Member Info for 1pencil

Can't agree with you on that one OAC, Matt/the board nailed it, not once but twice on timing the market.

Even with the benefit of hindsight could it be timed any better ?

Https://www.thg.com/news/acquisition-of-brighter-foods-limited

https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2021/01/05/The-Hut-Group-acquires-Claremont-Ingredients-David-Berryman

There seems to be an endless flow of mostly positive news around biostimulants, one blog mentioned 'biostimulants' as the consistent highest searched topic.

European Commission looking into ways of bringing biopesticides to market more quickly

https://agenceurope.eu/en/bulletin/article/13385/8

The names may have changed due to recent activity but it gives an overall rough idea ..

ASKUL is part (45%) owned by Yahoo Japan

Yahoo Japan is owned by Softbank

https://about.yahoo.co.jp/en/pr/release/2022/08/19a/

Askul Corp, are they thinking about partnering with THG Ingenuity perhaps stepping into Softbank's shoes ?

1.ASKUL’s Logistics Platform: Enabling Same-Day and Next-Day Deliveries

To enable same-day and next-day deliveries to customers across Japan, the ASKUL Group operates 10 distribution centers in urban areas nationwide. Also, roughly 70% of parcels are delivered through the Company’s own distribution management system.

https://www.askul.co.jp/corp/english/business/strength/logistics/

https://www.askul.co.jp/corp/english/business/service/

I don't think it was just coincidence Matt bought the Kong statue ahead of their visit, nor the group photo in front.

Kong is still a big in Japanese film culture with plenty of modern day examples.

Easy to forget with daily noise..

Another flying visit from friends and Partners at AutoStore™, the Japanese team from Askul Corporation and SoftBank Robotics.

When you have people flying half way around the world because they want to see under the bonnet of THG Operations, it’s one of the best testimonials to the work we have accomplished over the past few years.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7155896382539665409-qyYy/?

JP Morgan in the headlines again, talking of banks..

Girlfriend's best friend went out with a chap who worked in the city called Paul Morgan, after a short while ended up with the nickname 'Paul Morgan with the one touch organ' ...

..no idea why, : )

(P.S. hope you're not reading this Pippa)

Bit of decoupling already, FTSE above 8000 at 1& gain with both Dow and NASDAQ down 0.5%

FTSE once again pushes through 8000 mark, several global markets making new highs too!

Its a bull run in all but name..

Good write up, FTSE once again pushes through 8000 mark, several global markets making new highs too!

Its a bull run in all but name..

Comprehensive write-up/overview on various crops, fruits and vegetables, also mentions a visit to CASI, this looks like a sizable operation involved with PHC:

Visit to CASI

The Mexican delegation wanted to learn from Plant Health Care about the CASI cooperative , the largest tomato cooperative in Europe that sells more than 250 million kilos. We are welcomed by Antonio Bretones, president of CASI, and Juan Francisco Cruz, director of operations at CASI.

https://agroautentico.com/2024/04/plant-health-care-vuelve-a-unir-mexico-con-espana-a-traves-de-la-agricultura/?

The original post which started the Homebase rumour was based on Storeleads reporting Homebase had moved to 'Custom Cart' as you can see everyone including Amazon is now on 'Custom Cart'

https://www.aftership.com/store-list/top-100-ecommerces-stores

THG never lost Homebase although there have been some pretty extensive changes on how data is collected (see earlier posts) which have produced inaccurate findings for data collection companies. Its also possible THG have removed or limited access their end too, for the moment no one is sure.

If one major trading partner drops it puts pressure on the rest to follow suit in order to maintain inward investment, I cannot see the UK being far behind, many are predicting UK to move first , we are a lot closer either way that's the main thing.

Jamie Dimon had it covered - came out with a statement saying JP Morgan are planning for rates to go up and down ...

Bit of divergence between the other two stocks on my watch list, Innovent and Beigene.

Should we start lobbying the board for a divi with all this cash, I would rather this than an acquisition.

We could see a decoupling of US EU markets, its happened before but can't remember the individual circumstances.

Should make EU/UK markets even more attractive to takeovers if US is odd man out on rates..

54%of THG business is UK based

> European Central Bank gives strong signal that cuts are on the way despite Fed uncertainty

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/11/european-central-bank-holds-interest-rates-hints-at-cut-ahead.html

Its likely the board were faced with a time limit on releasing y/e results which couldn't be delayed until end of month, unlike a TU which may contain additional forward looking detail.

I would venture to suggest something additional will be disclosed either before then, or as part of TU.

Results were released on the 18th Apr 2023 last year, so these are a week early.

It could be the early release allows access to the numbers (if there is third party interest), can't see why management wouldn't wait and include a TU?

Another poster (dpw?) earlier commented on the lack of notice ahead of today's release, unusual so what to make of it ?

My musings as follows;

either a) there's something going on corporate wise and just needed to get these out, without any fuss or too many probing questions which they may not be able to answer.

or b) they have wholesale given up on the LSE and just don't care anymore.

a) seems the most likely given Peels lengthy note together with other media interactions suggesting a degree of conformality, delayed Q1 updater may also point to this.

Plenty going on, keeps everyone on their toes..

Not bad recovery given US inflation data plus M&C Saatchi earnings slump.