Solomon cares a lot more about asset values rather than market value. He told me last weekend that the company has over $600 million assets when I called him last weekend. So unfortunately, he still does not understand how he market works.
The thing that was different this time is that they kept it short and to the point. Just as I hoped they would.
They could easily have told us that they may increase the dividend after the TRW loan, or keep their options open (for a one-time additional dividend). But they didn't.
Although I have followed this company for many years I don't have a memory that is good enough to answer your questions. I did talk with him last autumn along with some others and I got a good impression of him. But I doubt that he considers shareholders as the real owners of SIAF. I have the impression that he regards us as stakeholders. Employees are also stakeholders. I have the impression that he thinks we reasonably cannot expect much more than a cash dividend of 5% of profits. In a way we are not real owners because of his A-shares.
I have the impression that little has changed recently when it comes to capital expenditures and dilution. I have the feeling that Solomon's priorities are the same as before. Shareholders are not his first priority. He did not give the impression of feeling responsible when I told him that I had persuaded my girl friend to buy shares in SIAF at 15 dollars many years ago. He seems somewhat opportunistic mentioning the possibility to trade the shares. But the fact that he was so agitated in a conversation some days ago might suggest that he understands better than before the troubles he has created for himself.