Bede Share Discussion Threads

[chancedog] 02/8/2007 11:01

From the Newcastle Journal


Thursday 2nd August 2007


Bede's future looking brighterAug 2 2007




by Iain Laing, The Journal


TROUBLED X-ray technology company Bede reported stronger than expected sales yesterday – but the company's future is on the line with its new boss set to review the entire business.

County Durham-based Bede announced last month it was talking to a number of potential buyers and now chief executive Hugh Rudden is to conduct "a full strategic review".

The company yesterday confirmed it had held "preliminary discussions with certain parties" which could lead to an offer being made to buy the business.

However with news on orders looking positive, standing at £3.6m compared to £2.6m at this time last year, one market watcher said this may be a sign of Bede enjoying better times.

Bede reported sales for the three months to June 30 of £500,000, matching 2006's performance but behind the first quarter's total of £1.4m. However on a half-year basis, the figures show a 26% surge from £1.5m to £1.9m.


The company is still making a loss but the pre-tax figure for the quarter was down to £1m from £1.3m last time.


Announcing Mr Rudden's review, a statement from the company said it would take in "customer penetration, product development and marketing, reducing production cycle times and on-going margin improvement programmes".


Bede also said it had won its first order from a foundry customer.


The statement said: "The foundry segment will play an increasing role in providing advanced technology products to those integrated device manufacturers who are outsourcing their advanced wafer manufacturing needs." It added: "The current order book will ship in the coming months to meet customer request dates and the company will see significant sales growth in the second half of 2007."


Vinay Bedi, divisional director at stockbroker Wise Speke in Newcastle, said: "My reading is that the underlying results were not as bad as maybe had been anticipated some time ago.


"The ongoing future order books are looking relatively attractive as well at £3.6m.


"What we are seeing is very 'bitty' orders coming through – but then Bede's products are not like selling boxes of tissues. They cost $1m."


Mr Bedi said the chief executive's review should be seen in the context of the company's order book now showing some promise compared to the position in May when the new man was hired.


He said: "Hugh Rudden is reviewing the company, including the possibility of being taken over. But he is conducting that review on the basis of being brought in when things were not going as well as was hoped. Now they are seeing significant sales growth."


He said Bede's fortunes perhaps appeared more up and down than they might due to the company updating on its performance every three months.


He said: "They continue to pursue quarterly results, which I don't think is necessary for a company of this size, or for the kind of product they manufacture.


"Because this company has seen patchy orders, the numbers (in results statements) have been extremely volatile.


"So it appears the situation is very severe, when at other times, it looks quite promising – and this is one of those more promising moments."


Last night shares in Bede closed up more than 14% at 6.65p.

[bikwik] 02/8/2007 08:45

Good day for buying today....VIX indicator over on wall street at extreme high....i.e. the bottom (short term anyway for the Dow and S&P). Debenhams bouncing after Chairman bought 250000 y-day. Target for tomorrow is 140p. Coffee Heaven looks good for 42p. Could buy MMG if you are brave at 125p or 126p...or better still SKP which should run towards 12 month range high near 28p on break over 23p. But best of all could be BED which looks to be finding support over 38.2% retrace level of 6.25p and ticking up from oversold on RSI and Stochastics......

[brendanmull] 02/8/2007 08:21

I hope the upbeat mood is justifyed, as all I can see are the same statements as last year.
If the company is to see "significant sales growth" where is it comming from? are there to be more tool evaluations like the one in Japan that has never been mentioned again?
A takeover is the best thing for the company, as I feel it is over reliant on one large customer, IMHO it should be doing a lot lot better, especially as it is the only proven player in this market.

[bikwik] 02/8/2007 07:35

Yep...there it is on a plate

[sagem] 01/8/2007 15:51

We could not expect anything better than this ;-

"The current order book will ship in the coming months to meet customer
request dates and the company will see significant sales growth in the second
half of 2007," Bede said.

its time we all started buying these shares

[bikwik] 01/8/2007 14:34

Aha.....missed that this morning.....an astute buyer of 149402 shares at 6.65p.

[lyndus] 01/8/2007 12:00

Can't all be bad then.Good sign ,only two of my shares going up BED and TOM.

[bikwik] 01/8/2007 11:43

Another thing......BED up.....and FOOTSIE....down 110 points....

[bikwik] 01/8/2007 09:45

Ahem, pooreveryday.....you really are a complete numpty.

Anyway, price marked up...going to plan so far....and no cash worries from what i see......and maybe a bid....if not...looks ok anyway.....so no reason apart from investor emotion to be this low.....time will tell.

[richoneday] 31/7/2007 20:40

... and the black swan flies at midnight into the land they call skcollob.....

[bikwik] 31/7/2007 08:49

Just thought i"d run this past you.
Took 3 days to go from oversold to overbought on the daily Stochastic (4.25p to 7.00p) and 9 days to get oversold falling from 7.00p (or should i say easing) to 6.25p.
Interestingly 6.25p marks 38.2% Fibonnacci support of the 4.25p to 7.5p upleg.
So it"s now on support and its oversold. Also the 20 and 50 day moving averages continue to rise (after having posted a bullish golden cross on the 18 July).

Next support is the 50% level at 5.87P, also close to the 20 day moving average at 5.75p. Whether it gets back to there is debatable. Point is.....its looking very attractive again. DYOR....etc

[bikwik] 26/7/2007 07:57

Some observations.......
Recent overbought position is unwinding after surge to 7.5p. Past week or so of sideways action could be a bull flag (prior to next upleg.....9.5p-10p).
Also, Peter O"Reilly buying 450,000 and prepared to pay 7.01p suggests he thinks another leg up is coming. Who knows what the future holds, but the Technicals say its a fair bet to be long now.

I reckon the market makers would prefer to be net long as well....so think about it!!

[richoneday] 25/7/2007 09:11

Let's try not to get carried away with someone who invests £30k

[sagem] 25/7/2007 08:30

Anybody know who Peter O'Reilly is with such a large stake in total.

[sagem] 25/7/2007 06:14

Yesterday Peter O'Reilly bought 450,000 shares in Bede for 7.01p/shr

So just what is going on here is he expecting good results I wonder :-

Bede PLC
23 July 2007


Bede plc


Interim Results - Wednesday 1 August 2007


Bede plc will be announcing its Interim Results for the period ended 30 June
2007 on Wednesday, 1 August 2007.


For further information please contact:


Bede plc
David Hall, Finance Director
[e-mail]

[dickiepugs] 19/7/2007 09:06

Are there any ex-employees on here ( i think there are ) ?