Tsikot’s Php100M offer by MIH breaks down

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” Php100USD 2INR 144EUR 2CNY 12 Million to the founders of Tsikot. But there’s a catch — only 10% will be paid in cash (Php10USD 0.17INR 14EUR 0.16CNY 1 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 Php10USD 0.17INR 14EUR 0.16CNY 1 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 tanked for the last time. 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 $1PHP 59INR 85EUR 0.95CNY 7 million (a scoop we first reported here).