The latest Investing Matters Podcast with Jean Roche, Co-Manager of Schroder UK Mid Cap Investment Trust has just been released. Listen here.
Thanks for that BP.. love the analogy with “on the rocks “ and buying TP to save money on the bricks .. you may be right about H&W . The near defunct yard has never made any money in the last twenty years or so but as you say we are in the hands of the politicians which is High risk in the current climate notwithstanding Covid 19 ... but there just has to be so much potential .. the Gov. will not let it fail !!!
Agreed..under JW we have indeed had great leadership but mistakes have been made partly due to inadequate information given when he took over from the previous lot, leading to misunderstandings on the ML and the consequent near disastrous delays. Dealing with those against us has not always been smooth. H&W acquisition was a blinder as potentially is the link with Vitol and Barrow but Share Prophets recently considered that we were "batting well above our grade" --let's hope that by the end of April we can prove them and all the doomsters wrong ---Just hoping that the BOD have full "Critical Illness Cover " ...for the next 2 months or so !!
Whatamess is correct ..my understanding is that the EU monies are contractually due whatever the scenario ..there is and was never any preconditions excepting that the FEED work be completed by a competent body ( our German friends and Costain) and in accord with specifications and time limits etc.Indeed it would be "nice" to learn exactly what is behind the delays rather than receiving persistent bureucratic gobbleygook and nebulous statements conveying no meaning or sense at all ..Most frustrating but the funds are due and WILL be paid without the need for Court or similar action ..so there !!
Do access the NI FerrySite for a time lapsed video of the building of this new beauty from keel laying to launching in China ..fascinating ...if only we had been able to retain the skills over here in Belfast but I suppose that with Chinese Central Government highly disciplined control,cheap steel and raw materials and plentiful cheap labour we had no hope of competing.
Stena Edda is a new breed of larger faster ships replacing the Stena Lagan and others on the Birkenhead-Belfast route.....one of you more clever than I may be able to produce the link ..someone like Spud or Chris !!!
About as much use as the proverbial chocolate fire guard..but at least it shows that the BOD is mindful of our extreme frustrations on this debacle ..probably not entirely under their control as I know from meetings such as the AGM that they have spent considerable time and trouble chasing the funds.......as one senior politician remarked last autumn :
" we are best well out of the E.U. if only to rid ourselves of any liability for the rampant fraud on funds in E. Europe and Southern Italy which far exceeds the loss to the UK economy caused by the likes of Indian Call Centre fraudsters ".....actually quite relevant today due to the planned Panorama program though that has been shelved and replaced by an insight into our new enemy, Miss Coronavirus !!
Although my family and Trust are in for the long haul here still, sadly I have little influence having been side stepped by the big City boys ...which,I suppose, is actually a good thing as it creates a valued mix of shareholding and with parties that are also in for the long term ...supposedly so ! The BOD should not be bothered to announce each and very bit of contract news but some content about performance todate for the yard and likely prospects in general for the next two months would be welcome ---riding these choppy seas is tough and delays over the ML merely prolong the voyage and agony !!
....seems to be tied up alongside our berth too as well as Dublin Swift ...maybe full employment for the yard next week though confirmatory news for March's prospects will be nice pending reaching the 26th of the month !!
As our friend Chrisatrdg posted recently, he says that trying to find fair and honest information via contact with and looking at the E.U. Website is quite frankly unfathomable and darn right ***** .I do know that the BOD have made persistent efforts to chase but (12 months or so on) none of us are any the wiser ..anyhow am still prepared to give JW the benefit of any doubt and am ready to throw my hat high up in the air when the red dot appears this week ....or eat it ...yet again !! It may help the SP to rise against the markets this week but only temporarily IMHO of course !
There once was a little red dot
That we thought that the boss had forgot
When it appeared at last one day
We all got up and said Hip Hip Hooray
Oh yes,it meant such a lot did that little red dot !!
Byron Dawski 2020 ---indeed only 4 working days to ..................!!
Indeed ..that's the gist of what was said at the meeting !!
........expected Receipt of E.U. Funds confirmation ..just to start the ball rolling though not likely to be extravagant on the SP as the funds are earmarked ....supposedly !!
And just to further flag that I did ask at the AGM and noted down about E.U. Money ..."due and expected February" ..also about asset backed loans to tie us over the delays at IM and with FID ..."being sorted for February on JW's chart presentation" --so one sorted the other imminent with Costain supposedly happy about the delays or at least informed and bearing with us. The H&W development team are "bedding down " and in formation mode ..No one likes the choppy seas now as reflected in the SP but at least we have enough to ride the waves til the end of April or further by which time ...........!!
Love the continued nautical theme, Bruce .. one more item discussed informally is that IM has potential for Hyrdrogen storage whether mixed or not should in the long term Gas fall out of favour (that is not going to happen many years of course as renewables will take time to fully replace Fossil ..the Government are simply not going to let us fail at this stage so the ML WILL happen given time for consideration of all the probable objections and due deliberation by the civil servants....and the N.I. Executive will do it’s level best to help H&W with any applicable grants etc ..calmer sailing ?? by late Spring / Summer !! Oh yes by the way as I nearly forgot the EU monies are expected in February.........2020 or it’s another bite out of the ??!! That’s not a given .. just a fair bet IMHO
Nothing new ( as you would have had a RNS!!) but those that can stay on board for a few months or so will be well rewarded . The new II’s like what they see and the new appointments are top notch/drawer. Top people with proven track records in their chosen fields not needing to work now but on board as there are VERY excited about our medium to long term future .still a few choppy seas but a lot happening and ... please ... do not worry about the ML .it will take time but it will happen . So there you have it !!
The realistic time frame needs to be clarified tomorrow at the A.G.M .Fair questions need to be raised and I am confident that an adequate and expedited process will be confirmed ...I will raise the issue if no one else does..be assured as this aspect has dragged on for long enough ;so too has the non receipt of E.U. funds !! Once we can overcome ML and FID we have a very bright future ...don't you all agree ?!! I opened this chat line as usual a few minutes ago and saw the large number of posts already --did not need to scroll down and find the source !!!
Tango --so right ..Judith is the Director very much "on the ground" in N.I and will have a good feel for likely progress with the ML and on to FID etc ...a truly massive boost of confidence at this critical time ..IMHO of course !!
I too have the same message from a party at the meeting --more support than not ..A bit like Bojo now ..in the hope that the ML will be finalised soon we have to live up to promises and expectations and ( when funds materialise ) put something tangible in to the local economy,infrastructure and it's environment ---the sea WILL soon recover !
Danawinner ...is welcome anytime ..for obvious reasons !!..Yes,Judith has so far acted very professionally and under difficult local conditions.
I knew Snowman personally and spoke with him frequently ..always positive friendly and .....had expertise on the sector as per his many posts ..will be missed.
I have it on good authority that a number of the "Sells" today were actually Blue ones --a bit deceptive judging by the spread but with JW in Spain and now half way through the 42 day period there is still good interest in this share ...especially below .03p !!