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Al Jazeera seem to be saying similar but with a bit more meat on the bone.

"5h ago (12:00 GMT)

Israeli military preparing for major attacks on Iran, Lebanon, Gaza

The Israeli military is preparing for large-scale assaults on multiple fronts, according to its public broadcaster Kan and other Israeli media.

The army is aiming for a “significant and difficult” attack on Iran in response to its launch of ballistic missiles on Israel, which had come in retaliation for the assassination of top Iranian, Lebanese and Palestinian officials.

Israeli authorities are said to expect their Western allies, who also oppose Iranian influence, to participate in the attack. This comes as General Michael Kurilla, the head of the US military in the region, is expected to arrive in Israel today to discuss the operation.

In Gaza, the Israeli military is planning for “intense manoeuvres”, especially around the Netzarim Corridor, as the war approaches the one-year mark.

Operations in Lebanon will “take place as often as necessary” and what the army has described as a “limited” operation in south Lebanon is set to expand, according to Israeli reports. More than 2,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since the start of the war last year."

Macro picture over Micro issues calling the direction at the moment. Far better imho talking about where the Oil price and the TLW share price will be by the end of next week if Israel do deliver a "Significant and serious response" to Iran retaliates with a "maximum" response. 180 plus ballistic missiles a few days back was a "minimum response".

Personally I'm surprised TLW is only 25p and that the oil price is still only $78 a barrel.

Dyor.

"IDF indicates it will hit back at Iran as 7 October anniversary looms

The Israeli military has indicated it will expand its operations on multiple fronts around the anniversary of the 7 October attacks on Monday, including a “significant and serious” retaliation against Iran for last week’s large-scale ballistic missile attack on Israel.

“The IDF [Israeli military] is preparing a response to the unprecedented and unlawful Iranian attack on Israeli civilians and Israel,” the military official said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak publicly on the issue.

Optionality !!

This was what Kelso said at the time they made their very first investment in THG.

"About Kelso

Kelso was established in 2022 to identify, engage and unlock trapped value in the UK stock market.

Kelso’s strategy is to invest in situations where there is an anomaly between the intrinsic value and

prospects of a company and its stock market valuation. Kelso will, in particular, look for situations

where it believes the sum of the parts of a business is greater than the current value. The company

completed a fundraising of £3m in January 2023. Kelso believes that the current market conditions

are such that there are situations where UK listed companies’ valuations are not appropriately

matched to their underlying intrinsic value. There may be instances where Kelso itself could be used

as a vehicle by an undervalued company to spin off a subsidiary into its own listing. Such a transaction

would undoubtedly constitute a reverse takeover for Kelso."

It's at the end of the RNS.

https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/KLSO/investment-in-thg-plc-fz785gdyq1w5hu3.html

MM - if you have any sense perhaps pick up the phone to Kelso (if you haven't done so already) and see what they can offer. They've clearly done it before. Probably give you their services for free or at a discounted rate rather than forking out millions to a City that you clearly despise. Just imvho.

Morning The.Italian,

Selkirk has been set up by Kelso for the specific purpose of acquiring assets and turning them into seperately run companies and Ben Harrington aka Betaville has clearly twigged the news of the Single Purpose Acquisition vehicle (SPAC) being created and done some digging with his City contacts and sources. I've highlighted previously that he is never far from the truth and normally on the money.

This incidentally is exactly what they Kelso offered up to THG's when they came on the scene and were urging seperation and demerger to unlock substantial value.

These guys know their stuff and sorry to say it but had Moulding listened to them and implemented the 5 or 6 things they suggested 12 to 18 months ago then the share price would be much much higher than 56p and the company being a sitting duck for another takeover approach in whole or in part. Should have perhaps listened and implemented rather than thinking he / they knew best - for it hasn't worked. Hence 12 to 18 months later we are now talking demerger.

Definitely looks like they have access to much deeper pools of money. (Goold spent 11 years as CEO of Zeus Capital)

Question is Could they use the same contacts in the Private Equity world to come for Ingenuity or THG whole? Perhaps instigating contact with Apollo again.

Definitely worth watching NCC to see if anything gets announced there as I see they are already selling off another part of their business. If nothing their attention may turn closer to home.

Also worth watching for any further new SPAC's that get created under the name of a Scottish Border town (Kelso and Selkirk Group) and with Goold and Kirkland as Directors.

