RE: Spod price update14 May 2023 18:18
My view is this.
Firstly, I don’t agree with this ‘missed deadline’ thing. It seems to me that CEO’s are damned if they do give indicative deadlines, and damned if they don’t. (The old ‘bad comms’ theories). As such, I always treat such matter as estimates.
Secondly, and all that said, the fact is that they did not meet the first long stop. They confirmed this by RNS as soon as it was clear to them that they could not keep the schedule. The fact, however, that they decided to set a second (risk?), AND also set a date so close to the first, suggests to me that they are certain they will keep to it. That they ‘missed’ the first long stop is not at all unexpected in my opinion and should not warrant undue criticism, whereas, if they miss the next having chosen to give so narrow an extension (when not being forced to do so) then they would look rather unprofessional. And we know BA is anything but.
And finally, I must admit to being rather puzzled over the Malian side of things. I must admit that, contrary to Lavs views, I did think we needed confirmation of the dms amendment to licence approval. As such, and with only two weeks to the new long stop, Lavs view of things seems to make sense.
Suspect we will soon know one way or t’other.