Pace have fallen a lot over the last 6 months. The move to digital is near, do you think they can recover. Presently way off previous highs.

Nice to see a drop in stock on loan (proxy for shorters) to about half in recent days.



DATA EXPLORERS

Interim Management Statement.

Key Points

Volume shipments and revenues have continued to meet Pace's expectations (Q1 2011 revenues up 24% on Q1 2010), but profitability has been impacted due to the following factors:

o Pace has built inventory and purchased components ahead of schedule to ensure that it can deliver on customer orders within a tight supply chain environment. This has increased costs;

o The Japanese Tsunami has further exacerbated the supply chain environment in the period and increased risk for the year;

o Profitability in the Pace Europe business unit during the period has been below expectations, despite this unit having achieved its revenue and volume targets;

o Insufficient demand for Pace Networks products, which resulted in the closure of this division as a standalone business unit.

Down 50 after extended auction.

sales up - h1 profit down by about only 3 to 3.5% - profit f/c to recover h2 - one of the reasons h1 profit down a bit japanese tseunami - sp down 40% - this will bounce of current low imo

Have been watching this one for a while now and couldn't decide whether to invest or not. Am I glad I stayed out!!! Still not convinced that a turnaround is on the cards yet.

upside in the share price from this level........... good sp to buy in at......???

http://www.growthcompany.co.uk/news/1622898/losing-pace.thtml

10/05/2011 Ben Jaglom
Reduce text size Decrease text size Increase text size Increase text size Print article Print Share this article Share Email article to a friend Email Set top box manufacturer Pace (PIC) has issued a profit warning blaming factors including the Japanese tsunami for a fall in first-quarter profits.

The fully-listed venture warns it expects that as a result of a challenging first half year so far, profits for 2011 will be in range of $150 million- $170 million (97 million- 110 million) - substantially below the circa 129 million analysts were forecasting. The company blames the tsunami for having 'exacerbated the supply chain environment in the period' and increasing risk, while also conceding that there was 'insufficient demand for Pace Networks products' , which led to the closure of the division as a standalone business unit.

Chief executive officer Neil Gaydon laments that Pace had made a 'disappointing start to the financial year'. He warns that the business will 'now not be able to make up this first half under-performance in the second half.'

Following the announcement analysts at house broker Collins Stewart have placed both their forecasts and recommendation under review. The broker had forecast profits of 129 million (2010: 71.1 million) in 2011 on turnover of 1.55 billion.

Shares in the company have come under considerable pressure after the warning, plummeting almost 40 per cent to their current price of 93.25p. While the news is likely to be devastating for existing Pace shareholders, we think there is an opportunity to profit from the fall in the share price, with the company's fundamentals still remaining relatively solid, particularly overseas where it has recently won contracts in both Asia and Latin America.

We see some short-term upside to the share price, certainly not to the previous level but a modest recovery is certainly a distinct possibility once investor panic begins to settle down.

seymour pierce maintain buy rating:

Analyst view

Jonathan Imlah at Collins Stewart is holding fire for now: Ahead of a conference call this morning, we have placed our forecasts and recommendation under review. The shares are clearly likely to come under severe pressure in the short term.

However, Ian Robertson at Seymour Pierce remained positive on Pace based on valuation and maintained his buy recommendation, pending the results of the conference call this morning. He said in a note: Paces IMS does not make for good reading. Green shoots of hope may have stopped the management taking the knife to this business at the end of FY10 but it has taken action now.

Guidance for EBITA is below our estimate $190 million and so we expect to revise profit forecasts downward although our revenues figures ($2.6 billion) should remain intact. This is not a disastrous statement but it is a further hit to management and company credibility.

come on pace!!! the rns was not that bad!!

Pace profit warning


Set-top box manufacturer Pace said volume shipments and revenues have continued to meet expectations but operating profit is likely to be below targets.

Q1 2011 revenues are up 24% on Q1 2010, however, profitability has been impacted due to the following factors:-

o Pace has built inventory and purchased components ahead of schedule to ensure that it can deliver on customer orders within a tight supply chain environment. This has increased costs;

o The Japanese Tsunami has further exacerbated the supply chain environment in the period and increased risk for the year;

o Profitability in the Pace Europe business unit during the period has been below expectations, despite this unit having achieved its revenue and volume targets;

o Insufficient demand for Pace Networks products, which resulted in the closure of this division as a standalone business unit.

The Board has reviewed the potential impact of the above factors on the rest of the 2011 financial year. In the first half the Board now expects operating margins to be at around 5.5%. In the second half the Board is confident that Pace will return to close to its medium term 8% operating margin target. For the full year the Board expects operating profit to be below management expectations and in the range of $150m - $170m (97m - 110m1).

During this period the build-up of inventory ahead of schedule has caused a higher than planned cash outflow. The Board expects cash to return to prior-year-end levels by the half year.

The Pace Americas business unit has performed ahead of management plan in the period. The 2Wire acquisition integration programme has proceeded as expected with the Americas 2Wire business fully integrated into a new Americas Telco customer account team (CAT), which has performed well.

Pace Europe has continued to win business, for example new contracts with Tata Sky in India and Net Servicos in Brazil. Pace also marked its one millionth shipment of standard definition set-top boxes to the Net Servicos business. It was announced by the European Commission on 14 April that Pace had won its long-running case with the European Court to prevent a change of classification by the European Commission to impose duty charges on set-top boxes with a recording function.

