NTL bought out
 

Does everyone know NTL was brought by Centrica earlier in the year, I found out when my sister told me about her discount on her NTL bill (she works for british gas also owned by Centrica). This is how all the recent investments were funded.

Re: NTL brought out
 

Really? Why wasn't it shouted from the roof tops by Centrica then?

Sure it wasn't just a major investment?

Re: NTL brought out
 

No they own NTL I asked my sister the same question and she said centrica don't want people to know (yet).

Re: NTL brought out
 

it must have been an investment. maybe part of some long-term plan
if centrica bought ntl out, then ntl would not be listed on the Nasdaq as NTL Incorporated (NTLI). and it would have been big news.
:)

EDIT:
shareholders of ntl would have been told :erm: . maybe centrica is a shareholder of ntl, there would have been some coverage if centrica bought ntl...in fact a lot
:D

Re: NTL brought out
 

What he said. :)

Re: NTL brought out
 

:LOL:

Bit early for a April Fools Joke

Re: NTL brought out
 

My brothers first wifes boyfriend regularly goes for a pee in NTLs loo and he telephoned a number he found written on the cubicle wall. This turned out to be Simon Duffys office cleaner who told him to invest in NTL Inc as they were being listed in the NASDAQ 100 Index effective from the beginning of trading on Monday, December 20th 2004. The NASDAQ-100 Index is composed of the 100 largest non-financial stocks listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market based on market capitalization. On 10 December, the last trading day before this announcement, ntl's market capitalization was $6,148m. He had also heard a rumour that Centrica had been getting high on sniffing British Gas but it had turned out to be a lot of hot air. With these facts coming from such a reliable source I can only presume that your sister has told you a load of cr@p.

Re: NTL brought out
 

It would also be with the Monopolies and Mergers Commision I imagine as Centrica are already in the telecoms business. Buying a stake a mentioned is more likely.

Re: NTL brought out
 

Could this be a case of to much Christmas sherry :LOL:

Re: NTL brought out
 

:rofl:

That just made my day :)

Re: NTL brought out
 

certainly something toxic :disturbd: :D :D :D :D

Re: NTL brought out
 

yeah! "brought out" - what does this mean?

Re: NTL brought out
 

Gas via co-ax interesting concept. :)

Re: NTL brought out
 

Bit like 'outed' - ask dellwear ;)

Re: NTL brought out
 

They have been outed here!

Re: NTL brought out
 

:LOL:

Re: NTL brought out
 

Seeing as a quick search on both the Financial Times and BBC news sites turned up NOTHING linking the two companies, I would tend to believe there is another explanation for the discount. Possibly that NTL have some sort of arrangement where Centrica subsidises discounts for it's employees?

Before you say the deal is secret, bear in mind that any such takeover would require the consent of at least the shareholders, and possibly the Monopolies and mergers commission. I doubt it would be possible for any two companies that size to merge in secret. The amount of people involved in such a deal would make it difficult.

Also, wouldn't the NTL staff have been notified (I believe it's a legal requirement)?

Re: NTL brought out
 

I certainly have not been told anything. But that means nothing :LOL:

Over use of christmas :beer: in Leics springs to mind. :rofl:

There again we might all be wrong. but does that mean pigs will fly

Re: NTL brought out
 

My guess is someone is confusing ntl with Cable & Wireless, because Centrica recently struck a major deal with cable & Wireless:

http://networks.silicon.com/telecoms...9123627,00.htm

Re: NTL brought out
 

STOP PRESS - Scottish Power acquire Telewest in secret Xmas deal

Sources today reveal that as well as the above take-over, industry insiders are geared to welcome the new cozy arrangement with Powergen & BT.

Consumers nationwide are urged to check compatability for all plugs prior to connecting them to a random socket.

Re: NTL brought out
 

lol

Re: NTL brought out
 

Centrica own one.tel afaik, their interests are well beyond just gas.

Re: NTL brought out
 

:rofl: very funny...

