Praesepe Share Discussion Threads

[jpjp100] 24/9/2010 11:33

another bulletin box update over at praesepeplc.com

With the last few weeks of the summer season now looming and winter plans being drawn up for venue refurbishments and new equipment to be ordered I think we can say that our first summer season has gone well. Change is never easy for staff and our new emphasis on ticket redemption games, the 'Funshine centre' branding and our strong emphasis on customers service was relatively new to our seaside team but they rose to the challenge, embraced our new ideas (in most instances!) and got on with taking the money. Which is what it is all about. On the High street the new combined Cashino/Showboat operational team is coming together nicely under Steve Lawrence's leadership and work has started on rebranding the Showboat venues as 'Cashino'. This rebranding will take some time to complete, probably until the first quarter of 2011 and each venue will benefit not only from new signage but also new staff uniforms, new 'POS' and a revitalised gaming machine estate so everything will be in place to improve performances irrespective of when we get the promised b3 deregulation. We are of course disappointed that it is taking the new government such a long time to implement what is in reality a minor regulatroy change but for AGC, Bingo Clubs and gaming machine manufacturers across the UK it is tremendously important. Watch this space as I shall ensure that as soon as any announcement is made on deregulation we shall get a note onto this web site. Our Bingo clubs have had a good August (helped undoubtedly by the wet weather) but I do also see that they are benefitting from a new 'esprit de corps' amongst the General Managers and their staff with new incentive schemes in place, along with an SAYE scheme that is open to all our staff. All six clubs have seen an increase in capital work and improvements are being aimed at those areas where we can get most 'bang for our buck'. One such area of the business is the external smoking areas. We have completely revamped the smoking areas at Northampton and Brighton with Cricklewood, Loughborough and Lowestoft following on. In both completed areas we have increased the number and type of gaming machines and bingo counters available for players and if they have their thermals on there is no reason why a committed smoker can't spend all evening playing bingo and slots outside, being waited on by our floor staff with food and drink as required! Taking a fresh look at the UK bingo product after a number of years spent just focussed on 'slot gaming' there is no doubt in my mind that the bingo industry would have fared better after the smoking ban if it had focussed slightly more time and money on providing better facilities for its players. 'For a ha'porth of tar the ship was lost' ! Our half year results will be released on October 8th and I shall paste the commentary onto this page at that time. Nick Harding September 2010

[empirestate] 22/9/2010 21:32

looking good to firm again here over the next 10 or so trading days to results. regular and steady upward movements with the ability to hold the bid for a decent size of around 500,000 tells me there is plenty of demand out there. we must also consider past placing prices and aquisitions issues are still at a healthy weighted average premium price to the current share price i personally am optimistic of them turning in a profit for the first six. recognising GBP2 million of cost savings on the beacon aquisition is evidence that the management are focused on identifying value assets where there are opportunites to alter the underlying performance by cutting running costs and improving margins. reckon we could see 10p on this basis.

[sscrabble] 22/9/2010 16:51

have they moved some out ? - it is showing an unaltered amount of shares before and after - the box they have ticked just says there is a change in voting rights

[jpjp100] 22/9/2010 16:41

I deleted this post because it was factually incorrect

[drambui] 22/9/2010 13:22

A sell IMO but not to worry, maybe the last from them?

[dimotane] 22/9/2010 12:05

I'm presuming that 250k trade @6.38 is a buy?

[jpjp100] 21/9/2010 08:40

still only on small volumes - if small trades are doing this, imagine what could happen if a respected boutique, suddenly appeared with a notifiable interest....

[empirestate] 20/9/2010 22:01

firming nicely as we head towards results on 8th oct

[jpjp100] 17/9/2010 14:25

small volumes today really 'neg'

nice to see the price ticking up a bit of course but, unless and until there are some sizeable instituional additions to the shareholder register, I won't be getting too excited.

I want to see some £500k buys on the list

[neg] 17/9/2010 14:06

Good healthy buying, looks to have finally turned the corner.

[empirestate] 14/9/2010 22:32

i will be increasing my position here tomorrow, very quite today especially considering it looked as though the seller was taken out yesterday

[empirestate] 13/9/2010 16:58

looks like the seller is now out here, a small amount of buyers should push the share price up with ease from here

[jpjp100] 13/9/2010 16:43

nice volume again today, but messy looking trades - what are those cancellations about?

[ukinvestor220] 10/9/2010 08:18

little tick up on the bid this am on no trades

[jpjp100] 09/9/2010 11:40

never mind the (length) price, look at the (girth) volume ;-)

[ukinvestor220] 09/9/2010 10:04

more big trades this am. something afoot here.

[empirestate] 08/9/2010 16:54

having looked through the aquisition programme of 2009 and considering the effects on revenues for that period would have only been around 3 to 4 months i reckon this years half year could throw up some meaningful numbers both top and bottom line.

[ukinvestor220] 08/9/2010 12:53

that 1.1m trade didnt budge the price, but brought new buyers in so thats good. I should have bought more first thing.

[evaluate] 08/9/2010 11:35

Guys,

Sorry to be a killjoy - but who says the 8 AGCs were worth £1m?

We haven't got any stats on them at all.

They could be worth anything.

Or am I missing something?

[jpjp100] 08/9/2010 11:24

216 - these are new shares, the seller will still be around. but maybe news like this might make them change their mind....

[jpjp100] 08/9/2010 11:18

So, Noble - one of the biggest operators - swaps 8 AGCs for shares at 7.5p when said shares are trading at 5.5p. I put that down as a massive vote of confidence in PRA's strategy by Noble which, in the medium term, is more valuable than the 8 AGCs! If I was in Milton Keynes I would run round to PRA's offices and shake Nick Harding's hand.

[empirestate] 08/9/2010 10:36

UK i like the fact that the directors bought shares five months into the new year at 7.5 and 7.8, they certainly would not have done so if the business was not performing. the share price has only been depressed here by a seller and i do not belive it has anything to do with the underlying business.

[empirestate] 08/9/2010 10:13

UK looks like the seller is out with that 1 million trade, half year results first week of october

[empirestate] 08/9/2010 07:45

uk that was what i was just thinking, it is possible, as this has been the case in a few instances htis year where share prices have been depresssed to rediculously low levels