Full Tilt Poker and Groupe Bernard Tapie Sign Acquisition Agreement

Full Tilt Poker comment in their latest press release on the happenings surrounding the company.

PokerStrategy.com received the following exclusive press release:

"Full Tilt Poker and Groupe Bernard Tapie Sign Acquisition Agreement

Dublin, Ireland (September 30, 2011) Laurent Tapie, Managing Director of ‘Groupe Bernard Tapie’ announced today that the group has signed an exclusive agreement with the Board of Directors of Full Tilt Poker to acquire the company and all of its associated assets.

This agreement, which includes the repayment of Full Tilt Poker’s world-wide players in full, is subject to several conditions; the first of which is a favorable resolution with the United States Department of Justice. Discussions with the United States Department of Justice will begin immediately.

‘Groupe Bernard Tapie’ has over 30 years of experience in the salvation of financially distressed businesses, with over 40 companies acquired and managed to profitability, the most well-known being the sport equipment giant, Adidas."

Related news:

• Interview with Laurent Tapie on iGamingFrance.com
• AGCC Revokes the License of Full Tilt Poker
• AGCC Determination Notice: DOJ Seized $331 Million, Full Tilt Insolvent
• Exclusive: Full Tilt Poker Press Release - 29/09
• Opinion: AGCC, you failed

Comments (130)

newest first

nuno21nt 30 Sep 11, 15:13

#1

Weeeeee
Diabl666 30 Sep 11, 15:13

#2

go nanard :)
Dan7777 30 Sep 11, 15:13

#3

oh my....GOGOGOGOGOGOGOO!the roller coaster ride is just brutal...
Julien 30 Sep 11, 15:13

#4

French for the win :) Bravo !
wunderfab 30 Sep 11, 15:14

#5

please let it be true
Gabinr1 30 Sep 11, 15:15

#6

Cool?
Krach-Bumm-Ente 30 Sep 11, 15:15

#7

me gusta
fishlock 30 Sep 11, 15:15

#8

the merry go round starts again
ruuuic 30 Sep 11, 15:17

#9

weeeeeeeeeeee
ruuuic 30 Sep 11, 15:17

#10

j'adore france
Petiu 30 Sep 11, 15:18

#11

License?
Heave112 30 Sep 11, 15:18

#12

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
blackaces82 30 Sep 11, 15:18

#13

"several conditions" ... meh
djknockout 30 Sep 11, 15:18

#14

yooo, one time!
beastFromPrague 30 Sep 11, 15:19

#15

who is in the Board of Directors of Full Tilt Poker?
thanks
B0YNAMEDSUE 30 Sep 11, 15:19

#16

I am only wearing Adidas from now on!
w34z3l 30 Sep 11, 15:19

#17

I'd use my one-time but this would be the 15th time.
boboistina 30 Sep 11, 15:20

#18

hell yeah, go frenchies!
FishermansFriend 30 Sep 11, 15:20

#19

le nice
nttrung143 30 Sep 11, 15:20

#20

bravoooo
txsio 30 Sep 11, 15:21

#21

wooot wooot!!!!!!!!
AaronLambert 30 Sep 11, 15:21

#22

wow... everyday we get new FTP news
Gabinr1 30 Sep 11, 15:21

#23

This is out of this world, crazy. So FTP is seized by the FBI and black friday happens, everyone panics, it goes online again, everybody is safe... then it goes down because it's license is suspended. In one month everything will be ok... no it's not, it's still suspended, but investors have shown interest. Initial investors are not interested anymore, no more hope... but wait some french group is now interested... hope. The lincese is revoked, everybody says "RIP FTP" and says goodbye to their bankrolls. Then a statement is made where it's said that the french investors are going trough with the deal :D what's next? I actually like the rollercoaster, love it. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
sufix645 30 Sep 11, 15:21

#24

Ok its time for my ONE TIME too :)
so.. ONE TIME cmon!
kirezafirov 30 Sep 11, 15:21

#25

Fulltilt probably is coming back on a big door. Great news.
sufix645 30 Sep 11, 15:22

#26

+1 #23 :D
B0YNAMEDSUE 30 Sep 11, 15:22

#27

@Gabinr1 Don't be such a Debbie Downer!
acerbikas 30 Sep 11, 15:24

#28

Vive la France!
BoyRobot777 30 Sep 11, 15:24

#29

omfg
eteris 30 Sep 11, 15:25

#30

adidas in FTP store from now on? nice...
Nocco88 30 Sep 11, 15:25

#31

C'est magnifique!!!
Vinny80 30 Sep 11, 15:26

#32

vive la france !
boboistina 30 Sep 11, 15:26

#33

mr.Tapie please get a license from a regulator not named AGCC!
Diabl666 30 Sep 11, 15:27