""We are especially excited about the next phase of growth, as we plan to augment our strategy by seeding and investing in single stock acquisition vehicles where the Company sees value and opportunity, our first being Selkirk Group Plc. Our executive team have in the past worked on situations where significant value has been created by executing such strategies and it is our firm intention to replicate that success."

Selkirk Group plc

From Betaville.

"Friday 27th September.3.57p.m.

Kelso Group Holdings, the activist Investor, is said to have submitted a takeover approach for a sizeable part of the NCC Group, a London-based cyber security group."

https://www.betaville.co.uk/

dyor

The SPAC - Selkirk Group plc was incorporated on 24th September. So 3 days prior to the Betaville link.

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/15975897

Worth watching this new company imvho in case it turns THG's way, or if any others pop up under the Kelso Flag with Goold and Kirkland listed as Directors.

The.Italian,

We discussed John Goold and Mark Kirkland (Kelso) stepping down from temporary Board positions at The Works and Kelso's creation of a Single Purpose Acquisition Vehicle on or around 1/10 on this thread.

Being as they, Kelso seem to be punching above their weight if true, it might also have relevance for THG for I think they must be using previous contacts to get Private Equity backing.

"We are especially excited about the next phase of growth, as we plan to augment our strategy by seeding and investing in single stock acquisition vehicles where the Company sees value and opportunity, our first being Selkirk Group Plc. Our executive team have in the past worked on situations where significant value has been created by executing such strategies and it is our firm intention to replicate that success."

Then look at Betavilles post on 27th September.

"https://www.betaville.co.uk/

(NCC market cap £531M v Kelso's market cap of £14.27M)

In business never rule anything out.

"More reports from Yemen

We have a few updates regarding the reported US-British strikes in Yemen.

Yemen’s Houthi Al Masirah TV says:

There were four airstrikes in Sanaa.

Seven airstrikes struck Hodeidah Airport and Al-Kathib area in the northwest of Hodeidah.

There was a single airstrike south of Dhamar city.

Footage on social media and verified by Al Jazeera’s fact-checking agency show large plumes of smoke resulting from the strikes in Hodeidah."

"US and British forces strike Yemen: Report

Yemen’s Houthi Al Masirah TV reports that US and British air attacks have targeted Hodeidah airport, Sanaa and Dhamar City.

We will bring you more information as we get it."

Really not a good move for Red Sea shipping

Apollo... Evri....Ingenuity...

There's an opportunity now beckoning that didn't 18 months ago and an additional reason to be interested since then.

In theory give or take another weekend in between, MW and Qube need to decide if they are de-risking into any next THG update.

That'll be about 1 month after the Demerger announcement was made public and in effect a large For Sale sign and Invite to "Come speak to Us" also got hoisted over THG Ingenuity.

Risky business if there is any positive update on that front.

Do they risk it, or as MW did prior to the last update, do they reduce and close up prior banking profit then decide their next tactics after digesting the news?

What's peoples thoughts?

A bit more off Iran's supreme leader

"Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, also said Iran’s attack on Israel on Tuesday was the “minimum punishment” for Israel against their “astonishing crimes”.

The Iranian supreme leader, according to quotes carried by BBC News, called Israel a “vampire” regime, adding that the Islamic Republic will execute “any related duties” against Israel with “strength and fortitude...”

Precis of what Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei said during his taking of prayers (courtesy of The Guardian live updates)

"Iran’s missile attack on Israel was “legal and legitimate”. “The operation of our armed forces a few nights ago was totally legal and legitimate,” he said, adding that his country would not “procrastinate or rush to carry out its duty” in confronting Israel.

Iran’s enemy is the same as the enemy of a Palestinian state, Lebanon and other Muslim nations.

Israel is pretending to win strategic victory through assassinations and civilian killings.

The Hamas-led 7 October attack on southern Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed, was a “legitimate act”, he said.

“The Palestinian people have a lawful right to defend themselves. To stand up to those criminals – the occupation forces. There is not a single court or international organization that can blame the Palestinian people for simply defending their homeland,” Khamenei said.

Israel cannot seriously harm Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, or Hamas, the Palestinian militant group."

Just my view but I'm not so sure that it will go down too well with Israel and Netanyahu. Dyor though and interpret things for yourself.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei giving his 1st public sermon in 5 years today. People already gathering.

Interesting.

Corrected post with the Bulgarian airport correct link now added.

