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The 30,629,135 options have been issued to the THG Employee Benefit Trust subject to targets, there is no guarantee those targets will be met or options indeed granted.

These vest over a three year period as below, not sure where the £30m per year figure you quote is derived from ?

'Subject to the satisfaction of such targets, a third of these Shares are expected to vest on each of 31 December 2024, 2025 and 2026'

Solid performance against FTSE dropping nearly 1%

Can you put some detail on this, what are the packages for you are referring to?

'that £30M worth of new shares seems to get created and dished out each year '

The CFO/COO options are linked to share prices performance (TSR).

Kelso talk their own book to make a short term profit, this may not align with other holders which share a longer term view.

That's a bit apples and oranges though, the share options for THG staff vest over three years with hurdles, the ones for CFO and CEO are linked Relative TSR.

If the last two vest shareholders will also have done okay.

I don't think its always practical or accurate to assess a companies performance based solely on its share price, its never as simple as that hence why we get these takeovers at such premiums.

Olli Rehn and Philip Lane became the latest figures at the European Central Bank to indicate that an interest rate cut next week is practically a done deal.

The European Central Bank is expected to move sooner than the U.S. Federal Reserve — which usually leads the way in monetary policy decisions.

“We think that ECB and Fed rate cut cycles will differ, a lot,” Bank of America economists said.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/27/time-is-ripe-to-cut-rates-next-week-european-central-banks-rehn.html

Unless you have control over inflation and/or interest rates, retailers have few options available once the monetary squeeze is put on. The whole idea behind raising rates is to stop people spending.

There's always going to be the odd sour grape that's missed the rally, its inevitable.

Two years is only part of an economic cycle, these sharp shocks generally don't last as long compared to periods of growth.

Overall I think management have done a fair job given some of the headwinds, how many companies have survived by under investing, not a good long term strategy in my view.

I honestly cannot see what they could have done differently, for this reason I remain fully supportive of management which will be reflected in my vote.

Great end to the week and a significant for THG too, closing at a 2024 high.

https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/THG.L

Next couple of years it will be low hanging fruit, reaping the rewards following years of substantial investment and automation.

This is a major raw material input cost for nutrition.

See trend graph mapping three years prices (2024 in red), these are the figures for May:

Cost per metric ton (euros)

May 2022 - 1,463

May 2023 - 774

May 2024 - 812

https://www.clal.it/en/index.php?section=whey

Good point dafad

We have Myprotein i Asda store here followed by Myprotein in US Walmart stores

https://www.walmart.com/search?q=Myprotein

So I think Walgreens will follow on from Boots launch

Amazing what they can do, holding off for another 20/30p drop before taking my shoes and socks off ..lol

We already have the WBA tie up with No 7 in the US

https://us.no7beauty.com/?ref=aftership

Great post schlemiel and a step change for Boots too.

This was something that was talked about for months and months last year, now its here almost silent lol

Very similar pattern THG's disclosures, no ?

'The Consortium confirms that it is considering a possible offer for HL, most recently having approached the Board of HL at 985 pence per HL share on 26 April 2024. The Board of HL rejected this proposal.'

Agreed CP, on my short list ..

I doubt we will see opportunities like this for a long time once passed.

Strong performance today given general retail weakness, still not three on inflation but could change quickly.

Burberry trading at 5-year lows..

Most holders save the recent few will still be underwater, the major fund raise in March 21 for example was at 14p, the one after that for $3m or so, 9p.

'Plant Health Care plc, a leading provider of novel patent-protected biological products to global agricultural markets, today announces its intention to raise up to US$10.0 million before expenses by way of (i) a placing of new Ordinary Shares ("Placing Shares") at a fixed price of 14 pence per new Ordinary Share'

https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/PHC/proposed-placing-and-subscription-0l1wzzjorubyp3k.html

The overstocking issue seems to have affected different companies at varying levels with a bounce back in biostimulants being helped by a more general move towards these technologies, i.e when old stock of conventional products has gone is being replaced with more sustainable alternatives.

Chatting to a fellow investor, his interest has been the number of conventional products being withdrawn from the market this year, I'll try and post some examples later this wk.

A few US listed Ag companies are breaking out of trading ranges, or close to: Corteva, FMC, Nutrien.

Commodity prices also showing strength, consumers in EU are experiencing potatoes shortages in some regions:

'On April 16th, the Mintec Benchmark price for English white potatoes hit an all-time high of £570/MT, marking a 90% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase. Market sources anticipate a continued upward price trend due to tightening supply in the coming months. '

https://www.mintecglobal.com/mintec-customer-blog/uk-potato-prices-at-record-highs

Helps farmers justify investment, soil health and so on ..

I doubt very much they are short as in unhedged, as mentioned before the LSE only permits one side of the trade to be disclosed hence everyone jumps to the conclusion these funds are short, that's al they see.

Other exchanges show both sides of the trade, which maybe a call option or simply a front desk managing long positions, impossible to tell without full disclosure.

UK v USA

There's some interesting stats in that CNBC article, of course early days but we could see UK outperform the US, we are already 500 points up from a month or so v Dow.

I've had a US investor take a nibble at one of mine, shares ended up 40% on the week, it does happen.

The feeding frenzy continues..

https://shorttracker.co.uk/company/GB00BBQ38507/

MARKETS

UK stocks are outperforming the U.S.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/20/uk-stocks-are-outperforming-the-us-and-one-cio-says-they-look-very-cheap.html

AstraZeneca exec: Chinese medical innovations benefit patients globally

China is a base for developing country markets for AstraZeneca. Wang said that reality gives the company an edge in understanding such markets well and knowing which countries to begin with when Chinese enterprises kick off their plans to go global.

"We usually recommend they begin with big countries that are also very friendly to China. Many such countries, such as Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Mexico, have populations of over 100 million, which translates into substantial market demand," he said.

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202405/15/WS6644124aa31082fc043c7293.html