#34

don't be so happy, wait the doj's decision now !
JHTAN 30 Sep 11, 15:27

#35

I just hope to get our money back.
pleno1 30 Sep 11, 15:29

#36

boom
arker 30 Sep 11, 15:31

#37

Allez nanarrrrr
conquistadorrr 30 Sep 11, 15:31

#38

It would be much cheaper for the new investors to buy what's worth of Full Tilt (patents, software) after the company declares bankruptcy and just start from scratch. But if they actually go for this - repaying the players in full - I think that would be a big thing in terms of trust and credibility. If they really do that - I'd play on FTP again. Which might be a stupid thing to say, because if they don't - then no one will play. :)
MathhNes 30 Sep 11, 15:32

#39

ONE TIME! Used mine now also
kukkiwonBG 30 Sep 11, 15:33

#40

Years of me being an Adidas fan are now repaid imo :)
IngridN 30 Sep 11, 15:34

#41

no words/.. :)
EmanuelC16 30 Sep 11, 15:36

#42

Jizz in my pants!!
Kojika 30 Sep 11, 15:37

#43

ONE TIME !
Gerovit 30 Sep 11, 15:37

#44

Go Olimpique de Marseille....
He managed to get Marseille league of champions bringing fulltilt back will be easy one
Cpwpoker 30 Sep 11, 15:38

#45

Think for the tapis group it a challenge to make bankrupt company to profitable company.

After making Full tilt back on rail and kicking ass they will point tell pokerstar "Ha ! In your face your bad beat was fated when the Bernard Tapis group said Tapis !!!"

Tapis = All in XD
amplifyd 30 Sep 11, 15:39

#46

hold now plz
boboistina 30 Sep 11, 15:43

#47

DOJ for the love of GOD dont mess this up, PLEASE!!
ExternalUseOnly 30 Sep 11, 15:44

#48

pleeeeeeeease hold my little heart cant take much more
AGGROFORST 30 Sep 11, 15:46

#49

BÄHM
bolachasp 30 Sep 11, 15:46

#50

@48: me too! Think that my money will go to my wife cause I will have a heart attack really soon!
Cpwpoker 30 Sep 11, 15:47

#51

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K1q9Ntcr5g
Korn 30 Sep 11, 15:48

#53

Fingers crossed everybody!
Rothko 30 Sep 11, 15:52

#54

LAST TIME
Rothko 30 Sep 11, 15:52

#55

+ posted after Korn
kadri7 30 Sep 11, 15:53

#56

1 timeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
w4terman 30 Sep 11, 15:53

#57

/dance
BOBOsvk 30 Sep 11, 15:54

#58

bernard a casse
w4terman 30 Sep 11, 15:58

#59

#51 nice one! :D
JuiceQuadre 30 Sep 11, 16:03

#60

So.. we are very very deep, and after sick preflop action, motherfucking crazy flop action and insane turn action we find ourselves all in with only river to come.. hold?
bjela 30 Sep 11, 16:06

#61

Finally the French are good for something :)))
malcomix 30 Sep 11, 16:09

#62

BERNARD TAPIE and ADIDAS

Groupe Bernard Tapie bought Adidas from Dassler sisters in july 1990 for 1.6 billon francs (now €243.918 million), made huge changes in the compagny (changed the flower logo to the actual triband, relocations....) and sold it in feb 1993 for 4.458 billon francs (€683.514 million).

He's no longer Adidas owner, but this story is the best accomplishment of Groupe Bernard Tapie.

Hope he does the same with FTP...
topolman 30 Sep 11, 16:10

#63

What doest the "DOJ" stands for? I can't find it anywhere...
skyvol 30 Sep 11, 16:11

#64

deparment of Justice
noisecore 30 Sep 11, 16:12

#65

Department of justice
badgerer 30 Sep 11, 16:14

#66

lol at #63 first hit on google
stinkie24 30 Sep 11, 16:19

#67

Yeah Buddy hell yeah lets bring tilt back online a.s.a.p!!! we have been waiting 4 months all the other sites suck!! FTP yes we will
soulboy65 30 Sep 11, 16:20

#68

Bernard Bloody Tapie, is this the same man who was owner of french football team Marseille who were several years later found guilty of bribing a referee to win the champions league
FlorinCatana 30 Sep 11, 16:24

#69

This is his son, but it looks as they can 'manage' things nicely...;)
hansolobp 30 Sep 11, 16:27

#70

I guess a major point in the discussion with the DOJ will be the (non)payment of penalty fees as the money sized by the DOJ is enough to pay players back world wide, not only in the US. Anybody got any any news on this front?
soulboy65 30 Sep 11, 16:27

#71

well I won't be back at full tilt if they can do it once they can do it again
malcomix 30 Sep 11, 16:27

#72

#68
shhhhhhh ya idiot
We take back our BR first, you cashout if you want, then we ll see what happens...

