I've spent most of the day reading about Shandong, a Company no...

I've spent most of the day reading about Shandong, a Company no doubt with commendable aspirations.

I did find one similarity between Focus and SD - there is no announcement or news on the Shandong website about this prospective deal. And, still there is no explanation or clarification from management of FML and I cannot help it but this does make my blood boil; however, I will try to put that aside as I consider Fnf's proposal.

Firstly, I think we should all start writing nice things about The Treasurer (Swan) as the final decision rests with him...!!!

Shandong itself has a history of paying bonuses to Shareholders; however, I am not convinced that this would automatically be a policy under Shandong International.

Somewhere in my reading today (I was mostly on Shandong website, sorry for not being able to quote, but have just given up looking as I spent so much wasted time) I read that (using my words but meaning same)
They would grow by international acquisitions because it was cheaper than to buy (the gold) on market.....this causes concern to me because without FML gold being sold at market price, then how do we prosper?

The FIRB is concerned only in 'the National interest' and as I see it the only are wherein they could have cause for questioning such a transaction would be in the interests of "other stakeholders", and I do not know whether they would be too concerned about this, but I could be wrong.

I also wondered if any of our Top 20 were also invested in Shandong. This I did not find out but cannot rule it out and if this is the case then they would more than likely be supporters.

There is no doubt that Shandong is a powerful Company with huge plans for it's future growth. They have quite a high level of debt, imo, but then this may be proportionate with the size of the Company, I don't know.

Fitnfam's proposal would make me consider further; but if I was asked here and now I would say I am AGAINST the transaction. I think the fact that the Company has not been open about this behind the scenes possible deal over a four month period, and, has left shareholders in the lurch once announced with the promise of a detailed reasoning behind the acceptance of this proposal which has still not been forthcoming some as
yet, is of more concern to me than the Chinese taking over FML because it comes down to trust and faith in the management. I am not sure I could put my faith in them again.

Anyway, the sell-off has cooled and the buy/sell ratio looks more respectable today. I initially bought more and will stick around till I see how this pans out. One never knows, it may even work out for the better, but yes, it was a shock which extracted the best/worse in many of us.

So...are we all made up and friends...??????

Cheers...
And good luck to us all...
We are going to need it
Cazzex

All above is based on my opinion and, in some cases, memory(!!!)....