by Sanctuary -- and it was their error," he said in a statement on the Morrissey fan site True To You.

Morrissey added that his Sanctuary contract "ended last year and hasn't been renewed," and that "there will be a new signing for the new album."

 - Nytunz -

[Estranged fucker]

WTF!!! John de Mol (biggest shareholder of Sanctuary) is from the Netherlands, like myself
When i run into him i'll ask if he wants to kick uncle Axl in the balls to hurry him up!

Estranged Fucker

[dENIS]

WTF!!! John de Mol (biggest shareholder of Sanctuary) is from the Netherlands, like myself
When i run into him i'll ask if he wants to kick uncle Axl in the balls to hurry him up!

Estranged Fucker

  Yeah it`s funny.


Honestly i`m not worried about CD if Sanctuary goes to sell. Soon or a later Axl must should realise for himself what he want to do. Live his life alone in silent or come back in to public with new music. I think his life is with music and no matter what will happen with CD he one day will return. I`m suppose for name of the next album to be - RETURN OF THE KING

[patience26]

WTF!!! John de Mol (biggest shareholder of Sanctuary) is from the Netherlands, like myself
When i run into him i'll ask if he wants to kick uncle Axl in the balls to hurry him up!

Estranged Fucker

he owns Endemol, isn`t it?

[GunnerRose]

Whoooo.....Finally, another excuse for more delays. See ya first quarter 2006....spring....fall...Christmas....

[Neemo]

Whoooo.....Finally, another excuse for more delays. See ya first quarter 2006....spring....fall...Christmas....

Longer than that, do you know how many managers and producers are going to have to be fired?

[damnthehaters]

This might actually speed up the process, or put a little pressure on Axl.

[jameslofton29]

Trust me, it WONT speed up the process.

[Thorazine Shuffle]

Trust me, it WONT speed up the process.

Why won't it?? This CD is done.? We all know that.? The music world has changed and egotistical singers are not in demand like it used to be.? You think fans will put up with waiting 3 hours for Axl to go onstage?? Hell no.? Do you think Geffen and Sanctuary will wait another 2 years for their 14 MILLION dollar investment?? they're gonna sue his fucking ass off.? Do you think his all-star band will wait much longer?? Hell no.? The world doesn't revolve around W. Axl Rose anymore.? that was 15 years ago.? The time is now.


I'm editing this.  I don't want to seem like an ass, but their is no excuse for any of this wait and I honestly believe that Geffen and Sanctuary will come at him full-steam by next year and there will be nothing Axl can do about it.  Money is money.

[Mateoson]

Trust me, it WONT speed up the process.

Exactly.

Everything that has happend up to this point has slowed the process down. Eventually you run out of excuses and have to look at Axl's state of mind. I think he has known for some time that CD wasn't ready.... but as long as shit like this happens it's an easy way to pass off the never ending delay of the album.

The only thing that factors in on what will delay or speed up the album's release is the man, the myth, the legend, the reclusive paranoid schizo himself: Axl Rose. Fuck what ya heard... everything else is smoke and mirrors. Hell the members of this band don't even know what the deal is.

[jameslofton29]

Thorazine, what makes you think CD is done? Whats happened in the last 3 years to make you believe that? Was it Tommy's quote from a couple years ago saying it was 95% done? Or Dizzy's quote saying its 'practically finished' and will be 'absolutely mindblowing'? Even the guy on this board who supposedly has sources, 'Mysteron', hasn't said anything about this album being finished. Believe me, when this album truly nears its completion, there will be leaks from the GNR camp saying that its finished. If you're going by that rumor that 15 tracks were being handed in to the record company, I can see why you might have believed it was ready. But no facts ever followed that rumor, so it was most likely bullshit. Until Axl/Interscope/Sanctuary announces a release, or a credible source leaks some information and can back up the leak with some facts, then everything is just pure speculation. I cant even begin to imagine the fake rumors that are going to start when we get near years end. But I'm not going to believe any of it. Because if some sort of an official announcement doesn't come out in late July/ early August, you can kiss the year 2005 goodbye.

