Hardy Amies Share Discussion Threads

[bungler] 18/1/2008 12:36

I certainly like to think so ladybird. I may be being over-optimistic but I can't help feeling there must be some grand plan pulling all these things together down the line.

[ladybird1] 18/1/2008 11:45

Thanks the posts. We all basically think alike. It's the old glass half full or half empty bit, I suppose. I focus on the pitfalls , others on the opportunities.

Thanks indeed bungler - a long term fit with HA, perhaps?

[bungler] 18/1/2008 11:33

Not directly relevant to HRD but as we're talking of Arev - this from Retail Week.

"Arev buys majority stake in Aspinal of London
Published: 16 January 2008 12:41Author:Lisa Berwin
" Retail investment group Arev has taken a majority stake in luxury leather goods retailer Aspinal of London."


Downturn or no downturn clearly Arev still have faith in the luxury goods market.....

[boscolane] 18/1/2008 11:12

I simply think that AREV are very serious players with contacts and connections all over retail. They are experts in turning businesses around and have long term plans for HRD which won't be derailed by a slight downturn in the economy.
I suspect they will want to sell on the business in time and are planningn further expansion on other continents so the UK retail sector will become less important over time.

[ladybird1] 18/1/2008 10:57

Agreed, bosco. My original comment, as I said, was fairly light hearted, everything having gome quiet for a period.

At this point, we simply just don't know, of course.

I'm not too sure that HA as a more volume retailer can be 'top end' outside The House & Knightsbridge, but that's a semantic quibble really. If there is a decent report, the stock will fly. If not, it will plough and the future look pretty bleak, for the reasons given.

Rather wish I hadn't started this hare running now, but now must just wait and see.

[boscolane] 18/1/2008 10:45

Thats a very pessimistic outlook ladybird. Retail sales are down on last year but the economy isn't collapsing and there is no reason to suggest the new HRD stores are dramatically underperforming.
In fact at the top end there is still plenty of money so things may not be as bad as some people think.
the new licence agreements are in place and costs are being contained. Just because a few people selling has caused a share price drop doesnt necessarily mean the update will be bad.

[seizetheday] 18/1/2008 00:07

the 3 guys who sold today sold respectively 250 quid, 1600 quid, 2000 quid.
With those staggering figures (!) they all must have great power and very important contacts; they must know what it is going on and they do not want to risk their fortunes (especially the guy who sold 250 quid)...


I think this is only a great sign!!!

[ladybird1] 17/1/2008 16:25

The fear is, of course, that if sales suggest they have expanded at just the wrong time, then with their capital position they will look very vulnerable. It only takes a couple of sellers and no buyers in this stock to send it back down, posibly for the last time. Or vice versa, of course.

We await the update with resigned interest.

[mirex] 17/1/2008 15:48

yeah, but quiet good, nobody noticing HRD and price not dropping like everything else retail!!!

:o)

[ladybird1] 17/1/2008 15:09

Nominal bid only - see prices actualy realised. Still, as you say, a couple of sales tells us absolutely nothing - just a light hearted comment, really, as it's been so quiet.

[mirex] 17/1/2008 15:00

...or cold feet. Thinking is porbably that unless its an amazing update (not viabley possible really) will result in some attention and bring share price down. It's only offer price down, bid price still 2.25.

[ladybird1] 17/1/2008 14:26

A couple getting out before the Xmas update, it would seem. Heard the odd rumour perhaps?

[ladybird1] 15/1/2008 18:37

Worth reading the Burberry update. share price took a beating (probably slightly unfair, reflecting the conditions MireX refers to)but not a bad performance in parts.

[mirex] 15/1/2008 16:48

I wouldn't want to release a TU this week, suicide for the share price! DEB had a good TU and went down! But, as you say, top and bottom ends of retail are OK with the big boys and middle suffering even on good statements thouhg. With FTSE touching 6k, DOW down triple figures again, lows are being tested everywhere!

Still waiting for WLW statement, confident here and there! Depends on market though. Flatlined here is fine, one of the only shares i haven't lost on lately!

:o) Hoping for 21st or 24th for TU from HRD!

[boscolane] 10/1/2008 15:06

Oh well, no update today.
Retail has had a pretty lean time of it over christmas but that need not necessarily mean a problem for HRD.
Im sure the city simply wants to see progress in turning the company around and there is little doubt they are doing that.
More patience is needed while the share is becalmed.

[ladybird1] 02/1/2008 10:33

Good summary, bosco. The press reports on clothing sales in particular are mixed; quality end seems to be standing up best. As a finger-in-the-air, does anyone know whether they are having a 'massive reductions' sale in the retail outlets? I live a long way from the action.

[boscolane] 01/1/2008 22:27

Happy New Year to one and all.
I think that in the current retail climate it would be unrealistic to expect bumper returns from the new stores at this stage. Hopefully the numbers will be somewhere near their expectations and that trading from Saville row is pushing ahead. I reckon that even when money is tight there is still a market for top quality clothes regardless of the cost.
A friend of mine lives near the house and says it seems busier than ever so thats a good sign.
The trading statement due shortly will be very interesting. It came around the 11th of Jan last year. Thursdays seem popular so maybe the 10th this year. We shall see.

[mirex] 31/12/2007 12:22

FLAT for a month now. Boring, but gives confidence in the price.

[ladybird1] 19/12/2007 17:55

And Seasonal greetings to you, bungler, and to all other posters. Trust the tills are ringing in London, Chester & Edinburgh.

[bungler] 19/12/2007 11:53

Late Christmas present suggestion? Being sartorially incompetent I might just get a copy myself. Happy Christmas HRDers and let's look forward to a very exciting 2008!

ABC of Men's Fashion
The reprint of Saville Row's men's tailoring pioneer Sir Hardy Amies' 1964 book ABC of Men's Fashion makes a great gift for both the fashion-obsessed and the sartorially incompetent. The alphabetical guide to men's clothing approaches issues from the etiquette of dressing for all occasions to the meaning of technical terms with wit and expert knowledge.

Available from Amazon for $14

[timbo003] 12/12/2007 18:57

If there is a rights issue, providing the total amount being raised is under £2M it should qualify for very generous EIS tax reliefs, which would be most welcome.

[pictureframe] 12/12/2007 18:32

Some interesting points raised there thanks for the input .

[ladybird1] 12/12/2007 09:45

Agree, bosco. The likelihood was referred to specifically in the last update. It is needed to repay the loan, which was basically bridging finance. I too would see it as a very positive sign, if only in that the business will have to be showing positive signs in order to be able to get it away.

Coming back to pf.'s basic point, if they are able to show good progress, then the share price will rise beforehand - possibly quite sharply - and facilitate the issue at a price fair to existing shareholders and their resulting dilution if they don't wish to/can't subscribe further.

Put another way, the business will need financing if it is to meet its plans. If it can't make sufficient progess to justify a rights issue late 2008, then it's probably going to struggle with the debt burden.