I think everyone would agree that the current situation is not a good look but here's my take. Management have put in place a long term plan which takes into account the difficulties of being in retail. Therefore the strategy it would seem is to grow sales (at lower margins if necessary) and increase credit sales of the newly announced financial services sector. Going back on the announcements here are the projections. Three to five year plan, grow book value to $600m with bottom line gains $25m-30m. This stock is not for short term traders and if you want to be in it you need plenty of patience. Minimum divies 19c per share 2014/5 if susainable in the short term underwrites current SP with gross div. well over 8%. Difficult to know of the Norman's holding but I suspect nothing sinister possibly just an investment. It's all been said about the complex major S.Holdings so little liklihood of any moves in that direction.