Electric Word Share Discussion Threads

[tony14] 28/11/2003 08:07

RNS Number:6082S
Electric Word PLC
28 November 2003



Electric Word plc

("Company")

Placing and Acquisition

Electric Word plc, the specialist professional development publisher, announces
the acquisition of pfp publishing Ltd (pfp) for a cash consideration of #1.1m.

The consideration will be funded by the placing of 16,640,000 new ordinary
shares in the Company at 6.25p per share, to raise #1.04m before expenses. The
balance of the consideration will be funded from Electric Word's existing cash
resources. Dealings in the new ordinary shares issued under the placing are
expected to commence on 1 December 2003.

Pfp - primary file publishing - publishes nine loose-leaf files sold on
subscription to the schools market, one of Electric Word's key market sectors,
and a range of supporting books and classroom materials.

"We have been following this business for some time," commented Electric Word
Chief Executive Julian Turner. "It is a very close fit with our existing
subscriptions and conference business in schools; pfp's traditional strength in
primary schools neatly complements our Optimus newsletters, most of which are
aimed at the secondary school market. And as the acquired titles are more
established than many of our existing portfolio, the deal will significantly
advance Electric Word's profitability."

Chris Kington, former Vice-Chair of the Education Publishers Council and
Electric Word's director for education publishing, will be taking on pfp's
stable of established and respected products: "After a year of energetic organic
growth, with seven successful new launches, this acquisition accelerates our
growth by bringing in nine new subscription products, many of which are in
management or curriculum areas that we had already targeted for strategic
development. The opportunity is to combine some super products with our
marketing and publishing systems - disciplines in which we believe we are second
to none in this market."

Pfp is Electric Word's fourth acquisition since floating in March 2000. Optimus
Publishing Ltd was acquired in May 2000, Lottery Monitor Ltd in July 2000 and
the education books division of The Stationery Office in November 2001. In the
year ended 31 March 2003, following a significant investment in new products,
pfp produced a loss before tax of #1,157, excluding directors' fees and
drawings, on a turnover of #1,130,991. At 31 March 2003, net liabilities were
#90,240.

The Company also takes the opportunity to report that trading has been in line
with or ahead of expectation in all markets. It has been a particularly
encouraging start to the new school year, with the fourth quarter heading
towards being the Company's best ever for new subscription and conference orders
from schools, driven by the successful launch of three new newsletters and a
number of first-time events.




This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END
ACQBRBBTMMJTTRJ

[shortermer1] 26/11/2003 16:35

Nice 200k buy today at full offer of 8.5p.

Good news must be coming imo.

:-))

ST.

[shortermer1] 25/11/2003 21:39

Decent vols yesterday.

Another run to 10p perhaps??

Aren't results due soon??

ST.

[pagey1] 06/11/2003 15:57

guys - don't get fooled by Wray - you should have bailed out at 9p a few months ago

[terry91] 06/11/2003 14:13

Well started the day down then they upped the bid another just moved on the bid looks like we may see this one go 2 bid now 1 offer.

[grevis] 01/11/2003 11:17

Does anyone know when their results are due?

[mooreatupton] 19/8/2003 09:34

Enq

I'm still here watching and waiting. We were promised this 'rocket' on this BB back in April. Slapmewithakipper - are you still there, do you have any more info?

[enq] 19/8/2003 09:17

Some good size early market buying today & 3v3 on L2.
Rgrds all/anyone. Enq.

[byroneck] 19/8/2003 00:25

There were some bigish buys today @ around 10-10.5 mark. This would suggest furhter momentum is possible. Will see how far this pull back goes before I think of getting in again.

[enq] 18/8/2003 17:16

Gains held well today & the 60k delayed buy looks interesting for tomorrow - what intrigued me about this was the constant rising without retracement (and of course the director's investment). Anyone else got an interest ? Regs. Enq.

[enq] 18/8/2003 14:39

Well done again advfn, 50k buy at 13:34 shows with a trans time of 14:34. (trades page tells the true story)

[enq] 18/8/2003 14:23

Certainly found support at 9.38, will be interesting to see if this is a walk up or if there's something more behind the rise. Rgrds all. Enq.

[byroneck] 18/8/2003 10:13

Yes.. bit gutted.. but this will pull back over the coming days...

[lex1000] 18/8/2003 09:47

Anyone selling friday must be feeling a little sick as there seems to be no stopping this run away train up another 20.9%.

[byroneck] 18/8/2003 08:56

Mention in the times and N. Wrays recent buys. Think the MM's are screwing with this one. They read the papers too and they are walking this up to then buy back the shares at a lower price..

Can not see any real justification for todays hike and expect this to fall back later today for tomorrow. Small volumes and small trades.

N.Wrays last purchase was at 7p and with current offer at 9.5 thats a 35% rise...

Something a little mroe gradual would be more reassuring.

[pagey1] 18/8/2003 08:42

Miquel - It hasn't traded above 9.5p for the past 2 years

[miguel] 18/8/2003 08:33

pagey1

What trading range?? This share has almost doubled in the past few months. Which chart are you looking at? There has been heavy buying by Nigel Wray, and this was mentioned in the Sunday Times yesterday. Hardly surprising that it is on the move upwards.

[pagey1] 18/8/2003 08:29

Offer now 10p - must be about to break out of trading range - What is Wray up to?

[pagey1] 18/8/2003 08:21

10% mark up today with only 53K shares traded - what going on, mm's must know something!!

[xyllyx] 15/8/2003 15:59

...and don't forget Wray earned his spurs through a similar subscription based publications enterprise called "Fleet Street Letter". So he knows where he's putting his money.

[byroneck] 15/8/2003 09:08

Have just sold my 50K.. not because I don't see this rising futher.. just because I have seen something else where that should give a quicker return... short term. WIll be keeping an eye on this for as much as people say Wray is not to be trusted.. he has been putting his personal money on this one regular and often...

[shortermer1] 14/8/2003 16:41

Up yet again today to 8.25p-8.75p.

The trades look like mainly sells but I guess there'll be a few delayed buys in there late on to show up.

Anyone got any price targets for this one??

Thanks,

ST.

[egoi] 12/8/2003 22:28

Although I am not a Wray fan, know this is being talked about bullishly on other sites. Trouble is I remember Wray's investments, Thomas Potts, Talisman House (AKA Seymour Pierce).......... long list. But could rise further short term, has momentum and I expect volumes to increase too.

[you for coffee] 12/8/2003 21:59

The negative balance sheet is due to the high value of deferred income. i.e. subscriptions recieved for goods not supplied yet (monthly publications) and therefore a liability until the goods are supplied.