Member Info for onsolidground

Last time I looked THG were carrying a lot of RevB products on the Lookfantastic website so I'd think before I posted stanleyb.

I certainly wouldn't bid for it as things stand financially but I'd be on alert if it suddenly went into admin with a pre-pack deal to be struck, albeit I would expect BOO and also probably Mike Ashleys growing Fraser beauty empire to throw their hats in the ring. Perhaps Next also with their own Beauty section in some stores.

Putin has always been the best saved for last in terms of any of the previous negotiations, i.e others do all the negotiation and reporting back to him for a steer and then he was always saved to turn up for deal done final meet, the signing and the cameras. Even Trump's initial plan wanted to get negotiations done, then get a phone call between leaders, and then with Zelenski and Putin meeting to agree and sign on a peace deal.

This time though what with all Ukraine's cards shown and on the table and many other US and world carrots dangling in front of them, and having been told by the Americans that they want too much and with the US walking, its Putin himself who has reinstigated talks and now Trump indicating Putin himself will be attending.

All eyes on the talks then and if he is attending then I'll be taking that as a huge positive as it is he who holds the key.

Just my interpretation.

Its a shocker and The CEO's departure to imo a lesser role at a competitor in advance gave fair warning.

It's such a shame as under Bob Holt and Elizabeth Lake they were doing a good job.

Its a shocker of an update off RevB 1pencil with Beauty Q1 weak and looking like it continues, yes US tariffs hitting them as they produce product in China and import into the US, albeit easing, and they are strapped for cash with an RCF fully drawn down. The strategy was woeful and nobody bought into it after a capital markets day and it is no wonder the CEO jumped ship to a nice new role with a competitor in advance. Still awaits an FCA sanction rfe previous wrongdoings. Just imvho.

He's got a point if the US is being ripped off in terms of drug prices compared to other parts of the world but in wishing to be paying those lower prices that judgement I think is flawed as there are many other countries that are much poorer and have lower standards of living and prices match because they produce in country with far cheaper labour and production costs. The US simply couldn't compete by producing in the US which was his previous mantra. Probably some middle ground in there to be had but not the full monty.

Won't get the chance with Erdogan, officiators and mediators present, if the negotiations run like they did last time around in Istanbul. Not even sure Trump would get in the room if he turned up sharefall as it's not his White House show this time around.

Putin imo wouldn't be reinitiating the talks, nor attending in person unless he perceived it to be advantageous or close in his eyes.

Seems to think that both Putin and Zelenski will be at the negotiations in Turkey. Exactly the tonic required.

“Don’t underestimate Thursday in Turkey, President Erdogan is the great host. And we are doing some work with him, having to do with Syria too …

I think you’re going to have … maybe a good meeting, you have the potential for a good meeting. A meeting wasn’t going take place, and I insisted that that meeting take[s] place. …

You may have a good result out of the Thursday meeting in Turkey … and I believe the two leaders are going to be there. I was thinking about flying over. I don’t know where I am going be on Thursday, I’ve got so many meetings … There’s a possibility there I guess if I think things can happen.”

Richy I had actually thought that Donald J Trump getting involved might have gotten us to a deal but was starting to see through the American approach that they were in it not just to ensure peace but to steal the deal. Firstly the Mineral Rights deal with Ukraine which fair enough has been signed for continued weapons and munitions and top notch intelligence. But they were also looking to gain the initiative on trade deals with Russia. Unfortunately until the US walked away the Russians I think had taken advantage and thought they could go the full hog so to speak. Marco Rubio though in his comments had informed them that they were after too much.

So it's in that vein that Russia now wishes to reinstitue talks and the Istanbul talks by comparison should be devoid of any of the American distractions (albeit they will benefit) and should focus solely on peace. It's been made pretty clear if they don't then far tougher sanctions are coming along with a complete new wave of military munitions and support for Ukraine.

Who knows, we might even get appearances off one or both Putin and Zelenski.

The actual positive here is that it is Putin that has initiated this restart.

Last time they had Istanbul talks if I remember correctly didn't they bring in Abramovich as a mediator?

Conversations with the Chinese President last week and with Erdogan and Turkey having offered to observe any potential ceasefire might also have helped with the restart.

If Putin turns up himself then I'll take it that the talks are serious and probably buy more. If it's Mr Lavrov then I'll probably sell up as they always seem to become sticky when he gets involved.

Somebody seems to be buying the dips !!

It's a sunnier day over both the Uk and BP today.

That's not what you said.

I threw you a lifeline.

Just to add

The announcement of a share buyback scheme might in itself help lift the share price as might the consequences of buying back shares and cancelling them - over the longer term or,

Alternatively the Directors could buy shares themselves if outside any closed period buying restrictions and them not privy to any insider info. This might indicate confidence in the H2 results or FY guidance being met.

"THG won't leave the FTSE 250. MM will not let that happen. They have an open buyback program where they can easily lift the SP above 30 if needed. No restraints on using the program since refinancing has completed."

JamesLast you seem to be misleading everyone in what you say for with any share buyback schemes it is actually handed over to a broker or brokers to execute and it has to be done in such a way that on any given day it does not unduly influence the share price. There are normally volume restrictions placed on purchasing and proportionately based on the number of shares traded in any given day. It's governed by the Companies Act. So I'm afraid MM and THG can't control the price back up to 30p through any buybacks.

Nice thought though.

"Yes no Tariffs on RR engine :-) great news."

Great news for Boeing who would probably have gone bust if they didn't keep the price of Rolls Royce engines low.

Definite leak the last few days imo.

Elliott have a strong track record in activist involvement which then leads to a bid but it looks like it is actually going to take a formal tabled approach to move the dial on the share price, contrary to my initial thoughts that Shell's interest may have caused a rise just on it's own. I mean if anybody has the resource to take over BP then it would have to be one of the supermajors like Shell. I think it more probable a bid could be from America.

I suppose you only benefit if you hold and you get to pocket the dividends until one arrives or the oil price rises again.

Stanleyb stop ramping the same old over and over again.

Have you actually looked at the 1 years share graph @THG and how it aligns with falling revenues from £2.2 Billion and constantly missed guidance, and what imvho appears to have been one poor decision after another.

From Bids declined much higher than this, whale chasing that never came off, £50Million spent to try and retain custom, a rebrand that did the opposite, then Japan, and then with businesses given away for a pittance: Coggles, ProBikeKit, Zaavi and IWOOT etc and then most recently the Australian beauty business just transacted back to its owner, and at a guess for not a lot. Then Ingenuity taken private at a knockdown price of £25M. So $1 Billion of Softbank money given to the company and spent on purchases and still not even a fragment of a dividend to show. Then we just learn a £7M loss on a Williams F1 onerous contract, £15M written off on a hotel. £57.5M of beauty products written off. Then given all of the above they had to revert to two recent fundraises, one to take Ingenuity private and the other to aid a refinancing, and one of which is on the day it enters the FTSE 250 - two years later than Kelso suggested.

Hardly instilling of confidence don't you think and it probably explains why the share price is where it is, and btw I think the consensus on the Selkirk Bid by market reaction is that they saw through it, pre results.

Out for now on the traders and I'm sure there will be plenty of other opportunities pre AGM.

Interesting AGM coming up @THG and given Kelso previously publicly stated they would be voting against the Chairman last year and when the share price was in the 60's. Recent Selkirk / Kelso bid also declined.

It'll be interesting to see what stance Kelso adopt this year given at last report they were down significantly on a 57.5 average purchase price.

In the meantime it's good that they reported that they are looking to buy back their own shares.