Häme Sanomat and Evening newspaper reported last week that the clubs questioning the series system and the license system have approached the SM league under the leadership of Tappara.
According to Urheilu’s information, at least six clubs are questioning the SM league’s recent policies regarding the league share price and league system. According to a Urheilu source, a “complete rebellion” is underway in the SM league.
The Jokers have been told that the price of the SM league league share is 3.8 million, TuTo Hockey was told the value is 3.6 million. Back in 2016, the price of a league share was 1.8 million. That’s how much Sport, Jukurit and KooKoo had to pay for the promotion.
SM league chairman Heikki Hiltunen says that one limited company has approached the main league with a letter regarding, among other things, the current price of league shares.
– Its content was more to technically ensure that we know all the details in our own processes, which are related to, for example, the determination of the price or the size of the league share, and that they are certainly correct from a competition law perspective.
– In this joint approach, we have already done background checks in the past and they will continue. Perfect questions. The investigations are being carried out by the SM league board and our experts, and those details will certainly be completed in the near future.
Hämeen Sanomat according to the information, the major league clubs have become concerned that the agreement between the association and the league and the league’s shareholders’ agreement may meet the hallmarks of abuse of a dominant market position and restriction of competition.
– On behalf of the board of SM-liiga Oy, a change in the league system has been carried out for the second year already, in which a very careful investigation has been carried out both internally and with experts, also in terms of competition law. Based on the statements we have received so far, we have a clear expert view that there is no question of a cartel or restriction of competition, says Hiltunen.
What is the price of a 3.8 million euro league share based on?
– It is based on the definition of the share price that has been in use since 2013, which uses SM-liiga Oy’s long-term contracts and their average price per share for the current and future period. In addition, the value per share of the league’s equity is taken into account. It is about the sum of these, and it is updated once a year by the league board in the fall. Currently, the calculated price is 3.67 million euros, says Hiltunen.
So the value of the league share has increased by almost two million in seven years?
– The price wants to gradually develop if the business grows and the value of the company rises.
TuTo, who applied for the SM league, had requested According to MTV Urheilu Information about the formation of the league share price from the SM League by Thursday of last week. The league had not provided the necessary information to TuTo, so the club had to leave some points in its application blank.
Hiltunen said on Monday that both Kiekko-Espoo and Turku Toverit have received information about the formation of the league share.
– I spoke personally to the Turku Toverei as the chairman Thomas Haanpää with last week and Kiekko-Espoo had already received the information earlier.
Jokerit operates in Finland’s largest economic area, but still the club does not feel that it can pay the required sums to the League. Is the league share price realistic?
– The question of jokers is not relevant at the moment, when they are not applying for a league license. It is premature to take a position on the matter. It’s hard to take a stand on the matter when I don’t know Jokeri’s internal situation and ability to pay.
What is the situation if the club drops out of the SM league. What amount does the team get back from league equity?
– That’s why it is the decision of the general meeting, where the relegated club or the club that otherwise gives up a league position, except for a bankrupt club, will receive an equivalent amount, which is the subscription price at the moment when that relegation or dropping out of the league is confirmed.
– That is, it is the same amount that the rising club has to pay for the share. This amount will be used to compensate the relegated team, with which it will be able to pay the various obligations they have left from the league season. This ensures that the league club does not go bankrupt and is able to continue its activities in the next season and at the next league level. This model works equally well both up and down.
According to information from Ilta-Sanom when Espoo Blues went bankrupt in 2016, SM-liiga Oy redeemed the league shares from the bankruptcy estate of Blues or Espoo Oy for only 300,000 euros.
– This happened before my time. In that situation, you have to remember that it was a club that had gone bankrupt, and whose shares had no buyers and no value. The Blues situation was very different.
has been told that you, the SM league chairman Heikki Hiltuse, would currently have a difficult position and that there would be dissatisfaction with you. It has been rumored that even the players’ association would come forward if there are no changes in the SM league management ladder. Have you heard such talk?
– The current league board was elected about a month or two ago at the general meeting. There, I have gained the trust of the league shareholders, just like the current league board. Of course, sometimes there has been talk about whether it is possible to have a double role. In those actions and decisions that have concerned Vaasan Sport, I have always remained myself, says Hiltunen, who serves as the chairman of the SM league and also as the chairman of the board of Hockey-Team Vaasan Sport Oy.
– I don’t know what the employees in the different league clubs and their representatives, the players’ association Teemu Ramstedt’s is struggling with management. I have no information about this. It sounds a bit strange that the players association would think about changing the chairman.