If You See Pat, Tell 'Im.

[douglas9401]

Obviously a canny business move by experts to sell a loss-making venture.

One might pause and ask why someone would part with FIVE BILLION POUNDS for something that's a dead duck though.

Not another Panorama or Dispatches programme for the future, surely.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4nn0n93zj4o

[ToraToraTora]

Why is it a dead duck? Delivery is huge these days. The high st is dying, everyone gets everything delivered. So the guy is buying a delivery business, sounds like a sensible investment to me.

[douglas9401]

"But the company's performance in recent years has deteriorated, leading to heavy financial losses..."

[ToraToraTora]

....so it's been poorly run. The guy clearly sees an opportunity.

[youngmafbog]

Businesses can be turned around with the right stewardship.  What is being bought here is a business which has a huge 'following' which is worth its weight in Gold.  Building up such a standing would take a decade.

[douglas9401]

In other news, man refuses to 'ave a day off'.

[Old_Geezer]

Isn't the Mail the letters side ? In which case that must be more a burden to try to run at a decent price due to the use of the Internet and e-mail. It seems to be something better owned and subsidised by government as a public service. I suspect a new buyer would have to look for additional funding, maybe from a government keen to not see it fail. That'd boost the return for the owners. The business already seems to be in a precarious situation.

[Old_Geezer]

Of course, given the fate of some other privatisations, he may just be interested in asset stripping and then selling up. One wonders what protections have been put in place.

[gulliver1]

Douglas 09.52..lol🤣

[Togo]

The Czech is in the post.