It’s been a busy week on the boards, with directors' pay, debt bubbles and investment dinners proving popular topics.
The executive pay debate continues
From Carmensfella, on the Paulypilot's Pub - Share Ideas board, came a brief look at the events of the week ahead, and a few thoughts on the current hot topic of boardroom pay...
"This is still a very hot topic and on the news tonight I saw the announcement that Stephen Hester has decided not to take his contractually agreed bonus. I admit to having some sympathy for Hester over the recent public villification as he is actually doing a very good job in difficult circumstances and was not responsible for the mess the banks are in. I suspect his chairman saying 'no' to his own bonus just added further pressure over the weekend.
A shame then that such pressure could not have been exerted on the Conygar (CIC) directors who certainly have not achieved a fraction of that which Hester has done nor do they have anywhere near the level of responsibility but still took more bonus than he did!"
Do you agree? It's not too late to add your thoughts to the thread.
No debt bubble here
So the UK's big problem has been its massively inflating debt bubble, with too many people borrowing too much money, has it? Well, over at Bert's Investor Sanctuary, BertEEE doesn't agree...
"As ever I would strongly disagree that the UK has experienced a debt bubble. Indeed in comparison to any example of a historical debt bubble such as Japan I would say the proposition is quite laughable. This position is however the position of many of the more extreme posters on TMF but also I was surprised to find some of the more sensible ones as well. As such I've decided to lay out the reasons why I disagree so strongly."
Of course, not everyone agrees, but it's a thought-provoking discussion. Feel free to join in.
Mello spreads its wings
The regular Fool events known as Mello investor dinners (after the restaurant where they started) are popular. Organised by Carmensfella, they arrange presentations and discussions with company directors, and involve the consumption of food and drink. So far, they've all been in London, but is there a call for regional events? Over at Paulypilot's Pub - Share Ideas again...
"I am pleased to say that with so many companies wanting to present to serious private investors and with ShareSoc keen to assist with regional events it may be possible to have help with such a task and there may even be local and keen/ energetic Fools here who would like to get something off the ground! I would certainly do my best to attend each one and we have a large base of regulars for the Mello events so you never know how many might travel further afield."
Are you interested? Could you help? Feel free to contribute to the discussion.
A new chairman?
What's the best way to deal with a company if you don't think it's performing as well as it should? Well, one way is to get on the board yourself. But that's not good enough for Biggles57, who wants the chairman's, erm, chair itself. On the HiWave Technologies board...
"I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and explain why it is my intention to seek your help in gaining appointment to the vacant position of Chairman of the Board of HiWave Technologies plc.
I inherited shares of the old company, Verity, from my late father who was an enthusiastic amateur electrician but, sadly, colour-blind. My mother claimed that he was just mean and wouldn't hire a professional but that's a story for another day. I received one of those speakers that plug into a laptop as a birthday present and used it for a week. It was only when I went to my doctor that it was explained me that, despite the surround sound being excellent in every respect, the speakers were not designed to enable people who are deaf in one ear to enjoy a stereophonic experience."
Is it an altogether serious intent? You'll have to read it yourself to find out.
Another decade
Just too late to make last week's roundup, another regular Fool has celebrated 10 years with us. This time it's itsallaguess, and the place for the celebratory post is the Financial Software board (which will make sense when you read it)...
"I'm not too sure just where the past 10 years has gone, but in a time when so much has changed in my own personal life, it's fantastic to know that The Motley Fool continues to be the best online forum that I've found during that period. Nowhere else that I've ever seen has such a fantastic widespread community, with just about no area of expertise that isn't covered in one way or another, where any topic you could hope for can be discussed and debated with such rigour and enthusiasm, and long may that continue."
Thanks for all the contributions, Fool. We look forward to the next 10 years of them.
Last week's roundup: How To Ramp Properly