Nothing was said in post 68
Bernard Tapie is a great guy ladies and gentlemen (applauses plse)
reyjohnny11 30 Sep 11, 16:28

#73

Wow, thats a good news. Gotta visit France next holiday!
hansolobp 30 Sep 11, 16:28

#74

What are the several conditions which have to be met for a sucessfull sale? Didn´t find anything on google...
hellsbells2008 30 Sep 11, 16:28

#75

about time ,nice 1 tapie ,i will be playing ftp np
soulboy65 30 Sep 11, 16:29

#76

If players do get their money back 1st thing I'd do is take it out and deposit in another site.
JonikoP 30 Sep 11, 16:31

#77

Meh, the "conditions" will be significant and aren't likely to be resolved in the short term. Favourable resolution with the DOJ probably means the DOJ handing over funds to repay players and a reinstated license.

Step in the right direction but I think we have a few more months (if not years) before seeing a penny...
EagleStar88 30 Sep 11, 16:31

#78

Quote #46 amplifyd: hold now plz

+1. Been a rough flop & turn, let's hope the river holds :)
dochazard 30 Sep 11, 16:31

#79

#68 ^^

Successful company owned by someone who was jailed for cheating for his prized team so they can win.

Yup, FTP is in better hands, we hope.
fishlock 30 Sep 11, 16:32

#80

AGCC reaction to the news http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr-Iw...eature=related
soulboy65 30 Sep 11, 16:35

#81

tapie can kiss my arse he denied my team the chance to play in the champions league final coz of bribery i'll never forgive him for that
hellsbells2008 30 Sep 11, 16:36

#82

tapie all is for given ,plus its is dad whofix in it
lood1 30 Sep 11, 16:37

#83

die $2,68 sind sicher, fick ja
soulboy65 30 Sep 11, 16:39

#84

never heard of the saying like father like son and whats the group name trying to buy it oh yeah Bernard tapie group
Mandator 30 Sep 11, 16:50

#85

Welcome to the Full Tilt Roller Coaster!!!!
oscar8x 30 Sep 11, 16:51

#86

Hasta enero 2012 no abriría según comenta aquí:

http://www.igamingfrance.com/full-tilt-exclusive-in-his-first-interview-laurent-tapie-says-he-believes-in-the-full-tilt-project-and-has-the-funds-to-repay-players-but-admits-there-is-“still-a-long-way-to-go”/24972
DessiP 30 Sep 11, 16:57

#89

May this be the beginning of a new Friday.
Gabinr1 30 Sep 11, 17:03

#90

White Friday
menace4ever 30 Sep 11, 17:20

#91

white friday lol
@16 funny:)
nathanrenard 30 Sep 11, 17:26

#92

France fuck yeah?
Wacko118 30 Sep 11, 17:36

#93

i remove all previous comments involving cheese eating surrender monkeys.
PokerAddict36 30 Sep 11, 17:38

#94

Hold, Hold, please HOLD
boboistina 30 Sep 11, 17:41

#95

from #86 link
"he expets to open the site by january 2012", the long wait will kill me.
Shevtshenko 30 Sep 11, 18:01

#96

i don't get it. Does this actually mean anything more than FTP announcing: "we're negotiating with potential investor"? Sure this Groupe Bernard Tapie is well known for and can't be bad news but the company isn't rly committed to do anything yet, just as no other possible investors before were.
Avatars91 30 Sep 11, 18:03

#97

Im listening to #51 song and I am honestly crying tears of joy.
ppedrin 30 Sep 11, 18:03

#98

One time!!!!
VorpalF2F 30 Sep 11, 18:03

#99

Paying back US Players will be extremely problematic, since those whose so-called deposits were accepted by FTP but never completed by a payment processor should not be included -- since they never actually paid out any money.
But I'm happy. I'm infinitely closer to my FT Bankroll than I was this morning, but still oh so far away.
boboistina 30 Sep 11, 18:07

#100

#96 the difference here is that they signed something, acquisition agreement that is, nobody signed anything with FTP before, they were just rumours
matel17 30 Sep 11, 18:24

#101

omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg
Dublimax 30 Sep 11, 18:27

#102

Bernard Tapie isn't the cleanest guy. He's done many dodgy stuff in the past.
But GL anyway
Ka0ss 30 Sep 11, 18:52

#103

All we have to do now is fade the river
SilverFace 30 Sep 11, 18:57

#104

holy crap on a cracker !
Irish78 30 Sep 11, 19:05

#105

"favorable resolution with the United States Department of Justice"

yeah keep dreaming...
Tim64 30 Sep 11, 19:08

#106

Y, existence of a signed agreement is by far the most positive thing we've heard in months. Jan 2012 is a long time to wait, by which time inflation will have turned my BR into around 20 cents... but w/e, good news is good news.
Pe6o0o 30 Sep 11, 19:08

#107

If FT opens again im never leaving !!! This will be the most secure site for at least another 3-5 years !
Fubu27 30 Sep 11, 19:21

#108

"Level up! Your respect for the French has gone up 10 points!"

is how I feel right now.

