letter to shareholders from Begbies

[La BoIS Saint]

The value of shares can go down as well as up. That's what happens in a capitalist society. We've all lost money on shares. Don't forget you've got a capital loss to use.

[westofshannonsaint]

sorry, I don't mean to offend anyone who has lost a lot of money as a result of Saints going into admin, but "investing" in a football club or anything for that matter is a bit of a gamble. I don't expect Paddy Power to write to me every time I lose a bet.

 

& I don't really understand why people are giving out about the quality of the paper/printing, it's a letter, it's what it says that is important, unless I suppose you wanted to frame it.

[saints triumph]

sorry, I don't mean to offend anyone who has lost a lot of money as a result of Saints going into admin, but "investing" in a football club or anything for that matter is a bit of a gamble. I don't expect Paddy Power to write to me every time I lose a bet.

 

& I don't really understand why people are giving out about the quality of the paper/printing, it's a letter, it's what it says that is important, unless I suppose you wanted to frame it.

Thats what I will be doing along with the envelope, my share cert. voting cards and a picture of red face on fire.

[Saint_clark]

I find the image of Rupert Lowe opening and reading his letter highly amusing.

[Saint in Paradise]

I feel the most sympathy for Northam Girls, I mean 10,000 shares !! wow a much larger loss than most I think.

 

Well Mornington Crescent I doubt very much that there could ever have been a better buyer than Mr Liebherr.

[alpine_saint]

I find the image of Rupert Lowe opening and reading his letter highly amusing.

 

Much as I would like to bathe in the fuzzy afterglow of such an image, I somehow think he was probably notified in a different way as a major shareholder, and probably knew before us little folk.

[CB Saint]

Three line letter...sounds about standard fare for any shareholder of any company that has gone pop.

 

I think the main issue lies in that there are questions that some people feel remain unanswered with regards to the administration (predominately around the Pinnacle bid) and were hoping that the letter may have been an opportunity for an explaination from Fry. However he has provided a standard letter which is used in these situation for any wind up as is his right. In this I don't consider that he has acted unprofessionally.

[INFLUENCED.COM]

Three line letter...sounds about standard fare for any shareholder of any company that has gone pop.

 

I think the main issue lies in that there are questions that some people feel remain unanswered with regards to the administration (predominately around the Pinnacle bid)

 

I agree and whether a shareholder or creditor when that letter is opened you get the arse ache all over again.

I posted on another thread that as Tony Lynam is a full member of this forum perhaps he would like to answer some of those questions ?

[trousers]

I agree and whether a shareholder or creditor when that letter is opened you get the arse ache all over again.

I posted on another thread that as Tony Lynam is a full member of this forum perhaps he would like to answer some of those questions ?

 

He was logged in last week

[INFLUENCED.COM]

He was logged in last week

 

Did he post anything ?

[mancsaint]

I had 300 shares and when I bought them I immediately wrote to Lloyds Registry to tell them I didn't ever want a dividend. I just want to have a little bit of my beloved club.

I would gladly have lost more just to have the club where we are now....a phoenix.

 

Mancsaint

[trousers]

Did he post anything ?

 

Don't recall. Just lurking I think

[Wes Tender]

The main reason that I held shares was sentimental, wishing to own a minute part of the club, but also to be able to attend AGMs to tackle the charlatans that ran the club.

 

The loss of the share value means little to me as I am ecstatically happy to see the back of those charlatans. I feel great sympathy towards those ordinary fans who lost larger amounts, but nil sympathy towards Lowe, Wilde, Askham. On the contrary, I feel quite a lot of glee that they lost money.

 

As for the letter from Fry, IMO it was unprofessional. It wouldn't have taken much more effort to have explained a little more of the background, to have expressed some sort of regret that nothing was available to shareholders. It comes across as a very grudging duty that he had to execute, but couldn't really be bothered with. Considering that he has been rewarded very well financially and enhanced his professional reputation as a result of his connection with us, he could have shown a little more magnaminity and humanity.

