New Media Sparks Assets valuation is at 23Million quid...but that is only a conservative view the company states...broken or sold off they are worth a lot more...

After doing my own research on New Media Spark, and waiting for todays Brief...my personal opinion is this a NEWMEDSPK has a pretty optimistic future to be realised,

At under 10p they are a steal and one expect them to rise from here onwards...I did say they have a balance sheet of 51 MILLION cash in Bank to burn...(read para below...) I mean how many small companies can boast this?

Expect aquisitions this year I'd say...

DYOR...

jules



NewMedia SPARK narrows losses
AFX
Full year losses very sharply narrowed and it is cautiously optimistic about oulook


NewMedia SPARK PLC narrowed its pretax loss in the year to March 31 2003 to 9.09 mln stg from 105 mln a year earlier and said it is cautiously optimistic about the future. Its shares rose 8.5% to 9.5p.

Sales for the year were 1.295 mln stg, down from 3.01 mln.

The net asset value per share at the end of the year was 12.4 pence, which compared with 13 pence a year earlier.

Consolidated cash balances have risen to 52.0 mln stg from 41.8 mln a year earlier, thanks mainly to the successful sale of Tullets.

SPARK's investment portfolio had a book valuation of 23.8 mln stg at March 31. The board said it believes this is a conservative valuation and that, over time, the portfolio has the potential to generate a substantial return to shareholders from current levels.

The board said it would caution, however, that the timing of any increases in book valuation cannot be predicted with certainty. It said valuation would occur if the company were to sell any of its investments. With this in mind, the board said it is 'open to the possibility' of flotations and is keeping a close eye on the state of the new issue market.

The group also said share buy backs remain a strategic aim but are not yet possible due to the current need firstly, to provide in full for the remaining period of the lease costs and secondly, to repatriate cash to London from Spuetz.

'SPARK has a strong balance sheet with a sizeable and maturing investment portfolio and in an improving technology market, we are cautiously optimistic.'

The group's investment portfolio is now maturing, and therefore requires less central overhead to manage it. Similarly, the decline in new investment activity has also reduced the overall workload.

In consequence, the group has since the March 31 financial year-end embarked on a
further round of central overhead reduction. This will result in UK executive staff being reduced to seven people, plus three in Germany. When fully implemented this latest reduction in headcount will result in the SPARK group's operating costs, excluding property costs, falling to less than 1.5 mln stg per annum.

The group said that, as part of this significant re-organisation Bruno Delacave, finance director, and Susanna Freeman, company secretary, will be leaving the group, two other executives will be part-time, the management of the property and IT services has been outsourced and so SPARK's property management and IT staff are leaving.

The company also updated on the 'major problem' in its lease at Glasshouse Street in Soho. It said it has now signed an agreement with Corpnex to turn the space into a serviced office business. Under this agreement SPARK will remain liable for the rental cost of the property, but it said it believes that this solution gives it the potential to recoup a substantial proportion of rental payments over time and is preferable to immediately surrendering the lease at substantial penalty.

You might want to check how many shares the director actually holds and and the ratio of how many he sold...you might be surprised...DYR...


I bought recently and I expect a surge in the price of this stock near term...bt like most chaps i did my background research first...and was satisfied...the company has enough cash to buy itself twice... how can such company be a major threat...???

Dont invest money you cant afford to lose is my opinion...so one has to do the research first and be convinced...

IMHO personally beats ur marconi, telewest etc...huge debts..(though marconi is picking I hold a little...shhh..!)

hope thats helps...

jules

Although I don't think just having lots of money in the bank is a good enough reason to buy (especially not when the reason the company exists is to as a venture capital company) but one of the MM's has reduced the spread so the price to buy has dropped. This should encourage more buying. There are now 4 MM offering at the sell price so the price is less likely to drop!

The question is will there be enough buys to pull the buy price back up and the sell price with it?

Little woman i hold but i think their is a bid on the way in the background.

