Hss Hire Share Discussion Threads

[genghis can] 21/2/2003 23:15

because i keep an eye on allsorts - including dogs like this, especially when i have come across them or know a bit about them - in fact i did deal in this one in the past - probably about a year or 2 ago , after i think techinvest punted them - i knew they had no real value or prospects but at the time knew sentiment would suck in a few for a short lived rise - i think if i recall i got in at about 40 and out at 70p - nice little profit in a short time - but i knew that these bunch of loosers had no real value or prospects and that it would revert to the dead dog it is, so i just have a look from time to time and watch it totally predictably and inexorably reveal itself as the numbnut run company it is and watch it sink lower and lower ever since - now i just have a look from time to time, read the pathetic annual and half annual excuses - you only have to read them to know this lot just dont have a clue at all - its amusing really - the only reason i bothered with the posts here was your comment - have you watched it for a while or do you know it? current or ex employee? Do you know anything or just ramping? I would be interested if you could challenge or counter my observations - i think it would be hard. I reckon you are an employee?
genghis

[addict] 21/2/2003 15:06

Genghis,
So why your interest-negative or otherwise?

[genghis can] 21/2/2003 13:44

addict
And how long ago were these £1??? Years - he was probably on the inside then and as he got sacked just wanted to get his cash. I dont read anything significant into his buying those (comparitively) few. And he hasnt bought ant since so its hardly a significant accumulation.

As to this company 'reacting quickly to upturn' - some hope - they have never reacted to anything with a positive outcome - its all disaster and damage limitation - name 1 successful 'initiative' or venture! As to quickly - dream on - this fossilised bunch of old foggies have to cal;l the nurse to take them for a quick jimmy! And as to recuitment - which is all this is - what upturn?? Dont know if you are in the IT / Finance markets, but I can tell you upturn is the last thing anyone is talking about or expecting !

Appreciate your posts and comments though, but if you know of anything concretly positive of their past or current management performance i would like to hear it- i dont know anyone who has dealt with them that has a good word for them as a management rump (gang of 3 isnt it?) passing round the 2 grey cells!

Going nowhere at all IMHO - just a very sleepy and diminishing way of the total uninspiring and lacklustre managers of earning a good wack before they turn out the lights and toddle of to the senility ward.
DYOR but have you actually had the misfortune to meet that Andrews guy (MD)? I did once 2/3 years back - couldnt believe who he was supposed to be - totallly uninspiring nonentity - nothing to say to the extent i thought he was the goffer!
genghis

[addict] 21/2/2003 09:50

Genghis,
Interesting post-but there could be a different angle on this one IMHO.The ex-director you refer to was selling stock at above £1 a share,so full marks for calling the top.Maybe he's now calling the bottom.Shares are now trading well below net current assets,and the company is sufficiently downsized to react quickly to an upturn.Corporate activity cannot be ruled out,given the small market cap and ratio to net current assets,and shareholdings.DYOR.

[genghis can] 20/2/2003 13:51

This company is going nowhere - but down and out. Its a clapped out, shrinking, rudderless recuitment company

That buyer of a few - Drinan - WAS a Director - years ago - got sacked for sleeping on the job as a waster. Gather he's well out of the picture and know - certainly not in any 'inner circle' (thats just a few left over old managers who have hung on because they know no one else would give thenm a job) -someone said to me this bonzo was just punting on the offchance.

The few (very few) good people they had have gone (long ago), current management has been known and proven to be inept for years, have pocketed the cash and looking and doing nothing other than sitting and watch the company stagger on to a smaller base day by day until it disappears.

The company never had a road map anyway and so it is not surprising it lost its way a long time ago. Just lived off the back of easy money from poor old contractors.

Very poor management without any vision, experience or strategic ability, coasted along on the back of the 90's easy money ride for recruitment agencies.

The current remaining significant shareholder / MD couldn’t manage a 'booze up in a brewery'

It tried consultancy - unsuccessfully, its one attempt at expansion/ acquisition by the then MD (in desperation)failed entirely in year 1 with a £2m loss (and the MD gotten rid of a good while back).

It still has some clapped out factoring package with no new sales (or likelihood)that has been woefully in need of investment for the best part of a decade - and not provided.

All in all its a clapped out recruitment agency, with no ideas or chance or effort - just getting smaller and smaller. If you were desperate enough to want to waste your money on a recuitment agency - it certasinly wouldnt be this one!

If you have any pennies left in this clapped out no future penny share - IMHO you should take them now

DYOR

[alecjm] 14/1/2003 08:17

Think it is worth watching for now rather than entering, better things available.....