[krissyboy31]

As for the letter from Fry, IMO it was unprofessional. It wouldn't have taken much more effort to have explained a little more of the background, to have expressed some sort of regret that nothing was available to shareholders. It comes across as a very grudging duty that he had to execute, but couldn't really be bothered with. Considering that he has been rewarded very well financially and enhanced his professional reputation as a result of his connection with us, he could have shown a little more magnaminity and humanity.

 

100% agree!!

[Minstral Man]

Only people who aren't saints supporters wouldn't be happy. Why buy shares in a football club in the first place?

To vote against RL. Might not be practical but it made me feel better.

[Bucks Saint]

To vote against RL. Might not be practical but it made me feel better.

 

Ditto. Got mine to vote against RL and support that nice man Mr Wilde

[Clifford Nelson]

I think the delay in the delivery of the letter has to do with the final legal completion of the winding up of the old SLH. It must surely have been clear that there were no money or assets in the complany which hadn't already been distributed to creditors. But it wouldn't be correct to confirm that to all shareholders without the legal niceties having been completed.

[Nineteen Canteen]

I hope they worded the letter in the same smug way the mods give out infractions (no offence mods:))

 

Dear Rupert,

 

You £1,000,000 worth of shares are now worth f@ck all.

 

All the best,

 

Begbies.

 

Dear Leon

 

Ditto + a bit more of your pounds sterling

 

and next letter

 

Dear Lawrie

 

Very shrewd off loading your shares when you received them if a little ungrateful but nonetheless a sign perhaps that you would be willing to walk away from the club when you had to buy a ticket? Was your heart really ever in Southampton FC after you left for Sunderland? Seems not IMO.

 

Please pass this letter on to your wife who you were at least able to accompany as a guest at shareholder meetings allegedly.

 

Regards

 

Blah Blah

 

I hope they worded the letter in the same smug way the mods give out infractions (no offence mods:))

 

All in the interest of balance and no one seems to care the biggest shareholder has lost the lot. I suppose the 2006 dissenters knew the outcome when they supported him?

 

Shall we all gloat?

[Clapham Saint]

Dear Leon

 

Ditto + a bit more of your pounds sterling

 

and next letter

 

Dear Lawrie

 

Very shrewd off loading your shares when you received them if a little ungrateful but nonetheless a sign perhaps that you would be willing to walk away from the club when you had to buy a ticket? Was your heart really ever in Southampton FC after you left for Sunderland? Seems not IMO.

 

Please pass this letter on to your wife who you were at least able to accompany as a guest at shareholder meetings allegedly.

 

Regards

 

Blah Blah

 

I hope they worded the letter in the same smug way the mods give out infractions (no offence mods:))

 

All in the interest of balance and no one seems to care the biggest shareholder has lost the lot. I suppose the 2006 dissenters knew the outcome when they supported him?

 

Shall we all gloat?

 

Does anybody know how many millions Leon is/was worth?

 

I suspect he has lost a large chunk as a result of this.

[INFLUENCED.COM]

I suspect he has lost a large chunk as a result of this.

 

Which I think 19C was alluding to, too many are focusing on Lowes loss and should consider the financial implications to other shareholders(it may be relative, who knows) and indeed creditors.

[Nineteen Canteen]

The main reason that I held shares was sentimental, wishing to own a minute part of the club, but also to be able to attend AGMs to tackle the charlatans that ran the club.

 

The loss of the share value means little to me as I am ecstatically happy to see the back of those charlatans. I feel great sympathy towards those ordinary fans who lost larger amounts, but nil sympathy towards Lowe, Wilde, Askham. On the contrary, I feel quite a lot of glee that they lost money.

 

As for the letter from Fry, IMO it was unprofessional. It wouldn't have taken much more effort to have explained a little more of the background, to have expressed some sort of regret that nothing was available to shareholders. It comes across as a very grudging duty that he had to execute, but couldn't really be bothered with. Considering that he has been rewarded very well financially and enhanced his professional reputation as a result of his connection with us, he could have shown a little more magnaminity and humanity.

