Ben Richardson, CEO at SulNOx, confident they can cost-effectively decarbonise commercial shipping. Watch the video here.
I reckon most shareholders like myself have become desponded.
I know the new BT logo has been criticised for its lack of vision ( pun intended ) but it had to be something basic, not to be too big a distraction for viewers, whilst it sits in the corner of their screens. With BT has appointing Andy Haworth in the newly created role of Managing Director of Sports Rights and Commercial, managing BT’s growing sports rights and commercial business, I will not be surprised if BT regains the Champions League rights as they believe they have a future in subscription TV .
Varga, Haworth to lead Strategy & BT Sport Commercial roles
https://advanced-television.com/2019/09/27/varga-haworth-to-lead-strategy-bt-sport-commercial-roles/
Among the concerns is how BT will fund an expanded fibre broadband rollout after Philip Jansen recently pledged to reach at least 15 million premises by the mid-2020s, up from ten million previously. Investors fear that a big cut to the dividend is on the way, something mooted earlier in the week by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, which suggested a 40 per cent chop to the payout. Other issues include the possibility of a British ban for Huawei, which is a key supplier to BT and other telecoms companies, as well as Brexit...…...40% WTF !!!!!!
Market Summary > BT Group - CLASS A Common Stock
LON: BT.A
194.74 GBX +21.74 (12.56%)
12 Sep, 16:47 BST · Disclaimer
automatic timeout
If you feel like you're losing everything
Remember that trees lose their leaves every year
And they still stand tall and wait for better days to come
BT Group offers “attractive value” and there is scope for spending to fall “materially” in future to reduce the pressure on the dividend, Goldman Sachs reckons. As part of a wider note on the “best and brightest” UK equity ideas, the investment bank restated its ‘buy’ recommendation on BT’s shares, with a 12-month price target of 265p versus the last closing price of 172.18p. Goldman’s analysts see an “improving regulatory framework facilitating returns on fibre investment over the medium term”, with the update from regulator Ofcom at the turn of the calendar year a catalyst for BT, “as higher capex to date has essentially been written off by the market”. Hopefully providing clarity on a long-term regulatory model for high-speed broadband, or fibre to the home (FTTH), for potentially 10 years-plus will be useful for the company and investors. Another medium-term catalyst is BT’s transformation plan under new boss Philip Jansen, with Goldman even seeing “extensive opportunity to restructure beyond this”.Furthermore, while Jansen’s pledge to fulfil the government’s wishes and accelerate investment in FTTH, which is likely to drive higher capital investment, the analysts see the potential for a fall in non-FTTH spending that would potentially avert the need for further spending hikes and therefore any near-term free cash flow downgrades.With Sky upping prices and Virgin Media recently communicating that it is following suit, thereby reducing one aspect of competitive pressure for BT.Combined with BT’s easier comparative second-half figures from last year and the improving regulatory backdrop, Goldman’s analysts reckon the shares offer value from a circa-20% discount to peers. “Given low consensus FY20 expectations, we see scope for a re-rating as BT continues to deliver improving results.”
BT shares, which have lost 25% over the past six months and around two thirds over the past four years, were flat on Tuesday 171.92p.As part of its wider note, Goldman observed that the past year has seen UK domestic-facing stocks meaningfully underperform their internationally facing cousins.The bank's strategists have found that, on a sector level, the areas that trade on the deepest discount to the broader market include homebuilders and domestic banks, on 38% and 56% discounts to MSCI World index on 12-month forward p/e ratios respectively.With the pound down sharply to below $1.21 as Boris Johnson’s government raises uncertainty about the Brexit process, accompanied by weak UK growth data, Goldman noted that when data and sentiment are this weak, it is "not unusual for speculation about an eventual upturn".The strategists see several reasons to support interest in UK equities, including that many are trading at a sharp discount amid high levels of interest in UK assets in terms of inward M&A, while the prospect remains of a looser fiscal programme in the UK if and when a deal on Brexit has been passed.
Matt thanks for your honest opinion. I also think OPENREACH will be sold off in the near future. OFCOM now have it regulated that OPENREACH engineers aren't allowed to mention that their part of the BT group on arrival at customer's premises. In turn open doors are now shut as customers are confused to who OPENREACH are, resulting in wasted visits by engineers.
AURELIUS Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA (ISIN DE000A0JK2A8) (“AURELIUS”) is to acquire industry leading end-to-end commercial fleet management operator, BT Fleet Solutions from BT Group Plc, it was announced today. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price and the transaction is due to complete in H2 2019.
