Optare Share Discussion Threads

[stud-muffin] 01/5/2015 07:41

Cheers MT - Its been a long cold hard ride here and TAN.

I have always been impressed with your impartial view point on the investment side of both of these companies.

[m.t.glass] 30/4/2015 22:52

Oops! Quite right 2m.
Header corrected.

[2magpies] 30/4/2015 20:01

MT

Please note: This does not de-list until 2nd June (not 30th April)!

Last day of dealing is 1st June.

That's quite some time away.

Anything could happen in the interim.

Perhaps the header should be amended?

[jojo_jo] 30/4/2015 13:46

My son's favourite buses. Bought some for him once upon a time, but sold them a long time ago.

Whilst de-listing may be a negative for PIs, I doubt it will be for the owner. He's probably (indirectly) hoovering up the remainder on the cheap today and will likely end up owning 95%+ in due course.

He can't realistically own any more of the company under listing rules, so hasn't much choice if more money needs to go in. That will happen, I'm sure after de-listing. Who knows, the turnaround could be imminent, aided by lower admin/listing costs. The boss may not want to share this with PIs.

Staying on AIM always looked a medium term measure at best. It's not investible now, because of the opacity that goes with private company status.

I think we'll still be seeing Optare buses on our roads for many years to come.

IMPO DYOR NAI
Jo

[stud-muffin] 30/4/2015 13:16

Kim

That's always been the conundrum. Good quality (in the main), high user satisfaction yet poor sales.

The stagecoach/Souter/ADL issue aside they have made no progress in 8 years except with low order owner/operators - with few exceptions.

[kimoldfield] 30/4/2015 12:50

Their buses are really very good so I hope that they continue to produce them, no reason at present why they should not though there is always the possibility that production itself could move to India.

[2magpies] 30/4/2015 11:01

From what i can see this isn't a 'nothing' business.

There are actual buses.

In view of the fact that the order book is to be opened later this year the mcap seems ludicrous (even though a delisting is coming), IMO.

[steve517499] 30/4/2015 10:11

Sorry guys to hear todays news, I have been there, so know the pain you are feeling.

I will miss the ramblings and thoughts of the board contributors here. Thanks MTG for putting up with me.

Wishing all, the best of luck with their future investments.

[stud-muffin] 30/4/2015 08:19

What a terrible shame.

Whether the rot was in built from Roy Stanley I do not know, I do know Sumner was entirely useless at running OPE and good only at spinning a tale via RNS's and his favourite platform - trade mags.

The bizarre strategy of investing so much money in niche/emerging technology is perhaps the most obvious mistake OPE made, but in truth the list is long.

I doubt OPE will continue in its present (manufacturing) guise and will slim down to Solo with the rest being retired/sold off/moved to India.

For shareholders (LT's) this was always a one way bet to the knackers yard - trading spikes aside this RNS has been long overdue, for the workers I guess they had hoped the magic TATA have brought to JLR has simply failed to materialise. Just a growing list of overpaid under talented pen pushers that seem totally incapable of carrying out the well paid jobs they are employed for.

RIP.

[clocktower] 30/4/2015 08:19

Another company that is majority owned stuffing it small stakeholders not that long after providing a positive statement that sent the stock shooting up. That should be investigated but of course that will never happen.

Good luck anyone left holding but maybe best to get what you can now.

[kimoldfield] 30/4/2015 08:17

Well it makes sense to cut down on expenses by delisting I suppose. The sales book for the MetroDecker is not yet open they say. Why not?! Anyway I doubt that I will be buying one! 😏

[m.t.glass] 30/4/2015 07:12

So now we know. Optare delisting. Throwing in the towel. And confirming that no orders received for its double decker.

[kimoldfield] 29/4/2015 17:32

I don't think I am up to hazarding a guess about ratios MT but I'll go for 1 in 5; which way round is another thing

[kimoldfield] 29/4/2015 17:29

They should invite the remaining cast of 'On the Buses' for a change maybe! I hope these extra mouths to feed will earn the crust that they intend to eat! :o)

[m.t.glass] 29/4/2015 17:28

What is the ratio of the number of buses sold to the number of people in the sales team?

[jsbach123] 29/4/2015 16:44

As you remarked in a previous post on a previous recruitment Kim 'another mouth to feed'.

Ten Solos - better than one!

Gosh, I hope that Ms P R Optare has not had to take any sick leave due to over exertion.

Who will be the next minor Royal or near-defunct politician to be organised by her to visit the under-used assembly shed I wonder?

[kimoldfield] 29/4/2015 15:25

More news on the Optare site, Chris Hunt has joined Optare’s expanding sales team as Regional Business Development Manager and will cover the North of England and Scotland. Chris has over 20 years experience in the bus and coach industry. Also, Scarlet Band has added ten new Euro 6 Optare Solos to their bus fleet. Scarlet Band has been operating buses since 1921 and today Scarlet Band’s focus is very much on greener travel.

[steve517499] 24/4/2015 09:51

Kim ... Could be a good short term move for him.

TfL are looking to electrify (if that is the correct word) the central London red arrow routes when the tender is renewed next year ... requiring around 50 buses. Go-Ahead, the current operator are not apparently too enamored by the 2 BYD models they currently have and have ordered 2 i2es for evaluation ... so if things go well he could be looking at a 50'ish electric bus order in 6-8 months time.

[kimoldfield] 20/4/2015 13:26

I see that former Optare Sales Director John Horn has been appointed to the part-time role of Bus Project Manager for Spanish electric coach maker Irizar to try to sell it's i2e to London and elsewhere in the UK.

[tees maar khan] 18/4/2015 16:46

It would appear the share price spiked on announcement of a recent £7.3 million contract win (not to be sniffed at) with Stagecoach Bus UK.

This looks oversold to me, and could see a turn around in the upcoming months. I'm keeping this on my radar.

TMK

[tees maar khan] 17/4/2015 16:42

I'm sure this was trading around 0.30 level not too long ago.Are you awaiting on some big contract... what's the story here? This looks a good entry point. TMK

[m.t.glass] 11/4/2015 07:55

Other makers pressing on with electric buses