Marchpole is one of those stocks which have had a really bad time. Boardroom battles, losses, price collapse, profit warnings up the ying yang.

Now all of those things seem to be sorted out, new management are getting to grips, new contracts and the price is on the up. So much so that Monday ought to see a 50/200 day MA golden cross.

DYOR of course, but I think I will be putting a few of these away at the open.

Socco

A bit more ticking would be good :>)

Me likes...

Marchpole Holdings PLC
24 February 2005



24 February 2005

Marchpole Holdings plc
(the "Company")

Ungaro Distribution Agreement


Marchpole Holdings plc, which designs, produces and sells high quality clothing
and accessories for six world class brands (Yves Saint Laurent, Boateng,
Jean-Charles de Castelbajac ("JCC"), Jean-Charles de Castelbajac / Rossignol,
Emmanuel Ungaro and Ungaro) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered
into a European distribution agreement with Camiceria Giemme S.R.L. which has
been a long term partner of Ungaro and has successfully developed the brand's
presence in store groups such as Galleries Lafayette in France and Corte de
Ingles in Spain.


Under the terms of the five year agreement, Marchpole will receive a minimum
guarantee of 1.375 million Euros plus an 8% royalty on all sales. The agreement
also includes a further sales and marketing contribution of 150,000 Euros.


Greg Tufnell, Chief Executive, commented:


"Our new agreement is a further illustration of Marchpole's increasing ability
to manage and grow brands on a worldwide basis"


AND



Marchpole Holdings PLC
24 February 2005

24 February 2005


Marchpole Holdings plc
(the 'Company')

Directors' interests


Following approval by the Remuneration Committee, the executive Directors of the
Company have been granted the following share options ('Options') over new
ordinary shares of 1 pence each ('Ordinary Shares') under the Marchpole Holdings
plc 2002 Unapproved Share Option Scheme adopted by the Company at the Annual
General Meeting held on 31 October 2002.


All Options were granted on 21 February 2005, are exercisable at a price of
25.75 pence per share and vest and become exercisable in three equal tranches on
and from each twelfth month anniversary of the date of grant on the attainment
of a market capitalisation of the Company of #60 million, #70 million and #80
million respectively.


Director Number of Options over new Ordinary
Shares
Greg Tufnell, Chief Executive 900,000
Justin Hampshire, Finance Director 900,000
Michael Morris, Executive Director 900,000


The additional grant of 3,250,000 Options in the Company has been made to
Michael Morris at a exercise price of 25.75 pence per share, such share options
vesting and becoming exercisable in two equal tranches on each twelfth month
anniversary on the date of grant and on the achievement of a market
capitalisation of the Company of #50 million and #55 million respectively.


The Directors have the following interests in the Company:


Director Number of Ordinary % of issued
Shares share capital

Christopher Phillips, Chairman 500,000 0.38
Greg Tufnell, Chief Executive - -
Justin Hampshire, Finance Director 500,000 0.38
Michael Morris, Executive Director 25,521,715 19.21
Raymond Harris, Non-Executive Director 30,000 0.02

The Michael Morris 1997 Trust 10,000,000 7.55


Enquiries:

Justin Hampshire, Marchpole Holdings 020 7908 7777

Great, thanks for posting dawsinho - hopefully a bit
more ticking upwards will occur now!

No probs,

Will look forward to the day when marchpole has a market cap of 80 million and a higher sp..........

Prayer is a powerful thing dawsinho....
;>)

stockbunny, looks like that prayer last night worked :-) lol">

looks like the 10 day ma just dipped below the 200 day ma and shot bang right through it! looks bullish

the patients still breathing..

the tide has turned on this share!
the Q4 Trading update due any day now (always 7.00 a.m.).
it will be very positive as can be determined from the forward orders updated at the Q3 announcements.
the new directors options announced this wee, at just below todays price, require a 'quantum leap' in the size of the co. and can only be exercised on future anniversary dates!

Sunday Telegraph 27.2.05

Marchpole

On February 21 Michael Morris, the founder of Marchpole Holdings (28p), which licenses and distributes up market fashion brands, bought 100,000 shares at 25.75p each, to take his holding to 19.2 per cent.

On the same day Morris, Greg Tufnell, the chief executive, and Justin Hampshire, the finance director, were each granted 900,000 options exercisable at 25.75p in three equal tranches when the company's market capitalisation (currently 35m) hits 60m, 70m, and 80m.