 

 

Come on Wes, I think those traits were lost from all sides about 2 years ago. Those who bought them out of spite just to vote against Lowe when £100 worth of shares, or similar tiny percentages, would have no bearing on the outcome of a shareholder vote got their just rewards IMO.

 

If there is one lesson to come out of all of this and at most levels you'll find an example of a fool and his money being easily parted. It's the real investors I have sympathy for but those with a another less supportive agenda (to put it mildly) deserved to lose and perhaps that reflects the tone of the letter? Certainly no ordinary plc IMO. The niceities were long since dispensed with.

[Nineteen Canteen]

Which I think 19C was alluding to, too many are focusing on Lowes loss and should consider the financial implications to other shareholders(it may be relative, who knows) and indeed creditors.

 

Exactly, its bit like rejoicing in a major plane crash where one loathed person has met their end whilst ignoring all the other victims.

 

To focus solely on Lowe's loss is idiotic and shows the mentality at it's best that nearly put this club out of existence thanks to one very patient and reasonable man. That's one man, so please lets not go down the route 'I knew we would be saved' it was a queue of one when it was time to pay at the till. Our churlish attitude that went before from the top down and on both sides no doubt help play a part in keeping the queue short and yet we still tramp the dirt down.

 

There are questions that remain unanswered as far as I am concerned and I will continue to raise them but now is the not time for celebration more reflection and considered questions.

[Nineteen Canteen]

I find the image of Rupert Lowe opening and reading his letter highly amusing.

 

What about Wilde, Lowe, Richards, those at the Saints Trust et al?

 

Still smiling you sad act?

[KK the 2nd]

I also let my heart rule my head and bought 2500 when they were 40p. I received about £250 in ddividends over the time. I had written this off some time ago and didn't expect anything. The letter was poor though (layout, content etc).

[Nineteen Canteen]

The value of shares can go down as well as up. That's what happens in a capitalist society. We've all lost money on shares. Don't forget you've got a capital loss to use.

 

I suspect many don't even have to complete a tax return so increasing your capital gains tax allowance is not going to amount to whole lot when most people only own one house and are not major shareholders.

 

Otherwise - yes it is great news and thanks for the advise on equities and life in a fully developed nation of the West.

 

What do you suggest with my final salary pensions and my personal pension where I am fully invested in the emeging markets. Shall I merge the two as I am worried about the my previous company not topping up the short fall of £90m + and Mongolia and Tibet are not taking off as quickly as I imagined?

[Saint_clark]

What about Wilde, Lowe, Richards, those at the Saints Trust et al?

 

Still smiling you sad act?

 

Quite simply - f*ck off.

I'm not even going to bother reading your posts anymore, so I might as well just click ignore.

[eelpie]

What about Wilde, Lowe, Richards, those at the Saints Trust et al?

 

Still smiling you sad act?

 

The purpose of Saints Trust shares were intended to gain a bigger voice at shareholders meetings and they optimistically expected to get a seat on the Board, I know. I bought my own fifty quids worth separate to my one ST share so that I could personally ask questions at the AGM's. All very pitiful I know, but it did make me feel that Lowe, Wilde Crouch, Burley & co could be put under some sort of pressure, however slight. I just didn't want them to think they could have everything 100% their own way without having to defend their policies. I always remember getting very angry at lowe's contemptuous attitude to supporters if they were not a shareholder. So futile I know, but it did make me feel better. I have no regrets at losing that small amount of money. It was well worth it.

[benjii]

Come on Wes, I think those traits were lost from all sides about 2 years ago. Those who bought them out of spite just to vote against Lowe when £100 worth of shares, or similar tiny percentages, would have no bearing on the outcome of a shareholder vote got their just rewards IMO.

 

If there is one lesson to come out of all of this and at most levels you'll find an example of a fool and his money being easily parted. It's the real investors I have sympathy for but those with a another less supportive agenda (to put it mildly) deserved to lose and perhaps that reflects the tone of the letter? Certainly no ordinary plc IMO. The niceities were long since dispensed with.

