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Dowgate Capital - Capitalising on the booming AIM market (DGT)
overgrowth
- 09 Feb 2005 20:52
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Dowgate Capital (DGT) are sitting in the middle of a goldmine! This company through their sole trading arm City Financial Associates are looking to take full advantage of the "booming" AIM market this year. Dowgate provide NOMAD (NOMinated ADvisor) services to AIM companies and also have full Corporate Broker status which means that they can fund placements on behalf of the companies they represent. |
 Website: www.cityfin.co.uk |
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On first sight, the fact that Dowgate exist in the often veiled financial services sector makes you think twice about investing in company such as this because it would be impossible to understand what they were doing - however, think again! DGT bring new companies to the AIM (Alternative Investment Market). For each new company "floated" on AIM, they take arrangement fees when acting as NOMAD. After the company is launched then for a nice steady earner DGT get another healthy chunk of cash every year for looking after them (note that all AIM companies must have a nominated adviser - thereby securing a ready source of recurring income). Because DGT also act as a Corporate broker they can get a very healthy percentage for arranging placement of shares with insititutions before a new company floats. In addition, because placements come outside the sphere of yearly NOMAD work, they can also gain healthy percentages of placements which companies may need to make throughout the year when they need a quick injection of cash to speed growth. Current NOMADships: 28 companies represented (gives recurring income of approx 480,000 per year) Current on-going Brokerage agreements: 19 companies (income depends on placements) For flotations, depending on the size of a company, fees charged will be anything from 50,000 to 100,000+ For placements (the real earner), DGT get anything from 3% to around 12% of the TOTAL AMOUNT RAISED - For example a new company raising 3M though a placement will earn DGT anything from 90,000 to 360,000 ! These figures are indicative as actual deals all differ due to circumstances and DGT sometimes take payment in shares - they still have a tasty chunk of Setstone shares and when this Russian exploration company comes back to AIM, predictions are that the share price will rocket. Note that the amount that this little company can earn in fees is huge and every new deal that comes through we know will contribute another healthy chunk into the bottom line. The good news with every new floatation means that it's another chunk of recurring revenue which could go on for years, with DGT having to do very little. New clients gained in 2005 are: Mediazest (NOMAD & broker) Elite Strategies (NOMAD) Process Handling (NOMAD) Poland Investment Fund (NOMAD) Nanotech Energy (NOMAD & broker) Archimedia Ventures (NOMAD & broker) Red Leopard Holdings (NOMAD) Alba Mineral Resources (NOMAD & broker) Intandem Films (NOMAD & broker) Motive Television (NOMAD) IncaGold (NOMAD) Sportswinbet (NOMAD & Broker) Infoscreen Networks (NOMAD & Broker) Mark Kingsley (NOMAD & Broker) Croatia Ventures (NOMAD & Broker) Pantheon Leisure (NOMAD) Firenze Ventures (Ofex Advisor) FlightStore Group (NOMAD & Broker) Euro Capital Projects (NOMAD) Pearl Street Holdings (NOMAD) Worldwide Natural Resources (Ofex Advisor) Dovedale Ventures (Ofex Advisor) Other 2005 work completed:Neptune-Calculus VCT offer for subs of up to 12 million Advisory work for TGM on London Bus disposal for 20.4M Advisory work for Creightons on property disposal Advisory work for Hampton Trust on company restructuring Advisory work for Interbulk Investments on acquisition of Inbulk Advisory work for Fundamental-e Investments on two disposals Advisory work for Designer Vision re: Design Rights against Centurion Electronics Click Here for fundamentals and profit projections. |
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ptholden
- 24 May 2005 19:27
- 609 of 2787
snakey
Informer / Pro / MRSMoneypenny / Wa157te all the same person, generally ramps on the AXM thread and bashes KMR. Very uninfored posts, (as you can tell!) AXM has gone from 39p to 21p since he started the thread, says it all really. Objected to my thoughts and started 'following' me around this morning and appeared on this thread. Oh, to be a teen again. Anyway, enough of that.
Looking forward to the news from the AGM tomorrow, hopefully TR will be in a bullish mood. I think he has every reason to be, although I am sure any information he divulges will be tinged with caution.
