RE: annual report published5 Apr 2023 10:30
To paraphrase the Francesca Washtell's City Whispers article: Mark Crossley's remuneration has doubled, at the same time that legal concerns/ actions are high, the legal dept is very busy. Hinting that the unknown liability of these pending actions makes Indivior a risky casino share, and therefore Crossley's increased rewards were/are unmerited.
She could have gone further. The decision by 5 of the board - safety in numbers - to sell up a combined £5 million shares on 9th March at £15 was a terrible optic during the SP turmoil, and certainly no vote of confidence in the depressed SP at the time. PR wise - what on earth were they thinking?! Kathryn Hudson, company secretary, ridding herself of shares on almost a weekly basis, either by selling direct or transferring to her partner - another really bad look. And no director purchases of shares at what some would argue is a bargain basement price. It begs the obvious question, what do they know that we, the mere shareholders, don't?
All of the above lends itself to the narrative that Littleton1 is following/ even promoting. And I can understand that. It's clear that Indivior do not know what their potential legal liabilities are, or how some of the cases are playing out, or could. The statement that they made that provisions could be materially different from actual, is so open ended, but slanted on the negative side, that it needs a LOT more clarity in the coming quarterly reports.
However, balance is required here. Directors can buy and sell as they please and that is no indication of the state of the company if they do either, nor do they necessarily know more than the average shareholder.
Investor relations are open to all. You can phone or e mail Tim Owens or Jason Thompson (has anyone)? You can even phone or e mail Mark Crossley.
You would assume, rightly or wrongly, that the likes of Morgan Stanley, have been in touch with the above and sought re assurances about some of the current issues, and have been satisfied enough by the responses that they've been happy to increase their holdings post Feb results. That has to be a positive.
Legal actions are part and parcel of any pharmas daily life. The statement that Indivior made about not being able to quantify the liabilities was what has set the hare racing.
As Indivior forecast future earnings to year end in Feb, probably as a tactic to try to undo some of the negative headwinds about the c £250million legal provision, earnings and to a lesser degree profits are not key in the next quarterly statement - as unless they've deviated significantly from Feb's indications, they've been booked - move on.
Nor is the listing in the US a priority. We'd like to know, sure.
The priority for the main board to address on the May conference call and in its report, is the elephant in the room, legal actions, and progress or otherwise made. They can't be rolling out the "we still don't know our liabilities" line. They have to do