If ever there was a time to let out an almighty Star Wars Episode III style cry of “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!“, it's this article which has just come to my attention: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200509/s1451960.htm.
My lack of business knowledge prevents me from understanding quite how they can do this – I realise a hostile takeover usually means acquiring the shares from individual shareholders and bypassing board decisions and soforth, but I was under the impression that the Cooper family owned most of the shares anyway ?
I truly hope (as do the Cooper family) that this doesn't happen – it's bad enough having your childhood memories torn down as the buildings and places associated with them get sold and turned into townhouses and apartments, but I'd be devestated if a perfectly functional, highly profitable and world-renowned South Australian icon was clawed into the empire of another moneygrubbing multinational.
Don't let it happen !