Somebody was asking either on this thread, or perhaps on the other side, what interests CFA have in the companies they have floated this year. Have trawled through the CFA website and have come up with the following:
Archimedia: Subscribed to 166,666 shares at 3.0p (Incidentally the NOMAD fee for Archimedia increases to 20k from 15k on completion of their first acquisition).
Red Leopard: Option over 1% of the issued ordinary share capital (1,898,300 share - I think)
Mediazest: Warrants over 50,000 shares at an exercise price of 50p.
Alba: Warrants over 500,00 shares at an exercise price of 5.25p
Intradem: Warrants over 2,000,000 shares at an exercise price of 5p
Although not included in the 2004 accounts, I think that CFA also have an option over 4% of the issued share capital of the Telephone Maintenance group.
I am also curious to know if CFA were able to include the fees from their two December AIM admissions into last years accounts or were they carried over to 2005? Perhaps that is a wuestio you could ask tomorrow Andy.
I wonder who is mopping up the stock? One thought that dis occur to me is that with their small market cap, but growing client list, CFA might appear as a quite healthy target for a bigger competitor. Although having said that the size of the sales thus far would not indicate that to be the case.
PTH
Informer / Pro / MRSMoneypenny / Wa157te all the same person, generally ramps on the AXM thread and bashes KMR. Very uninfored posts, (as you can tell!) AXM has gone from 39p to 21p since he started the thread, says it all really. Objected to my thoughts and started 'following' me around this morning and appeared on this thread. Oh, to be a teen again. Anyway, enough of that.
Looking forward to the news from the AGM tomorrow, hopefully TR will be in a bullish mood. I think he has every reason to be, although I am sure any information he divulges will be tinged with caution.
Somebody was asking either on this thread, or perhaps on the other side, what interests CFA have in the companies they have floated this year. Have trawled through the CFA website and have come up with the following:
Archimedia: Subscribed to 166,666 shares at 3.0p (Incidentally the NOMAD fee for Archimedia increases to 20k from 15k on completion of their first acquisition).
Red Leopard: Option over 1% of the issued ordinary share capital (1,898,300 share - I think)
Mediazest: Warrants over 50,000 shares at an exercise price of 50p.
Alba: Warrants over 500,00 shares at an exercise price of 5.25p
Intradem: Warrants over 2,000,000 shares at an exercise price of 5p
Although not included in the 2004 accounts, I think that CFA also have an option over 4% of the issued share capital of the Telephone Maintenance group.
I am also curious to know if CFA were able to include the fees from their two December AIM admissions into last years accounts or were they carried over to 2005? Perhaps that is a wuestio you could ask tomorrow Andy.
I wonder who is mopping up the stock? One thought that dis occur to me is that with their small market cap, but growing client list, CFA might appear as a quite healthy target for a bigger competitor. Although having said that the size of the sales thus far would not indicate that to be the case.
PTH
stockdog
- 25 May 2005 09:37
- 610 of 2787
pt - very intersting. any chance of putting a current value on these holdings to add to my trading value?
just off to AGM - will they let me if I hold through CREST a/c? we'll see
sd
just off to AGM - will they let me if I hold through CREST a/c? we'll see
sd
butane
- 25 May 2005 13:34
- 611 of 2787
Just phoned CFA, was told that the agm finished shortly after 11am and that all resolutions were passed....no trading update was given!.
stockdog
- 25 May 2005 13:36
- 612 of 2787
Just back from the AGM - not much news, bit of a non-event with no trading statement from TR.
There were the 3 group directors on the platform and 11 others present including at least one director of the trading subsidiary.
All resolutions, both ordinary and special, were passed nem con, except for about 10,000 proxy votes con (v. about 30m pro) the new group name Dowgate - I also dissented, on the grounds that the connotations for Americans are less than favourable.
One shareholder (I assume) quizzed TR about where the company was going, in the light of the unexciting SP. TR replied that he could not control the shareprice, but was concentrating on buillding a profiitable business, prioritising retainer fees and corporate finance fees, before turning his attention to enhancing their broking activities. TR said they were getting their fair share of their price level in the market during this bull period for new issues.
TR also offered thgat they might in future look at altering the capital structure of the group to the benefit of shareholders, although currently he did not want to expand the overhead on costs associated with such a course of events.
Talking to one of the subsidiary directors afterwards, he was unable (under the rules) to answer my questions on level of overhead and likely profit for the year (although he said he new the answers very well). However, in response to my suggestion that my model suggested they were within 24k of break even for the year, I thought I detected a broad, enigmatic smile of non-denial, or maybe he thought it was simply funny, who knows.
