Arcontech Share Discussion Threads

[cbootle] 22/8/2014 15:06

Would like to correct a few mis-perceptions (in my opinion). I worked for Arcontech for 11 years, until a few years ago. They are a heavily developer orientated company. To call them a "stroppy bunch or programmers" is way off the mark. Actually, they are a great team, very good people and highly knowledgeable and experienced in real-time market-data. They have a low staff turnover.

The basis of Arcontech's technology is their CityVision API and server software that uses it - particularly their contribution and distribution servers. These are effectively real-time databases, with an efficient real-time messaging system (independent of any vendor, and can translate between them). Far from being written by "a single hot-shot developer who subsequently left the company", these were written by the founders of the company who remain directors. The code is well understood, has been ported to other platforms, lovingly maintained and tested over decades. It's rock solid. It's the basis of the many additional products they've created.

Recently there was a job advert looking for a software testing lead. No doubt that's the source of the mention of testing in the annual report, and one would like to think they are bringing their testing methodology up to the latest standards (probably continuous integration). However, thorough testing, including automated unit testing, has been an integral part of development for many years.

You can use the wayback machine to see what financial institutions were given as clients on their old website - as it's mission critical infrastructure, why not buy the entire company if you rely on it? Small change to some of these institutions.

What they've been lacking in (in my opinion, and probably many others) is a decent sales force. As I said, they are technology driven.

No doubt the directors and other major investors have been happy to have a low share price so they can lap up the large blocks of sells as they arise. With a stable financial position, they know they can play a very long term game, and the share price taking off when they get decent sales.

All in my personal opinion, of course. And I've been buying shares from 1p (at time of reverse takeover with KTS) all the way down to 0.07p, and currently in profit.

[harebridge] 22/8/2014 14:12

Yes, definitely a niche product. Quite surprised this has done pretty well, considering the lacklustre results. Although early days, it's the mention of future dividends that have got a few investors interested.With a market cap of just £3 million, a few predators could be circling here...

[multibagger] 22/8/2014 06:15

Various director buys over the last 18 months or so and the gradually higher lows are early signs of focus and commitment. Institution buying is another good sign....I expect that we will creep upwards and may see about 0.25p by end of the year.

I have taken quite a few and will take more (average upwards)...ARC would be a good takeover target IMHO - undemanding market cap, niche products with increasing need to demonstrate transparency, recurrent revenues from a price elastic, more heavily regulated sector lately with increased compliance requirements, not capital intensive etc.

Patience is key....good luck all :)

[skier100] 22/8/2014 04:03

Bakunin -- Agreed, ARC has gotten sloppy in recent years and the CEO is finally clamping down. Phase 1 is to control costs and reprofitize -- that is nearly done now. Phase 2 is to crack the whip on software developers and start churning out more and better products for bigger banking customers. If ARC can get that message out, rather than leaving it to forum speculation, it would give the shares an instant boost and rerating, impo.

[oilbuy] 21/8/2014 18:18

Nice finish today. This is only going one way.

[oilbuy] 20/8/2014 06:46

Certainly a nice entry point or top up. Great value long term.

[multibagger] 19/8/2014 21:05

Trades of 25m and 26m at 0.17p today

Sizeable and unusual level of activity.

The last time this happened we soon had a holdings RNS about Anthony Cross taking a big stake. I guess he may be taking more on, but wonder who is selling ?

[skier100] 18/8/2014 15:19

ARC need to focus more on new business and communicating that crisply to investors. Cryptic clues about the "oldest" banking organisation are a poor show. ARC is a stock, not a crossword puzzle.

[multibagger] 18/8/2014 07:49

Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

hxxp://www.bis.org

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is an international financial organisation representing the most important centre for the international cooperation of central banks. As a result, BIS is referred to as the bank of central banks. The BIS currently has 55 member central banks.

The BIS was established on 17 May 1930 and is the world's oldest international financial organisation. Its name was derived from its original purpose - to administer all financial operations related to post-war reparations in compliance with the Treaty of Versailles. From its beginning, however, the BIS was a place where official cooperation between central banks and financial institutions began. The head office is in Basel, (Switzerland) which was selected because of the country's neutrality. Two representative offices were then later established in Hong Kong and Mexico City. After World War II, the BIS was entrusted with the handling of the Bretton Woods monetary system but also with settlement of other serious crises which had an impact on global financial development. The BIS provided emergency help to central banks and financial institutions whose currencies and systems got into trouble (1931-33 in Germany and Austria, 1968 in France, 1966-68 in Great Britain, 1982 in Mexico, and 1998 in Brazil). The BIS provided also venue for cooperation between European central banks during the preparation and establishment of the European monetary system and the European Currency Institute, predecessor of the European Central Bank (ECB), was located at the BIS until its move to Frankfurt in 1994.

