Ive had these on the watch list for a few weeks now and the company seems to be getting a lot of Institutional Interest.

Its basically an asset based lender to smaller companys and carrys out a similar business to that of the big clearing banks, but as the economy gets tighter and bank lending gets more difficult to secure customers are turning to this Northern based company as an alternative.

Description Of Business.

Davenham is a leading, independent asset based lender to the UK SME sector.

The business was founded in 1991 in Manchester from where its core operations
are run. In recent years, Davenham has begun to expand and it now also operates
from offices in Leeds, Birmingham, Liverpool and Newcastle.

Davenham provides lending solutions designed to meet the financing needs of UK
SMEs - typically involving loans of between 10,000 and 3 million. The
Directors believe this is a profitable and attractive market place that is not
adequately serviced by mainstream lenders, which tend to adopt a formulaic
approach to lending decisions. Davenham has a diverse loan portfolio, with its
lending activities organised into three divisions: property finance, asset
finance and trade finance.

Davenham enjoys strong client relationships reflecting high levels of customer
service and tailored financing packages. The Directors believe that Davenham's
ability to form a commercial view and reach lending decisions quickly underpins
premium rates and high levels of repeat business. New clients are typically
sourced through introductions from existing clients, direct approaches and a
network including mainstream lenders, finance brokers, accountancy firms and
other professionals.

Davenham has a strong financial record both in terms of revenue growth and
profitability and has consistently achieved a gross return on loan portfolio of
circa 20 per cent. The Directors believe this results from Davenham's position
as a leading lender in a profitable and niche market place in which the
competition is fragmented.

Davenham is funded by a group of banks led by The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and
has a facility of 175 million, which the Directors believe is sufficient for
Davenham's current requirements.

The Placing:

Davenham, a leading independent asset based lender to the UK SME
sector, announces completion of its admission to AIM and that trading in its
ordinary shares commenced at 8.00am today.

Panmure Gordon, the Company's broker, has placed 10.9 million new
ordinary shares on behalf of the Company raising approximately 27.7 million
before expenses, and also placed approximately 6.7 million existing ordinary
shares for approximately 16.9 million on behalf of selling shareholders.

Approximately 17.2 million of the proceeds of the issue of new
ordinary shares will be used to redeem certain loan notes and mezzanine debt.
The balance of 10.5 million will be used to increase the capital base of
Davenham and to pay for the expenses of the flotation.

Davenham will be included in the Speciality and Other Finance sector
and will have an EPIC code of DAV.L.

Hawkpoint is the nominated adviser and financial adviser to Davenham
and Panmure Gordon is broker.

Dunedin and Indigo backed the buyout of Davenham in 2000 and have
supported the Company through to a successful flotation. They will remain
supportive shareholders.

The placing took place at 254p.

Director Speak.

David Coates, Chief Executive said:

'We are delighted by the positive response to the placing and the completion of
our admission to trading on AIM. I am pleased to welcome our new institutional
investors as shareholders of Davenham.

'We are well positioned to capitalise on the attractive growth opportunities in
our market place and we believe the flotation will raise our profile and support
future growth by strengthening our ability to lend, expand into the Midlands and
the South of the UK and fund selective acquisitions.'

I see from the Brokers forecasts that the Pospective P/E is approx 10 falling the year after. Might be rewarding to get in at this early stage.

DYOR.

Cheers GF.

The company came right on forecasts as predicted by management in trading update before results, you cant do any better than that. i think some where hood winked into selling here by the MMs actions on the complicated maiden results report.

cheers GF.

Heavy selling today on profit downgrade.

Overvalued.
Better value elsewhere in sector.

Down 35p since I called these a sell.

Yeah and HRR down 11 quid since you told me they were a buy.

Never heard of HRR.
What are they all about ?

Hawks taking profits after a great run from the IPO.

Will add again when the market looks right.

cheers GF.

A new forecast from Panmure Gordon has appeared on Hemscott (eps only), as follows (with their previous forecast in brackets):

2006 29.10p (28.90p)
2007 33.00p (33.90p)

So up a bit for 2006, down a bit for 2007. Sharescope has a forecast of 38.10p for 2008, which we can assume is also from Panmure (since Sharescope gets its information from Hemscott).


cheers Gf.

Back in the blue.

cheers GF.

Im still here ,, offloaded my CFD a while back but still holding the shares ..

Overvalued.

Broker says strong sell.

Better value elsewhere in sector.

Already made my money from these ,now on almost a free ride ,so i really don't need your advice ,+ you know diddly squat ..Cheers .

and I don't need to read your silly ramps either.

Silly ramps ??? there is only a few of us that post on here and we hold the shares ,so why bother to come on under different names spouting rubbish ,you should join a chat room and stay off financial sites .

Yes get yourself a girlfreind or maybe its a boyfreind and employ your spare time elsewhere.

A dissapointing day so far. Might be worth locking a few profits in here.

cheers GF.

Strong sell.

Fair value 250p.

I am short.

Im out GF ,made a nice profit on my CFD , and a few quid on the shares ,the only reason is i have better places for my funds right now..Cheers.

I was just thinking the same :-))

Yup ive taken a few bob profit but still in. I think a tip sheet may have been negative.

cheers GF.

My short is 50p in profit so far.

DAV are overvalued IMHO.

Fair value 250p.