[Thorazine Shuffle]

Thorazine, what makes you think CD is done? Whats happened in the last 3 years to make you believe that? Was it Tommy's quote from a couple years ago saying it was 95% done? Or Dizzy's quote saying its 'practically finished' and will be 'absolutely mindblowing'? Even the guy on this board who supposedly has sources, 'Mysteron', hasn't said anything about this album being finished. Believe me, when this album truly nears its completion, there will be leaks from the GNR camp saying that its finished. If you're going by that rumor that 15 tracks were being handed in to the record company, I can see why you might have believed it was ready. But no facts ever followed that rumor, so it was most likely bullshit. Until Axl/Interscope/Sanctuary announces a release, or a credible source leaks some information and can back up the leak with some facts, then everything is just pure speculation. I cant even begin to imagine the fake rumors that are going to start when we get near years end. But I'm not going to believe any of it. Because if some sort of an official announcement doesn't come out in late July/ early August, you can kiss the year 2005 goodbye.

What makes me believe CD is done is the fact that recording stopped on the project last year.  Thats the reason all the other members are touring.  If the recording process for CD were still going on, the members would be working on that,  not their own projects.  I'm of the belief that the only thing possibly left on this album would be post-production stuff.  I.E. album cover, mastering, mixing, etc.

[jameslofton29]

Just because recording stopped last year does not mean its finished. It just means CD is at a standstill. We could be in one of Axl's 'not caring' phases. Axl hasnt said its finished. Sanctuary hasn't said its finished. Neither has Geffen/Interscope. And no factual leak has said it. The only people who have said it are Tommy and Dizzy. And they say that every year.

[ppbebe]

Doesn't a certain Mr Adler say he's heard it or something.

I'm quite positive that it won't slow down or speed up the process so much.

[Thorazine Shuffle]

Just because recording stopped last year does not mean its finished. It just means CD is at a standstill. We could be in one of Axl's 'not caring' phases. Axl hasnt said its finished. Sanctuary hasn't said its finished. Neither has Geffen/Interscope. And no factual leak has said it. The only people who have said it are Tommy and Dizzy. And they say that every year.

I see your point.  I also hope you are NOT right.

[jameslofton29]

I hope I'm not right, but I probably am.

[fartinabag]

I hope I'm not right, but I probably am.

Since when did Axl "stop caring"?  Where did you get that info from?  Is it just speculation?  Wide right!

[hyperionmax2003]

Before that riot in Philly during the last tour, didn't Axl say he didn't show up because he was watching a basketball game?  Sounds like he didn't care then.  If he cared about the band and not himself, why does he keep firing ppl that have worked on the new album?  Don't give me the "It's not perfected" crap.  The man has been working on it for years, spending well over 10 million on it (or should i say the label?).  The man has access to anything he wants but yet can't release an album for over 10 years.  The man don't care some of the time , but when he does, he kicks ass.  This change over of company's won't change a thing.  The albumwill be released when he is in the mood or somebody rips the record from his dead corpse.

[estranged.1098]

Before that riot in Philly during the last tour, didn't Axl say he didn't show up because he was watching a basketball game?  Sounds like he didn't care then.

Get your facts straight pal.

[Scabbie]

What makes me believe CD is done is the fact that recording stopped on the project last year.? Thats the reason all the other members are touring.? If the recording process for CD were still going on, the members would be working on that,? not their own projects.? I'm of the belief that the only thing possibly left on this album would be post-production stuff.? I.E. album cover, mastering, mixing, etc.

Robin isn't touring, Tommy is writing/recording a new solo album, Dizzy plays regular shows here and there & Chris Pittman is nowhere to be seen.

Only Brain and Richard appear to be touring, surely there's plenty of opportunity for the others to nip into the studio here and there to rerecord parts or add parts to unfinished songs.