I a bit a an new-comer to all this, however glad to see this one on it's way!!

I think it could well be NEW MEDIS SPARK's week to move up...A lot has been written since the results, and if the good and positive is to be beleived then it could be their turn to rise from here...my target is 15p, but if there is a 'bid' for the company with 51M cash then I would expect 20/30p is more realistic...

Personally I would rather the company make aquisitions and organically grow...over the year...

DYOR as always...

Jules.

Reading views from BB's Tech journals review this month prediction of a possible bid for the company in the future...I guess I'll continue to Hold as it is open for offers...

It not what I wanted but never mind...Hopefully a decent company making a bid...as opposed to any ole bid...

DYOR...(besides it's not so difficult once you get into it..)

:-)

a small shift up this am...on little or no volume... 1.35%!

the start of something bigger...we shall have to wait n see as usual as always...drone...

Jules, not sure if you are around but could you offer any advice to me on this holding - I try to only hold 2 shares at a time (due to available finances!) and generally want to buy and sell fairly actively.
I bought in at 9.66 a couple of weeks back after the Shares tip - should I get out, as there are better options elsewhere!?!? I follow most of the threads but all the tipped stocks seem to have already gone up hugely! Any ideas? Much appreciated! Cheers

Ginger Jimmo...I take u it have red hair?
so ur unique in that sense...good on ya..!

I hold a fair whack of these buying on any weakness, will hold until at least I see valid reason to sell...A bit like ur BATM's patience can sometimes payoff, You could say they are speculative in one sense but at the same time, they are not, with the breif bull run we are having, i think in time they will be either taken over or they they will decide to make aquisitions in either case the price should move...Patience...

I am not asking you to hold if u require the money asap, personally the investment I have held in certain stocks is money I dont need at this very sec...i.e it's viewed as an investment...I hve a near term price target of 15p-20p
I also recall NEW MEDIA SPARK was TIPPED BY the Finacial Mail in January2003 as a TOP TEN STOCK TIP FOR 2003...can someone confirm that plse...

I closed my immediate trading position in New Med SPK today, (but remember I hold a whack as well-long term in portfolio)took a small loss, but thts a risk u take if u purchase to TRADE only...

Noticed Excellent results...AND bought into SERCO at 1.80p...now 1.90p...as I percieve them to rise tomorrow and Next week...(just my thoughts and Instincts) I hope I dont sound like I ask/force people to buy on my hunches...?? Im wrong most of times anyway...drone...



Jules99.

51 mill in bank of venture capital, from investors (not quite same as being thier own monies)

Would add, It beats a Company which is in debt...

Maybe so...............take a look at the companies current porfolio of investments (http://www.newmediaspark.com) internet and sofware companies ...... hardly the best performers at the moment on the market.

You'll need the patience of a saint to hold NMS, according to the IC. Releasing its undoubted value - 8.1p per share shareholder's funds and 12.4p investment portfolio - is the problem.

Jules - thanks for your thoughts much appreciated! Where do you do all of your research? I only really get chance to read the mags and the threads on this site - any other good sources, hints, techniques??

Didn't mean to start a fight there fellas - obviously a feisty topic!!

So has everyone just got fed up waiting for this one to do things, so the price is dropping...........

The last bit of news on Aug 19 was:

LONDON (AFX) - NewMedia SPARK PLC said its German subsidiary Spuetz AG could pay a dividend of over 20 mln eur once its results for the fiscal year 2003 are finalised after it amended its annual financial statements for the fiscal year 2002 to eliminate carried forward losses against capital reserves.
Spark has a 70 pct holding in Spuetz, and it said it would of course support the payment of such a dividend should Spuetz resolve to do so in due course.

Since then very quiet...........

Anyone got any thoughts, insights etc. etc. etc.

JULES99 is still holding LW..

any news on the pricrunner float ? they suggested first qtr have they
appointed anyone yet ?