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Robert Peston goes shopping and Carpetright

Post Date: October 6, 2013

Last night a new series of TV programmes called “Robert Peston Goes Shopping” was launched on the BBC. It told the story of how a few individuals changed the nature of retailing in the UK in the 1950s and 60s. People such as Stanley Kalms of Dixons who was interviewed, Marcus Sieff of Marks and Spencer, Jack Cohen of Tesco and the Sainsburys. Typically these were dominant and self-driven personalities who adopted new methods to attract retail customers from their competitors. ...

ShareSoc Technology Company Seminar Report – Armour, Ideagen and Regenersis

Post Date: October 5, 2013

A full report (and copies of the presentations) on the ShareSoc Technology Company Seminar has been posted to the ShareSoc Members Network here. Companies presenting were Armour Group, Ideagen and Regenersis and one presenter said his company was a “potential ten bagger” which might have been somewhat injudicious, but you’ll need to read the report to find out which. Roger Lawson

New pay rules, and MS International

Post Date: October 2, 2013

Yesterday was the dawn of a new era. The rules that impose the requirement of a binding, forward-looking vote on remuneration at UK listed companies came into force. Also there will be much clearer information provided on total remuneration, making it easy both to compare the figures with those of other companies and decide whether you like the numbers. It might not totally solve the problem of excessive director pay in FTSE-100 companies, but it is at least a step in the ...

Takeover panel rule change – foreign companies now covered

Post Date: September 30, 2013

A little reported change to the Takeover Panel Code that took effect today will strengthen the rights of shareholders significantly. In future those companies that are registered in the UK but have their operations overseas will be bound by the Code. Previously they were not. So for example, AIM companies such as Globo (operations in Greece) or Pan African Resources (operations in South Africa) will now have to comply with the Takeover Panel Code. The Takeover Panel Code helps to protect the ...

FTSE100 pay still not under control

Post Date: September 26, 2013

Remuneration consultants MM&K have reported that the total remuneration of FTSE100 chief executives has risen by 5% over the past year, to £4.4 million. That compares with not much more than 1% for all employees in the country. But MM&K do suggest that future earnings might be slightly moderated with “future awards” and bonuses down and salaries only up by 2.5 per cent.Comment: a lot of investors would like to see the overall remuneration cut not by 1%, or by 5%, ...