I especially like the bit "2 weeks we've been waiting for are f'in TV Phone and Internet." and that as a result of this delay they have to go into university to access the internet. What sort of university allows students who don't even know the difference between are and our..? :confused:

Re: NTL brought out
 

Lots :rolleyes:

Re: NTL brought out
 

It would have to have been announced on the relevant stock exchange and it hasnt. BTW its BOUGHT not brought!! grrrrrrrrrrrrr

Re: NTL brought out
 

I've noticed Chrysalis hasn't replied to this thread since. :D

Re: NTL brought out
 

Sadly...

Re: NTL brought out
 

Also they owned Alcoholics Anonymous up until October 2004.

http://www.centrica.co.uk/index.asp?...107&newsid=443

Re: NTL brought out
 

Been out all day visiting family, as its still christmas period.

Here is what I have been told, my sister has been getting a discount since summer and everyone in her office was told centrica brought NTL, however she might have got this wrong since some valid points have been raised, maybe centrica brought a slice of NTL and not the whole company.

But think about this.

Her discount is a STAFF discount.
NTL recieved investment this year on its network, supposedbly from refinancing itself, but you dont go from near bankruptcy to super rich in such a short time period this money has came from someone else.
The attitude of the people in the know suggests they know something but they cant say.
I cannot drink due to an alergy and I am not drunk :)

Re: NTL brought out
 

When I worked for my local hospital, I got a staff discount at the local leisure centres. Didn't mean that the NHS trust was running the leisure centres. Even now, I can apparently get a staff discount at David Lloyd leisure centres. Doesn't mean the Uni I work at own David Lloyd..
Actually, NTL was refinanced in around 2001 to 2002. IIRC, the money came from Venture Capitalists and large city banks, and NTL spent several years rationalising costs and trying to sell more services to existing customers rather than going after new customers (to maximise their return per customer). Maybe we are seeing the payoff from those savings, together with the staff redundancies?

The thing is, a sale of this size would be impossible to hide. As has been stated, at the very least, NTL's shareholders would have had to have voted on it, therefore it would have been mentioned in at least the Financial times, if not the rest of the press.

I am not saying it's not possible, but I doubt it would have happened as quietly as you are saying it has.

Re: NTL brought out
 

I will tell you what

If this is true i will show my butt in the trafford centre on a saturday afternoon. I am sorry but i have never heard a bigger load of tosh in my whole life. Centrica buys out NTL or a large slice of it and there is not a word on the net in the press or anywhere else apart from on this web site. Come on do you hate NTL that much that you have to start story's about them. Give us the proof. I for one will ask some questions of poeple in the know. I am willing to put my money where my mouth is on this one.

I think you will find that this is about Cable and wireless NOT Ntl. So come on prove me wrong.

Give us the proof that centrica has full control of NTL or a very large amount of it.

if i am wrong i will never post on here again and i will show my butt in the Trafford centre. Now there is something for you a chance to get rid of the enemy

Re: NTL brought out
 

With respect Chrysalis every post of yours on this forum has been tosh im afraid.

I work for NTL and Centrica did not buy the company.

end.

Re: NTL brought out
 

Please do not make personal remarks, any more will be deleted.

Re: NTL brought out
 

Yes, it came from Huff Associates - one of the Huffs owns 13% via his own company and his friends own most of the rest, the same as Telewest. If Centrica want to put some money in, fine, but they'll have to go along with what the Huffs say, same as everyone else in ntl these days. They've payed the piper, and they're calling the tune.

The clincher for me that this is tosh is that I cannot understand why a deal would be so secret that no business journalist would have heard of it, yet ordinary staff at British Gas not only know but are free to talk about it. Doesn't add up.

Re: NTL brought out
 

I am not making it up, I am just saying what I heard, if it is wrong I am sorry but I gain nothing from making lies.

Is there any actual shareholders here? if not then you dont know what they have been told.

Centrica have either brought ntl or brought a ton of shares, as soon as I can I will ask my sister again to try and find out more, if anyone is interested.

