Ant Plc Share Discussion Threads

[wh1spa] 13/9/2012 08:07

good time to buy

[wh1spa] 13/9/2012 07:44

I take comfort in Kestrel's recent increased holding in Ant. They are no fools and will help ensure that shareholder value is paramount. It will be interesting to see where the share price finishes today.

[weatherman] 13/9/2012 07:18

So they are looking for buyer ?

[weatherman] 12/9/2012 13:37

I guess they have some valuable assets if they can exploit their software by turning it into an app for an ipod - ipad type of device to stream live tv. A new management might be able to see the potential and develop a more profitable funding stream from such technology.

[hastings] 12/9/2012 12:44

Interesting move up today ahead of the results.

[veryniceperson] 10/9/2012 18:27

I always holding, but not in public

[hastings] 10/9/2012 17:55

Glad to see your still looking in VNP, you still holding

[veryniceperson] 10/9/2012 17:27

Not another, you've upset hastings. That's about 2 dozen posters.

(Hasting's Filtered)

[hastings] 10/9/2012 16:36

cfb2, interesting that the share price has held up or rather recovered from the low a few weeks back. Do you think it will be that bad? my own guess is that there must be something progressive, particularly given Kestrels adding again. I would appreciate your thoughts, that is if you don't mind unfiltering me!

[cfb2] 10/9/2012 14:16

Notice of results

ANT plc, (LSE AIM: ANTP), a leading provider of software and services for the delivery of digital TV, announces that it will release its interim results for the half year to 30 June 2012 on 13 September 2012.

The full horror story to be revealed on Thursday.

As if Thursday isn't going to be exciting enough with QE announcements etc.!

CFB

[hastings] 29/8/2012 17:05

Makes sense cfb2,should be interesting to see who they have lined up as CEO.

[cfb2] 29/8/2012 16:19

I'm slighly embarrassed to confess that I bought a few too, a complete gamble based on Kestrel's interest. With the knowledge that the share price is likely below the cash value, taking the loss into account, puts this in the domain of a value share. However, I'm not buying any more until I see a proper CEO and their accounts.

CFB

[chrisdgb] 29/8/2012 16:12

Kestrel bought more..........come on boys get some value extracted..

[hastings] 29/8/2012 12:47

yep, interesting appointment and looks to be a good one.

[chrisdgb] 29/8/2012 08:52

Good point...weird thing is my mini IPO Ncipher torch only broke last week..!!

[cfb2] 29/8/2012 08:46

chrisdgb: Agreed - a good appointment.

I need to be careful what I say but I remember Alex and Nicko. If you're referring to the brothers then you'll know they were founders of ANT prior to nCipher.

CFB

[chrisdgb] 29/8/2012 07:57

Looks to be a good FD appointment this morning....experienced in technology as well...Ncipher that takes me back...the Van Sommeren brothers with pony tails....!!

[varies] 24/8/2012 09:59

cfb2
Thanks for your very interesting comments.

[cfb2] 24/8/2012 09:04

varies: I've just been looking back at news over the last 5 years to find out how their reported "Outlook" related to reality. Sobering reading.

Last few years the interims have been around the 1st of September, give or take a few days. Back in 2007 they were middle of September. Giving the recent trading update there's no reason the interims might slip a bit without causing undue worry (apart from the FD/CEO no longer officially working for the company!).

weatherman: Valuing the intellectual property of ANT is interesting when you consider that most of the companies licensing the software are in competition with each other. I'm sure that for each of those companies they attach a large "risk" with dealing with ANT for fear that something might happen to the company (one of the reasons for ANT's IPO was to improve their balance sheet to mitigate that risk).

If ANT were sold then there might be problems with who might continue licensing the software. It is normal practice for software companies like this to escrow the different iterations of licensed software so that a snapshot of the source code is available if the worst happens, allowing each licensing company to continue operating.

This sort of potential mess may be why ANT's licensing model is such a hard sale.

CFB

[weatherman] 23/8/2012 16:22

Potentially ANT has some valuable software if it can develop it as an AP product to get TV on your ipad, ipod, Samsung etc.

A bid would have to take into account net cash, plus something for the business. But it might have some valuable software assets if developed properly.

Being the cynic, new management often issue dire statements to drive the share price down so they can get new shares on the cheap.

[hastings] 23/8/2012 12:53

Well it is certainly apparent why the CEO had to go, even if most already had their suspicions. Clearly the likes of Kestrel new what was happening and were, understandably not happy chappy's. Of course, the retail investors are last to see the wood from the trees and after the last update todays statement puts it all into perspective. So, where now, what will be the cash position? and given the obvious poor performance of license revenue has Ant got a future as an independent player. My guess is that it will be sold off very cheaply to another player where the larger holders already have an interest. I would love to be proved wrong but at the end of the day, it is out of our lesser mortals hands and those sitting at the high table will call the shots.

[varies] 23/8/2012 10:22

Last year the interim figures were published on 31 August.
If the directors expected to announce figures for the 6 months to 30 June in 8 days time, then perhaps they would not have seen the need for this update. So I fear that there may be a delay and that the figures will be horrid when they come.
It would probably be even more difficult to sell more than a few pennyworth of shares at 14p today than at 17p yesterday and we must simply hope to be bailed out with a cash bid, perhaps 12p, after these results.

[cfb2] 23/8/2012 10:15

Without knowledge of the net cash, it's impossible to say. Market expectations suggest the interims will be around £3.9m which is 18p (ignoring the loss carried forwards).

The bit that worries me is "...though in contrast licence bookings are significantly down on the prior year." - last year they £1.54m and the wording suggests 20%+ drop, so I'd say £1.28m or worse but with an increase in professional services, or bespoke work, to offset that. Strange because it suggests they are losing traction in licensing but at the same time doing work that accompanies new licencing! Only explanation I can see is that they've spent a lot of effort fixing up an existing customer(s).

In summary, the licencing to professional services ratio I keep on mentioning is worsening which is bad long term. Would be madness (or at best a complete gamble) to invest at this point without clarity on actual cash figures and insight into whether the replacement CEO has the capacity to reverse their fortunes.

CFB


hastings 21 Aug'12 - 18:46 - 899 of 904 (Filtered)

[weatherman] 23/8/2012 08:40

Yes, needs a takeover...now below net cash ?