Headquartered in Solihull, BT Fleet Solutions offers a comprehensive suite of fleet management services across all stages of the vehicle life cycle, through its network of 65 in-house garages, 500 partner facilities and 50+ mobile technicians. Established in 2002, BT Fleet Solutions employs around 950 staff around the UK, and manages more than 80,000 vehicles for over 26 blue chip customers across diversified industries. The latest published statutory accounts for 2017/18 for BT Fleet Ltd show revenues of £209.5m and its industry leading position leaves it well placed to capture the high levels of growth available in the UK’s fleet management market.
The divestment of BT Fleet Solutions aligns with BT’s ongoing transformation programme and strategy of focusing on converged connectivity and services, with further investments in both its fixed and mobile networks via programmes such as full fibre and 5G.
This deal represents another example of AURELIUS’ specialism in complex divestment processes. In the coming months, AURELIUS’ operational task force will support BT Fleet Solutions in executing a carve out from BT, ensuring a seamless continuation of the company’s day to day operations, whilst working to position the business as an independent entity. The company is expected to be rebranded within the next 12 months.
Going forward, AURELIUS will work with BT Fleet Solutions’ existing management team to maintain its market-leading position and drive growth for the business. This will be delivered through a range of initiatives, including operational improvement, investment in key business areas – such as heavy goods vehicles, accident management and vehicle funding - and the continued delivery of excellent customer service to clients, including former parent company, BT, and its legally separate Openreach business. AURELIUS will also work with management to identify customer and product expansion opportunities, both organically and through acquisition.
Dr. Dirk Markus, Group-CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of AURELIUS, commented: “This acquisition is a further example of AURELIUS’ specialism in acquiring non-core divisions that have been carved out of large corporates, and are in need of operational support to transform them into standalone, sustainable organisations. BT Fleet Solutions is a strong business with a high calibre customer base. We look forward to working with management to ensure a smooth transition in the coming months, positioning the company as an independent entity that is ready to capture the significant growth opportunity available in the UK market.
BT is said to be lining up a sale of its £80m legal software business as it looks to focus its efforts on rolling out full-fibre broadband across the UK. Tikit, which provides lawyers with software for time recording and case management, has been added to a list of fringe BT businesses up for sale, the Sunday Times reported. BT bought Tikit for £64m in 2012 through its retail arm, boosting its ability to sell its own IT services to the legal sector. The planned sale comes as chief executive Philip Jansen doubles down on the telecoms giant’s efforts to build Britain’s new superfast broadband network. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has accelerated the government’s timeline for full-fibre coverage, moving the target completion date forward from 2033 to 2025. Last week Jansen said BT was ready to meet the new target, but added that his firm needed to make a fair return on the £30bn investment across the industry. The chief executive also said BT would need another 30,000 engineers to help build the infrastructure. Jansen’s comments came as the firm posted a one per cent decline in revenue in the first quarter to £5.6bn, as caps on mobile spend took their toll on its consumer division.
Calling Velo. Calling Velo, do you copy?
Media report giving cash flow figures
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4273510-bt-group-dividend-risk
Thanks for Downloading the artical
Has anyone read the full report " Questor: now is not the time to bail out of BT as it ends its cat-and-mouse with Ofcom" that was in the Telegraph today ? I would like to know what the article has to say.
BIG BUY 11-Jun-19
16:35:23 Buy 13,374,831 shares at 208.65 Totalling 28m
The surging demand for video streaming services will drive a £10bn growth in the UK’s entertainment and media sector over the next five years, according to a report published today.
The booming industry is set to be worth £80bn in 2023, up from the £70bn projected for this year, according to professional services firm PwC.
The growing range of on-demand video platforms will be a key driver of growth, the report stated, as broadcasters and tech giants line up to launch their own streaming services to rival Netflix Subscription video-on-demand currently pulls in revenue of £900m, but new services such as Britbox, the joint venture between ITV and the BBC, will boost this figure to £1.3bn by 2023.
The UK’s nascent 5G network is expected to fuel this growth, with consumers forecast to use more internet data than any other country in western Europe over the next four years.
“The industry is underpinned by consumer demand for new, high quality content, that is accessible and highly personalisable,” said Mark Maitland, UK head of entertainment and media at PwC.
“The UK remains a leading market in terms of talent, reputation and innovation, and has seen significant levels of financial investment as a result.”
The report revealed internet advertising will account for a quarter of all revenue in the entertainment and media sector by 2023, generating roughly £20bn.