Re: NTL brought out
 

Yes, I'd say the business reporting community would leak such information before, or at the same time any deal, secret or otherwise had been made. I'm sure Chrysalis will be able to clarify the situation when he chats with his/her sister again.

It's worth poining out too, that Centrica would have needed to invest heavily considering that the current ntl share price is trading around the $70 mark

Re: NTL brought out
 

Be careful with promises like that!

In February 2004 when the restructures were announced, I voiced my opinion at work that we would be made redundant soon. My team leader said that was wrong and that she'd dance naked Manchester city centre if it happened.

In April 2004 we were told we would be made redundant. I did remind her of her promise but was unable to hold her to it.

Re: NTL brought out
 

I stand by what i said :LOL:

Re: NTL brought out
 

I think I am correct to say that Centrica can buy up to 19.99% of a UK company without having to declare it to the London Exchange but NTL is NASDAQ listed so the rules over the pond might be different.

Also it makes sense that Centrica buys into NTL: it can sell gas+elect+BB+tv combos as Centrica is really a marketing company with a huge database (British Gas). And in the other hand Centrica owns onetel a virtual telcom...

Re: NTL brought out
 

How do you know that Chrysalis's sister is "ordinary"?

Re: NTL brought out
 

This thread is going nowhere. :rolleyes:

<unsubscribe>

Re: NTL brought out
 

quite , round and round and round it goes , does it matter , do i care anymore , unsubs as well :(

Re: NTL brought out
 

I am sorry but there is no way Centrica could get away with buying NTL and there not being a single word anywhere about it. With all the press NTL have had about there refinancing someone somewhere would have published it.

I have tried loads of different searches in google and nothing absolutely zip

Re: NTL brought out
 

If you know anything at all about shares then have a look at http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_rep...&selected=NTLI from which it can be quite clearly seen that Centrica have neither bought NTL or even bought a significant shareholding in it.

Re: NTL brought out
 

Thank you that will do nicely. I dont have to show my butt in the trafford centre then :LOL:

Re: NTL brought out
 

Centrica Telecommunications currently has around 1.5 million customer accounts (they recently bought Telco global ). I spoke to a gal at Centrica Media Relations 01753 494085 (they paged her, she called me back) and she said that she did not hear anything about purchasing NTL stock but she will check with Centrica US and come back to me as the purchase will have been routed via them.

Re: NTL brought out
 

She just called, Centica US has made no purchases of NTL stock as far they know. Her name: Nicole Jones.

Re: NTL brought out
 

ok, thread can be closed?

Re: NTL brought out
 

I thought Bill C might bare his butt for the sheer fun of it? :D

Re: NTL brought out
 

Trust me you dont want that :LOL:

Re: NTL brought out
 

Does that mean that this thread can be bought to an end.:rolleyes: ;) :)

Re: NTL brought out
 

GOOD ONE :tu: ;)

Re: NTL brought out
 

C'mon then close it. :D

Re: NTL brought out
 

Why close it?

Leave it as a testmonial to those that are so overcome by the desire to be anti something that they are prepared to publish anything to get attention.

Re: NTL brought out
 

I was wondering what had happened in the 4 days I've been off work :eek: :erm:

Re: NTL brought out
 

Nothing substantiated ;)

Re: NTL brought out
 

When you go back in, see if you can get a staff discount from British Gas... ;) :D

Re: NTL brought out
 

Open Letter to British Gas

Sirs,

As a long standing customer, and following the recent revelations in this thread <http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=21910> I wish to apply for a discount on my NTL bill for the following reasons.

1. Your telephone operatives are more incompetent than those at NTL, BT and indeed at any other communications company I have ever dealt with. Please note this includes all the major UK mobile providers (Hutchinson Telecoms included)

2. Your continued failure to send out 'a little man' to read the utility meters at this address as least once a year is a sign that yet again your 'cost cutting' exercise has reached another low and once more the customers are being forced to do the work of your staff.
I rue the day when my main gas or indeed electricity supply cables need renewing or indeed any repair on them is neccesitated. I expect to find the necessary tools dumped on my doorstep at the time of the appointment with a set if instructions written by your 'outsourced' staff in some foreign clime.