In repsonse to my questions about how they would go about building the broking side, this same director suggested that they would probably look to import a broking team, either as employees or by acquisition - hence perhaps the 4th special resolution empowering the directors to allot 500k = 200m shares of share capital free from pre-emption rights.
This director also confirmed that they attached nil value to their holdings of warrants and options in their clients, since probably 9 months out of 12 would be deemed a close period for them to realise their investment which, in any event, would have a negative effect on their client's SP. So they are really of library value which might one day be realised upon capital re-organisation or disposal/acquisition of their clients.
On discussion of the SP, it seemed probable that the MMs were probably hardly aware of this share and therefore not wholly responsible for its current langour.
I left at after 20 minutes, as it concluded, with the feeling that I was invested in a very simple business that was very simply doing its job. If they continue to build the profitabliity of the core operation, then they SP will follow one day. I can't see any reason not to buy more at this current level as funds become available.
I see that I have stupidly been using the wrong number of shares in issue for my model which should be 65m higher at 619m total. Assuming my current P&L predictions this indicates a PE of 3.69. If this shoudol be nearer 12, then the SP mid should be 1.30p and SP bid (allowing 20% spread) about 1.17p.
So my target price of at least 1p+ by Xmas holds good.
NB. There are a number of options exercisable by TR (29.7m at 0.285p and 0.74p), the two ex-directors (17.7m exercisable at 1.25p), the Chairman Ian Buckley (1.5m ex. at 1.25p) and the staff (24m ex. at ??). In addition there are warrants exercisable over 15% of the issued capital from time to time at 1p any time up to 12th June 2006., held as to SJ Barclay 61%, JR Shaw 30.5%, IC Buckley 6.0%, AP Rawlinson 2.5%. These may all have an unpredictable, dilutive effect as the SP rises anywhere near/in excess of 1p.
DYOR
sd
There were the 3 group directors on the platform and 11 others present including at least one director of the trading subsidiary.
All resolutions, both ordinary and special, were passed nem con, except for about 10,000 proxy votes con (v. about 30m pro) the new group name Dowgate - I also dissented, on the grounds that the connotations for Americans are less than favourable.
One shareholder (I assume) quizzed TR about where the company was going, in the light of the unexciting SP. TR replied that he could not control the shareprice, but was concentrating on buillding a profiitable business, prioritising retainer fees and corporate finance fees, before turning his attention to enhancing their broking activities. TR said they were getting their fair share of their price level in the market during this bull period for new issues.
TR also offered thgat they might in future look at altering the capital structure of the group to the benefit of shareholders, although currently he did not want to expand the overhead on costs associated with such a course of events.
Talking to one of the subsidiary directors afterwards, he was unable (under the rules) to answer my questions on level of overhead and likely profit for the year (although he said he new the answers very well). However, in response to my suggestion that my model suggested they were within 24k of break even for the year, I thought I detected a broad, enigmatic smile of non-denial, or maybe he thought it was simply funny, who knows.
In repsonse to my questions about how they would go about building the broking side, this same director suggested that they would probably look to import a broking team, either as employees or by acquisition - hence perhaps the 4th special resolution empowering the directors to allot 500k = 200m shares of share capital free from pre-emption rights.
This director also confirmed that they attached nil value to their holdings of warrants and options in their clients, since probably 9 months out of 12 would be deemed a close period for them to realise their investment which, in any event, would have a negative effect on their client's SP. So they are really of library value which might one day be realised upon capital re-organisation or disposal/acquisition of their clients.
On discussion of the SP, it seemed probable that the MMs were probably hardly aware of this share and therefore not wholly responsible for its current langour.
I left at after 20 minutes, as it concluded, with the feeling that I was invested in a very simple business that was very simply doing its job. If they continue to build the profitabliity of the core operation, then they SP will follow one day. I can't see any reason not to buy more at this current level as funds become available.
I see that I have stupidly been using the wrong number of shares in issue for my model which should be 65m higher at 619m total. Assuming my current P&L predictions this indicates a PE of 3.69. If this shoudol be nearer 12, then the SP mid should be 1.30p and SP bid (allowing 20% spread) about 1.17p.
