Member Info for comsman

CWC are trying to secure majority control of the T&T operations. This would be good if it comes off as T&T has a population of more than a million people, three times larger than the Bahamas and with a higher standard of living. (Goldman Sachs have upgraded CWC to a 'Buy' with a 68p target.) http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140429/business/business2.html

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b9dcb594-cbaf-11e3-a934-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2zoz7m3Je

Thanks both for your informative posts. It seems the results this week will clarify the company's performance a bit and so I will wait until deciding if to buy in to STAN.

I have been looking around for a new home for my VOD 'windfall' and thought STAN might be a good candidate. (I am looking for income primarily with the prospect of some growth.) However, just doing some basic research I can see that STAN is not presently in a good place, shrinking profits after ten years of growth and boardroom upheavals. I would welcome views on my take from those that have been in STAN for a while. http://www.standard.co.uk/business/markets/standard-chartereds-peter-sands-from-the-lion-city-banking-boss-who-is-roaring-back-at-his-critics-9066866.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/outlook-can-standard-chartereds-triumvirate-survive-long-into-the-new-year-8983962.html

http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/local/BTC_Launches_4G_LTE_cellular_network33248.shtml Can only be good for more growth.

Now that the ownership issue has been resolved there is further good news coming out of CWC's BTC Bahamas operation. http://www.thenassauguardian.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45169&Itemid=2

So Tim Pennington leaves to join Millicom based in London (Nasdaq listed). For those who don't know they are not a competitior of CWC but do also operate in Latin America and are somewhat larger than CWC.

29th of February

....the rumours were about a possible Liberty Global or AT&T bid for CWC. Liberty seems to have their eyes on a Spanish cable operator at the moment but of course AT&T have just declared that they will not be bidding for Vodafone in the medium term. AT&T released dissapointing results today and analysts expect them now 'to do something'. Who knows, CWC may be a tiddler in AT&T's eyes but it is local and offers a number of synergies to them. http://www.lse.co.uk/ShareNews.asp?shareprice=VOD&code=ld0pz9ky&headline=UPDATE_3ATT_disappoints_on_cash_flow_target_subscriber_growth

CWC has been carrying about a billion dollars of debt since shortly after its creation following the demeger of the old company. In a previous company update the CEO/Finance Director declared that some of the proceeds of the Macau and Islands would be used to pay down this debt. I believe that the redemption of the Sable Finance notes (circa $500m) is the result of this previous declaration. The company now has reduced its bebt by about 40% which means it is paying less in interest and can better cover the divident payments but of course has less 'cash in the bank' although probably still enough to clear most of what else ot owes the financial markets. Hope this helps.

Should see an RNS about this tomorrow http://www.tribune242.com/news/2014/jan/21/trust-gets-2-of-btc-in-face-saving-deal/

Seems that 2% of BTC is to be placed into some form of trust fund with no voting rights so the Government is happy and there will be no impact on control of the company. http://www.tribune242.com/news/2014/jan/22/face-saving-deal-btc/

http://zolmax.com/investing/cable-wireless-communications-pt-raised-to-gbx-155-at-jpmorgan-chase-co-cwc/194180/

Digicel have a similar operating footprint in the Caribean to CWC and are probably their main competitor. This has been the position for a number of years so the announcement by the principal owner of Digicel (Denis O'brien) isn't a big surprise. Given that CWC have already embarked on their own 4G LTE network upgrades across the region Digicel had to match this or fall behind. I suspect the drop in the SP is partly attributable to the Bahamas situation but personally I am not worried by this as I do not believ CWC are going to give up management control of the company and will only give up 2% of BTC if they get something meaningful in return. There is supposed to be news of this today. QUANT, with respect I suggest you do not understand the nature of CWC, they are not in the business of manufacturing consumer electronic products. Have a read of thier last annual report. http://www.cwc.com/assets/uploads/files/CoSec/2013/CWC_Annual_Report_2013_interactive.pdf

http://www.thenassauguardian.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44568:final-cabinet-meeting-tuesday-on-btc-deal&catid=3:news&Itemid=27

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2014/jan/15/silence-over-scheduled-btc-meeting/

I have been trawling the Bahamian press sites this morning but it seems they haven't woken up yet, still showing yesterday's articles, but will look again at lunchtime. I expect a change of this nature will warrant an RNS so I will be monitoring those sources too. As soon as I see something I will post details unless someone else gets them first. GL

I suspect that Tony Rice will have previously negotiated terms that are favourable to the company, perhaps by assuring management independance for a prolonged period, thereby dlivering continuity that the 'markets' will approve with a modest SP rise.

It seems that negotiations have been ongoing for some time to sell back 2pc of BTC to the local government. It seems this is what to be announced next week but the outstanding question is what are to be the terms. BTC is hardly the 'jewel in the crown' of CWC but nevertheless is an important asset. Is the terms deliver long term stability between CWC and the government without adversely affecting local control then we should she a modest SP increase. Of course if this agreement has been achieved 'with a gun to the head' of CWC then we can expect an SP fall. http://www.tribune242.com/news/2013/oct/19/pm-negotiations-may-have-played-role-cable-wireles/

http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2014/01/10/cryptic-christie-to-announce-secret-cwc-deal-next-week/