Great Portland Estates Share Discussion Threads

[corrientes] 02/1/2004 14:26

What a dog ! I put some in here for my daughter a few years ago. I seem to think the old Equitable Life boss is a director of this mob, taking fees for doing buggar all.No wonder it's a dog.

[keyboard] 02/1/2004 12:32

Once upon a time this was the best stock in my portfolio, Oh, for those heady days, and I was lucky to sell out at unbelievable profits, but it seems to
be stagnating now, and if you look at past trends, the share price has
always risen in December. It didn't do so this time. I was thinking
of reentering at some point, but after watching the December price movements, I
have decided to give it a miss. I doubt very much we shall see the same performance in the very near future
that it produced when it was known as F&C Enterprise.
Have a look at something called MPF, if you are adventurous. A recent IPO.
You'll have to do some research though.

[unix] 02/1/2004 12:25

Anyone still bothering with GPE - seems to be very lacklustre these days?!

[andrewd] 03/8/2002 13:33

Now trading at 25.3% discount to NAV (Trustnet).

[itsourpete] 27/5/2002 20:05

deltablues - these used to trade at hefty premiums when F & C Enterprise. I think the word is getting around now that they are still trading at a discount to NAV. That technical breakout looks as though a re-rating to close that 12% gap is on the cards quite shortly, IMHO.

Pete

[ajinvesting] 27/5/2002 18:50

Bought some more to fund another uni year for my daughter. Signs for GPE look promising in an otherwise dull - or worse - market.
AJ

[corrientes] 24/5/2002 12:46

I put my daughter into GPE many years ago,and she's got a three to four bagger
which thankfully she won't touch.I agree the cycle has turned and remember them
saying it would take a few years before they started investing their cash again.

[itsourpete] 23/5/2002 20:35

RNS Number:3420W
Ottakar's PLC
23 May 2002



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 23 May 2002



OTTAKAR'S PLC

Graphite Enterprise Trust PLC give notice that as result of a sale of 150,000
shares on 21 May 2002, Graphite Enterprise Trust PLC now holds 1,181,071 shares
(5.87% of the share capital based on 20,120,869 shares being in issue).





Contact:
Edward Knighton Tel: [phone]
Ottakar's plc

[itsourpete] 22/5/2002 19:38

Good day today - looks as though it may break through the 240p barrier and get re-rated as a result?

Pete

[maplinrover] 21/5/2002 22:15

My understanding of GPE is it went through a cycle of putting cash into new companies and then partially realizing cash as some of these investments came to the main market. I understand that they were in no hurry to reinvest this cash because of the lack of good opportunities. They may or may not have started to invest this cash but of course any discount to n.a.v. relates to its investments so the true nav is greater if there is any significant cash held. This may explain post 2 above. If the anticipated economic recovery comes along within the next year then GPE could well ride the wave provided it selected its investments well. It's track record over the past five or six years has been very good at doing just that.

[itsourpete] 20/5/2002 19:43

AJ

GPE's exposure to CCC has reduced over the last year - enabling GPE to increase their exposure to unquoteds. CCC are actually a rather good company IMHO and I think that GPE should continue to hold. The fall out in technology (etc) shares has affected CCC but show me another company making consistent profits the way that they do on that kind of turnover?

The discount should narrow soon as a re-rating of the shares emerges.

Purse - yes a great long term hold IMHO.

Good luck to all investors,

Pete

[purse] 20/5/2002 15:00

Hi,

It's nice to know I'm not the only person with these. Bought as part of an F&C ISA, they have certainly struggled ro reach their early levels. But I agree the signs are better & they remain a long term hold.

[ajinvesting] 19/5/2002 23:11

pete

Am in for a modest amount investing long-term for my daughter's university fees. Inclined to agree that the managers seem to be getting their act together.

The Trust still holds a lot of Computacenter, though, which seems down-and-out these days. However, also made a mint on Ottakars, so not all bad.

I checked the discount only yesterday and some website told me it was 28%? The Trustnet link above gives 15% and you quote 18%. I guess it's not a science this investing lark :-)

AJ

[itsourpete] 16/5/2002 22:53

Graphite Enterprise may not sound like a stock worth following. After all, its an INVESTMENT TRUST! So, why the thread? GPE were formally known as Foreign & Colonial Enterprise Trust (ring any bells yet?) - prior to the re-badging it was one of the best performing investment trusts of any kind. BUT it lost its way somewhat and became over exposed to quoted equities. However, this has changed. GPE has now shifted its strategy back to the type that made it so successful, investing much more heavily in new ventures.

But will these ventures be successful? IMHO yes. They already have a significant investment in YELL for example who will shortly be coming to the market. Leapfrog nurseries too are coming on stream soon.

Are GPE trading on a premium to NAV then? Well, they used to as F&C Enterprise BUT they are currently trading at c 18% DISCOUNT to NAV. GPE also tend to understate the value of their assets - often at net purchase price.

Am I a shareholder? Yes.

Check them out. Do your own research. See what you think. Trustnet is a site worth looking up to do comparisons.

Regards,

Pete