So my target price of at least 1p+ by Xmas holds good.
NB. There are a number of options exercisable by TR (29.7m at 0.285p and 0.74p), the two ex-directors (17.7m exercisable at 1.25p), the Chairman Ian Buckley (1.5m ex. at 1.25p) and the staff (24m ex. at ??). In addition there are warrants exercisable over 15% of the issued capital from time to time at 1p any time up to 12th June 2006., held as to SJ Barclay 61%, JR Shaw 30.5%, IC Buckley 6.0%, AP Rawlinson 2.5%. These may all have an unpredictable, dilutive effect as the SP rises anywhere near/in excess of 1p.
DYOR
sd
butane
- 25 May 2005 13:40
- 613 of 2787
Thanks SD.
overgrowth
- 25 May 2005 13:44
- 614 of 2787
Excellent report sd - many thanks for relaying this to us so quickly.
I take it that "altering the capital structure of the group" means that it in the future they may be looking at a share consolidation ?
You probably got that broad enigmatic smile because the 24K is spot on lol!
I take it that "altering the capital structure of the group" means that it in the future they may be looking at a share consolidation ?
You probably got that broad enigmatic smile because the 24K is spot on lol!
white westie - 25 May 2005 13:50 - 615 of 2787
Stockdog,
i have pasted your post on the other site i hope you do not mind, as it looks like we shall not get any announcements from the company and without your take on proceedings we would know nothing as usual.
ww
i have pasted your post on the other site i hope you do not mind, as it looks like we shall not get any announcements from the company and without your take on proceedings we would know nothing as usual.
ww
butane
- 25 May 2005 16:12
- 616 of 2787
This from jedd clampitt on the Ample site.....
Went to the AGM this morning. Was interesting and most of the staff were there.
They have a bullish demeanour and I am very confident that they can deliver exellent results. They are very busy and equally seem to have a grip on expenses
All resolutions were passed without fuss
Met a guy who posts on ADVFN under name of Dr Jeckyll. Very nice man, would definitely listen to him when he posts. Didn't meet many others so it does scare the hell out of me when you get people who don't even attend meetings but will make all sorts of claims...
Not much else, directors are very aware that they have delivered nothing to existing shareholders and can confirm that they intend to change this!!
Bring on the change!! Best of luck to the board. Nice meeting you Dr Jeckyl
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Went to the AGM this morning. Was interesting and most of the staff were there.
They have a bullish demeanour and I am very confident that they can deliver exellent results. They are very busy and equally seem to have a grip on expenses
All resolutions were passed without fuss
Met a guy who posts on ADVFN under name of Dr Jeckyll. Very nice man, would definitely listen to him when he posts. Didn't meet many others so it does scare the hell out of me when you get people who don't even attend meetings but will make all sorts of claims...
Not much else, directors are very aware that they have delivered nothing to existing shareholders and can confirm that they intend to change this!!
Bring on the change!! Best of luck to the board. Nice meeting you Dr Jeckyl
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ptholden
- 25 May 2005 18:03
- 617 of 2787
sd
Good post and many thanks for taking the trouble to attend. However, I just wish CFA would take these opportunities to give the company a more positive nudge.
PTH
Good post and many thanks for taking the trouble to attend. However, I just wish CFA would take these opportunities to give the company a more positive nudge.
PTH
stockdog
- 25 May 2005 18:53
- 618 of 2787
pth - I know what you mean, but consider this:-
Why do you want the price of something you are considering buying more of to rise in the immediate future?
I think I met Dr Jeckyll, but not Jedd Clampitt, although I think I may have heard him talking.
sd
Why do you want the price of something you are considering buying more of to rise in the immediate future?
I think I met Dr Jeckyll, but not Jedd Clampitt, although I think I may have heard him talking.
sd
ptholden
- 25 May 2005 18:56
- 619 of 2787
sd
If I buy any more I'll have a seat on the board!!
Well, just a few more!!!!!!!!!
PTH
If I buy any more I'll have a seat on the board!!
Well, just a few more!!!!!!!!!
PTH
EWRobson
- 25 May 2005 21:11
- 620 of 2787
Thanks, sd, for attending the AGM and reporting back. A good general comfort factor!
