Mporium Share Discussion Threads

[jimmyloser] 18/5/2009 09:49

As exclusively forecast!

up over 2p

[jimmyloser] 17/5/2009 21:56

No, but I think he hit the nail on the head.


We'll see....speculators will drive this for a day or two.

imo

[monkey puzzle] 17/5/2009 18:01

I would be happy to bet against that......even the journo wasn't sure what he was buying there in his piece....

[jimmyloser] 17/5/2009 17:14

It would be a brave man who would bet against this going up 2p or 3p tomorrow!

or even more

imo.

[lyntwyn] 17/5/2009 16:32

Sunday Times Heaven & Hell Portfolio

For all this, I have made one addition to the portfolio in the past month, though it is very much in the "special situations" category. It is Minster Pharmaceuticals.

I sold my original holding in this little drug developer in February (at a thumping loss) shortly after it published disappointing trial results for its migraine drug, tonabersat. That was at 13p. Last month I went back in at 4½p.

Two announcements from Minster had me intrigued. First came news that Paul Sharpe, who had run Minster for the past four years, was stepping down to become a non-executive director. Given that Sharpe still owns about half the company that suggested big changes were afoot.

Then it was announced that Karl Keegan was giving up his job as managing director and UK head of equity research at investment bank Cannaccord Adams to become Minster's chief financial officer.

Keegan made his name as a healthcare analyst and worked at Glaxo Smith Kline before moving into the City. That is where Sharpe worked too - and got the opportunity to buy out the rights to tonabersat and one other compound which were then put into Minster.

It looks to me as if Minster is being readied for new adventures. It is certainly an attractive shell. Whether the two compounds have any value I am not qualified to say. But there is still £7m of cash in the bank, which is equivalent to nearly 12p a share - or more than twice the current price.

I have not invested much in Minster, which is an out-and-out speculation at this stage.

I cannot believe, though, that somebody like Keegan would have given up a comfortable berth to move to a struggling drug developer without a cunning plan. At least, I hope not.

[monkey puzzle] 17/5/2009 13:55

Humbugg,

Well I guess we'll wait and see....main question is how is the company going to make it to the year end without raising new cash then? Is Keegan experienced at that kind of thing? Looks like d4e will be most likely way to go then.....that way the company raises £xxm of needed money and business can continue.....

[monkey puzzle] 16/5/2009 19:06

Errm no....because it's overvalued and going bust would be a fair guess here...how much money have they got left to burn through now? Can't be very much in the bank and there's no way they can tap shareholders....maybe a massively discounted d4e might save them....the directors that is...shareholders soon get forgotten when it comes to directors saving their own skins.

Monkey Puzzle - 18 Feb'09 - 09:16 - 502 of 534 edit


MPM had £9m in cash at the end of Sept (as stated in interims) and at the end of Jan they had £7m....a burn rate of about £0.5m per month.....so that would give them about a year to go....and fwiw their market cap is only £3m......

[naz4] 16/5/2009 18:38

why the hell did they fall so much,has this not fallen with the bad results it delivered all ready ,or does it go down with any bad news from other company results.also

[monkey puzzle] 01/5/2009 09:11

Errm...don't look like it it has.....

[balcony] 28/4/2009 08:42

Anyone know if this has been tipped somewhere,Or maybe some merger activity leaked.

[rathkum] 27/4/2009 18:11

With the arrival of Keegan, I believe an acquisition is lined up for maybe a cash strapped company in the biotech sector while they still cash in the kitty. Being an analyst he should know of potential targets. This could easily run up to 10p+

[daveelectec] 27/4/2009 17:47

Any ideas why the rise anyone ? pls dont state the obvious, like more buys than sells !

[mikey34] 20/4/2009 19:59

York City??.....The Minstermen.??

[rathkum] 20/4/2009 19:11

Nice one, I guess we could always bid for a football team that is in dire straits financially with the cash we have.

[mikey34] 20/4/2009 18:30

Keegan wasn't able to rescue Newcastle United.Why on earth would he be any better suited to Minster?

[naz4] 20/4/2009 11:00

he has a good reputaion in the city' see what happens

[rathkum] 20/4/2009 09:04

Hope he can bring a good deal on to the table

[balcony] 20/4/2009 08:05

I beleive this company will now be used as a shell.

[naz4] 19/4/2009 10:36

what about a take over of mpm any possiability

[rathkum] 17/4/2009 09:22

Move on, its my turn to earn your salary will make no difference. They will suck the company out of the remaining cash like Alizyme has done to its shareholders. Wouldn't it be better to return cash to shareholders as I do not see what future potential.

[sipp_2005] 17/4/2009 07:30

This was the Harry Punter one man ramping target

I see Sharp got moved over today. Given the collapse in the SP, the decision to consolidate the stock with no good news to support it and the subsequent collapse in the share price I am shocked he lasted so long

One question if

"refocusing of the Company's strategy with the objective of building shareholder value"

is necessary, WTF was Sharp focusing on ??

[naz4] 16/4/2009 12:12

down they go again ,it surely was a ramp.