 

What a bizarre analysis!

 

"Spite" - quite an extraordinary and totally incorrect use of the word. I suppose voting against a shoe-in in a safe constituency is also "spiteful" then?

[Wes Tender]

Come on Wes, I think those traits were lost from all sides about 2 years ago. Those who bought them out of spite just to vote against Lowe when £100 worth of shares, or similar tiny percentages, would have no bearing on the outcome of a shareholder vote got their just rewards IMO.

 

If there is one lesson to come out of all of this and at most levels you'll find an example of a fool and his money being easily parted. It's the real investors I have sympathy for but those with a another less supportive agenda (to put it mildly) deserved to lose and perhaps that reflects the tone of the letter? Certainly no ordinary plc IMO. The niceities were long since dispensed with.

 

The way that Fry wrote that letter had nothing at all to with the background of the shareholders at all. He is supposed to be a professional and yet the way that the shareholders were notified in that letter was completely amateur. It was completely lacking in tact and humility, probably much like him.

 

With regard to the tangent on which you embarked, most of the small shareholders bought their shares for much the same reason that I did; to feel a sense of connection with the club through ownership of a part of it, no matter how small and to have the ability to vote at AGMs. You might be dismissive of these shareholders, but if they were to have acted in concert, their collective shareholdings would at one time have outweighed those of the board just after the reverse takeover, or at least have been enough to have made them sit up and listen. The problem was, they never realised that they had that amount of clout, as most thought that Lowe had 75% or more of the shares.

 

Naturally one is sympathetic towards ordinary fans who had shareholdings amounting to several thousands of pounds which are now worthless. As for those members of the old board who lost their much bigger investments, I have no sympathy at all for those like Richards, Askham, Gordon, Hunt, Wiseman, as the cost of purchasing their shares which at one time were valued at over one or two million pounds, was an outlay of just one or two thousand.

 

Of the other main protagonists, I have nil sympathy for the Quisling, but a fair measure of sympathy for Crouch, who out of all of them acted mostly in the interests of the club, as well as for his own.

 

As for anybody who takes some satisfaction from the losses incurred by Lowe, count me amongst them and if you think that is puerile of me, then I can confirm that I will not lose any sleep over it. I am sure that he will feel able to console himself that by sacrificing his paltry little care home business, he was able to considerably raise his profile in his business circles beyond his capabilities otherwise, whilst simultaneously taking out far more in terms of salary than he had ever invested. Of course, had the members of the old board been astute enough to have sold their shareholdings to anybody else wishing to take us over, they might have done very well out of it whilst we were in the Premiership and good luck to them. But as many of them were in the accountancy or money market sectors, they better than most will have been aware that the value of shares can go down as well as up. I have never been convinced at any time that Lowe and his cronies were ever really keen on selling until the value of the club had fallen through the floor, so they only have themselves to blame.

[Wopper]

I find the image of Rupert Lowe opening and reading his letter highly amusing.

 

Big Shot Businessman loses the lot. I bet his family love him

[trousers]

Anyone fancy scanning a copy of the letter and posting it so that those of us who haven't got one can make an objective comment on how professional it looked?

 

I've got a scanner in my loft but, alas, no letter.

[broncoboy]

I hope they worded the letter in the same smug way the mods give out infractions (no offence mods:))

 

Dear Rupert,

 

You £1,000,000 worth of shares are now worth f@ck all.

 

All the best,

 

Begbies.

 

 

Now thats worth the loss of my £100

[bug187]

£50 for me..I think even if it'd been a grand I'd still be ok with it.

[dune]

What about Wilde, Lowe, Richards, those at the Saints Trust et al?

 

Still smiling you sad act?

 

 

19C i pity you. You obviously need pysciatric help.

[Toadhall Saint]

What about Wilde, Lowe, Richards, those at the Saints Trust et al?

 

Still smiling you sad act?

