Fountains Share Discussion Threads

[praipus] 18/10/2007 17:38

Are there any other quoted business out there that do forestry work or similar?

[thecornishman2] 18/10/2007 15:07

Hi G,

Looks like a few others were out at lunch too :-) I thought the initial mark-up was a bit on the low side, but I see that has now been addressed.

I'd agree with you (again!) that there really isn't much detail to go on at present. It's a nice bump-up in the price today but whether it will lead to a real offer only time will tell I guess.

For Susiebe, I think the important thing is that the company seems to be recovering from the hiccough 18 months or so ago and has been fairly upbeat with regards to trading conditions. On that basis alone I would be a happy holder; the possibility of a bid is just icing on the cake.

Regards

TC

[gengulphus] 18/10/2007 14:07

It only came out 27 minutes ago, and some of us were at lunch!

Looks promising, but no real detail - just that some unspecified bidder is sniffing around...

Gengulphus

[susiebe] 18/10/2007 13:58

No comment from the RNS today?!
Strange..

[zico01] 25/6/2007 11:41

Forestry leaves all other asset classes behind
By Jonathan Russell, Sunday Telegraph
Last Updated: 2:13am BST 24/06/2007



Forestry has emerged as the best-performing asset class of 2006 with a return of 20.6 per cent, ahead of commercial property, equities and bonds.


According to figures from research house Investment Property Databank both land values and the price of timber rose significantly over the year creating bumper returns for the small army of private investors in the sector.

However the surprise performance of one of the smallest investment sectors in the UK is likely to lead to renewed calls for the privatisation of the state-owned Forestry Commission, the dominant player in the sector.

Alan Guy, acquisitions manager at forestry management company Fountains, said: "Fountains feels it is time for UK forestry to be released from the restriction of state ownership. We are talking about the privatisation of the Forestry Commission. There is a role for Government and for a regulated Forestry Commission, however the structure is not right at the moment. It is the only substantial industry in the country where the Government has such a huge role."

The Forestry Commission, which manages 44 per cent of Britain's 1.6m hectares of commercial forestry, has been criticised in the past for distorting the market for timber in the UK. Saddled with set income targets the organisation typically responds to a fall in timber prices by increasing output, driving prices down further and infuriating private forestry investors. On conservative estimates, the Forestry Commission controls assets valued at over £2bn.

The increases in the value of UK timber has been driven by a global shortage of wood as demand from China soaks up world supply. In the UK the emergence of timber as a source of fuel for new-generation power stations in places such as Lockerbie in Scotland and Shotton in North Wales, as well as the revival of wood as a building material has forced prices ever higher.

The performance of forestry over the last two years - in 2005 the sector saw returns of 14.4 according to IPD - has seen a range of new investors enter the sector. Traditionally dominated by wealthy private investors, a number of institutional investors such as pension funds are known to have invested in forestry.

With investors paying no income tax on sales of timber, no capital gains tax on forestry owned for more than two years, and no inheritance tax, the sector has always been a magnet for the rich looking for wealth preservation schemes.

Investment Property Databank research director Malcolm Frodsham said: "The combinations of a range of investor types that have been keen to buy into the sector, rising agricultural land values and rising timber prices have all contributed to the return and show no signs of abating in 2007."

[lauders] 08/6/2007 06:40

Swag2 - I think the buys were connected to what I believe is a IC tip today. Of course I could be totally wrong, and the tip might be a sell instead of a buy, but we will no doubt see with the price action today.

[swag2] 07/6/2007 11:49

Two buys - that's almost a stampede.

[swag2] 07/6/2007 10:19

At last a buy!

[swag2] 21/5/2007 11:10

Shame really - this company is off a lot of radar screens at the moment. Personally, imo these results are just the start of great things. Return to dividend, sales up by double digits, return to cash generation, anticipated substantial increase in order book - that suggests good growth prospects to me.

[molatovkid] 21/5/2007 10:02

despite what I wrote above, I was a bit disappointed. I expected something a bit better and so sold out first thing. Pity really as I had my hopes up....but never mind, made a small 4% gain in a few weeks

[swag2] 21/5/2007 08:16

And yet down 1.5p! You have to laugh!

[molatovkid] 21/5/2007 07:18

so...return to profitability, growing order book, restoration of dividend, not at all bad!

[swag2] 18/5/2007 12:17

I would have thought people would be buying in - after all, "significantly ahead" is not something to sell over!

[molatovkid] 15/5/2007 15:57

agreed ian, i reckon we could be in for a strong performance on monday

[iandippie] 15/5/2007 11:59

Interims should be extrmely good, given that they were already known to the company when they made the "significantly ahead for the full year" trading update. Only wished I'd bought more than I did recently! Six days to go till results, and it looks like we are going to make a strong run up to then (and hopefully beyond!)

[meadow50] 04/5/2007 12:26

Bought 3000 on a T20 but had to pay a tad under 124p.Will know soon what significantly ahead means.

[lauders] 04/5/2007 09:04

Hi everyone - Read the RNS today on the Newswire website and was interested in finding out more. Looks like some regular names are here with a good track record and like the company's website. If I had some spare cash would buy, but will have to watch and hope I can get in on any dips later. Posted a piece on the TMF PP board about the RNS, but no apparent interest in it as of now. Would be good for feedback from the AGM when it comes. Looks good though, well done for those who spotted the potential early on.

[bigbigdave] 04/5/2007 08:26

Green issues and all that. Press might latch onto this imo

[iandippie] 04/5/2007 08:24

i'm a bit dippie when it comes to charts, but 140 looks to be on the cards pretty quickly imo

[iandippie] 04/5/2007 08:21

ta penpont.

[penpont] 04/5/2007 08:17

They do (07/8):

Collins Stewart 20-02-07 HOLD 6.20 8.80

[lord santafe] 04/5/2007 07:58

Going to get some first thing. This looks great.

[lord santafe] 04/5/2007 07:58

Going to get some first thing. This looks great.