Having said that, I feel strongly that the company are paying scant attention to their shareholders. So what is the performance of the company year-to-date? Nothing said! They change the name of the holding company but our investments are in the subsiduary company. If the holding company acquires another company where do the shareholders in CFP stand? I put forward that we should, morally if not legally, know the answers to these questions. Butane, I beleive you have a good line into the company. I don't mind writing myself. It may be OK by the company to play these issues long but the interests of shareholders are to see the market value of the company increase sooner rather than later. I suspect we should take a more aggressive stance. Do others agree?
Eric
Having said that, I feel strongly that the company are paying scant attention to their shareholders. So what is the performance of the company year-to-date? Nothing said! They change the name of the holding company but our investments are in the subsiduary company. If the holding company acquires another company where do the shareholders in CFP stand? I put forward that we should, morally if not legally, know the answers to these questions. Butane, I beleive you have a good line into the company. I don't mind writing myself. It may be OK by the company to play these issues long but the interests of shareholders are to see the market value of the company increase sooner rather than later. I suspect we should take a more aggressive stance. Do others agree?
Eric
Sequestor
- 25 May 2005 21:30
- 621 of 2787
THE BOOMING AIM MARKET???
ROFLMFAO!!!!!!!!!!
ROFLMFAO!!!!!!!!!!
stockdog
- 25 May 2005 22:10
- 622 of 2787
Eric
Our shares are in the parent company changing its name to Dowgate plc, not in the subsidiary which keeps its name City Financial Asocaites Ltd. So Dowgate acquiring more subsidiaries will benefit us too. CFP epic will change now that the AGM has approved the name change to, who knows, DOG??!!
My impression of TR is that he is just rather unaware of shareholders needs, not dismissive of them. Comments and responses today did start to get through to him I think. The Chairman I would say was not much more than chairing meetings, not totally representing shareholders' interests to the 3 man board. Perhaps he needs to focus a little more on this issue, but he only gets paid 15k per annum. Do you want to spend the companies money on a share-ramping chairman? It won't help the profitability and growth of the business.
But let's not overburden them. They are a 5 executive plus 2 assistants company with a miniscule turnover of 1.8m p.a. which may make a 33% net profit - not bad. Why do we need to realise SP value now, except to generate a warm fuzzy feeling when we look at our portfolios. I agree with TR, let him get the business onto a sound footing with solid earnnings, then we will develop our other main strand, broking, then we will start turning a reliably profitable business into shareholder value - a 2-3 year strategy.
From a disastrous first couple of years setting off on the wrong foot, TR has managed to increase net asset value per share from 0.096p to 0.098p a 1.7% increase from December 2003 to December 2004 - nothing, you say, except it could so easily have been a big write down in value. Assuming all this year's profits (671k, I estimate) are retained at December 2005, net asset value per share will increase to 0.21p, a 110% increase over this year. Assuming 750k (??) profits in 2006, this becomes 0.33p per share, a further 58% increase in net asset per share, of which 94% is CASH.
If this cash can be put to good use - e.g. acquire a broking division - then profits can increase exponentially.
At the very least they become a dangerously attractive profitable cash shell which could be a takeover target.
I don't think chastisement at this stage is constructive to our mid to long term benefit. A trading statement/half year results are going to look pretty damn good, I suspect. Then we'll see. Until then I advocate patient support for a man who is doing what he does best.
IMHO DYOR BSM (buy some more!)
sd
Our shares are in the parent company changing its name to Dowgate plc, not in the subsidiary which keeps its name City Financial Asocaites Ltd. So Dowgate acquiring more subsidiaries will benefit us too. CFP epic will change now that the AGM has approved the name change to, who knows, DOG??!!
My impression of TR is that he is just rather unaware of shareholders needs, not dismissive of them. Comments and responses today did start to get through to him I think. The Chairman I would say was not much more than chairing meetings, not totally representing shareholders' interests to the 3 man board. Perhaps he needs to focus a little more on this issue, but he only gets paid 15k per annum. Do you want to spend the companies money on a share-ramping chairman? It won't help the profitability and growth of the business.
But let's not overburden them. They are a 5 executive plus 2 assistants company with a miniscule turnover of 1.8m p.a. which may make a 33% net profit - not bad. Why do we need to realise SP value now, except to generate a warm fuzzy feeling when we look at our portfolios. I agree with TR, let him get the business onto a sound footing with solid earnnings, then we will develop our other main strand, broking, then we will start turning a reliably profitable business into shareholder value - a 2-3 year strategy.