 

I am - play the shares game and you can get burnt! He who shall remain nameless made a nice fat wedge out of SFC over the years by passing dividend amounts that frankly none of them deserved - lining their pockets and putting fook all back.

[bridge too far]

Anyone fancy scanning a copy of the letter and posting it so that those of us who haven't got one can make an objective comment on how professional it looked?

 

I've got a scanner in my loft but, alas, no letter.

 

Are any prospective take-overers still up there with it?

[70's Mike]

Problem is Rupert's loss was on paper only, he took out more in Salary, Fess and Dividends than he ever put in

 

Any way of to SMS to watch the new PLC free Super Saints

[John B]

Which I think 19C was alluding to, too many are focusing on Lowes loss and should consider the financial implications to other shareholders(it may be relative, who knows) and indeed creditors.

 

Wilde and Crouch actually bought shares

 

Not sure how many Lowe bought out of his own money

[trousers]

Are any prospective take-overers still up there with it?

 

Funny you should mention that....just got the scanner down and there was the unsigned Paul Allen/Vulcan contract from 2007. No wonder it fell through. Tsk....Me and my shoddy housekeeping.

 

Still, a lucky escape I reckon....these American owners can be very unreliable....

[Nineteen Canteen]

Quite simply - f*ck off.

I'm not even going to bother reading your posts anymore, so I might as well just click ignore.

 

But what about those other than Lowe who lost a packet? Do you not appreciate that your gloating over Lowe may be offensive to those who may have lost alot of money to, Sad Act?

[Nineteen Canteen]

What a bizarre analysis!

 

"Spite" - quite an extraordinary and totally incorrect use of the word. I suppose voting against a shoe-in in a safe constituency is also "spiteful" then?

 

Not at all that is just a complete waste of time in the stupid way we vote for our parliament in this country.

[Nineteen Canteen]

The way that Fry wrote that letter had nothing at all to with the background of the shareholders at all. He is supposed to be a professional and yet the way that the shareholders were notified in that letter was completely amateur. It was completely lacking in tact and humility, probably much like him.

 

With regard to the tangent on which you embarked, most of the small shareholders bought their shares for much the same reason that I did; to feel a sense of connection with the club through ownership of a part of it, no matter how small and to have the ability to vote at AGMs. You might be dismissive of these shareholders, but if they were to have acted in concert, their collective shareholdings would at one time have outweighed those of the board just after the reverse takeover, or at least have been enough to have made them sit up and listen. The problem was, they never realised that they had that amount of clout, as most thought that Lowe had 75% or more of the shares.

 

Naturally one is sympathetic towards ordinary fans who had shareholdings amounting to several thousands of pounds which are now worthless. As for those members of the old board who lost their much bigger investments, I have no sympathy at all for those like Richards, Askham, Gordon, Hunt, Wiseman, as the cost of purchasing their shares which at one time were valued at over one or two million pounds, was an outlay of just one or two thousand.

 

Of the other main protagonists, I have nil sympathy for the Quisling, but a fair measure of sympathy for Crouch, who out of all of them acted mostly in the interests of the club, as well as for his own.

 

As for anybody who takes some satisfaction from the losses incurred by Lowe, count me amongst them and if you think that is puerile of me, then I can confirm that I will not lose any sleep over it. I am sure that he will feel able to console himself that by sacrificing his paltry little care home business, he was able to considerably raise his profile in his business circles beyond his capabilities otherwise, whilst simultaneously taking out far more in terms of salary than he had ever invested. Of course, had the members of the old board been astute enough to have sold their shareholdings to anybody else wishing to take us over, they might have done very well out of it whilst we were in the Premiership and good luck to them. But as many of them were in the accountancy or money market sectors, they better than most will have been aware that the value of shares can go down as well as up. I have never been convinced at any time that Lowe and his cronies were ever really keen on selling until the value of the club had fallen through the floor, so they only have themselves to blame.