Excuse me now, I gotta go out and buy some Adidas.
Anger86 30 Sep 11, 20:10

#109

+1 #23 Had a good laugh :)
stinkie24 30 Sep 11, 20:31

#110

2012 i dont care to bad the doj is such a litle bitch!! i hope ftp reopens sooner ime dying to play!! lets do this!
Blade90 30 Sep 11, 20:51

#111

Come onnnnnnnn ONE FING TIME :)
ipo44 30 Sep 11, 21:28

#112

je vais à tapis!!!
vladimir980 30 Sep 11, 21:45

#113

nice one ... respect ;)
Tudazul 30 Sep 11, 22:13

#114

great step :)
ProlinePoker 30 Sep 11, 22:21

#115

#44: don't forget that after winning the CL, Marseille was relegated to divison 2 due to active corruption so all those titles won by Marseille weren't probably won in the pitch only...

I'm don't trust this Tapie group, they just represents another mob, probably a more powerful mob, but a mob nevertheless, who will use our money to laundry even more money, make dubious investments, and so on. That is, they'll do whatever Lederer did, with the exception of being more "professional" on behind-the-scene business than the amateurs surrounding Lederer.

I just can't believe why people are just focused on having FTP back (either because they miss Rush poker, are poker addicts or whatever reason) and keep having their eyes wide shut at the big issues that Black Friday should have rinsed in every poker player mind...
Schrader69 30 Sep 11, 22:39

#116

instant boner
fishlock 30 Sep 11, 22:46

#117

50 years old and I haven't used my one time yet, so here goes. ONE TIME
MrS212i 30 Sep 11, 22:46

#118

HOLD UP
eteris 30 Sep 11, 22:57

#119

"I just can't believe why people are just focused on having FTP back" - um... let me think, BECAUSE THEY HAVE MONEY THERE?
gunni80 30 Sep 11, 23:50

#120

time to run good
cpers 01 Oct 11, 00:49

#121

always love the french than the american:}
Titicamara 01 Oct 11, 02:51

#122

Good news
JBCD71 01 Oct 11, 03:45

#123

If this means the players getting their money back,i am all for it.Thats all that matters for me here.I couldnt care less about Fulltilt anymore.I will never play there again even thou i didnt lose any money there...well i did in the past...this is not a first by any means.Fulltilts credibilty for me is out the window wether it was management or not...the name brand has been tarnished.And also the poker industry online as a whole has taken a huge hit.I at least hope somethin will happen to those higher up..but most likely not now that they got all the players money to hire the best lawyers of the land to get off.Lets hope there is a happy ending to all this and all players gets whats theirs.JBCD71 AKA Johnyy ACES Cabral
RenatoPK 01 Oct 11, 05:30

#124

ill have my 70 bucks weeee
philhellmutt 01 Oct 11, 06:09

#125

Bernard Tapie and Full Tilt Poker... two names that define integrity and honesty in business dealings.
doncarlucci 01 Oct 11, 06:55

#126

Italians players VOTE for FRANCE !!!
viv la France! viv FTP!!
the best poker software have to come back!!
VicoII 02 Oct 11, 05:21

#127

trying again...
MojaDunja 02 Oct 11, 08:10

#128

hu hu hu :)
DrDunne 02 Oct 11, 12:27

#129

give it to me baby
Heffron89 02 Oct 11, 18:36

#130

To Pokerstrategy, where have u got this from? in the Interview with Bernard Tapie, he denies that Laurent have made any statements like this.
T3rMiT3 03 Oct 11, 07:24

#131

Hahahahahah... Another bullshit.... Aren't you tired of all this lies?! ... Half a year of stupid news regarding FTP recovery. Your money is gone. Get used to it. No need to get excited by any so called good news about FTP... What's next?! In january you will say that FTP will be back on june and so on... Bla bla bla, bullshit.
Sowieso23 06 Oct 11, 03:06

#132

@ #115 signed !!!
ariord63 06 Oct 11, 08:09

#133

hu hu hu

Complete these tasks and win iPads, Steam vouchers and more

Comments (130)