3. As an NTL customer of long standing (who has yet to blag any sort of freebie) I also apply for an additional discount for any loss of service or general annoyance to myself which may occur during the time I choose to maintain to use the aforesaid company for my perfectly legal internet use, telephony services and the reception of the (fully) paid for cable television service

Yours etc

Disgruntled of Leicester

Re: NTL brought out
 

..I'm on Centrica's payroll, and like you have not heard anything about Centrica buying out NTL. As soon as Centrica were in the position to buy TheAA and then sell it again, we were informed at quite an early stage. So unless I go back after the Christmas break, and find the Car park full of NTL Engineer Vans, I will assume this story has no substantial roots. :p:

Re: NTL bought out
 

Not forgetting of course that both Centrica and NTL are publicly listed companies and financial dealings of that kind have to be announced publicly. If they had been holding unofficial talks and so much as a squeak of it got out, it would have influenced the share price of one or both companies and the respective stock markets would have instructed them to make a statement.

None of this has happened, ergo this rumour is just baseless gossip.

Oh, and I've edited the thread title. Bad grammar sets my teeth on edge.

Re: NTL bought out
 

Firstly I am not taking any notice of idle gossip here!

I just wanted to point out as a side issue, that I worked for a publicly listed company that was bought by another publicly listed company. I like many other employees could tell you we found out when an employee read it as an announcement on Teletext during the working day! :shocked:

I remember one of the local managers phoning the regional manager who knew nothing about it, in turn he phoned the general manager who knew nothing, he phoned a director and the director firstly denied it but then phoned back to confirm it as fact.

I am not trying to put any fuel on the fire of any silly claims in this thread, but just pointing out that employees, even senior managers can be some of the last people to know especially in quite large companies when such a deal is underway.

Re: NTL bought out
 

This thread has just been a smoke screen to hide the true identity of the buyer of NTL. The new owner is keeping the name NTL which is now short for Nizza Telecommunications Limited. Mr Crayne, the new CEO, is reported to have said that he just had to buy the company because of its excellent track record with industry leading products backed by a really impressive customer services operation.

Re: NTL bought out
 

:rofl: :D:D

Re: NTL bought out
 

well it looks like I am wrong, but I dont like been accused of deliberatly making stuff up, I posted what I thought was right with the intention of simply sharing information, I will try and get my sister to find out more about what she was told, but she isn't back at work yet due to a illness.

Also to add I nether hate or love NTL, I will slag NTL off when I feel they deserve it and pat them on the back when I feel they deserve it, this posting was neither it was just passing on news which turned out to be inaccurate.

Re: NTL bought out
 

It was very much the same when I (well, my employer) got bought out five years ago. This actually serves to illustrate the point I was making. Dealings of this kind, where one or both parties are listed, must of necessity be top secret until they are announced officially. And when they are announced officially, that announcement has to be made to the stock exchange. It's the law, pure and simple. I work in employee communications so I'm aware that teletext, radio, whatever can often be the place the staff eventually find out, but this is simply because once the initial announcement is made in the City, or Wall Street, or wherever, the mass media often gets the message out faster than a company's in-house communications team can.

Re: NTL bought out
 

You are quite right, Neil C was the first to "out" NTL, the way back machine kept a record of it:

NTL are gay

(Forget the cow, look at the page title)

Re: NTL bought out
 

LoL well spotted, nice first post :)

Re: NTL bought out
 

Very funny....:rolleyes:

Why have you registered here with a username that is an anagram of my name?-Was it just to comment on the 'ntl are gay' note? (I doubt it somehow)

I smell a troll here people......

