Kingston Communications is an established UK communications company. The Group's national business-to-business capabilities encompass the provision of fully integrated and managed network solutions, complemented by the delivery of voice, data and call handling services in the towns and cities served by the Kingston Communications network. This infrastructure comprises twenty-five metropolitan fibre networks and a long distance broadband network, which was initiated for service in May 2001. Kingston's new media activities include the DSL-based interactive television service, KIT, and satellite broadband content, storage and distribution arm, Kingston inmedia. The Group's East Yorkshire network operation has served business and residential customers since 1904.

Are you VERY old cynic?

Yoiu should never buy a stock in anticpation of a takeover

Did not SWW, had them some while.

opto .... yes indeed i am, but come from a very longed lived family! ..... more seriously, the major problem here as you well know is hull council's 30% holding ..... kcom had an approach about a year ago, but they could not get the council to accept their offer.

opto - yes but I bought and sold a while back.

I look in now and then.

cynic...live on :-)
re HCC yes they blocked it last time but it tells a potential bidder that the price to offer has to be in excess of that offered last time, 85p I believe.

Trades building fast this morning.

Hi Optomistic, and others.

Nice to see some company on this thread.
KC start their new roll out on Monday for faster speed broadband. Although not the cheapest package on it's own, if you calculate it with it's phone package which I understand you have to have it's comparable.
My speed will increase from 2.3 Mbps to at least 5 Mbps, with a possible max to 8 for those living nearer the exchanges. For me to increase to 5+ the monthly package price stays the same. I have no idea how the roll out is going re number of customers signing up (existing and new) but when I get chance I will make some enquiries re any engineer who I see working on the connection boxes.

Not a bad picture:

As most of us know, a rumored take over of KC has been doing the rounds for some time.
But the following is a snippet from the Hull Daily Mail of yesterday.

Kingston Communications could be the target of a fresh takeover bid after a surge in interest in its shares, experts said today.
The fresh speculation comes after millions of KC shares were bought and sold each day for the past few days.
About one million KC shares would be traded in a typical day, but Tuesday saw almost 15 million shares sold.
And earlier this month more than 21 million shares were sold in one day.
Hull City Council is still KC's controlling shareholder, and its consent is needed for any deal to happen.
The sort of companies private equity firms tend to favor are those with predictable income streams. KC has that in its Hull business.
Hull City Council is still KC's controlling shareholder, and its consent is needed for any deal to happen.


My comment.... The massively expensive Hull Ferensway redevelopment is nearing completion.
Just a thought but don't these projects always massively over run in cost.
Hull City Council, are well known for making a mess of just about everything they touch, hence the council having a government watch dog to over see it.
As the council is still the largest share holder in KC, they would still have to okay any takeover. Last time a deal fell through, will the next one fair any better. My guess is YES. Don't forget KC announces its half-year results next Tuesday, with analysts expecting the company to show a solid performance.
Maybe things could start to move after that.

Dresdner Kleinwort downgrades KCOM to hold from buy ....... then says:

"In a note this morning, Dresdner Kleinwort said it was lifting its target price to 75 pence from 69 pence to account for the Affiniti unit, which has exposure to what the broker believes is the most attractive subset of the communications integration market.

Dresdner Kleinwort added that the group's unique combined telecom and integration service offering has not proven strong by market share gains, but noted that strong financial outperformance could result in upward re-ratings"

Will add this as a post script, note the day for the results. Was this put together by the office junior:

"Shares in Kingston Communications have been downgraded to 'hold' from 'buy' by Dresdner Kleinwort on valuation grounds ahead of the group's interim results next Monday, dealers said".

Results more or less as expected.
Will be interesting to see market reaction, as obviously already priced in.
To me they look a bit better than expected.
If there is any substance to all those takeover rumors flying about this will bring them to the fore.

RNS re voting rights.
Are KC expecting an imminent take over bid.
Voting rights...Take over, or am I being too suspicious.

market is clearly underwhelmed

Acquisition looks good as a build up of KC portfolio in the IP contact center
solutions market. Would like to see figures, suppose they will be released later.

Just got home, noticed the deal..... 21 times forward earnings looks to me a 'bit' on the expensive side...seller laughing all the way to the bank!
I would like someone to buy KCOM and send me laughing as well.

all you know is that HCC turned down 85p about a year ago ...... without their agreement to sell, any deal is dead in the water ...... big Q for you guys is whether or not you believe the company is worth any more and, more imporatntly, whether or not there is someone (stupid enough?) to pay it ....... PXC has been arguably a better target for a long long time, and still no one wants to buy them!

Optomistic,

I do agree on first look it is expensive, but it will fit very well into KC's plans.
Anything to do with Telecom and/or IT if you look at future earings to cash paid always appears high.
Time will tell, if it's a good deal or not.

Well thats it for me pre Xmas, off out.
Merry Xmas to all.
Greek.