Mbl Share Discussion Threads

[judgement] 09/1/2011 21:10

... but Morrisons tipped to lose out due to the lack of an online offering.

[kimboy2] 08/1/2011 15:19

Report in the Times today based on 'MasterCard Spending Pulse'.

Basically the supermarkets seem to have done well while the high street suffered. Morrison's did 6.9% growth in December and Sainsbury's winning with 10.1% growth.

...sales of non-food general merchandise, such as music, clothes and DVDs, were up 19% in the final week before Christmas. It also noted that higher prices, rather than greater volumes, were responsible for most of the increase

[fft] 07/1/2011 14:41

forgive my ignorance but the 2 RNS's on the 5th and the 6th dont seem to make much sense. The RNS on the 5th says the new investors buy 500k at 91p, and simultaneously short the stock. the RNS on the 6th says they have sold 500k at 88p and closed their short at the same time, leaving them with a zero holding and a closed position.

any ideas as to what is going on ?

[fmcalorum] 07/1/2011 12:18

Retailer JD Sports Fashion said it had shrugged off the winter weather to boost sales during Christmas trading.

The group said like-for-like sales were up by 2.5% in the 5 weeks to 1 January.

And the firm added it now believed it would beat City pre-tax profit forecasts of £75.4m for the current financial year.

But it warned the VAT rise and an inflation-driven increase in costs meant tough conditions in 2011.

Executive chairman Peter Cowgill said Christmas trading had been "pleasing", praising staff who "ensured that we were largely unaffected over the full five week period by the difficult weather conditions experienced in December".

While many competitors had been discounting heavily, JD Sport added it had grown sales without reducing its profit margin.

However, Mr Cowgill said: "The trading environment facing all retailers, and perhaps clothing retailers in particular, will provide additional challenges in the year to come."

The group trades as JD Sports, Chausport, Size, Bank and Scotts from more than 530 stores.

Singer Capital Markets analyst Mark Photiades said the group's performance was a "superb achievement".

[smellyjim] 06/1/2011 15:38

wonder what the majority of the gbp are going to do as a past-time once the high street is ridded of trashy shops?

[davidosh] 05/1/2011 17:20

I think Peston has that pretty much spot on. My local Morrisons which is in the top half dozen by size in the country certainly claimed to have sold as many DVDs and computer games as it did last year. It has a seperate department with about four staff on the counter.

[madmix] 05/1/2011 17:13

FWIW, here's Robert Peston's view on "Big winners and losers from cold snap"

[jeffian] 05/1/2011 16:39

As we discovered at the last meeting, david, we're not going to get any answers to the questions we really want to ask while they remain in this self-induced close period.

[davidosh] 05/1/2011 16:36

The MBO is a red herring IMO. More likely we will see The Hut reverse into MUBL for a cheap listing and huge savings on distribution costs. Just my view but larger shareholders will not accept a lowball MBO attempt as too much was flushed out in the last quarter. A new non exec is vitally needed so stay tuned and it was promised in the conference call.

I will try to arrange another conference call for late this month after the trading update as we still have lots of questions I am sure.

Any knowledge of these guys at just under 3% ?...

British & American Investment Trust plc

Identity Geminion Investments Ltd

[miamisteve] 05/1/2011 16:31

They would need 75% of shareholder approval, so any low ball offer isn't going to wash. I think in any case after the GMv meeting, the profits warnings and the fact that Morrsions contract is under renegotiation that shareholders didn't think it the right time to push for an MBO.

[fmcalorum] 05/1/2011 15:58

DesWalker - thanks, I dont recall any director purchases either

[deswalker] 05/1/2011 14:29

fmcalorum,

In an MBO the management must at least match the maximum price they paid for shares in the preceding 12 months. In the past I've seen them wait until the day after the year is up so that a higher purchase price rolled off and then make a lower bid.

To my scant knowledge of this share there hasn't been any Director purchases in the past 12mths but if I'm wrong someone will be along to highlight it.

Des

[timesmoney] 05/1/2011 13:18

All bets are off with an MBO. Its what the buyers can get away with simple as that. Given the lack of powerful active investors there is limited options to apply pressure. It would be a case of take the offer or face the consequences, which could include.
1. Huge directors salaries and bonus's
2. Same for non exec chairman
3. Lack of shareholder communication.
4. Unrepresentative board.

Doh! too late!

[fmcalorum] 05/1/2011 12:13

Are there rules on a mimimum amount that can be offered to shareholders in a MBO based on previous share price over a period of time?

[edmundshaw] 05/1/2011 09:42

MMs off the ball, still stuffing turkey sandwiches. Xmas not over till tomorrow! :)

[scott84] 05/1/2011 09:33

Quite generous then of the mm's, close at 94p bid and open the same, no wonder
people have been selling as the price in reality was up 7.5p.

[fmcalorum] 05/1/2011 09:27

Typo56 - thanks

[typo56] 05/1/2011 09:25

People will receive a dividend based on their holdings at close last night. People holding a spread bet or CFD position last night will probably have an adjustment made today (strictly speaking this is not a dividend and not classed as income).

[fmcalorum] 05/1/2011 08:57

do people selling today still get the divi on 21st?

[fft] 05/1/2011 07:26

Its gone xdiv, but no rns about the sharedealing yesterday. Hopefully not more smoke and mirrors.

[edmundshaw] 04/1/2011 17:58

Definitely. Ex 5th, paid 21st.

[scott84] 04/1/2011 17:51

Is this definately x divi tomorrow ?

Sure it was the 15th last year from memory ?

[davidosh] 04/1/2011 15:42

There was a trading update on the 25 January last year. No reason why there should not be the same this year and preferably an end to the strategic review.

[miamisteve] 04/1/2011 13:57

Agree David.

If ex divi tomorrow, presumably the divi is safe at least for this year.

Do you suggest waiting till after the trading update to get proactive?
When exactly are we expecting that to be?

[davidosh] 04/1/2011 13:00

Near enough 3% and as we are in an offer period technically it will have to be notifiable as a transaction no matter who did it. The ex divi date is tomorrow so it could be linked to that.

I aim to make January the month where important decisions and changes are made at MUBL. I particularly want to see a new non exec appointed.