Roundtable Discussion; The Future of Mineral Sands. Watch the video here.
Infor that article and headline says it all for me. I've seen CEOs with little skin in the game wreck companies before and then leave shortly after with pay offs, just like failed football managers. OK Mitch hasn't actually failed with SQZ (yet) but this deal is beyond his brain capacity and that should have been obvious to the non execs and to the advisers, all of whom will be culpable if this apology for a deal goes through.
It was a bad deal when they put it together and all the information and events since then have made it even worse giving management a great opportunity either to renegotiate or pull it. That they have done neither will be to their eternal shame.
GLA and the next few hours will be very interesting indeed.
Thanks atrm. From what I've seen of him (and he used to be a client of ours) he's a strong, principled, logical man who would stand his ground and was a tough negotiator. Sounds like he's making sense on the net zero thing. That's something we all want but not necessarily at any cost while other nations ignore it completely to better themselves. We really do need some sensible minds at the moment and there's still talk of Boris making a comeback but best not go there. Now back to the SQZ problem............................
dick, the whole House of Commons has gone mad and is racing to come up with more ways to see who can tax the North Sea oil companies the most. Whatever the Tories come up with, Labour says they will tax higher and faster. Might as well tax them at 100% and be done with it and let them all down tools and walk away while the UK continues it's slide into becoming a third world country dependant on handouts from the US
What I'm seeing in everything that the Government does (and Labour will do) beggars belief. One wonders how supposedly sensible people can come up with such ridiculous and short sighted policies unless that is they deliberately want to run the country into the ground.
I was around when Labour taxed unearned income at 98% when Denis Healey said he wanted to "make the pips squeak". The difference then was that we all knew that policy would be reversed if/when the Tories got back in again. We need clear daylight between our two main parties and we haven't got it, which is a huge problem.
Rant over. GLA and Fingers crossed for tomorrow.
From Jeremy Raper this morning
"The vote is on the 27th, I am not sure how to assess the odds of it passing or not, basically every single investor (bar one) I've spoken to has said they will vote against, but I have to assume Hardy (at 10%) will vote For the deal, I have not been able to contact him.
Keep in mind Dutch TTF prices have been pretty weak last couple days (though UK gas prices holding up a bit better).
Obviously, I am really hopeful the deal gets blocked and think the stock would rally substantially on this. but I still believe it is too close to call at this time."
Maybe if we lose, a significant vote against the deal might inspire KIST, HBR or another predator to make a bid knowing there will be a groundswell of support for it, provided the price is right of course.
moniman, if a company wanted to compete against hVivo, in view of the length of time it would take to set facilities, staffing, etc, the simplest and quickest option would be to make us an offer we couldn't refuse and that would have to be a might big one at that. So I think we're safe and more and more attractive by the day.
An excellent presentation. Would love to know how many watched live.
GLA
Danno, you might be right in which case BOD have done a pretty dismal job of highlighting the potential benefits of the deal and opening it up to proper scrutiny. If it was such a brilliant deal they simply would not be pushing it through in this underhanded way.
JIMO of course
Interesting that Jeremy thinks it could be close to 50/50 in the vote because of the number of retail investors on board coupled with the low amount of institutions invested. Obviously Hardy is key and is expected to vote with BOD out of loyalty but as long as we get everyone to vote we might have a glimmer of a hope.
"One of the worst transactions, rush jobs that I've seen" says Jeremy.
Just been thinking, having ranted a bit on twitter about Keir Starmer - Davos Man. Maybe Starmer just might have done us a huge favour by announcing that he will ban any new North Sea drilling if/when he assumes office. We already know how anti oil & gas Labour are with talk of nationalisation. Seeing that an SQZ/Tailwind combination would be even more heavily invested in that area it would give IIs and BOD members a great opportunity to at least press the pause button on this rushed deal. Why would our BOD want to put all their eggs in one basket when with the SQZ cash pile they would be well able to look for better opportunities elsewhere!
D220 I agree. I got even more concerned and angry as the video went on. Remember also that the guy from Momentum Financial totally agreed with Jeremy. The large holders must surely share the same concerns and I believe they owe it to other shareholders to come out and tell us how they will vote rather than keep their powder dry. This coming week will be interesting to say the least.
If the vote appears close I expect a further statement from BOD probably to make a rallying call for a YES vote or very possibly to pull it if they know they will lose.
If there is radio silence then I can only assume, sadly, that they have the votes in the bag.
GLA and here's hoping.
Jeremy Raper explain his vote AGAINST Serica's deal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ1V0Bsc6AU
I remember when we were so proud of our North Sea Fields. Now it seems that the subject as far as Government and HMRC are concerned is toxic as are all the operators who shoulder the risks of drilling there.
This country will be finished unless there is a radical turnaround in the next couple of years. I am afraid that the Tories are finished and deservedly so and I speak as someone who was one but isn't any more.
GLA
BristolBaldEagle I can't think of a better way to remember and honour your friend than holding shares in the company that he selected. Your shareholding in Avacta and its success will enable you to always treasure your memories of him. Brought a tear to my eye as well. I think we're all a bit emotional today.
GLA