This will be boosted by the continued popularity of mobile formats, which are expected to make up nearly three-quarters of all internet advertising in five years’ time.
Overall, the UK’s entertainment and media sector will grow at a pace of 3.5 per cent per year, and will be second only to Germany in western Europe for total revenue.
BT is reportedly in discussions over a potential multi-million-pound investment in Britbox, the joint streaming service by ITV and the BBC set to be launched later this year.
The telecoms firm has held preliminary talks with ITV about taking a stake in Britbox and helping to fund exclusive dramas produced in the UK, the Sunday Telegraph reported.
The talks are at an early stage and the investment may not come to fruition, according to the report, with disagreement over the valuation of the service slated as a possible risk.
The investment would mark a significant development in a new strategy unveiled by BT boss Philip Jansen, who took over from Gavin Patterson earlier this year.
Jansen has outlined plans to frame BT as a “national champion”, and is hoping to turn around the company’s fortunes after a share price drop of roughly 50 per cent over the last three years.
The new boss has already launched the firm’s new logo and has announced BT will close 90 per cent of its offices across the UK as it looks to cut £1.5bn in costs.The mooted investment would also align with BT’s strategy of becoming a “super aggregator”, offering customers access to a range of different streaming services through its set-top box.
BT already has a partnership with the BBC and ITV through the Youview platform, which operates on BT TV. But it is unlikely BT would commit to any investment until the two broadcasters have agreed on the terms for their new streaming service.Talks between ITV and the BBC have reportedly stalled, with the commercial broadcaster thought to be more committed to the venture than the corporation, which is also planning an overhaul of its iPlayer service.
Sharon White was obviously on wind down leading to her departure
The Office of Communications said it has appointed BT Group PLC and KCOM Group PLC to deliver the government's 'universal broadband service' starting March 2020.
The service guarantees UK homes and offices the legal right to request a decent and affordable broadband internet connection.
Ofcom said: "We have decided that BT and KCOM are best placed to meet the challenges of providing universal service connections. So BT will be responsible for connecting properties in the whole of the UK except the Hull area, where KCOM will be the designated provider."
The two telecommunications firms, BT and KCOM, have until March 20 next year before they must begin rolling out the service. After that, the companies have 30 days following a request to confirm if someone is eligible and, if they are, deliver a connection.
In all cases, connections must be put in place as fast as possible. At least 80% of BTs connections must be delivered within 12 months, 95% in 18% months, and 99% in 24 months. KCOM must deliver a connection no later than 12 months after an order is placed, unless in exceptional circumstances.
Homes and offices will be able to request broadband with a minimum speed of 10 megabits per second and upload speeds of at least 1 megabit per second at an affordable price. If the only available service at this speed costs more than GBP45 a month then the household making the request is eligible.
Those who already have decent and affordable broadband access, or are due to be connected by a different publicly-funded scheme, are not eligible.
The cost of providing connections to these homes is covered under under the legislation up to GBP3,400. Above this amount customers can either pay the extra cost or seek a different solution, like satellite broadband, that is not covered by the universal service.
At present, 620,000 homes and offices stand to benefit from the new scheme, although this number is falling as broadband networks are upgraded. The majority of these homes and offices are very remote or are far from exiting broadband networks.
Ofcom Consumer Group Director Lindsey Fussell said: "As more of our daily lives move online, bringing better broadband to people and businesses is crucial. From next year, this new broadband safety net will give everyone a legal right to request a decent connection - whether you live in a city or a hamlet. This will be vital for people who are struggling to get the broadband they need."
In Autumn, Ofcom will consult on which other companies would contribute to a fund to cover costs not expected to be covered by BT or KCOM.
What would happen to shareholders like myself if BT were to sell off Openreach in terms of compensation? and that's an IF.
A top scientist claims health will be at serious risk from 5G with fears over the radiation involved. Martin Pall emeritus professor of biochemistry at Washington State Uni in the US is among 235 medic and scientists urging EU chiefs to halt the roll out. Pall has been quoted in saying" We are committing mass suicide. The safety guidelines are bogus. They do not predict biological effects.There are so many health impacts- attacks on the DNA of cells, life threatening cardiac effects and cancer. I believe we'll see a crash in brain function in five to seven years and a crash in our reproductive function sooner".
I'm sure the same was said about the introduction of mobile handsets back in the day
BT will have to open up business network to rivals, watchdog says
https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/220928/bt-will-have-to-open-up-business-network-to-rivals-watchdog-says-220928.html
apologies if this has already been posted today