Wow, I just read a news from Yugatech.com that Tsikot.com was offered up to Php100M by MIH – majority owners of Sulit.com.ph. Tsikot.com is an online Filipino community that deals with cars and general auto.
There’s a catch however. Only 10% will be paid in cash – which is Php10Million. The rest will be in installment basis.
If I’m not mistaken, the owner of Tsikot.com is a close friend of my blogger friend Anha. Hhhmmm, very inspiring story.
Here’s the complete article from Yugatech.com
For the close to two years now, MIH (majority owners of Sulit.com.ph) has been trying to buy Tsikot — an online Filipino community/forum focused on cars and general automotive.
According to a source close to the deal, MIH offered “up to” Php100 Million to the founders of Tsikot. But there’s a catch — only 10% will be paid in cash (Php10 Million), straight up.
The rest will be staggered based on the performance and revenues of the site (more like an earn-out which is paid out over time as the acquired company achieves certain levels of sales or profitability).
The initial Php10 Million seemed a bit small and the earn-out for the next 5 years is not guaranteed. Likewise, the acquisition involved 100% of Tsikot (it started out as simple majority at first) so that means the founders will eventually be taken out of the picture completely.
Last week, negotiations fell thru. Tsikot will continue to be run independently and MIH will pursue the car classifieds thru Sulit.com.ph (a move they’ve already been doing for a while now).
MIH has investments in NimBuzz, OLX, Tencent and many other internet and e-commerce sites around the world. The company bought 51% of Sulit.com.ph back in 2009 for an rumored $1 million.
I dunno if that’s a good deal or not considering that Tsikot.com is the leading automotive website in the country. But if ever anything like that will be offered to AAFP Phils, I might sell, haha.
**Update April 26, 2011: The sell didn’t push thru according to one of the founders of Tsikot.com.