Could this be good news for us to return to the Ricoh? (2 Viewers)

BornSlippySkyBlue

Well-Known Member
The company behind Premiership rugby side Wasps and the Ricoh Arena in Coventry is to not meet certain financial covenants under its £35m secured bonds due to the Covifd-19 pandemic, it has been revealed.

Wasps Finance plc, in an update to the London Stock Exchange, said it now anticipates that they will not be satisfied when Wasps Holdings Ltd's audited annual financial results are published for 30 June 2020.

The company said it had been trading in line with expectations during the first nine months of the financial year prior to the lockdown.

The health measures meant the closure of the Ricoh Arena to all events since 21 March, which "had a significant impact on the group's business and operations".

The bonds, set at 6.50 per cent, are due in 2022.

The company added that the group is "reviewing its business strategy for a post-Covid environment and for the long term".

A statement said: "The group's management had prepared for the possibility of lockdown and therefore was able to implement its closedown plan effectively and efficiently.

"Alongside the government support initiatives, including the CJRS and the cash savings as a result of the one year exemption from business rates, together with the deferral of VAT and PAYE payments, management has taken a number of actions to reduce costs, preserve cash and maintain liquidity.

"The board of directors of the issuer, Wasps Holdings Limited and Arena Coventry Limited are actively engaging with relevant stakeholders and pursuing further initiatives to support the group during this period and through to the reopening of the Ricoh Arena.

"As part of its reopening plans, the group is reviewing its business strategy for a post-Covid environment and for the long term.

"The health and well-being of the group's staff and users of the Ricoh Arena remain of paramount importance.

"Prior to lockdown, the group had been adhering to government guidelines and implementing social distancing measures.

"During the lockdown, it has continued to follow the latest official guidance at the Ricoh Arena and elsewhere across its business.

"The group has a comprehensive reopening plan in place, with detailed operating procedures to ensure team member and visitor health and wellbeing.

"It has already held a number of positive conversations with customers already impacted by the government restrictions and successfully rescheduled a number of events to 2021.

"This is in anticipation of the public health restrictions being relaxed leading to the gradual reopening of the Ricoh Arena."
 

pastythegreat

Well-Known Member
HOME



NEWS



MIDLANDS

Advertisement
[https://static]

[https://servedby]

WASPS TO MISS COVENANTS OVER £35M BONDS

3 Jul 2020 Midlands Business Jon Robinson

[https://www]
The company behind Premiership rugby side Wasps and the Ricoh Arena in Coventry is to not meet certain financial covenants under its £35m secured bonds due to the Covifd-19 pandemic, it has been revealed.
Wasps Finance plc, in an update to the London Stock Exchange, said it now anticipates that they will not be satisfied when Wasps Holdings Ltd's audited annual financial results are published for 30 June 2020.
The company said it had been trading in line with expectations during the first nine months of the financial year prior to the lockdown.
The health measures meant the closure of the Ricoh Arena to all events since 21 March, which "had a significant impact on the group's business and operations".
The bonds, set at 6.50 per cent, are due in 2022.
The company added that the group is "reviewing its business strategy for a post-Covid environment and for the long term".
A statement said: "The group's management had prepared for the possibility of lockdown and therefore was able to implement its closedown plan effectively and efficiently.
"Alongside the government support initiatives, including the CJRS and the cash savings as a result of the one year exemption from business rates, together with the deferral of VAT and PAYE payments, management has taken a number of actions to reduce costs, preserve cash and maintain liquidity.
"The board of directors of the issuer, Wasps Holdings Limited and Arena Coventry Limited are actively engaging with relevant stakeholders and pursuing further initiatives to support the group during this period and through to the reopening of the Ricoh Arena.
"As part of its reopening plans, the group is reviewing its business strategy for a post-Covid environment and for the long term.
"The health and well-being of the group's staff and users of the Ricoh Arena remain of paramount importance.
"Prior to lockdown, the group had been adhering to government guidelines and implementing social distancing measures.
"During the lockdown, it has continued to follow the latest official guidance at the Ricoh Arena and elsewhere across its business.
"The group has a comprehensive reopening plan in place, with detailed operating procedures to ensure team member and visitor health and wellbeing.
"It has already held a number of positive conversations with customers already impacted by the government restrictions and successfully rescheduled a number of events to 2021.
"This is in anticipation of the public health restrictions being relaxed leading to the gradual reopening of the Ricoh Arena."



Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
 

Covkid1968#

Well-Known Member
Hiding behind C19. It’s undoubtedly had a huge and adverse impact but it just feels they are throwing every issue their flawed business model has into the same pot. Ultimately they have a stadium they can’t afford because Rugby below International is just not that lucrative
 

matesx

Well-Known Member
I was hoping they'd have packed up and gone by now... I guess we all feel the same way.
 

Evo1883

Well-Known Member
I was hoping they'd have packed up and gone by now... I guess we all feel the same way.

Alot do, I'd be interested to know now of the 11-13000 that attend home matches, how many are from Coventry... Less than 20% anybody, can't be many
 

Covstu

Well-Known Member
I was hoping they'd have packed up and gone by now... I guess we all feel the same way.
Yep but not going to happen so I guess the best we can hope for is that they are financially struggling so more likely to cut a decent deal. I suppose for the club it’s about weighing up other options should this not be an option again I.e. could we got back to SA or not as an alternative?
 

pastythegreat

Well-Known Member
Alot do, I'd be interested to know now of the 11-13000 that attend home matches, how many are from Coventry... Less than 20% anybody, can't be many
11-13k for home matches? I don't think they managed more than 6-7k this season!

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
 

Evo1883

Well-Known Member
11-13k for home matches? I don't think they managed more than 6-7k this season!

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

In the league? Shocking... I know they get alot more for European matches in the past.. Either way Coventry have already shunned them by the looks of it
 

pastythegreat

Well-Known Member
In the league? Shocking... I know they get alot more for European matches in the past.. Either way Coventry have already shunned them by the looks of it
Yeah. They had figures of 12k upwards, but just look at photos! They're clearly counting all free tickets taken rather than actual people through the turnstiles. A lot like we had 28k at the Accrington game a few years back

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
 

Colin Steins Smile

Well-Known Member
A bond paying 6.5% interest pre-Covid19 looked like financial suicide before the lockdown. Post lockdown it looks like an episode from Monty Python.
By 2022, unless something dramatic happens the business model Wasps has employed will unravel.
 

shepardo01

Well-Known Member
A bond paying 6.5% interest pre-Covid19 looked like financial suicide before the lockdown. Post lockdown it looks like an episode from Monty Python.
By 2022, unless something dramatic happens the business model Wasps has employed will unravel.
Imagine if that unravelling is the (unplanned) grand finale of the "City of culture" year (now running mid 21 to mid 22 due to C19!)
Just imagine!....
Although I don't think I can wait until 2022....
Hope it "unravels" much sooner...
 

Sky Blue Pete

Well-Known Member
All evidence points to a company in need of a commercially beneficial agreement for a major sporting club to move back in. Seems like a no brainer for them
 

jordan210

Well-Known Member
All evidence points to a company in need of a commercially beneficial agreement for a major sporting club to move back in. Seems like a no brainer for them

Each day that goes by. It feels like the odds are turning in our favour. Im sure the big bods at our club have a strategy.
 

KG7

Well-Known Member
If I were the club I would be looking at a temporary deal at The Butts to get us back in the city and see us through the start of next season before fans are allowed back.
 

pastythegreat

Well-Known Member
If I were the club I would be looking at a temporary deal at The Butts to get us back in the city and see us through the start of next season before fans are allowed back.
Butts is a no! Has been for over a year. Doesn't meet guidelines.

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
 

SkyBlueCRJ

Well-Known Member
I nearly spat my tea out at this line:

The company said it had been trading in line with expectations during the first nine months of the financial year prior to the lockdown.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top