 

Wes a fair and well put post which in parts I agree and others I don't but not enough to make a major argument out of it. For the record though the tangent I was putting on things was in reaction to those who were saying they bought shares solely in an attempt to oust the board at that time. Considering the amounts involved in many of those purchases they acted out of stupidity than any thoughful purpose in my opinion. You speak of investors as supporters who wanted a connection with the club and I called them real investors people investing for the right reasons not because they had issues with the chairman. If that was their agenda don't go to games if that's the case, it proved more effective.

[Nineteen Canteen]

 

19C i pity you. You obviously need pysciatric help.

 

Do I? Look forward to your other insightful posts. Do you have any left Dunce?

 

(I put the c back in for you)

[alpine_saint]

But what about those other than Lowe who lost a packet? Do you not appreciate that your gloating over Lowe may be offensive to those who may have lost alot of money to, Sad Act?

 

You are patently one of them.

 

My sympathies, but stop sounding off at us.

[ottery st mary]

The way that Fry wrote that letter had nothing at all to with the background of the shareholders at all. He is supposed to be a professional and yet the way that the shareholders were notified in that letter was completely amateur. It was completely lacking in tact and humility, probably much like him.

 

With regard to the tangent on which you embarked, most of the small shareholders bought their shares for much the same reason that I did; to feel a sense of connection with the club through ownership of a part of it, no matter how small and to have the ability to vote at AGMs. You might be dismissive of these shareholders, but if they were to have acted in concert, their collective shareholdings would at one time have outweighed those of the board just after the reverse takeover, or at least have been enough to have made them sit up and listen. The problem was, they never realised that they had that amount of clout, as most thought that Lowe had 75% or more of the shares.

 

Naturally one is sympathetic towards ordinary fans who had shareholdings amounting to several thousands of pounds which are now worthless. As for those members of the old board who lost their much bigger investments, I have no sympathy at all for those like Richards, Askham, Gordon, Hunt, Wiseman, as the cost of purchasing their shares which at one time were valued at over one or two million pounds, was an outlay of just one or two thousand.

 

Of the other main protagonists, I have nil sympathy for the Quisling, but a fair measure of sympathy for Crouch, who out of all of them acted mostly in the interests of the club, as well as for his own.

 

As for anybody who takes some satisfaction from the losses incurred by Lowe, count me amongst them and if you think that is puerile of me, then I can confirm that I will not lose any sleep over it. I am sure that he will feel able to console himself that by sacrificing his paltry little care home business, he was able to considerably raise his profile in his business circles beyond his capabilities otherwise, whilst simultaneously taking out far more in terms of salary than he had ever invested. Of course, had the members of the old board been astute enough to have sold their shareholdings to anybody else wishing to take us over, they might have done very well out of it whilst we were in the Premiership and good luck to them. But as many of them were in the accountancy or money market sectors, they better than most will have been aware that the value of shares can go down as well as up. I have never been convinced at any time that Lowe and his cronies were ever really keen on selling until the value of the club had fallen through the floor, so they only have themselves to blame.

 

 

These are exactly the same words I would have used.:cool:...not necessarily in the same order...but very well put.

 

 

Lowey out.

 

 

COYRs.:smt030

[INFLUENCED.COM]

Wilde and Crouch actually bought shares

 

Not sure how many Lowe bought out of his own money

 

You do realise you are proving the point, don't you ?

[spyinthesky]

Wonder what the shareholder who wrote the letter brandished by Rupert, supporting his efforts, at the last AGM thinks about our dear departed leader now??

 

Probably only had one share!!

[Wes Tender]

Wonder what the shareholder who wrote the letter brandished by Rupert, supporting his efforts, at the last AGM thinks about our dear departed leader now??

 

Probably only had one share!!

 

What are you on about? Rupert wrote that letter to himself.

[benjii]

Not at all that is just a complete waste of time in the stupid way we vote for our parliament in this country.

 

Yes, I agree. It's not spiteful though.

[70's Mike]

Wonder what the shareholder who wrote the letter brandished by Rupert, supporting his efforts, at the last AGM thinks about our dear departed leader now??

 

Probably only had one share!!

 

ask nineteen ?