Tag: stock

Samsung considers split

Posted on January 20, 2015 by - News

axeSamsung is considering a stock split in a bid to keep its investors happy as the outfit experiences sliding profits.

Samsung head of investor relations Robert Yi told reporters the company had been considering a stock split for some time but it was too early to make a decision. A split would make Samsung shares easier to buy and could attract more retail investors.

The world’s top smartphone maker has launched a $2 billion share buy-back program and promised to increase its 2014 year-end dividend by up to 50 percent in a bid to lift its share price and placate investors.

However, Samsung shares are well below last year’s peak of $1,380 mostly because of a string of quarterly profit declines. In fact, the only thing that stopped them sinking lower was the buyback and a planned dividend increase.

Apple saw its shares end up 37.7 percent last year, thanks in part to a seven-for-one split, so it might be another case where Samsung is emulating Jobs’ Mob.

 

Nadella gets loads of bad karma

Posted on October 21, 2014 by - News

Scrooge-PorpoiseThe CEO who told women that they could gain good karma by not asking for pay rises, Microsoft new Chief Executive Satya Nadella, apparently is planning to come back as a slug in a future life.

Nadella has become one the technology industry’s biggest earners, with a total compensation package worth $84.3 million this year.

According to a document filed with securities regulators, Nadella has no chance of being released from the wheel of birth and death any time soon – unlike many Microsoft female employees.

The huge number is mostly made up of the estimated value of certain one-time stock awards given to Nadella, who became the company’s third CEO in February. He cannot actually receive the shares until 2019.

The massive stock awards, valued at $79.8 million overall, were designed to keep Nadella at Microsoft while the company was hunting for a new CEO, and to give him long-term incentives as CEO.

Large stock awards have not been necessary for Microsoft’s previous two CEOs, Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, as both had multi-billion dollar holdings in the company.

Nadella’s compensation is set to be more modest, with “total target compensation” for fiscal 2015 set at $18 million, according to the company’s proxy filing.

Warehouse space in demand

Posted on July 11, 2013 by - News

castlewarehouseAlthough growth remains slow, demand for new warehouses and distribution facilities in London and other economic hubs remains surprisingly strong.

According to Colliers International, demand is being fueled by anxiety on the part of some institutional investors, who are worried about the future of multifamily markets.

In addition to London, space in other centers with access to good infrastructure, ports and inland distribution centers is also at a premium. Munich is big, thanks to the strong performance of German car makers.

Erik Barnekow, head of EMEA Industrial and Logistics at Colliers said Hong Kong and Sydney are nearing full capacity. Seoul is also big, but it is experiencing uneven industrial demand. Demand is expected to stay strong through the end of the year, with a special emphasis on build-to-suit facilities.

Colliers points out that the recovery of the European logistics market remains patchy, reflecting a lack of momentum in the retail trade.

Although demand in London is strong, the number of modern facilities is limited and there aren’t many new investments. The report found that modern shed space in Greater London is now “severely limited” with only very modest levels of new supply anticipated over the next 18 months.

The Heathrow zone has seen practically no new speculative development over the past four years, which is a direct consequence of the volatile economic climate. It is no better in South, East or West London and there is very little grade A stock available.

However, a few new build-to-suites were constructed over the last 12 months, but vacancy levels are low and there is still a huge shortage of new space coming to market.