From a disastrous first couple of years setting off on the wrong foot, TR has managed to increase net asset value per share from 0.096p to 0.098p a 1.7% increase from December 2003 to December 2004 - nothing, you say, except it could so easily have been a big write down in value. Assuming all this year's profits (671k, I estimate) are retained at December 2005, net asset value per share will increase to 0.21p, a 110% increase over this year. Assuming 750k (??) profits in 2006, this becomes 0.33p per share, a further 58% increase in net asset per share, of which 94% is CASH.
If this cash can be put to good use - e.g. acquire a broking division - then profits can increase exponentially.
At the very least they become a dangerously attractive profitable cash shell which could be a takeover target.
I don't think chastisement at this stage is constructive to our mid to long term benefit. A trading statement/half year results are going to look pretty damn good, I suspect. Then we'll see. Until then I advocate patient support for a man who is doing what he does best.
IMHO DYOR BSM (buy some more!)
sd
EWRobson
- 25 May 2005 22:16
- 623 of 2787
Thanks, sd; Perfectly happy with DOG; great canine fan and you haven't done so badly your self! Good to know that shareholdings in holding company. Still feel that communciation should improve. maybe because I am not really a good 'investor' but a trader/investor mix who likes to move on; otherwise it ties up funds too long. Accept that is not relevant to company but still feel that investor should be taken into account and kept abreast of news. Would like to know other views, including pth, butane and og.
Eric
Eric
stockdog
- 25 May 2005 22:28
- 624 of 2787
And I had you down as a value man, Eric! So, take your money out for now and guess when to put it back in just before lift off! Difficult sport, that. Double SP over 9 months to a year may be dull, but I suspect more certainly profitable mid to long term than 30% here and there short term.
Has SEO moved much faster when all said and done. Granted it is moving now, but there were times when it trailed a very long low tail indeed. Similarly NML. ASC even went backwards and we're still in!
I dunno, you youngsters just want all the action now. In my day you had to wait for it, build up a head of steam, and then it was only Friday nights!
woof woof, must get home to dinner, cats for pudding tonight
sd
Has SEO moved much faster when all said and done. Granted it is moving now, but there were times when it trailed a very long low tail indeed. Similarly NML. ASC even went backwards and we're still in!
I dunno, you youngsters just want all the action now. In my day you had to wait for it, build up a head of steam, and then it was only Friday nights!
woof woof, must get home to dinner, cats for pudding tonight
sd
butane
- 25 May 2005 22:56
- 625 of 2787
Below is a C/P from Dr Jekyll (ADVFN board) who attended todays agm .....
Dr Jekyll - 25 May'05
Here is the feedback from my discussions at the a.g.m. Some of this info. will be known by some of you and some is stated already on the web site much more effectively. Some has also been posted earlier today. However, I'll report what was said to me but please remember these are my words and my understanding of what was said.
CFA Strategy
Concentrate on increasing amount of "retained" work as nomad, building up no. of fees paid per year to the point where they will cover normal ongoing costs such as salaries.
Decrease running costs. Helped significantly by departure of Barclay and Shaw.
Develop and grow broker side of business.
N.B. They do have a relationship with Seymour Pierce (SP) whereby SP might, for example, offer them the nomadship to a company whilst SP act as broker to that company. This is not a formal arrangement. I mention this because there has been some debate on here on whether or not there was a formal link up with SP
Work
They gain clients through their developing reputation, through word of mouth, personal recommendation, etc. They believe they give a good service and provide good value. Web site much better on all of this.
They say they have been very busy
Management
Came across as very competent, on the ball and sympathetic to shareholders. All that I spoke to were very friendly, good listeners, happy to answer questions and I'd say happy in their work. Can't be certain of the last of course. Several staff attended the a.g.m. which is a good sign imo.
Website
This is now being kept up to date with regular input of business for investors and others to see. Previous Chairman Mr. Barclay had blocked this.
Future Prospects.
AIM is becoming widely recognised as a means for cos. to raise money. Millions of pounds is apparently waiting to be invested in VCT's, etc. The admission of a number of larger cos to AIM recently has helped build it's reputation. The helpful inheritance tax regs. on AIM encourage family run businesses to float on AIM.
CFA hope to take advantage of all these factors to grow their business.
Other Useful/Interesting Info.
