AT Communications Share Discussion Threads

[brumont] 03/8/2009 13:05

Got this one horribly wrong but I believed that the Company had turned round when the subsidiary was sold and the results moved forward. The suspension of the major contract was the real killer but obviously the claim over the subsidiary sale price hasnt helped.
Lets learn and move on.

[davidosh] 21/7/2009 22:32

I wonder what happened to Ian Crawley the FD who bought £1m shares in ATCG then left his job a few months later ? He does not seem to have appeared anywhere else and cannot surely have sold his shares as he was a 3% plus holder and well aware of the rules to notify a sale.

[marvelman] 21/7/2009 20:13

Looking back on this thread is a lesson for us all. Those that were warning and those that were deaf to reason. Posts 1555 and 1558 sums up the sensible from the senseless. Notready...I hope you are alright.

[jasper28] 21/7/2009 18:37

Is there not a time limit on suspended companies?

It would be nice for the company to issue an update regarding our positions.

Employees, what is the inside line, are cuts being made, what is the word on the shop floor... You guys must have some idea if the end is nigh, or have you been fed the "its business as usual line"?

[masurenguy] 15/7/2009 18:10

Three weeks have now elapsed since the suspension of the shares and no further news apart from Brocklebanks departure today. He was a heavyweight NXD with a finance background but his tenure was just 7 weeks.

28 May 2009: At the same time, the Board announces the appointment of Sir Aubrey Brocklebank, as a Non-Executive Director. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, Sir Aubrey spent over 10 years in Merchant Banking initially with Guinness Mahon before developing his experience both within the wider Corporate Finance and Venture Capital arenas. As a result, he has extensive experience of advising and investing in companies during periods of change and subsequent growth.

15 July 2009: AT Communications announces that Sir Aubrey Brocklebank has stepped down from the Board as a Non Executive Director with immediate effect.

OTHER NEWS

From CommsDealer Online

Future of ATC Group hangs in the balance following double blow

The future of ATC Group is hanging in the balance. The latest woe was the Group's suspension from AIM on June 24, pending clarification of the company's financial position. The AIM suspension coincided with news of a possible claim from Nimans under the warranties in the sale and purchase agreement relating to the disposal of Rocom. There was also notice of a proposed purchase price adjustment under the completion accounts mechanism in the sale and purchase agreement. On March 24 this year Nimans acquired rival Rocom for £12.45m from the ATC Group, but new developments suggest a complication in the terms of the deal. ATC Group stated that it is seeking advice as to the 'merits' of the warranty claim and the proposed completion accounts adjustment, which in aggregate amount to £3.62m.

To make matters worse, ATC Group suffered another blow early last month when a substantial proportion of a project, scheduled for completion in this financial year, was stalled, meaning that the company would not receive cash from this major customer on the time schedule originally expected. According to ATC this project generated a turnover of approximately £6m, which was accrued last year based on work done up to 31 December 2008 and would have provided significant cash for debt reduction during the course of the current financial year.

Enda Kenneally, Mitel's UK Sales Director, commented: "We've be in touch with the directors and on the basis of the information that's available they're dealing with the warranty claims from Nimans in the accepted way. It's not untypical to take these kinds of actions when faced with the problems ATC have. Our relationship with ATC is still strong. It is still placing orders for new business, we're still accepting them, and they're still paying. The challenge for ATC Group is that there's a lot of speculation in the channel now."

Campbell Williams, a former Marketing chief at ATC Group, now Marketing Director at reseller Charterhouse Voice & Data, added: "I'm sure the business units will be acquired. They're all still profitable with solid revenues, but cash remains king, and it looks like they've run out."

I also note that despite the fact that Scott Keen appointment as CEO was confirmed on May 21, the description of his status in todays announcement has suddenly reverted to 'Interim CEO' again. Maybe just a typo or perhaps it has a more significant connotation.

The time elapsed since the suspension could indicate that some deal to sell the company is in process. If that proves to be the case then after the bank recovers its loans there probably will be little or nothing left for the shareholders. We can only wait and see but there does not appear to be grounds for much optimism at this stage.

[this_is_me] 15/7/2009 07:21

Sir Aubrey Brocklebank leaves all of a sudden why - fired?

[whiterussians] 26/6/2009 11:43

Yes Mussygayguy. Funny you filtered everyone on the other thread for having different views to you. And look who was right.

[cocker] 24/6/2009 21:35

should have smelt the rat with no director buys over the last few months, whilst the share price drifted to what seemed a bargain.

[egoi] 24/6/2009 10:20

I'm afraid they were already losing contracts and the FD left last month, now this. Makes me wonder personally if there's more 'we don't know' frankly.

I hope you'll all get a few quid back but I wouldn't get too excited personally.

PS: o/t; 8trade meet treacle on the SXX thread!

[ed the business] 24/6/2009 10:14

They just have to do the legal thing, ie they're not allowed to trade if insolvent and the warranty claim/ late payment together seem to have prompted fears of insolvency. Doesn't mean shareholders get nothing, though.

Could quite feasibly sort out the claim, get the payment and resume trading/listing.

[8trade] 24/6/2009 10:11

I almost bought yesterday, lucky escape !

However i cant see how this is game over, they must have a lot of
subsiduaries worth a lot of money even in a fire sale, i reckon
shareholders should at least get their money back ???

[egoi] 24/6/2009 10:08

Once held these, sold out due to my concerns about the debt.

Coimmiserations to all concerned. -:(

[gyau] 24/6/2009 08:25

Suspended today

Has this gone to the great telephone knackers yard in the sky massure guy?

[goldenshare888] 24/6/2009 08:07

What a cherry pick this was.

DYOR

[ed the business] 24/6/2009 08:04

Now it's LTBH ;-)

[notready] 24/6/2009 08:01

Bo*locks. A punt gone wrong.

;-)

[liyangnano] 23/6/2009 15:27

what happened here?

[staymour] 23/6/2009 11:50

notready hope that turns out to be an inspired buy for you :-)

[notready] 23/6/2009 11:47

Added 50,000 at 4.25p.

;-)

[staymour] 23/6/2009 11:23

Continued small selling and drifting down on the back of no news I would assume.

Still believe the new management team will convince the banks of the viability of the ongoing business once the cost base has been chopped. But can understand others not wishing to take that risk.

A nervous time for us holders?

[gyau] 20/6/2009 21:34

Banks are not required to renew the facility at the end of a term as i understand it?

[goldenshare888] 19/6/2009 20:12

Paul Hill of PGI tipped these as a buy Jan 07 at 38p.

His fair value then was 58.5p

His target was 85p by Dec 08.

Does anyone Know if he still rates them a buy at these levels or has he changed his mind.

E. & O.E.
Always do your own research.

PGI = Precision Guided Investments.

Luckily i did not follow his tip.