Jennings takeover - Aaarrgh!!!!!!

If Jennings are talking about being taken over, who would you prefer?

A brewery with a track record of putting money into specific brands and shipping those around the rest of its estate or a closure merchant?

Lesser of evils if you will.

yeah but..

no but...

yeah.....

Will W&D be more or less likely to close the brewery than Robinson's (as in Hartleys)? Answers on a postcard please...

Brian

Er, less I think. For one thing Hartleys was falling to bits whereas Jennings is pretty well-equipped and up to date. And (whisper it) Jennings beers are far more popular in their locality than Hartleys beers were.

John C

If you think about the "business case" for W&D Jennings represents brewing and delivery capacity in an area that is out of their normal coverage, for Robinsons then the other breweries close by a straight competition for capacity.

Think about W&D and Camerons vs W&D and Mansfield (given the existence of Marstons)

Though if we're looking at track records - as well as keeping Marston's alive, W&D did close Mansfield a few years ago (quite well-equipped brewery IIRC). cheers MikeMcG

Quite true - but I think that they closed Mansfield as some sort of macho posture when they were threatened with a takeover bid. There are lots of assurances flying around about Jennings and I am inclined to believe them (for the next five years or so, anyway). I think it's unlikely all the Jennings beers will survive, though (drink the Mild now while you can!).

John C

Sadly drink any mild now while you can :-(

W&D may well _say_ that they won't close Jennings, but didn't S&N say they wouldn't close Matthew Brown? Not that I'm equating W&D with S&N (AKA ampersand) god forbid!

Brian

We are looking at mounting a similar campaign - same area - only 8 miles away!

How can I get hold of shareholders' names and addresses for direct mailshots?

I am a shareholder myself - does it help?

Don't know if this will help - didn't look any further

KeithS

Following on from Chris de Cordova's message. . .

Anyone is entitled to this (for a fee - back of my mind says £8/1000 but don't quote me). In the first place phone the company secretary and say that's what you're about and how many shareholders have they got and take it from there. The legislation you need is the companies act which isn't as difficult as all that or a book on company law. Don't get ordinary solicitors involved - IME they are worse than useless.

Also follow up "rights of minority shareholders".

Realistically, I am afraid you are pissing in the wind on that one. I suspect W&D know that with family interests plus the Robinson's stake they already have 50% in the bag.

Hmmm, I thought the directors shareholding was actually less than the CAMRA investments holding. Maybe that was misinformation.