The authorised capital of the BIS is denominated in the SDR (Special Drawing Rights) and represents share capital subscribed exclusively by member central banks.
BIS Bodie
The Board of Directors currently has 19official members. Central bank Governors of Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the US Federal Reserve System are serving as ex officio Directors. According to the BIS Statutes, no more than 9 other Governors are elected members of the Board of Directors. The Board meets at least 6 times a year and approves reports on the bank's administrative and financial activities.

The BIS Governors meet bi-monthly to monitor global economic and financial developments and to discuss problems of monetary and financial stability, financial market supervision and the management of central banks.

The Board of Directors delegates the right of decision-making regarding the bank's operations to the bank's top management, which is headed by the General Manager. In 2008, Mr. Jaime Caruana was elected as the BIS General Manager. He will take the office on 1 April 2009. The bank's management prepares and approves decisions on BIS business and banking operations as well as bank policies concerning budget and staff.

The BIS General Meeting is always held after the end of each financial year (31 March). It approves the BIS annual report as well as the amount of the dividend.
BIS Activities

The BIS cooperates with more than 100 of the world's central banks and international financial institutions, contributing regular statistical reviews and various thematic analyses as well as working on a number of committees and other professional groups:

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) provides a forum for regular cooperation on banking supervisory matters. The BCBS develops standards for prudential supervision of the banking business and monitors compliance with those standards in order to strengthen the stability of the international banking system.

The Committee on the Global Financial System (CGFS) monitors the conditions of the world's financial system and, based on analyses, prepares for the G10 Governors strategic recommendations aimed at improving the functioning of financial markets and the global financial system.

The Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems (CPSS) monitors and analyses the development of domestic payment and settlement systems and prepares proposals for standards in this field.

The Markets Committee, formerly known as the Committee on Gold and Foreign Exchange, monitors the functioning of foreign exchange markets and analyses the implications of particular recent developments on their functioning, including the consideration of possible future trends.

The BIS actively contributes to the improvement of international financial structures in cooperation with other financial institutions, such as the Financial Stability Forum (FSF), the International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI) and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), and alone established the Financial Stability Institute (FSI) to help strengthen financial systems and institutions on a global scale, especially when implementing the rules of prudential banking business and improving banking supervision.

The BIS is also an international forum for the coordination of technical help between central banks and at the same time provides technical help in the form of thematically focused training programmes.

[oilbuy] 18/8/2014 07:05

("Arcontech", the "Company" or the "Group")Final Results for the Year Ended 30 June 2014Chairman's StatementArcontech has achieved a significantly improved operating result for the year ended 30 June 2014, with a loss before taxation and exceptional items of GBP35,565 (2013: loss before taxation and exceptional items of GBP340,750). After taking the benefit of the Research and Development tax credit of GBP100,251 (2013: GBP88,905) which the company receives due to the amount it has invested in qualifying product design and development, Arcontech achieved a profit after tax of GBP64,686 (2013: loss after tax of GBP251,845).Turnover for the year was GBP1,981,375 (2013: GBP1,830,717), an increase of 8%. This increase, whilst positive, is lower than we would have hoped to achieve due in part to the continued lengthening of sales cycles and to customers prioritising areas subject to greater regulatory focus than those addressed by our products. However, at 30 June 2014 the annual recurring licence fees amounted to GBP1,985,355 (2013: GBP1,884,778) representing 98% of our annualised running costs (2013: 87%).

[michaelx105] 15/8/2014 14:27

Morning Star says it's gone up 4.12%.

[skier100] 15/8/2014 13:10

ARC results will be published on Mon 18th Aug 2014.

Expect to see a return to profitability for the half-year. That will be "step 1" completed.

The next "step 2" will be to get the ARC sales team actually selling and bringing in some new revenues. ARC needs more new clients.

And "step 3" needs to update on how the "major central bank" software trial is performing.

If all those 3 steps are delivered well, ARC will quickly rise into the 0.3p to 0.6p range.

[puzzler2] 15/8/2014 12:49

On the basis of 19 August last year for results, I'm reckoning on an RNS on one of Tuesday to Thursday next week. I'm anticipating a return to profitability and some positive comment on future strategy / products. Hopefully, the reason that Anthony Cross took an 11% stake will become clear.

[multibagger] 13/8/2014 13:05

Signs of life and hopefully something stirring....2.5m trade@ 0.19p :)

[puzzler2] 13/8/2014 08:38

Tiny volume and for a second day the share is marked down. Looking forward to the "returned to profitability" RNS - tomorrow?

[hazl] 12/8/2014 09:07

yes they could well be soon rns that is 8-)

edit annual report 18 08 2014 according to morning star and they have down apparently as a' buy' in the brokers column

imo

[multibagger] 12/8/2014 07:58

Year ended 30 June 2014 results are due anytime now.

Previously announced on 19.08.2013
03.08.2012

Hardly any trading at all over the last week or so...let us see if today is any different.

[multibagger] 05/8/2014 16:22

Spoke too soon ?!

[hazl] 05/8/2014 15:52

I dare say they'll be scrabbling to get them next minute puzzler!

[puzzler2] 05/8/2014 15:46

£2K's worth of shares traded today and the share price is down 13% - really?