glennborthwick
- 22 Aug 2006 14:46
First class interim results
top line growth 74%, yet costs only up 24%
they will have the best part of 700k cash at year end
corporate synergy note suggest eps of 2.09p for the year , current share price 17p
dollywood contract very likely
more parks very likely
no debt
LOQ must be one of the best risk reward plays out there
glennborthwick
- 11 Mar 2009 09:26
- 88 of 124
hi spitfire - undoubtedly the sf debt situation is the reason loq arent 100p already. market cap is just 5.4 million , profit will be around 2 million, and they will have over 2 million in cash. Dollar gains should add 15% to that this year plus the 4 new parks. I see further park announcements in April as well.
spitfire43
- 11 Mar 2009 09:57
- 89 of 124
glen - I'm sure you are right, without sf debt situation it would be blue sky all the way. I will probably miss out on inital gain by waiting now, but will play it safe for now.
glennborthwick
- 11 Mar 2009 10:07
- 90 of 124
agreed, the most dangerous thing would be a misunderstanding of what chapter 11 will mean for sf. i believe it will release the debt shackles to enable sf to be the highly profitable company its current trading suggests it should be.
spitfire43
- 11 Mar 2009 22:36
- 91 of 124
What a coincidence after discussing chapter 11, I was researching loq and came across a report on Bloomburg just released on Six Flags. Now if Six Flags file for Chapter 11, I agree that the parks will continue to operate and loq will still receive revenue. I would expect the sp to weaken on any announcement which may provide a buying opurtunity. See below........................
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March 11 (Bloomberg) -- Six Flags Inc., the owner of a chain of 20 theme parks, said there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern unless a successful restructuring occurs.
The New York-based company has $287.5 million of Preferred Income Equity Redeemable Shares, or PIERS, plus accrued and unpaid dividends, due Aug. 15, it said today in a regulatory filing.
Given the current negative conditions in the economy generally and the credit markets in particular, there is substantial uncertainty that we will be able to effect a refinancing of our debt on or prior to maturity or the PIERS prior to their mandatory redemption date, Six Flags said in the filing.
The company may have to seek a pre-packaged or pre-arranged Chapter 11 filing if it cant negotiate a restructuring agreement with the PIERS holders out of court, it said. That would likely happen well in advance of the PIERS maturity date, Six Flags added.
KPMG LLP, the auditors, said there is substantial doubt about the companys ability to continue as a going concern, Six Flags said in the filing.
Six Flags fell 3 cents, or 14 percent, to 18 cents at 4:35 p.m. in trading after the New York Stock Exchange closed. The shares have lost 32 percent this year through 4 p.m. today.
To contact the reporter on this story: Meg Tirrell in New York at mtirrell@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: March 11, 2009 17:25 EDT
hangon
- 11 Mar 2009 22:57
- 92 of 124
Where do posters think this turnover ( for LoQ) will come from? It is evident their flagship-principals are doing so badly (that), they need to file for Chapter 11.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Doesn't that tell you the footfall is down? . . . . . . . . . .
Furthermore I doubt the validity of their revenue model posted here - - these devices don't make the visitor experience better for all visitors - ONLY for those that use it....and I'm slightly doubtful that is really helps them either, since you will Q-bot several rides - and the one that comes up first, will be(!) the one furthest away - hardly likley to improve your experience . . . rather it will have you chasing about.
Far better, IMHO, is a scheme run by the Park management, whereby folk can list their preferred rides 1,2,3 choice - then use a computer to sort out a route such that you experience most of them. As the day moves on the options will change as every day creates different profiles of "poopular" theme rides. This attention to the customer should also create an opportunity to visulise which new rides would create the greatest benefit......
Furthermore I'm noticing that US-income will be affected by the /$ exchange rate.
That's where I think the q-bot system is flawed - it's a selfish technology, rather than one that is benine.....and therefore bound to fail when times are hard.
glennborthwick
- 26 Mar 2009 21:53
- 93 of 124
Hi Hangon, sorry for the late reply. You're the wrong way round on the /$. As a predominantly dollar earner, over the past two years the exchange rate has been $2 to the pound 2007 and about $1.85tothe pound 2008. This year wearecurrently around 1.45, so its a massive benefit. As an example they will announce profits of around 2million pounds. If they earn the same dollars this year that profit would be 2.4 million pounds. The qbot runs in two ways, either normal or gold.Goldcuts youre wait timeby 75%, where as normal i a fairer system where you book youre ride with a normal wait time. and go do other things and you can only book one ride at a time.
Lookmore closely historically at Six flags. Its a vibrant improving business however the previous clowns five to ten years ago saddled it with stupid debts from buying parks and rides too expensively. In fact footfall is up and they have just annnounced their highest spring break crowds on record. "The parent company's flagship park, announced today that Spring Break Out saw its largest one week attendance in the history of the event. The great value and close-to-home entertainment escape proved to be a hit with families and thrill seekers alike over the week of March 14-22. "
It looks highly likely that the debt will be converted to equityremoving over $250 million of charges a year meaning Sf should make significant profits.
Also factor in LOQ have now added4 substantialparksto the list, one an all year round park. As of next week PE will be 3, and they will have the best part of 2 million in cash.
glennborthwick
- 27 Mar 2009 19:33
- 94 of 124
Results april 6th should show nearly 2 million profit. Im hoping for another leg up above 50p. Not bad going from 17p to 40p plus in a terrible bear market.
sniffer
- 02 Apr 2009 07:33
- 95 of 124
Ya 50p is nearly here glen.
glennborthwick
- 02 Apr 2009 18:14
- 96 of 124
im expecting 3 million profit this year and 4.5 million the year after.
