Member Info for JohnLewis79

Yes miti100...either £97m cash ex debt or c £36m net cash. My guess the co will pare down the debt as per the loan terms so as to pay a special divi and any immediate investments budgeted for the coming year close. A 1p special dividend would cost c £2m which looks about right (c2%) of the vat win which should keep lth on board. Whatever now is not the time to sell up though one is taking a lot on trust that the cash will be used wisely to grow the top line for the first time since 1066! On balance if you have been invested around the 60-80 level the risk/reward definitely favours staying in given our world spread of interests.

Small lot selling takes c 5% off sp...overdone as usual. Best wait if your itching to buy as mm's might be looking at getting some cheapies. Anything near 80 will take us near pre vat win but like an oil co I know where it's c 700 mbbls 2p reserves are valueless and the mrkt cap is less than cash in bank..........don't be surprised if the mrkt takes a similar view. Cannot see why they should but nothing surprises me in these rigged markets.

Showing a 45% gain but even better if you bought in at year low your UP 74%!!

Crack bookies take a hammering after a cross party group of MPs' urged an immediate crack down on betting machines, calling for the £100 spin to be cut to £2 and speed of spin and nos per shop be reviewed. It also seeks that Councils be given extra powers to stop"clustering" of betting shops and that evidence suggested that undesirables were attracted to areas of betting outlets. Needless to say the bookies hotly denied the issues raised by the MPs' adding that it would have a disastrous impact on the betting industry. Er.....more like on your bottom line you mean. I have zero sympathy for the bookies who have used the FOBTS as a cheap way to bolster profits as they had run out of ideas to increase profits. A short term measure thats going to cost them big time down the line.

From the Times this morning....Penrose said that while it would give the company scope to accelerate investment in its other operations, shareholders would receive a cash return! Small article in Telegraph adding little of interest and not a mention in the mickey mouse Mail. Be interesting to see how volumes go today after yesterdays huge increase in turnover. Profit takers will be out early methinks if there is an initial rise. The prospect of a "bonus win" payable to holders might stem selling but as to how one qualifies for a special cash payout I'm not sure I guess you will have to be on the register at a certain date..lucky for the "Johnny come latelys"

I forgot to mention the arrangement Spo made with the lawyers, who i understand were on a no win no fee basis. So that could be costly partly offset by costs awarded against HMRC. As will be any tax owed on the vat sums received (if any).

Yea the compound interest claim has already been ruled on by the Appeals court in favour of Littlewoods and now before the Supreme Court to be heard next year (July). Our claim for compound interest has been lodged since 2009 for amounts yet to be determined. Spo say it could potentially double the vat award. As we are now essentially debt free we will be saving £6m or so in interest charges which will drop straight to the bottom line next year (assuming we repay our lenders in full). If we cont to carry debt then our cash position at 16 year end should be around £103m (50pps) ex any retained cash flow and no dividend paid. I'm pretty sure that Spo will want to start paying dividends, probably next year which will attract income seeking funds to the company. This should be good for the sp! A terrific end to the year for shareholders which puts us in a very strong position to grow the business in the US and I'd expect Draft Day to be on our wish list for starters. We could be nudging £35m next year for c 17pps (ebita) and on a cheap multiple. Others will be looking on enviously. The two failed bids for the Pools might be a blessing in disguise in that Spo as a whole has suddenly become a very attractive target at a mrkt cap of £180m. Don't expect any UK plc mopes to be interested, they have enough problems of their own! The pools division suddenly got a lot more expensive to purchase and I'd expect the board to value this super business much more realistically should anyone come knocking!

Hearty congratulations to all at Spo HQ. Well done and spend our money wisely!!

Also Spo submitted a claim for compound interest which if successful could double the amount re'cd from HMRC. This is ddependent on the Littlewoods stores claim being heard later this year. Whatever HMRC are a busted flush and have finally thrown in the towel. Great shame they have escaped swingeing penalties for wasting everyone's time these last 8 years! The balance of £4m+ will be paid shortly giving us c £99m in cash or just under 50pps. Shares rose 10 on the news and would expect a rerate in the coming days.

Spo wins appeal!!

Zam 52wk H-L....160% UP!

Another jump in the palm price to $713...wish we were producing! Last time I was in palm stocks the price was $800 ish. Toyed with buying into REA when they slumped into the low 200's...now 300 but as per usual no spare. Jeez anything I fancy but don't invest in rockets up!

Big jump in oil price $703.25.

With only c 13 trading days till the New Year if the SC is going to rule now would be a good time. I see no point in hanging this out till 2017. Delaying the inevitable is in nobody's interest.

Welcome Trodat. Good to have a shareholder up close and personal...if you get what i mean? Look forward to your contributions.

c 37% rise in oil price (52ytd) to $691. Malaysia expects demand to increase for crude & processed oils going into 2017 and see a 10% rise by Q1.

$689.25.

Two chunky buys for £127k at 17 (didn't move the price). See if there's any reaction first thing today. Wish it was mine!

Surely today or by Friday as Dec ain't the autumn when i last looked! Yea you can't decide where to put all your crosses...can you? Where's that bloody ball gone? C'mon you clever dicks it's easy...close your eyes and stick a pin in....bound to be a winner!

It's bulls v bears atm....whose gonna win?...are we bothered?.... Am i bothered?...