The Griffin Situation...Shares were (probably) sold by Barclay to Griffin (Stephen Dean?) who were intending to acquire CFA. Griffen then sold the shares having changed their minds (don't know why). Many on here will remember they sold at a small loss soon after the purchase.
There is no present intention to issue shares for acquisition purposes. Consolidation was not mentioned. It was clearly stated by TR that they are trying to grow the business first before any acquisitions are considered..
For Ptholden...The fees for the two AIM floats in Dec. should be in last years accounts/figures. This was not formally confirmed by TR or his staff but was thought to be the case by a non exec director. This is normal apparently as fees paid at time of admission.
Tony Rawlinson (TR) does not read this thread.
Conclusion
The Interim Report will tell us a lot more. This will be available from July onwards but I believe it wasn't out last year until Sept. Correct me if I'm wrong. I suspect TR might be a lot more efficient than previous management. I was informed it would prob. be middle of July by one of the team. IMHO the shares are a buy because the company has made significant progress with acquiring new clients and the prospects appear to be very good. The shares currently look cheap to me but please note I am not suggesting anyone follows my advice. Please dyor.
I hope this has been of some help particularly for those long suffering investors who have been posting and reading this thread for a long time.
Dr J
Dr Jekyll - 25 May'05
Here is the feedback from my discussions at the a.g.m. Some of this info. will be known by some of you and some is stated already on the web site much more effectively. Some has also been posted earlier today. However, I'll report what was said to me but please remember these are my words and my understanding of what was said.
CFA Strategy
Concentrate on increasing amount of "retained" work as nomad, building up no. of fees paid per year to the point where they will cover normal ongoing costs such as salaries.
Decrease running costs. Helped significantly by departure of Barclay and Shaw.
Develop and grow broker side of business.
N.B. They do have a relationship with Seymour Pierce (SP) whereby SP might, for example, offer them the nomadship to a company whilst SP act as broker to that company. This is not a formal arrangement. I mention this because there has been some debate on here on whether or not there was a formal link up with SP
Work
They gain clients through their developing reputation, through word of mouth, personal recommendation, etc. They believe they give a good service and provide good value. Web site much better on all of this.
They say they have been very busy
Management
Came across as very competent, on the ball and sympathetic to shareholders. All that I spoke to were very friendly, good listeners, happy to answer questions and I'd say happy in their work. Can't be certain of the last of course. Several staff attended the a.g.m. which is a good sign imo.
Website
This is now being kept up to date with regular input of business for investors and others to see. Previous Chairman Mr. Barclay had blocked this.
Future Prospects.
AIM is becoming widely recognised as a means for cos. to raise money. Millions of pounds is apparently waiting to be invested in VCT's, etc. The admission of a number of larger cos to AIM recently has helped build it's reputation. The helpful inheritance tax regs. on AIM encourage family run businesses to float on AIM.
CFA hope to take advantage of all these factors to grow their business.
Other Useful/Interesting Info.
The Griffin Situation...Shares were (probably) sold by Barclay to Griffin (Stephen Dean?) who were intending to acquire CFA. Griffen then sold the shares having changed their minds (don't know why). Many on here will remember they sold at a small loss soon after the purchase.
There is no present intention to issue shares for acquisition purposes. Consolidation was not mentioned. It was clearly stated by TR that they are trying to grow the business first before any acquisitions are considered..
For Ptholden...The fees for the two AIM floats in Dec. should be in last years accounts/figures. This was not formally confirmed by TR or his staff but was thought to be the case by a non exec director. This is normal apparently as fees paid at time of admission.
Tony Rawlinson (TR) does not read this thread.
Conclusion
The Interim Report will tell us a lot more. This will be available from July onwards but I believe it wasn't out last year until Sept. Correct me if I'm wrong. I suspect TR might be a lot more efficient than previous management. I was informed it would prob. be middle of July by one of the team. IMHO the shares are a buy because the company has made significant progress with acquiring new clients and the prospects appear to be very good. The shares currently look cheap to me but please note I am not suggesting anyone follows my advice. Please dyor.
I hope this has been of some help particularly for those long suffering investors who have been posting and reading this thread for a long time.
Dr J
EWRobson
- 25 May 2005 23:46
- 626 of 2787
butane: Thanks for posting the DR J report; generally comforting but nothing to really impact sp. Would be grateful if you would comment on my somewhat impatient respone to the AGM above.