Pace Enterprise has continued to build its businesses in telecom gateways and software and services outside of the Americas. Following the closure of Pace Networks, its existing customers and related opportunities will be managed through Pace Europe.

As previously stated Pace will provide details of its dollar conversion by the end of May.

Commenting on today's announcement, Neil Gaydon, CEO, said:

"It is clear from today's statement that despite revenues and product shipments being on track, we have made a disappointing start to the financial year with our profitability. We have taken action and are making changes to improve our second half performance and beyond and to ensure we return to our 8% operating margin target.

"Although we will now not be able to make up this first half under-performance in the second half we continue to drive long-term growth and profitability. The demand for our products and technologies continues to grow, ensuring our ongoing market leadership."

hyleo - i am out here now - i noticed at least 1 broker target reduced to 80p an hour or 2 after my last post here - hence swift exit before my profit disappeared - looks like others must have read the same later - interesting tomorrow not made up my mind here yet

gl

RNS Number : 4986G

Pace PLC

12 May 2011

Pace plc: AGM Statement

Saltaire, UK, 12 May 2011: Pace plc has today held its Annual General Meeting. At the meeting Pace's Chairman, Mike McTighe, gave the following statement:

"As we reported in our Interim Management Statement on Tuesday 10 May, since the start of 2011, volume shipments and revenues have continued to meet Pace's expectations. Due to a number of factors detailed in that statement the Board now expects full year operating profit to be in the range of $150m - $170m (GBP97m - GBP110m)[1].

"The Board is disappointed in this expected outcome for 2011 and will be looking at lessons that need to be learned, and ensuring they are implemented. At the same time the Board continues to be confident in the fundamentals of the business, the management team's ability to deliver against the Group's business objectives and the ongoing opportunities within our global markets for digital and broadband technology and services."

No longer a penny share (for now).

Firmly away from a quid.

Getting up ahead of steam in the last hour - up 7.6% hmmm.

On edit :- Well that was the kiss of death !

Statement re appointment of new Chairman

Saltaire, 31 May 2011: Pace plc today announces the proposed appointment of Allan Leighton as its new Non-executive Chairman and the retirement of Mike McTighe, who will be stepping down after ten years as Non-executive Director including five as Chairman.

The Board is pleased to have recruited Allan Leighton, former CEO of Asda and former Non-executive Chairman of the Royal Mail. Allan has today joined the Board as a Non-executive Director and is expected to be appointed Chairman over the summer months, allowing a period for Mike and Allan to undertake an orderly transition of responsibilities.

Gap to be filled but U know what they say about profit warnings coming in 3s. Certainly didnt like the way this company were having to reduce margins at last results. Will keep an eye out on it but not for me until more positive news.

Goldfinger - agreed. I'm in from mid 90s and 102 with stop in place, so I'm happy. These made me quite a lot of money late last century!

Has done for me aswel Skinny but looking at chart weve had 2 profit warnings so third may be on its way. Like U say tight stop loss.

RNS Number : 0297L

Pace PLC

26 July 2011

Pace plc Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2011

Pace on track to meet revised May 2011 guidance

Saltaire, UK, 26 July 2011: Pace, a leading developer of technologies, products and services for global broadband and broadcast markets, announces its results for the six months ended 30 June 2011.

Financial Highlights1

-- On track to meet revised May 2011 guidance

-- Revenues increased 21% to $1,187.1m (six months ended 30 June 2010: $978.2m)

o Increase acquisition-related; organic revenue down 3.5%

-- Gross margin 19.0% (six months ended 30 June 2010: 18.6%)

o Organic gross margin 15.6% (six months ended 30 June 2010: 18.5%)

o Acquisitions gross margin 31.7% (pro forma six months ended 30 June 2010: 27.5%)

-- Profit before interest, tax, and amortisation (EBITA) $68.4m, giving return on sales of 5.8% (six months ended 30 June 2010: $73.3m, return on sales 7.5%)

-- Basic EPS of 7.1c (six months ended 30 June 2010: 16.5c), with adjusted(2) basic EPS of 17.1c (six months ended 30 June 2010: 17.9c)

-- Interim dividend increased to 1.25c (six months ended 30 June 2010: 1.12c)

-- Net debt at $293.2m (at 31 December 2010: $311.1m)

Operating Highlights

-- Progress made since May 2011 IMS update:

o Inventory management has been normalised, with the majority of the financial impact absorbed in H1

o The Networks business has been re-sized and is no longer loss-making

o Impact of the Japanese Tsunami on potential availability of components has been largely mitigated;

however a small number of at-risk components remain

o Initial corrective measures have been implemented to address the profitability levels in Pace Europe

-- Acquisition-related synergies were achieved earlier and are greater than anticipated

-- Strategic review announced June 2011 underway; aiming to conclude around the time of the Group's Q3 IMS

Commenting on the results, Neil Gaydon, Chief Executive Officer, said:

"Our first half results put Pace on track to meet its revised May 2011 profit guidance3 of $150-170m for FY 2011. Progress is being made on each of the issues identified in May, and we continue to address those issues not fully resolved, particularly in Pace Europe.

"Acquisition-related synergies have been achieved ahead of plan. Additionally, this period has seen continued free cash flow generation, leading to a reduced net debt position of $293.2m.

"The strategic review announced last month is underway, with focus on Pace's strategy and opportunities for business improvements, aiming to conclude around the time of the Group's Q3 IMS."

Outlook

Given the Group's first half performance, including corrective actions identified and implemented, the Board reaffirms its May profit guidance of $150-170m for Full Year 2011.

Directors are selling shares