Some excelent growth to be had here even in this dowdy industry.

Shrewd Tip: Floors2go through the roof?

Published: 07:04 Mon 5 July 2004
By Patrick Sherwen, Deputy & Secret Buying Editor
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Floors2go only listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) on 1 April but AAA-rated fund manager Patrick Evershed is no fool and has taken a secret stake in the company.

Floors2go (FGO) claims to be one of the UK’s largest specialist retailers of hardwood, laminate and engineered floors and accessories with 100 stores. It is a cash-rich, high growth company whose products experience growing demand helped by makeover TV shows such as Changing Rooms. Turnover quintupled between 2001 and 2003 to £44 million.


The shares started trading on AIM at 48p. By early May they reached 74.5p but have since dropped back to 56.5p, which values the company at £74 million.


Evershed, who runs the New Star Select Opportunities fund, bought in late May when price was about 63p. Our sources suggest he bought 250,000 shares in one transaction. This is equivalent to 0.19% of the company.


One of the company’s largest investors is top-performing investment boutique Artemis, which controls 5.54%. Artemis boasts several Citywire rated managers including Derek Stuart and John Dodd, who are both AAA, thanks to their first class risk adjusted returns.


Ian Currie, chief executive of Zeus Capital, which is one of the company’s financial advisers, is the largest shareholder with14.6% and his colleague Richard Hughes is not far behind with 11.88%.


Already the company has attracted buy ratings from house broker Numis and Shore Capital, which forecast a 240% profit increase by 2005 to £10.2 million and earnings per share of 5.05p in the same year. This values the company at an attractive 11.2 times expected earnings. Buy.


* This article also appeared in yesterday's Financial Mail on Sunday.ENDS.

Well I cant think of anything more boring than floors to invest in just looking at those figures though this morning had me drooling in anticipation of big things to come.
cheers GF.

Please DYOR you are responsible for the timing of your buying and selling action

GF going to get in they were compared to topps tiles and carpetright as
poss leaders in their markets looks like might have to wait for update or finals ?

any news on servicepower ?? drifting back

dr keith pacey non exec of FGO about to come into money


Chris Barry
MANCHESTER venture capitalist Montagu is set to pull off its second major deal in the past fortnight with a 240m swoop for electronics retailer Maplin.

Maplin, which sells everything from TV aerials and disco lights to anything the budding nerd neeeds to build his own PC, is headquartered in Yorkshire and has 80 stores nationwide.

In the north west it has two outlets in Manchester and stores in Salford, Stockport, Warrington and Preston.

Two weeks ago Montagu announced it was backing a 146m management buyout of Survitec, which makes military safety equipment.

It is understood that Montagu fought off competition from nearly a dozen other would-be owners.

Maplin is currently owned by its management team and another venture capitalist, Graphite Capital.

Graphite bought a 70 per cent stake in the business when it backed a 42m management buyout in 2001.

The eight members of the management team, led by chairman Dr Keith Pacey, who has a doctorate in electronics, will share a paper fortune of 44m.

All are expected to continue to manage the firm, reinvesting a big chunk of their equity in the business.

At a valuation of 240m, the bosses' holding has increased six-fold since the 2001 deal.

In the year to last December, Barnsley-based Maplin made profits of 12.4m on sales of 99.2m.

Graphite Enterprise Trust says it is in talks over the possible sale of its stake, while Montagu was not available for comment.

Graphite's statement said: "While discussions are under way that may lead to the disposal of the trust's investment in Maplin, no binding agreement has been reached.

nearly all buyers today yet prices down ??

on the move todqay but some sellers around so perhaps 20% recent gain stalling ?

Well at least is better than nowt gordon.

cheers GF.

the rally seems to be holding someone just pd 70p for 25k worth surely something drving this ??? any views

Tuesday's Constant Gainers & Losers
MoneyAM

Floors 2 Go is 17.7% better at 66.5p, helped by a major share purchase by the Chairman late last week..

Lovely just lovely,get the fundies right and patience pays in the end. HCEG flying, WLF flying, Hamworthy flying, Neteller flying and Evil K closed out and just to cap it all tonight in fly these boys and Evil K closing once again, dont think he'l speak to me next time I phone him , what a fantastic week..................................

Friday Closing Market: Floors 2 Go receives takeover bid
Published: 17:23 Friday 17 December 2004 < PREV | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | NEXT > TOTAL PAGES: 4
By Dylan Lobo, Market Reporter
12:41 Fri 17 December 2004 read


The FTSE 100 ended the week on a gloomy note, but Citywire tip Floors 2 Go provided some late excitement after confirming it has received a bid from a private equity firm.

Floors 2 Go (FGO), which supplies laminate and hardwood flooring, surged by 12p, or 14.2%, to 96.5p, taking its market capitalisation to 126 million. The group said talks were at an early stage and that there was no certainty that an offer for the company would materialise.ENDS

Might be more to come aswell,

cheers GF.

Much the same gf, i said a few months ago people would be ok in this one.... everywhere i go, i see nothing but fgo adverts!!!

things going good for me 2 gf - bnh flying, pdx are moonbound (although fundamentally they don't seem such a safe bet) and are currently flying. Still plenty more in them imho. toa doing well too. Bought some nlr a bit back at the 2.80 level.

What else you looking at??

DGM Deal Group Media my tip for 2005 the online advertiser. Nice to see you have done well legend.

cheers GF.

GF

Yes things starting to go very well. Last year I finished uni and now I am in a position to start making some dough after recent successes.

Have had a brief look into DGM, but don't know anything about it, but will make sure i do. Whats the NAV? Anywhere to go for some good research??

The share has had a good run, plenty more upside you reckon??

I have just been kicking myself looking at dtg selling at 1.80 odd, and now it is changing listings my mate told me... it will start getting some more notice and may well go further.

Thanks

Legend

Will be back in touch.

GF.

i was out at 70p could see any reason to get to this level
and amused EK had short of this but not sure why

Yes, I got out the other day and took a profit, think i got 88p for it.

Any interest still left in this. Is it cheap or nasty?

cheap and nasty...

10p ?

Never did like it Dill.
But now watching floored 43%
at close Fri.
Could be a quick punt but only if spread
tightens if not could go south a lot more,
10p though i doubt as long as it's not about
to go skint. Feel for the ones who got in high
around a pound recently.
regards
HUSTLER

Could be right HUSTLER but too much of a gamble.

Just been looking at ASC ... disaster waiting to happen imo , might be an idea to put it on your watch list.

Not following them at present Dill the stories over.
But remember they were a huge sucsess not so long ago 6 bagger+ for some punters i believe, shame i missed it.
cheers
HUSTLER