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Andrew Neil wants £750,000 from UA

23.06.08

PFD's new chairman Andrew Neil says that he wants £750,000 from rival agency United Agents. In an interview with the Independent, Neil also adds that he does not intend to do a deal over the agency's backlists. "My first job is to get my money back," he says of UA, adding that many of the outstanding legal issues can be quite easily settled by the lawyers. But on the backlists of those authors who have moved to UA, he confirms: "I will not do a deal on this one."

Neil tells the newspaper that he got PFD for a song, after all the rumours and defections at the agency, and will be using the backlist to ensure a return on his investment. Neil declares: "Even if we had a man sitting in a garage in Ealing doing nothing but look after the backlist of the rights, we would make enough money to cover the deal – and more." For good measure, he adds: "We don't even need to invest more money for our future plans – not yet anyway. This business is hugely cash generative. Quite good considering the economy right now."

Despite hopes that the buyout would help ease tensions between the two agencies, according to the Independent Neil is spoiling for a fight. Neil is looking to get back £750,000 from United Agents. "They have withheld money from our backlist which makes up 30 per cent of the claims," he says.

 

Independent

PFD Agents Home Caroline Michel United Agents Andrew Neil

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By Clive Keeble

In my opinion, too many striking similarities between Andrew Neil/PFD and Mike Dolan/B&T - confrontation rather than reasoned negotiation. Dolan's exit at B&T ends with 287 (unpaid)redundant workers, and a once proud business in receivership ; let's hope that Andrew Neil is a little more circumspect.

23 Jun 08 10:17

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By Retired Publisher

Who is Clive Keeble ? Is he the voice/conscience of the booktrade ?

23 Jun 08 13:55

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By NorthernLad

He is the inventor of the cheese-powered book.

23 Jun 08 14:48

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By puzzled author

I don't get it,: if Neil is looking to get £750,000 from the United Agents, and thinks that 30% is from "withheld money from our backlist" -- what is the other £525,000 he's claiming made up of? Were they all fired? How can you sue them for getting fired?

23 Jun 08 17:38

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By Claudia Shaffer

Mr Neil may be "looking to get back £750,000 from United Agents" but my sister Cressida and I, beneficiaries of our late father Anthony "Sleuth, Wicker Man, Death on the Nile, Sommersby" 's Estate, whose Literary Estate and Company that handled his literary properties and film Denouement were represented by those who've since departed (the world, Mr Kenneth Ewing) and PFD (for United Agents, Ms Rose Cobbe, Mr Tim Corrie, Ms Caroline Dawnay, Mr Giles Smart, Ms Nicki Stoddart) are seeking the "£675,000 / 700-800,000" that our father told his lawyers, who told us, was "on deposit" at "Coutts & Co" where PFD banks but which has still not been disclosed! Our father died over six and a half years' ago since which The Wicker Man and Sleuth have been remade. Any handy hints in getting disclosure? Coutts & Co wrote to me last week that they could only accept instruction from PFD - but, critically, for us nobody has been able to tell us "Who or what is PFD?" CSS Stellar, Caroline Michel, Andrew Neil, these agents at United? Given Monday's Emergency Board Meeting at which CSS plc is proposing the disposal of PFD to Mr Neil and Ms Michel it does not seem unreasonable that Mr Buchler respond.

04 Jul 08 09:48

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