Member Info for Phillo

Hi 12Roses

It's just my observation with several stores in and around Manchester. Personally, I am an M for shirts,jumpers & coats and a 34R trousers size. I think these sizes perhaps reflect a large population of shoppers in M&S but this size range seems rather hard to find, whilst at the same time, what I would consider the extremes of the size range seems more plentiful. It could of course, be that the stock in my size is moving fast. However, there is a small men's sale on currently and the very small and XXL sizes make up the bulk of the sale stock, which sort of reinforces my view that too many of the small and large sizes are being ordered.

Just my personal view...

I agree that clothing is the issue. I think the Company buying of small and XXL items has been excessive and the availability of what I would call "regular" sizes have been limited lately.. They need to get this right going forward...

Interestingly, there is an article in the Telegraph (behind paywall). That suggests there is trouble brewing in the shadow banking sector. Basically private finance from Private Equity and Found Managers with no Banking regulation. Reading the comments, Talk Talk was specifically mentioned. The inference was that Businesses with poor balance sheets are exposed should there be a collapse. Of course, this has been discussed here many times but any distress in the altnets can only be good for BT in the long term.

Yes, the Pension deficit reduced from £8b in 2020 to 3.8bn in 2024 and will be removed by 2030. However this comes at a cost £600m a year and then a final payment in 2030 and a further final payment of £490m (I think). That's another £3.5bn to just fund the Pension Scheme that could have been used elsewhere. There will also probably be further pension funding required after 2030 but hopefully more manageable.

Other Company schemes are being hived off to Insurance Businesses (Legal & General, etc al).

It's a huge burden on the Business.

I also have no intention of selling either for the reasons you state ...however my patience is indeed being tested here.

I would feel more confident if the Board would finally grasp the Pension issue.

I really am hoping against hope it's a question of "how do you get to buy BT for £2.50 ?. Firstly, push the share price down to £1.80....

Someone is selling strongly...

Could be ...or the threshold for the Indians to retain their Board presence is lower than their current holding at 20%. Perhaps they have sold down ?.

As you say, perhaps a RNS soon.

Noticed a 31m UT at the end, an unusually high volume.

The downward pressure on the share price has been pretty much continuous since the RNS.

Yes, there is a pay wall.

The article is too long to cut and paste, but the two relevant paragraphs are as follows :

But after Trump raised tariffs on India, the biggest market for Russian crude since 2023, and ordered officials to monitor other countries’ purchases of Moscow’s oil products with a view to additional duties, Brazilian politicians and business leaders believe the country could be the next target.

“The latest sanctions on India confirm what could happen to Brazil,” said Carlos Viana, one of a group of Brazilian senators who travelled to Washington last month to discuss trade. “Brazil buys large quantities of diesel [from Russia] and most of the fertilisers used in Brazilian agricultural production.”

And ...

Ricardo Alban, head of Brazil’s industry lobby CNI, said: “Brazil is already at the epicentre of the tariff rises, so obviously it needs to be worried.” His main concern was fertilisers, a vital input for the country’s agro-industrial exports such as soyabeans, meat, sugar and coffee.

It's all conjecture anyway at this stage...but an interesting take on things.

I really hope that you are right...

I held (and still do) in Scirocco Energy (formerly Solo Energy) before they delisted from AIM. I vividly remember the exorbitant consultancy fees they charged and with what I would refer to an "unhealthy relationship" with management there fritted away huge sums of money on failed deals and initiatives whilst enriching themselves at the disadvantage of the Company and shareholders.

I really do hope it's a positive shareholding this time around.

Yes they are currently.....

Brazil fears extra US tariffs over Russian diesel purchases https://share.google/95V0rjKxryLeZWDGp

There was an interesting article in the FT, suggesting the Brazilian Government are bracing for increased US tariffs after India was hit for oil imports from Russia. Brazil import large volumes of diesel from Russia but perhaps more relevant to HMI, large quantities of fertiliser. Perhaps this may help HMI if domestic fertilizer production becomes more cost-effective than imports

Well let's hope so anyway !

Yes, just received it.

Need to read it but minded not to sell

All good points. The only other point I would add is that by acquiring Hum, gives majority control of Pasofino and Dugbe that was subject to interest at $75m.

In this context it is a very low ball offer...

And still no mention of Dugbe...

Interesting that Dugbe has gone quiet. Surely any controlling interest here opens up that opportunity for someone.

Hi

General question. Does/did anyone hold their Scirocco shares within a SIPP?. If so, how have they been treated by your provider ?. Are they still visible ?. ...mine are not and would appreciate others experience.

I seem to recall talk of re-purposing the vacated buildings as EV charging points but not sure whether that was just possible options.

I guess HUM ,as the majority shareholder will have the final say. It just seems to me that the original Pasofino getting 47% of the brokered deal seems a better deal for their shareholders. However, if a sale is the preferred outcome, it's good timing with the current POG.

I think Dugbe was always going to be too much of a reach with everything else going on. Of course it depends on the offer but I feel a little disappointed as Pasafino tie was meant to progress the project and they do not seem to have done much with it. I guess we have to await next steps...