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OP in HK – Day 3 – Desperately Seeking Suen Pt 1
Birmingham International Holdings have been in negotiation with Trillion Trophy Asia now for nearly a year for the sale of the holding company and/or Birmingham City FC. Very little is known about TTA – a situation I aimed to rectify today.
To recap, it was back in June 2015 that TTA signed a two year exclusivity period with BIH to complete the takeover. This gave the BVI-registered company a long period of time without interruption from other potential bidders to get the deal over the line.
Very little is known about TTA – it was only when documents for the mortgage placed upon St Andrew’s which formed the security for the loan TTA made to BIH that gave us any idea of who were behind TTA – as reported on this site in August last year.
This confirmed the HK address of Trillion Trophy Asia – Great Eagle Centre in Wanchai, and later in the document the beneficial owner of TTA was listed as Paul Suen Cho Hung.
Mr Suen has never been photographed by the press and his picture isn’t online anywhere. Today, I went along to the Great Eagle Centre to try and find out more about him and TTA.
I’ll be honest and say that if Mr Suen hadn’t deigned to grant any member of the press here in Hong Kong an interview, I didn’t expect him to give one to some hairy-arsed Blues fan from Kingshurst; something I was proven right about. However, I did get to speak to a spokesman for TTA, who while wasn’t able to go into any detail due to confidentiality was able to give some comments for publication.
I was told that TTA were very aware of the “love the fans have for the club” and that they agreed that investment would be needed to improve the squad and push for promotion. When I asked for some assurance on the takeover I was told that “[the fans] should be patient and Keep Right On”.
I have always said that I can only ever speak for myself and I wouldn’t presume to tell people what to think about TTA. All I can give is my honest impressions of what I was told and leave judgment of that to the individual reader.
My own gut instinct is one of cautious optimism; like BIH yesterday they definitely expected me to visit (someone was out to see me within 15 seconds of arrival) but unlike past dealings with BIH under the previous board, I wasn’t immediately shooed away. I expected them to tell me they couldn’t talk about things due to confidentiality and HKSE regulations but I didn’t expect them to say anything else; for them to do so was a pleasant surprise.
I did say to their spokesman that from my own viewpoint I would like to see someone from TTA speak to the media following any possible takeover to give an idea of what they were intending to do with the club – I personally think the veil of secrecy for so long causes uncertainty and doubt and I think even if Mr Suen doesn’t want to do it himself, a face, a point of contact for TTA would be good to help show they really aren’t just another faceless investment vehicle.
Later on today I’ll be posting a video of what I else I’ve found out about Paul Suen including some extra bits I’ve not mentioned here.
This trip wouldn’t have happened without the support of Blues fans including: Richard Wildsmith, “Eudyptula”, David Pugh, Art Watson, Roger Hooper, Gordon Fletcher, Gary Loveridge, Michael Hancox, G Miles, Neil Pouney, the Blues Trust, Blues Middle East, PJ Planning, Open Tax Services and many others.
Tags: BIH, HKSE, The Takeover, Trillion Trophy Asia
23 Responses to “OP in HK – Day 3 – Desperately Seeking Suen Pt 1”
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Interesting even the kro quote shows that there has been investigation into the club and kro has its own importance.
They do realise some investment is needed and whilst not giving you an in depth interview they didn’t move you away.
Only food for thought I know but a single eye brow has risen.
Thanks Dan kro
There are photographs of Paul Suen Cho Hung on Google DAN , on google Paul Suen Cho Hung IMAGES , best of luck DAN .. ….KRO
Yes, definitely a picture of him.
No there isn’t… they’re not him. They’re on articles related to him, but they’re not him.
HTH
Well done thus far Dan and good luck with your investigations. Thanks you for your endeavours mate. KRO.
Very encouraging report.
probably being nice Daniel hoping you go way….. patient KRO how long your patient Daniel??
they are very aware of the fans,be patient, Kro……and massive investment is coming, why all the long faces…………
A quick Google search finds he is Chairman of Mission Capital Holdings Ltd (page 26 – http://www.chhk.hk/apro2015/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2015_AP_guestlist_eng.pdf ). If you Google the phone number on that page it brings up this company (http://hk.kompass.com/c/poly-development-holdings-ltd/hk055695/) which is the same address, floor and room as TTA.
Believe it or not, there are 12 companies I found at that address… (I use better sources than Google too)
Cheers Dan great stuff
Panos did say that he was in regular contact with TTA & from the little bit they did say to you it’s pretty obvious he is. I don’t suppose they made any indication that any investment in the club would be forthcoming Dan or are you not allowed to say?.
As Dan says this should be met with quiet/cautious optimism. TTA say that they are aware of the need for investment and aware of the love the fans have for our great club. The loan with St Andrews against it concerns me but maybe this loan on St Andrews would be written off should/when TTA complete full takeover. Clearly already TTA’s investment has had a positive effect – i.e increased wages for likes of Lafferty, Shotton, Buckley, Fabbrini etc…also increased wages / contracts for some existing playing staff. I think once the EGM has taken place…TTA will let a little more info out of the bag…I hope.
It seems that the show is definitely still on the road with regard to the takeover and TT aren’t getting cold feet which was the situation we didn’t want when St Andrews is up as collateral on the loans.This Paul Suen is certainly a mysterious character and it sounds like getting a meeting with the Queen would be easier Dan.Keep up the good work and we’re all behind you awaiting more updates.
Sorry about the false mug shots DAN …..Hung drawn and quartered as they say , ..Nice of him to let somebody else have the silver bullet . mind you at the company Environment energy international holdings limited they do list the board unless they are the janitor , cleaners or the bloke at the newspaper stall outside …..No flies in the web there then Dan best of luck…..
They list the board at every single listed company William, it’s a legal requirement.
It’s all about context – look at pages the images come from and it’ll explain why they have used that image. Searching Google is more than just tapping a name and getting an answer…
I find it amusing that you are telling TTA what to do and speak to the fans through the media when they take us over. Don’t you think they probably know all that and will? Did you ask who their favourite player is ?
I think Mr Ivery is doing a sterling job. Obviously the floodgates of information haven’t opened unto us… but we know more than we did yesterday and the day before that. Every little bit of info is progress. Well done OP.
Very impressive DAN……KRO
I was sad to learn today of the death of David (Sugar) Robinson who made over 100 appearances for Blues in the the late 60’s and early 70’s.
I went to school with him in Bartley Green and he was an outstanding player.
I am sure I speak for all Blues fans when I send sincere condolences to David’s family. RIP
Keep going Dan. Good insight so far.
Enjoy HK
Thanks OP the only media I believe
[…] and about the impending potential buyout by Paul Suen and Trillion Trophy Asia. If you remember on Tuesday. they told me that they knew the fans loved the club – but I wondered after speaking to my […]