Re: NTL bought out
 

Someone with no life obviously Neil, how many anagrams has this immature person done now of different names to provoke you, how originally unfunny, how stupid... How much deleted? Answer: Very much deleted! Now stay away Miss Idiot, thats a good boy. :dozey:

Re: NTL bought out
 

Hey Craig, how's it going?

Re: NTL bought out
 

He's obviously got nothing better to do.

Saying that I'm surprised Townys not here! Must be slipping! :erm:

Re: NTL bought out
 

at 1:30am - i would think he's sleeping :zzz:

Re: NTL bought out
 

Normally the smell of a troll can wake him at 100 yards ;)

Re: NTL bought out
 

Told you, the weathwers too warm for the time of year and all the 'under bridgers' are coming out of hibernation a bit early. Someone slap the poikilothermic thing back in the freezer till May and get it's cycles back in sync

Re: NTL bought out
 

Man, your teeth must really hurt some days then :p: Was it the recent tidal wave that flushed this latest bridge dweller out into the open??

Re: NTL bought out
 

Awww I'm dissapointed :( I only reqad this cos i heard a rumour that Bill C was gonna flash his behind in the Trafford centre and as I have never been there I booked a ticket on Virgin trains just to see the best entertainment.:rolleyes:


Oh well guess I'm gonna have to wait till the end of next year.

Sian

Re: NTL bought out
 

I refer the honerable member from Barry, South Wales to post 50 above :)

Re: NTL bought out
 

I think WE are safe.But just in case perhaps you need to get along to the local health spa place and use the sunbed for a while. ;)

Re: NTL bought out
 

I've read through most the thread but not all so apologies if this has been explained before. I believe there are two possible explanations

1) ntl sold off its ConsumerCo Indirect telephony business a few years ago to one of the power companies, so it may be something to do with that.

2) Centrica may be in a deal with ntl so that their staff get a discount, ntl and several other companies (Lloyds TSB for one) have all joined together to bring a staff benefits and discounts programme. 20% of admissions to Alton towers, cheap ex-fleet cars, 10% of HMZ etc, etc.

It's probably most likely no.2.

Re: NTL bought out
 

You booked a ticket on Virgin Trains to see this?

I booked a ticket on Virgin Galactic to try and avoid seeing it!

Re: NTL bought out
 

You made a wise choice :D

Re: NTL bought out
 

You didn't! Best hope no-one is looking for somewhere to park a bike if you end up doing it :p:

Re: NTL bought out
 

:LOL:

Re: NTL bought out
 

Maybe just maybe the service to the customer might get better? :confused:

Re: NTL bought out
 

Is there a bike parking problem in central Manchester?

Re: NTL bought out
 

What, if Bill C drops his trousers in the Trafford centre?:D

Re: NTL bought out
 

Just the opposite I'd imagine. All those 'upset shoppers' rushing home to email 'The Press' about the new bike rack installed indoors at the TC

Re: NTL bought out
 

You can see the headlines:

"Bike rack not all its cracked up to be"

"Commuter gets off Tram, but somehow misses his slot at new bike park facilty"

Re: NTL bought out
 

Oh God what have I started :)

Re: NTL bought out
 

If people don't like the sight of the bike rack they could always put a cap on it. :D :D

Re: NTL bought out
 

Harley Davidson Owner Unhappy:
"I carefully placed my front tyre centrally between the upright markers, but when I chained my hot exhaust pipe to the supporting leg, the whole structure wobbled and keeled over, wrecking my £12000 Pride & Joy"

Re: NTL bought out
 

Possibly true :erm: :D

However, sadly for me, the smell of a troll can't increase the speed of a 56k modem, and seeing as I've been working from home during the festive period I've been far less able to get online during my breaks. :(

But now I'm back, I can see this thread hasn't got very far in any case. Seeing as the title is provocative and promises more than the second half of the thread actually delivers, I think it's time to put it out of its misery. Much as I'd love to hear more about Bill C dropping his kecks outside that temple of commerce that is the Trafford Centre. :disturbd:

Closed!