Sportech Share Discussion Threads

[stephen1946] 03/4/2016 12:53

Treat everything connected with this team as, suspect.

[trentendboy] 03/4/2016 11:41

The recent rise is a little suspect - why the increase - perahps a court leak?

[nod] 03/4/2016 00:09

I think the ruling usually comes out some weeks after the hearing.I feel it will be good to get this Vat clam out of the way and focus on the business - including a less complicated sale of Football Pools.

[finkie] 31/3/2016 16:18

hope so trent

[trentendboy] 31/3/2016 16:05

Indeed plus once uncertainty gone bid should come quick for some or all of SPO

[finkie] 31/3/2016 10:58

7/8 April is court date so maybe some positions been taken ahead of next Fridays ruling?

[trentendboy] 18/3/2016 14:43

yep, perhaps more indeed - it is a lot of money

[finkie] 18/3/2016 14:04

feels like finally the stupid VAT charade is close to being sorted and will go SPO's way they've had the money once!!

Fingers crossed.....75-80p if that's the case maybe.

[trentendboy] 18/3/2016 13:10

Major spike up - something is afoot for sure.

Tempted to ride this up as SPO does spike like this without good reason

[nod] 18/3/2016 09:51

Not big volume but encouraging.

[trentendboy] 18/3/2016 09:38

Boom, something going on, court case to TO, probably the latter

[stephen1946] 05/3/2016 09:53

All this great news from the worldwide market and surprisingly enough shareholders get nothing. Directors? Now thats a different picture, sportech is for them there guys, NOT shareholders, AVOID.

[nod] 05/3/2016 09:10

Thoroughbred Racetracks in Chile and Spain choose New Betting Terminal Technologies from Sportech Racing and DigitalATLANTA, March 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sportech Racing // Digital, a division of Sportech PLC, (LSE: SPO), announces that it has entered into agreements for the sale of new betting terminal technology to key customers in South America and Europe. Sportech will provide the new BetJet® SL 2.5 self-service betting terminal to Club Hípico de Santiago and Valparaiso Sporting Club in Chile. These Chilean thoroughbred racetracks are long-standing Sportech customers, with Quantum™ System pari-mutuel betting software and a digital platform for Internet betting. The BetJet® SL 2.5 will offer Chile's customers convenient self-service betting with cash, accounts, and vouchers, and will feature the intuitive ClearBet user interface, which has helped Sportech deliver some of the best self-service results in the industry. In Spain, Sportech will provide new WAVE™ betting terminals to Hipodromo de la Zarzuela to replace the racetrack's legacy terminals. The update is part of a global renovation plan at the Madrid thoroughbred racetrack, timed to coincide with its 75th anniversary celebration. The new terminals compliment other renovations that have modernized the racetrack facility, sparking public interest and attracting new fans of horse racing and outdoor entertainment. This technology update also follows last year's migration of racetrack tote operations to Sportech's Quantum Data Center Europe, with its wide range of state-of-the-art services.Complimenting the new terminals will be a new and exclusive feature designed in collaboration with Hipodromo de la Zarzuela that will enable the use of one-day paperless vouchers. Racetrack customers will now be able to use their own smartphones or tablets to bet at the racetrack without the need to carry paper tickets or queue at teller windows. Sportech is a leader in producing patented mobile betting technologies that facilitate a move away from paper tickets, as exemplified by this new digital voucher feature, as well as by the company's Digital Link™ mobile betting app.

[nod] 05/3/2016 01:18

Sportech BUY recommendationsPeel Hunt 79p targetInvestec 68p targetThe two analysts are joint brokers since June 2014

[trentendboy] 03/3/2016 08:35

Mentioned in the highlights for a start. Did you read the results?


Group Highlights

-- Results in line with expectations with EBITDA of GBP23.1m (2014: GBP24.0m)
-- Balance sheet strengthened with net debt down by 10%
-- Investment in technology delivering new international customers
-- Expansion into providing lottery products for professional sports teams
-- Football Pools division nearing completion of modernisation programme
-- Expansion of venues strategy into California
-- Disposal of online interests in New Jersey for a pre-tax gain of GBP8.1m
-- GBP97m VAT refund appeal to be held in Court of Appeal on 7/8 April

[intermale] 03/3/2016 07:54

No mention of the VAT?

[trentendboy] 27/2/2016 09:43

Indeed. The debt issue was a concern but the pools business is highly cash generative.

Pools players can be cross-sold - that is the key.

It is looking cheap again now. I am underwater on SPO at the moment but it would not take much to change that.

[nod] 27/2/2016 01:59

As I have said previously, I have no connection to SPO other than as a shareholder of varying amounts. I live on the other side of the World, down under.I have been in and out of Sportech since it was created in 2000 out of Rodime's reverse take-over of Litllewoods. I took a punt on Rodime in 1998 which was successful in 1999 going up 1000% overnight. I sold most keeping a small stake which became Sportech. Over 15 years I bought and sold SPO dozens of times. Buying when it was cheap - which it is now.The US gaming licences are very hard to get and valuable. The Football Pools is a cash cow and Ian Hogg knows how to run it. If SPO gets 60 million for it I'll be happy and 90 million delighted. There's a 50/50 chance of a VAT windfall at no cost to SPO. This isn't going to go up ten fold overnight but could easily double from here.

