Member Info for Medway_Man

I had no issues buying my second holding of 5000 on II.co.uk this afternoon......... having bought my first amount yesterday.

I know from speaking to two of my friends who like me are involved in 'family investor type clubs'.......... GSF is a buy (currently) for all 3 groups and with the drop in price today, each group has purchased more shares (regardless of whether we qualify toparticipate in the fund raise) - but based on timings and amounts purchased, all 3 transactions appear to be showing as 'sales' rather than purchases!

OOOOOOPs originally missed out 'found' in opening phrase...........(Revised) I have found of late a number of companies are changing their ex-div and payment dates from what they have been for some time, so are not putting them in their Financial Calendars.

I just use Dividenddata dot co dot uk , where you can put in the code for loads of companies and it comes up with past ex-div and payments dates and also recently declared ones ex as per the example of Hikma in the link below.
On the same site you can also access yields for FTSE100 & 250 and Investment Trusts

Hikma example https://dividenddata.co.uk/ex-dividend-date-search.py?searchTerm=HIK

I have of late a number of companies are changing their ex-div and payment dates from what they have been for some time, so are not putting them in their Financial Calendars.

I just use Dividenddata dot co dot uk , where you can put in the code for loads of companies and it comes up with past ex-div and payments dates and also recently declared ones ex as per the example of Hikma in the link below.
On the same site you can also access yields for FTSE100 & 250 and Investment Trusts

Hikma example https://dividenddata.co.uk/ex-dividend-date-search.py?searchTerm=HIK

I see this will be the first message on this board................ has anyone received their latest dividend from SHIP due 12/02/21?

You are going to have to wait a bit - tomorrow (4th June) is ex div day; pay date is 26th June

Having just come out of hospital (after a several months stay), I have ust got around to catching up with paperwork; as I had to rely on my wife trading for me , when I could not get email signal in my room to do it myself.

I could not believe how much SAGA has tanked in this period and am so glad I sold out totally at a profit some months back.

Not sure what all the ins/outs have been to get down to this current share price; but several months back, so many people on here seemed to be getting all excited about how Saga's new ships would bring new business in. .....by the look of it, it has not happened.

Sadly many missed the point months back; that between 2019 and 2023 a great number of new ships are due to enter service including 2 x P&O, 2 x Princess, another RCI if memory serves me correct (that's just a few) and then you will have a number of existing ships that will be sold, which are usually re-fitted as new and rebranded.

I fully accept that all ships are not the same; so unless you are a loyal SAGA cruiser or specifically want to be on a ship that is for older people only (but other brands also do adults only ships)............ I can guarantee you, there will be far cheaper packages/prices with other brands/ships for similar destinations that SAGA offer.

I do hope that many of you did not lose to much.....................

They probably have enough institutional investors ready to pick those not taken up by the likes of yourself, already in the wings.

Fortunately, I had/have an underperforming stock in my ISA, so sold 50% of that to take up my basic offer allowance on nearly 3500 shares.

I had considered selling the remainder of my underperformer and apply for some of the excess TRIG shares (but I am not a fan of stock applications being scaled back and having to wait for returns of funds put aside/up front) so I might top up my PHNX next week instead on or after the 21/3 when it goes ex-div

The dividend is an unknown quantity........ in theory, it could well be 13.5p......... after all they have paid well previously.

Will be interesting to see what is paid and the wording about plans for the dividend in the future, in the next report. If the business is doing as well as previoously indicated by them, then I would hope that 13.5p for the year is the minimum. If t is cut, I think some investors including myself, will look at their holdings and make decisions as to whether to cut, reduce or keep.

As my wife has now joined me in the 'early retirement' ranks, and our state pensions are a few years off (assuming they still exist in a few years time), income is now a more important factor, to act as a back up to both our Company pensions. So if RDI don't meet my expectations, I will look elsewhere.

If I look at both my portfolio and my wifes, they are now 60% differnt in what we held/hold, than 12-18months ago.

Pity it was not a gain................... However, I would think the consolidation was done more to smooth out turbulance, as a penny or two swing on 30p, is far greater than a penny of two on a higher share price.

Equally, there are many personal investors out there who won't touch investments which have a relatively low bid/offer price as their perception is that they are very risky (whether they are or not) than one say of £1.25 bid/offer price. Hopefully, the newly adjusted price will entice others in, to invest.

Hi Vulcan...….obviously everyone's viewpoint will differ as to whether the merger is good (or not) depending on varying factors ...………….disregarding things like, someone having a personal dislike to 'MXF' as an investment or business; it is hard to ignore the fact that both businesses Boards came out very early on stating their support for the deal to go through. At face value, they do seem a good fit...…… I guess only time will tell if it was a good merger (assuming it happens).