[pommy] 14/1/2003 08:13

Divi has been hammered with the share price!!! Dividends Announcement Date Type Curr. Dividend Amount Period Start Period End Ex Date Record Date Payment Date Total Dividend Amount 14 Jun 2002 Final GBP 0.10 31-Mar-01 31-Mar-02 10-Jul-02 12-Jul-02 08-Aug-02 0.10 15 Jun 2001 Final GBP 0.25 31-Mar-00 31-Mar-01 11-Jul-01 13-Jul-01 10-Aug-01 0.25 14 Jun 2000 Final GBP 0.25 31-Mar-99 31-Mar-00 10-Jul-00 14-Jul-00 11-Aug-00 0.25 14 Jun 1999 Final GBP 1.10 31-Mar-98 31-Mar-99 21-Jun-99 25-Jun-99 27-Aug-99 1.10 11 Jun 1998 Final GBP 1.00 31-Mar-97 31-Mar-98 22-Jun-98 26-Jun-98 28-Aug-98 1.00 

[alecjm] 14/1/2003 07:59

Have a look on Fundamentals, no interim, but has been full year for the last few years.....

[pommy] 14/1/2003 07:55

would be nice to find out who this buyer is.
The IT recruitment business is on its knees at the moment, there are signs of an improvement but to win business these types of co's are having to compete with lower commission rates on lower contract rates so they are suffering a double whammy!!
I see so many ads on jobserve for jobs are know just dont exist, i smell desperation out there at the moment.
So your decision as to this as a flutter has to be based on does Mr Drinan know something not in the public domain!!!

Whats the divi history here?

[alecjm] 14/1/2003 07:43

just had a flick through the trades, been lots of buys at 9p hardly any sells lately....

any thoughts to this as a flutter..??

[pommy] 14/1/2003 07:37

maybe a straight foward takeover then.
Ive never liked them much as they hasled me too much and ripped off their contractors with outrageous commission rates,most of my peers no longer will use them.

I have heard rumours of a take over, so will be interesting to see if this guy picks up any more stock

[alecjm] 14/1/2003 07:34

Dont look like it....

Edwars Andrews - Managing Director
Maurice Eve - Finance Director and Company Secretary
Bryan Martin - Executive Director
John Higham - Non-Executive Deputy Chairman
Nigel Maw - Non-Executive Chairman
Clive Williams - Executive Director

[pommy] 14/1/2003 07:32

Is this guy a director?

I know this co very well from my work and they have been doing it very tough, wouldnt be suprised to see an MBO if this is a director buying the shares!!

[alecjm] 14/1/2003 07:29

RNS Number:1097G
Highams Systems Services Group PLC
14 January 2003

14 January 2003




HIGHAMS SYSTEMS SERVICES GROUP PLC

Notification of Holdings



Highams Systems Services Group plc (the "Company") was notified on 10 January
2003 that Mr. D. Drinan has purchased 200,000 ordinary shares in the Company.
Mr. D. Drinan is now interested in 2,198,780 ordinary shares representing 11.23
per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company in the following registered
names:



Registered Name No. Ordinary Shares

D. J. Drinan 912,380
Mr. D. Drinan and Mrs J. Drinan 198,484
Mrs. J. Drinan 35,616
New Town Nominees Limited 1,052,300
2,198,780





END.






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

HOLBRGDBDDBGGXX






19.5 Million shares in issue, and has paid a dividend for the last 5 years, IMO, needs looking into further.....

[addict] 20/12/2002 00:22

mg,
I think they're weathering the storm remarkably well,and given the reduction in turnover,profitability has held up above expectations.Seems to me a very modest upturn in the market will achieve wonders for the share price.It looks as though that small buy caused the spread to close-tiny market for the shares I guess.DYOR.

[mg] 19/12/2002 09:13

addict
Interesting that the spread narrowed from 7.5/9 as a result of this morning's figures. BUT - they have an analysts briefing at 10:00 - maybe we might hear a bit more at that. It'll be easy to spot as there haven't been any trades on this share since Monday - and that was about 4.5k - ie. £360 !!!

[addict] 19/12/2002 08:01

Worth taking a look at this tiddler.In a hostile business environment the management seem to be doing what's necessary to position it for the upturn.I like the cash generation and the significant contract win in a growing sector.Balance sheet looks solid relative to market cap.Maybe small is beautiful!

[shortermer1] 30/7/2002 09:24

Up again on zero volume.

ST.

[shortermer1] 25/7/2002 11:43

Looks like a nice 50k delayed buy just shown up.

ST.

[pommy] 25/11/2001 08:39

Bunch of cowboys as a company, I could not get involved. They know my exact skill set and yet ring me up with the most stupid comments. They are supposed to be recruitment people and yet dont even know the market that they are trying to place me in.
I tend to use a rival organisation (private company) you know the market and have the contacts to keep my in employment.

[gedy] 25/11/2001 07:51

It's quite in here, is there anybody here?

[rajesh pampapathi] 13/10/1999 11:51

--> Dougal, I've called John Higham again this morning. He was out of the office unitl this afternoon - when I plan to try him again. Meanwhile, do you have any ideas on what might be behind the rise?

[dougal] 13/10/1999 09:19

Up AGAIN to 40-45p this morning. Is no-one interested in this or ETE??

[rajesh pampapathi] 12/10/1999 15:09

--> Dougal I'm onto this company and will let you know as soon as I have comment from John Higham. I called him earlier and he was in a meeting. Rgds Rajesh ADVFN Journalist Team

[dougal] 12/10/1999 11:28

Up again today, did I just point out the opportunity to someone or is there another reason?