On a pe of 8 that gives a share price target of 1.50 and 2.50
glennborthwick
- 05 Apr 2009 20:32
- 97 of 124
results this week possibly monday
glennborthwick
- 06 Apr 2009 07:58
- 98 of 124
fantastic results
another new contract announced
2.6 million net cash
1.85 million profit
positive trading for start of year.
Andy
- 06 Apr 2009 18:44
- 99 of 124
WOODIE
- 08 Apr 2009 06:42
- 100 of 124
07/04/2009
Aided by a strong dollar and growing demand, Henley-based virtual queuing systems provider Lo-Qs profits more than tripled in the year to December.
The company, whose Q-bot radio-controlled devices allow theme park punters to avoid queuing and pursue other activities while they wait for rollercoaster rides, grew sales by 73% to 7.8m, with revenues boosted by a favourable sterling-dollar rate, a rise in the number of theme parks using Lo-Qs products from eight to 11 and an increase in the selling price. With costs largely stable, pre-tax profits grew by an impressive 236% to 1.85m, sending earnings per share 246% higher to 11.99p.
Since the year-end, the number of parks employing Lo-Qs technology has risen to 15, including Europes second-largest theme park owner, Parques Reunidos, poised to launch Q-bots in Italy this Easter.
With Europes number one group Merlin, owner of Legoland Windsor, Alton Towers and Thorpe Park, among others already a customer, executive chairman Jeff McManus says he is in talks about expanding current deals to include other parks.
However, McManus admits there are sizeable cost outlays for parks wanting to add Q-bot systems as they have to build new entrances for each ride and some have paper ticket systems in place already. He assures that the industry believes it is more recession-proof than many others exposed to consumer spending and that US customer Six Flags benefited from people eschewing foreign holidays.
Forecasts for 2009 point to pre-tax profits of 2.5m and earnings of 17p, placing Lo-Q on a miserly prospective price-to-earnings ratio of 3.4. That rating reflects Lo-Qs dollar and consumer spending risk, but also leaves potential for bumper gains.
i have no holding, i thought it might be helpful for holders,taken from gci site.
glennborthwick
- 14 Apr 2009 20:34
- 101 of 124
hitting 60p now.
glennborthwick
- 14 Apr 2009 20:34
- 102 of 124
hitting 60p now.
glennborthwick
- 17 Apr 2009 16:11
- 103 of 124
just me then
glennborthwick
- 19 Apr 2009 00:03
- 104 of 124
now a 4 bagger. AGM soon.
glennborthwick
- 15 May 2009 21:01
- 105 of 124
now 84p and gaining lots of coverage
Joe Say
- 16 May 2009 09:27
- 106 of 124
Wait till the summer - don't think people have taken on board the extra volume being sold this year, although tbf park attendances yet to be seen.
WOODIE
- 13 Jun 2009 20:08
- 107 of 124
Six Flags Inc., the world's largest regional amusement-park company, filed for bankruptcy protection early Saturday.
The theme-park company, shouldering more than $2 billion in debt, had been racing to restructure outside of court, negotiating with lenders, selling parks and laying off staff. But it couldn't outrun the deteriorating economy and a looming $288 million payment due preferred shareholders this August, along with $31 million in unpaid dividends.
Six Flags, whose theme parks attract more than 25 million visitors a year, said it filed Chapter 11 with a prearranged reorganization plan that garnered unanimous approval from its lenders' steering committee. The plan would deleverage Six Flags' balance sheet by about $1.8 billion and eliminate more than $300 million in preferred stock obligations, the company said.
Low consumer confidence kept attendance down at Six Flags' 20 parks, which dot several cities across North America, including Chicago, San Antonio and Mexico City. Revenue fell and the company delayed certain debt payments.
Six Flags' Chapter 11 filing marks a setback for investor Daniel Snyder, the Washington Redskins football team owner who took control of the theme-park company in a contentious proxy fight in 2005 and installed his own management team. The bankruptcy would likely wipe out Mr. Snyder's stake.
In a statement on the filing, Six Flags didn't address Mr. Snyder's stake. A Six Flags spokeswoman didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.
In the midst of his battle to wrest control of the company, Mr. Snyder wrote a letter to Six Flags stockholders saying they "would have been better off hiding their money under a mattress" than investing in the company under its prior management.
"The current management team inherited a $2.4 billion debt load that cannot be sustained, particularly in these challenging financial markets," said Mark Shapiro, Six Flags' chief executive, in a statement. He said operations of the company's parks would be unaffected by the filing and that Chapter 11 protection was sought solely to "clean up the balance sheet."
Also losing out on Six Flags' financial rollercoaster: Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates, whose Cascade Investment LLC owned about 10.2 million shares.
Six Flags failed to get last-minute concessions from lenders out of court. A deadline for debt holders to swap certain notes for equity expired Friday night. The park operator had extended that deadline by more than two weeks after falling well short of a 95% targeted acceptance rate.
Mr. Snyder's team, led by Mr. Shapiro, a former ESPN executive, had made some progress of late. Six Flags sold 10 parks and laid off about 300 workers. It tried to make its parks more "family friendly," banning smoking in most areas.
Last year, Six Flags brought in more cash than it spent for the first time. The company's losses narrowed in 2008 to $112.9 million, about half those of a year earlier. Sales nudge 5% higher to about $1.02 billion.
But last summer's record fuel prices, plunging consumer confidence and deteriorating credit markets weighed on Six Flags' balance sheet. The company lost even more money when the recent swine flu outbreak forced a temporary closure of its park in Mexico City.
A few months ago, Six Flags hired law firm Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker LLP to prepare for a bankruptcy filing. It also hired Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin to negotiate with creditors.