Forth Ports Share Discussion Threads

[ed 123] 03/1/2007 17:18

Someone's still active, picking up loosely held shares.

It's back to within a whisker of its all time high. If the rising channel from beginning of November 2006 holds, it will soon be through £22.

All quiet in the press recently but share price continues to be well supported.

Forth has a lot to offer - Forthside looks good, housing market is firm, possiblity of REIT status further out, safe and growing ports revenues......... You know you want it, Macquarie! What's it worth?

[ed 123] 02/1/2007 10:00

Hope y'all had a good rest.

Well, the new year arrived but without a bid for Forth. I thought it would happen before the end of 2006. Never mind .... trading statement was good and someone is keeping the bid price firm so far this morning.

I can almost feel it simmering. A final further 10%-ish bid premium to come, imho.

[ed 123] 22/12/2006 11:03

Yes, trading statement reads well and looks to have boosted the share price.

Who needs a bid, anyway?

Have a good break, all.

[arja] 22/12/2006 10:36

statement sounds promising . Maybe share price does not need t/o rumours to propel it higher but just good fundamentals . Chart still in uptrend after consolidating .

[ed 123] 21/12/2006 16:46

Could be one tomorrow, but I was hoping for another type of statement. Maybe we'll get both. That would be nice.

[gateside] 21/12/2006 13:53

We got a Trading Statment on Dec20th last year, so was expecting an update this week. Wonder if there will be one tomorrow?

[arja] 15/12/2006 16:20

good point - finishing near low for the day but still in uptrend on chart although only just !

[ed 123] 15/12/2006 10:28

Maybe. Who knows?

If you want an optimistic interpretation, it could be that the buyer in the market has backed off in order to get the share price down a bit - would make the bid premium look better.

Still got my eggs in the incubator but not counting them today. ;-)

[arja] 15/12/2006 10:21

weak share price in last few days ! maybe bid rumours were just that !

[ed 123] 13/12/2006 09:48

Knocking on the door of £22 again.

Only a handful of trading days left before Christmas. Will I get my prezzie?

[ed 123] 10/12/2006 23:29

I'm surprised there's not been an announcement yet. It's hard to imagine that no potential bidder has been in contact with Forth. But, I suppose that market gossip and share price movement should have been enough to alert even the sleepiest of holders.

Possibly nobody wants to be first to bid and risk being trumped. A recommended offer with a break penalty might help to get the ball rolling.

Once again, counting my chickens .....

[highland terrier] 10/12/2006 22:32

Forth Ports' market value ended within a whisker of £1bn on Friday, after climbing 20% since the start of November as City traders bet that the docks operator would be the subject of a bid worth £1.1bn.

£1.1bn. makes the share price around £24

[badtime] 10/12/2006 21:43

Bits in yesterdays Indie and FT similar to above ..but mentioning a figure of £24

[highland terrier] 10/12/2006 19:07

Forth Ports speculation grows
DOUGLAS FRIEDLI

SPECULATION is increasing that Forth Ports, the owner of Grangemouth and Leith docks, will be the target of a bid by the end of the year which could lead to its break-up.

Forth Ports' market value ended within a whisker of £1bn on Friday, after climbing 20% since the start of November as City traders bet that the docks operator would be the subject of a bid worth £1.1bn.
Click to learn more...

City sources named HBOS as a possible backer for a break-up bid which could see Grangemouth and Tilbury docks separated from the potentially more lucrative development land which the company owns in Leith.

Other traders believe UBS, the Swiss banking group, is lining up a bid with Macquarie, the Australian bank which has been linked with Forth Ports a number of times over the past month. UBS last week upgraded its recommendation on the company to neutral, although it reduced its profit forecasts because it expected little property realisation in the next two years.

And some stock watchers believe RREEF UK, the asset management arm of Deutsche Bank, could launch a bid. Last month the unit took a 49% stake in Peel Ports, which owns Forth Ports' rival on the Clyde.

Speculation has been growing about the future of Forth Ports, which also owns harbours at Rosyth, Methil, Burntisland and Dundee, in part because it is the last quoted docks operator on the London Stock Exchange.

The firm, led by chief executive Charles Hammond, is seen in the City as a well-run, steady business.

[haydock] 08/12/2006 10:54

Somebody has just read his morning paper, going up!

[ed 123] 08/12/2006 08:12

A bit stronger at opening today. Press mention that Deutsche Bank may be interested. Also IC mention and broker upgrade (hold from reduce).

[hectorp] 05/12/2006 19:44

Never short it !
I held from 250's to 600's and then sold ages back. I shoud have held on, but could not foretell the next stages for the company.

[faraway] 05/12/2006 11:35

As a "local" and "day one" holder, I have long been amazed at the potential for FPT and that potential appears to grow exponentially. To be honest, (and I know that a profit is a profit) if there was a take-out at £25, I would feel hard-done-by. I bought in and topped up whenever possible for the very long term, well at least until retirement in 8 years time.
It has been interesting to read some views that the Company has stagnated but oh to see it in 5 - 8 years. So while it is always nice to see an increase in share price, some others may be about to reap the benefit. I sincerely hope that its not private equity.

[badtime] 05/12/2006 10:16

I'm always quite sceptical about rumours of bids etc...but in this case there has jus been 2 much smoke etc

[ed 123] 05/12/2006 09:50

abcd1234, Got a few, but not bought any today. :-)

badtime, I think the looser holders are gone. I go to bed at night and dream of a bid war. ;-)

FARAWAY, no bid yet, but it must come ....... pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease.

[faraway] 05/12/2006 09:48

Never mind a bid war, have we had a bid yet?

[abcd1234] 05/12/2006 09:41

that was a very sharp and sudden spike
implies something specific leaked into the mkt at that point,

any specific info anyone re what the leak was

[badtime] 05/12/2006 09:24

Yes sudden jump up to £22 level..guess what is needed is a bid war...company has been very quiet of late

[abcd1234] 05/12/2006 09:24

thought it was just u topping up ;O)

[ed 123] 05/12/2006 09:20

Well, initial rumoured offer £23, now in the market at £22. If true, there's hardly any mark up to come. Today's buyer must feel very confident.