I have held MXF in the past as a good dividend payer, and had also held PHP as a long term banker in the past......but had sold both to buy alternative investments, as other opportunities arrived, so was not holding either prior to the announcement.

However, on hearing the breaking news; I swiftly, bought £25000 of PHP (touch wood, my '3i' holding had a massive gain, so top sliced that) as an opening holding, until I either free up fund's in my ISA by selling something; or until my next lot of big dividends arrive in April/May, when I can buy more if appropriate. I did consider buying back into MXF for their forthcoming dividend and waiting for the .77 merger adjustment; but as I am due to go into hospital soon for a major op, I did not want the hassle of that, so took the easy option of just investing straight into PHP.

There is information in a number of places including PHP own site https://www.phpgroup.co.uk/investors/proposed-all-share-merger-php-and-medicx

Spotted the RNS feed for GLIF. I used to hold GLIF back in the day of 50p+ share price and dividends too. When the new board came onboard, it was noticeable, how quickly things plummeted despite they words of confidence being spouted........Although I sold out at a loss, I am so glad I no longer hold GLIF, as it reads as if things have become extremely dire since.

From what I can see and a few examples I did myself........ if you were sitting on a gain prior to the consolidation, you will probably end up better off or roughly break even.....but I was sitting on a small loss, and now have a bigger loss beyond the amount I will get from the 33.99p per share payments.

As to whether you should buy more..... who knows at this stage. A lot will depend (I think it is true for many) what happens with the dividend.

Equally, I have not yet got my head round today's RNS feed about fixed Rate $ notes, as to what the aim of the Solicitation process is ultimately going to achieve; and if it will have any bearing on future figures and the ability to pay dividends to Ordinary Share holders progressively at the sorts of figures previously seen.

Re showing the B shares....... there was something I read (can't think where and whether it was in a RNS feed) which said what the GB plus digits code would be for them; but they would not be actually listed.

onday = Monday

Hi TGM................based on the following >>>>>>>In addition to receiving 7 New Ordinary Shares for every 8 Existing Shares held prior to the Share Capital Consolidation, Shareholders will also receive one B Share with a nominal amount of 33.99 pence for each Existing Ordinary Share held at the Record Time of 5pm on 19 October 2018 you will not get the payout........... assuming that is the case; will it make a difference as to whether you will hold or sell, come onday morning trading bell???

Without wading through the bumffff again, if memory serves me right..... it is those on the register at 5pm today, will get the 33.99p in due course.

Not sure where ex div comes into it as such, as it is not being paid as a special dividend (from memory), just a return of capital - purely to those on the register.

You are missing the point about bums on seats.......... whether it be SAGA, Cunard or the 7* luxury yachts; if you set sail on a cruise not full to standard capacity, you are in effect losing money (as your basic operating costs remain the same - there might be a saving on food used if under capacity)............. and to have only sold 64% of the first 19 cruises (I think was the figure in yesterdays results) after all the time they have been on sale; is not that inspiring.

With the other cruise brands (good, bad or indifferent) bringing their new ships online; the choice of new ships for cruisers becomes even greater. Yes, there are people loyal to brands, but why would someone loyal to say P&O try SAGA's new ship, likewise, why would someone loyal to SAGA, try P&O's new IONA............. it's unlikely to happen in large numbers.......... yes, some will, those who like to sail on Maiden Cruises etc regardless of , and I know a few people like that, but they are in the minority.

Profit comes from bums on seats........... most cruise companies use the price you pay for your cruise to cover basic costs (fuel, port costs etc) the real money is made on bars, shore excursions, shop sales and casino etc.......so whether you compare David to Goliath or Goliath to David.......... your profit is ultimately down to what passengers spend............and price is a major factor, especially when you have passengers moaning about paying tips to staff!

As I said, personally speaking I think they would do wise to get out of doing cruises and concentrate on the insurance side.......especially cruise insurance which is completely different from ordinary travel insurance (as it should allow for coverage of cover for 'air lift' if someone is taken ill whilst at sea which requires them to be taken ashore urgently..

We have just booked a 2 week cruise for 6 people which includes my mother in law, who will be 80 when we sail...... cruise insurance cover quotes for her range so far from £350 to £900 on one search engine. Even if you took the lower figure obtained , if (assuming) SAGA was selling it; how much profit would they make?.....I bet it would be nearly far off what they make per person on a cruise.