[stephen1946] 26/2/2016 09:08

Trent end, good luck on that one, double?. Hmm.

[trentendboy] 26/2/2016 08:59

LolNod has been around for agesSPO have the potential to double from here IMO The TO issues should lead to some good early upside from here

[stephen1946] 26/2/2016 07:37

Nod seems to be well informed, not beyond the realms of probability that nod is a sportech plant. Nod works extremely hard at pinning medals on this lame duck. Avoid, avoid, avoid.

[nod] 26/2/2016 06:27

Bump 50/50 a Canadian company acquired by SPO a couple of years ago makes good progress in winning business in the highly regulated USA gaming market.TORONTO, Feb. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bump 50:50, a division of Sportech Racing // Digital, announced that they have been selected by the foundations associated with the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA and the Dallas Stars of the NHL to provide the technologies and services to conduct 50/50 charitable in-game raffles.The Dallas Mavericks Foundation and the Dallas Stars Foundation are the first Sportech Bump 50:50 customers from the state of Texas, where legislation recently permitted charitable 50/50 raffles on professional sporting events. Bump 50:50 will deliver point-of-sale software, hardware, a triple-redundant central system for real-time raffle processing, and support services that include monitoring and immediate support.The Bump 50:50 team will also provide a suite of services to assist with the marketing program design and coordination, sales team training, reporting, and data analytics – that has helped other Bump 50:50 customers shatter fundraising records.The 50/50 raffles will be held at all Mavericks and Stars home games held at American Airlines Center in Dallas, offering fans easy and convenient ways to participate through roaming ticket sales staff as well as through kiosks. Real time jackpot updates will be displayed via mobile devices, kiosk locations, and in-arena digital assets.Floyd Jahner, President of the Dallas Mavericks Foundation and COO of the Mavericks commented, "We have a big opportunity to offer our fans a fun and easy way to participate in the mission of our Foundation, by supporting women and children in need in DFW through charitable giving. We are confident that the 50/50 raffle and the Bump 50:50 team can help us achieve our goals by raising funds and spreading awareness for the Dallas Mavericks Foundation." Jason Farris, Dallas Stars Foundation President and Dallas Stars COO, commented, "We're excited to work with the Bump 50:50 team for the launch of our new charitable in-game raffle. Empowering professional sports teams' non-profit foundations to raise money at their respective home games will have a significant impact on local communities. With the new avenue to receive donations through charitable raffle ticket purchases, we will be able to better support our current initiatives and create new ones that will benefit children across North Texas."Dan Tanenbaum, President of Bump 50:50, stated, "We are thrilled to welcome The Dallas Stars Foundation and Dallas Mavericks Foundation to the Bump 50:50 team. We look forward to bringing the excitement of 50/50 raffles to the fans of the Stars and the Mavericks and to helping them share in the joy of supporting the teams' charitable initiatives." About Bump 50:50Sportech's Bump 50:50 provides the technologies and services to allow charitable foundations affiliated with professional sports teams to design, manage, execute, and promote 50/50 raffle programs. 50/50 raffles help charitable foundations of professional sports teams raise money for the charities they support, leveraging the excitement and passion of fans during live sporting events. Raffle winners and charities share the net raffle proceeds 50/50, making the fans and participating charities equal partners in the success of the program. More information is available at www.bump5050.com. The Bump 50:50 parent company, Sportech Racing and Digital, is a leading global provider of pari-mutuel betting technology solutions to licensed gaming and betting operators. The company is a leading provider in North, Central and South America and in the Caribbean, and is the dominant independent provider of pari-mutuel betting technologies and services in Europe. In addition to the software, hardware and services that facilitate land-based pari-mutuel betting, the division provides customized Internet, phone and mobile technologies and services as one of the largest digital wagering technology providers and operators in the U.S. For more information about Sportech Racing // Digital, please visit www.sportech.net.

[stephen1946] 22/2/2016 09:19

There you have it, sportech the most toxic share available.
Avoid and seek investment elsewhere.

[nod] 22/2/2016 09:14

Or the market cap is around half of what it should be...Sportech had much higher levels of debt than this for most of its life. The banks were more than happy to lend against a very strong cash flow. Interest rates were a lot higher in previous years. With record low interest rates these days I can't see the debt is an issue or would need paying off in part or whole. Sportech has made clear it prefers to use sale proceeds for investing in the USA. I don't expect to see a special dividend or the debt to be significantly reduced.

[brownie69] 22/2/2016 08:26

So if SPO has a market cap of £106m and is selling the pools for say £95m, that leaves a net value for £21m for the rest, the US horse racing business and the US sports bars.
That sounds like either they are not good business units or that debt here is too high and will need to be paid down with the proceeds rather than a special divi?