Member Info for RMR1969

I so wish I had the b*lls to play this share day to day, just always concerned I will be out when the news comes, plenty of money to be made (and lost) here, even hour by hour......aaarrgghh!

I certainly believe it is. Once we get the next few weeks over and understand what the Plan B is regarding Brexit (there must be one albeit no one wants to talk about it, imagine any company, let alone a Government, not having played through the various scenarios and detailing what happens 'if').

Of course, the details later of the stress tests will also be interesting regarding whether or not additional funds need to be set aside, I sincerely hope not! Assuming all well with that, the dividend policy remains as is, we get to understand what Brexit will mean, markets settle, PPI comes to an end with a flurry at the last hurdle I imagine, then we can all sit back and watch the price rise steadily through 60, 70 and into the 80s, just about where it was before all this European stuff happened. All IMO obviously.

Did I speak too soon........

Something afoot here now I suspect, looks like some manipulation going on, lots of PIs with small holdings looking for quick profits got spooked and then the MM came in a swooped them all up, probably because they know an announcement is coming...let's hope so. We are mere pawns in a much bigger game but good luck to those that held, or by chance even missed that little period of trading. Best always to be sure you can afford to lose anything invested here, most likely won't come to that but will play hell with your nerves while we wait.

I do understand that we are in uncertain times, I do understand that Brexit is having an impact, I do understand that no one really knows what is going on and I know that shares go up and down......but can anyone cast any more light on the movement of Lloyds in recent days, up down, sideways and then up and down again. A near 1.4p movement already today from low to high, some people must be making a fortune here!

A couple more for the list please:

1. Jonathan Ashworth - Shadow Sec of State for Health

2. Jose Mourinho

3. Robert Peston

What is the consensus view on the interim dividend to be announced in a couple of weeks at the half year results point?

I think Tesco bought Booker because it is dominant player in a couple of growing markets - leisure and convenience. It has great financials, a very solid and consistent performance over a number of years, take a look at the share price performance, and it is led by (and 10% owned by...) a guy who they wanted to take over the running of the Tesco business in the coming years and who is generally regarded as perhaps the brightest mind in retail, apart from all that not sure why they wanted to buy them...............!

I have worked for a number of UK retailers including Aldi, Lidl (very early days), Asda and Booker, so have a reasonable view on them all and I know some of the characters involved. On the face of it, this appears a reasonable merger / takeover, north / south split, premium / discount combination, personnel involved having been in both businesses etc etc. Obviously some synergies to be had, Mike Coupe said no store closures on Radio 5 yesterday morning, can't be right, of course there will be. So some synergies but then what.....Asda can't compete with the likes of Aldi and Lidl, they are completely different models - local, standardised, relatively small sized, completely geared up to drive efficiencies in operation and therefore a low cost base, simple retailing at it's very best. No other retailer has ever emulated the model and they have all tried, remember Dales? remember Food Giant?, there have been others. Combined or not, they still have the challenge that the stores are too baggy and there are too many of them. Now Tesco bought Booker, that was a move in a different direction, lots of synergies like with Sainsbury's, but into a different and growing market - pubs, clubs and restaurants, the leisure market. That was a bold and very sensible move, it also brought in Charles Wilson, the best retailer in the UK bar none. Dave Lewis and Charles will quietly get on sorting their business in a sensible and effective way as Asda and Sainsbury try and sort out a meeting of minds and what to do now they are just bigger. Once the dust settles and people look over this whole story, the question for me will be, 'what is the final play?', I don't think this is over yet, maybe Sainsbury will buy Asda, but Kingfisher thought that a number of years ago and looked what happened then....................just a thought!

Have worked in retailing all my life, many decent companies such as Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Homebase and Booker - no longer with any of them. However I can honestly say that wherever Charles Wilson goes he will drive profitability and shareholder value, he is without doubt the best retailer I have worked with, totally focused on customers and leads from the front. His people would walk over hot coals for him. Now all this has been sorted, Tesco will thrive with him at the helm of their stores and one day, as i predicted previously many months ago, he will take charge of the wider Tesco business should he wish too, and then most likely a knighthood. I am certainly a strong buyer.

I have also had the privilege of meeting with and speaking to Charles Wilson on numerous occasions, and I would concur with everything you say, he is without any doubt in my mind one of the best CEOs in retail / wholesale. I also had the privilege of meeting both Allan Leighton and Archie Norman many times too, and he is certainly as sharp and competent as them, I don't think I could provide any greater praise than that. There is no one who understands his market and customer as well as him.