Australia

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ssp-group-acquires-expansion-australian-140312353.html

New Zealand

https://www.foodtravelexperts.com/news-and-insights/2024/ssp-makes-debut-in-new-zealand-with-contract-win-at-christchurch-international-airport/

Indonisia

https://www.foodtravelexperts.com/news-and-insights/2024/ssp-to-enter-into-the-indonesian-market-with-a-new-joint-venture/

Bulgaria – 12 Units at Sofia Airport

https://www.worldcoffeeportal.com/Latest/News/2024/August/SSP-Group-to-debut-in-Bulgaria-with-Starbucks-and#:~:text=SSP%20Group%20will%20open%20its,Starbucks%20and%20Camden%20Food%20Co.

France and 2 Paris Airports - 84 new Food and Beverage Outlets across 8 brands at 2 Paris Airports

https://www.worldcoffeeportal.com/Latest/News/2024/September/SSP-Group-joint-venture-to-expand-branded-cafe-foo

Pret a Manger into Saudi Arabia

https://www.worldcoffeeportal.com/Latest/News/2024/September/SSP-Group-to-open-first-Pret-A-Manger-store-in-Sau

Egypt and Hurghada Airport

https://www.regionalgateway.net/ssp-expands-presence-in-new-zealand-and-egypt/

Edin-Burger (Edinburgh)

https://www.regionalgateway.net/ssp-expands-presence-in-new-zealand-and-egypt/

Stanstead – 1st Drive Through

https://www.templemerepr.co.uk/blog/post.php?s=ssp-and-london-stansted-airport-open-a-new-way-to-fly-and-drive-thru

Berlin

https://www.passengerterminaltoday.com/news/food-beverage/ssp-and-berlin-brandenburg-airport-open-two-burger-kings-and-a-starbucks-coffee.html

Sheephatch I'm just like you. I have it on my watchlist and I'm interested in the company and the product.

Will probably buy some in stages and just lock them away.

GL with what you choose.

"Biden says he is 'discussing' possible Israeli strikes on Iran oil facilities

Joe Biden, the US president, said he was “discussing” possible Israeli strikes on Iranian oil sites in response to Tehran’s missile attack on Tuesday.

Here’s a clip, from the BBC’s Faisal Islam:

NEW here are President Biden’s words on “discussing” Iran oil facilities, leaving the White House - caused an oil price spike - he seems to hesitate at the end: pic.twitter.com/WTCqPsDXU2

— Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) October 3, 2024

As Islam notes, Biden’s comments quickly sent oil prices soaring.

WTI, the US contract, rose by as much as 5% before paring back some gains to sit at about $73 per barrel while Brent, the international benchmark, rose around four percent to $76.81, AFP reported.

dyor

And on Iran's interactions with other Gulf States.

"Gulf Arab states have sought to reassure Iran of their neutrality amid rising concerns that a wider escalation in violence between Tehran and Israel could threaten their oil facilities, according to a report.

Ministers from Gulf Arab states and Iran attended a meeting of Asian nations hosted by Qatar this week, during which urgent de-escalation was at the top of the agenda for all the discussions, sources told Reuters.

Axios reported yesterday that Israeli officials are considering targeting oil production facilities inside Iran and other strategic sites as a retaliation to Tuesday’s missile attack.

Iran has not threatened to attack Gulf oil facilities but it has warned that if “Israel supporters” intervene directly their interests in the region would be targeted. Ali Shihabi, a Saudi commentator close to the Royal Court, told Reuters:

The Gulf states think it’s unlikely that Iran will strike their oil facilities, but the Iranians are dropping hints they might from unofficial sources. It’s a tool the Iranians have against the U.S. and the global economy..."

Oil coming to the forefront of key players strategic thinking is probably what is now causing Oil prices to rise. That plus the market has had 2 days to close up any short positions on the Oil Price and Oil stocks and to switch direction.

I guess your investment strategy all boils down to how you view the character of Netanyau for the next move off Israel. Here was his comments after Iran launched over 200 Ballistic missiles at Israel.

“Iran made a big mistake tonight – and it will pay for it,” Netanyahu told a meeting of his security cabinet late on Tuesday. “The regime in Iran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and our determination to retaliate against our enemies … They will understand.”

Brent crude up circa 5% today at $77.25 won't be doing any balance sheets any harm.

dyor.

The recent drops and the just entering the busiest quarter of the year are starting to make the share look appealing again.

That plus of course the recent 8% plus stakebuild by the Australian Billionaire.

I wonder what he is thinking about the recent dip?