Morris, who has been buying shares steadily over the past 12 months, was granted a further 3.25m options, exercisable when Marchpole's valuation hits 50m and 55m. These hefty targets show that the board believes Marchpole can achieve impressive growth. The shares are worth tucking away.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2005/02/27/ccmm27.xml

Thanks for that lex, agree with brianrog, think the tide has changed! Must remember the sp did rocket last year and needed a bit of a rest...

Similar article in Sunday Times today.

that is the 4th buy recommendation in the last month
since then, there have been a number of 'Big Boy' buys.

For people on here who don`t read the advfn board, an e-mail from JH:-



Thank you for your correspondence and interest in Marchpole. As you will be aware, as a plc we are subject to the usual regulations and cannot give any information that is not already in the market.



Regarding your query about progress with any further acquisitions. Since the current management joined Marchpole we have grown the business from being dependent solely on YSL into a business that has six world class brands comprising: Yves Saint Laurent, Boateng, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac / Rossignol, Emanuel Ungaro and Ungaro. We are pleased to say that these brands have already proved a success. While it continues to be Marchpole's strategy to grow through not only extending through acquisitions, we are also working to develop these brands through organic means.



As you will understand, we want to be certain that we are choosing the right brands to bring under the Marchpole umbrella.



We will of course make any announcements when we are in a position to do so in order to keep shareholders informed of progress.



I hope this has answered some of your queries and may I take this opportunity to thank you for your interest. We are very aware of the importance of our shareholders and hope to have the opportunity to meet you at our AGM.



Best regards,

Justin Hampshire



The crucial statement is "have already proved a success"

Thanks for that ddl, don't always have time to read advfn! Think we'll open blue on monday with all this coverage.


Marchpole directors juggle holdings as shares recover

MARCHPOLE may be one of the stock markets smaller companies but it has been punching above its weight in newsflow.

Announcements on strong Christmas trading and a European distribution deal for its luxury goods have helped the shares recover from a pre-Christmas dip.

There has also been activity in the boardroom, with two directors trading shares in the last three weeks.

In January, finance director Justin Hampshire sold 280,000 worth of shares after exercising options at 4.75p. He still holds 500,000 shares and options over 500,000.

Last week, founder Michael Morris, a former CEO at the company and now an executive director, topped up his stake with a 25,750 investment.

He now holds 25.5 million shares in the company, worth almost 7m.

Marchpole Holdings has licensing deals with major luxury brands including Yves Saint Laurent, Boateng and Emanuel Ungaro. Last month it revealed strong sales over the festive period, with third-quarter sales up 31% to 6.2m and sales over the nine months to January 1 up 72% on 2003.

The Yves Saint Laurent brand makes up three-quarters of sales, but Marchpole recently expanded by buying Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, the French couture brand, and taking on the licence for Ungaro.

Last week it struck a European distribution agreement with Camiceria Giemme for the Ungaro brand.http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/business.cfm?id=219022005

AND THE TIMES TO:


"Directors' Deals: Morriss fashion statement with more Marchpole shares

MICHAEL MORRIS, 58, executive director of luxury fashion designer Marchpole Holdings, is steadily rebuilding his holding in the group he founded.
Last week he bought 100,000 shares at 25, taking his stake to more than 25.5m shares nearly 20% of the group.

Morris has a chequered history with Marchpole. He was ousted as chief executive in 2000, but was invited to rejoin the board in 2003 to help with sales and marketing.

He has recently been a consistent buyer of shares in the group, which designs and sells clothing under licence for luxury brands such as Yves Saint Laurent (YSL), Emanuel Ungaro and Boateng.

Last month the company reported third-quarter sales of 6.2m, 1.5m up on last year.

The shares have come back from the highs seen last October, after a contractual dispute with Ozwald Boateng and fears that changes at Gucci could see it lose its key licensing agreement with YSL in 2007."http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,2770-1501888,00.html

Looking good today :>)

MPH blue 5.4% up on the day.R=30p.

At long last we seem to have broken out of the downtrend. When we finally get the trading update (next week?) this will really fly again. A very sudden change in market sentiment - and most welcome.
Pondy

I share your optimism Pondie but don't say it too loud and
tempt fate ;>)

i do too, the update should give it another boost, a great short to medium term share to me. 28p today

Tipped in Shares mag today, anyone got access?.