Eric
Eric
overgrowth
- 26 May 2005 00:01
- 627 of 2787
Eric - If you'd held CFP as long as I have you'd appreciate that there has been a marked improvement in communication with investors under the leadership of Tony Rawlinson - as sd quite wisely says, now's not the time to start griping about lack of market information.
Remember that TR has only been CEO for the past 5 months or so and has made fantastic progress so far - i.e. progress in what is really important - bringing in business.
I can appreciate your frustration in that we all thought a bullish AGM statement from TR in RNS form would send the buyers flocking in and make CFP one of the few winners currently in our small cap. portfolios. This is not a trading share, so sit back and relax and wait for the fundamentals to show through in the interims which will prove to the market that things are really looking up (then we'll get the buyers flocking in)!
Interims to be published in July is a very telling statement from Dr Jekyll - bad results always come out late because the figures take longer to "massage", however results coming out as early as this, suggests that things are looking really good. Also, the statement that getting shut of SB and JS has "significantly" improved on the cost situation adds nicely to the bottom line (i.e. it means that the new guys are serious about building the business and are not "absorbing" previous staff costs to fund their own remuneration - that's a major plus).
Rather than sending a whining e-mail to TR, I believe that we should send him congratulations on his performance so far and wish him and his team good fortune for the rest of the year in maintaining that performance (nothing like a bit of motivation from the shareholders to get management into top gear!).
Remember that TR has only been CEO for the past 5 months or so and has made fantastic progress so far - i.e. progress in what is really important - bringing in business.
I can appreciate your frustration in that we all thought a bullish AGM statement from TR in RNS form would send the buyers flocking in and make CFP one of the few winners currently in our small cap. portfolios. This is not a trading share, so sit back and relax and wait for the fundamentals to show through in the interims which will prove to the market that things are really looking up (then we'll get the buyers flocking in)!
Interims to be published in July is a very telling statement from Dr Jekyll - bad results always come out late because the figures take longer to "massage", however results coming out as early as this, suggests that things are looking really good. Also, the statement that getting shut of SB and JS has "significantly" improved on the cost situation adds nicely to the bottom line (i.e. it means that the new guys are serious about building the business and are not "absorbing" previous staff costs to fund their own remuneration - that's a major plus).
Rather than sending a whining e-mail to TR, I believe that we should send him congratulations on his performance so far and wish him and his team good fortune for the rest of the year in maintaining that performance (nothing like a bit of motivation from the shareholders to get management into top gear!).
ptholden
- 26 May 2005 09:00
- 628 of 2787
Eric et all
Some very good posts and views following the AGM.
I think sd/og and yourself make valid points and I have some empathy with both. However, I have been very frustrated in the past that CFA have been dreadful at promoting the company for the benefit of Private Investors, but perhaps last year they knew there was going to be a shake up and that customers would be in short supply for the second half. I do think that TR missed an opportunity yesterday to issue a Trading Update of some sort, but as OG points out he has only been in the job a short while and would probably want to be somewhat cautious. At the same time I believe that Companies do have a moral obligation to keep the markets and their 'owners' informed and I will be looking for a more proactive stance from TR in the future. For the time being though, I shall sit back and look forward to the Interims and just wait and see. If after the Interims there is little improvement in the PR side, I will contact TR, offer my support (for what that is worth!!) and gently remind him that we also need the support of CFA to justify our faith in the Company.
Regards
PTH
Some very good posts and views following the AGM.
I think sd/og and yourself make valid points and I have some empathy with both. However, I have been very frustrated in the past that CFA have been dreadful at promoting the company for the benefit of Private Investors, but perhaps last year they knew there was going to be a shake up and that customers would be in short supply for the second half. I do think that TR missed an opportunity yesterday to issue a Trading Update of some sort, but as OG points out he has only been in the job a short while and would probably want to be somewhat cautious. At the same time I believe that Companies do have a moral obligation to keep the markets and their 'owners' informed and I will be looking for a more proactive stance from TR in the future. For the time being though, I shall sit back and look forward to the Interims and just wait and see. If after the Interims there is little improvement in the PR side, I will contact TR, offer my support (for what that is worth!!) and gently remind him that we also need the support of CFA to justify our faith in the Company.
Regards
PTH
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