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New pay rules, and MS International

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

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 ...

Dotcom bubbles – Mark 2 – ASOS

It’s noticeable that the price of on-line retailer ASOS has fallen back slightly of late. It seemed a good idea to look at what the current share price is assuming in terms of forward projections on growth in earnings. Now you can debate whether the near-term growth is 20% per annum or 30%.  Analysts’ projections seem to assume about 30% for future growth, whereas the interim results only showed growth of 22% (although sales were up 34%). The following tables show the ...

FTSE100 pay still not under control

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%, ...

Victoria AGM Report Summary – Chickens home to roost

After last year’s battles for control of this company, yesterday’s Annual General Meeting was a tepid affair (see past ShareSoc press releases and AGM Forum  reports for more information on the past fights). Apart from the depressed state of the retail carpet sector, the wholly unnecessary exceptional costs incurred in that battle, and the subsequent restructuring of the business (which was long overdue in my opinion) resulted in an overall loss of £2.7m for the year ending March 2013. Revenue fell from ...