Internet Business Share Discussion Threads

[liarspoker] 21/6/2007 13:02

IBG should have stuck to AF imo. No need to turn it into a travel company and pay a huge price for acquisitions. They should have pushed AF into the US imo.

[stemis] 21/6/2007 13:02

I wonder if he is in his ivory tower reading these comments...plonker

No, he's taking calls from shareholders.

[tonyr] 21/6/2007 13:01

My MBO comment was prompted by the statement indicating that 2nd half profits will potentially be lower than expected, and that increased investment over the next couple of years will restrict profit maximisation.

If I was were angling for an MBO, this is the type of phraseology I'd use to make the co seem unattractive to shareholders. And perhaps mention buybacks so as not to be accused of talking the share price down too much...

[upthetic] 21/6/2007 13:00

I wonder if he is in his ivory tower reading these comments...plonker

[clueless] 21/6/2007 12:59

I dont like this at all

The story for a lot of us is that we have been patient for several years and waiting for the profits to start to kick in. Now as soon as things are starting to look like we are going to see strong profit growth they decide to "invest" again and ask us to be patient for another few years.

Theres no need to hold these - sell now & buy back in 2 years if it looks like the good times are coming back again

[masurenguy] 21/6/2007 12:58

This whole process has been very poorly managed. The founder might be a 'techie genius' but that doesn't necessarily make a shrewd businessman. This business should and could have achieved a better valuation in what is currently a very buoyant sector. Just imagine how much lower it could have been if the sector was out of favour ! Todays 35% drop in the share price, following todays announcement, tells you everything you need to know !


Not at all happy with this so I literally dumped two thirds of my residual holding at a loss and will sit on the remaining third (17% of my original shareholding) as just a peripheral long term hold. Just glad that I had previously halved my holding at break even (29p) last month !

[krakow] 21/6/2007 12:55

The market isn't going to like these management decisions at all.

The decision to hold a strategic review (while everything was flowing along ok) looks like a bad one and the decision not to sell looks like an even worse one.

The gaps in the info given out are too big. Surely there must be good news on growth from the US. etc.etc. Why can't they ever paint a decent picture??

[lqs] 21/6/2007 12:54

idiotic to announce that profits will be affected for two whole years. He could have worded it differently Thats a death sentence to the share price short term

[upthetic] 21/6/2007 12:53

So what how many shares he owns? Its all relative. He is 100% aware of what is going on...we are not! He also has the control of the company to make decisions and he can live or die by them...we do not!
We have backed this company for a long time and to be treated so badly is unforgivable in my book.

Poor management impresses nobody...no wonder institutions are keeping their distance.

[liarspoker] 21/6/2007 12:53

Sorry to see the price down for the long termers here. I hope it bounces back up for ye.

[68steve] 21/6/2007 12:50

Even the timing of the strategic conclusion was Naff...

[hirschnathan] 21/6/2007 12:49

SteMis

Maz is a shareholder not an investor, he has grown the company and sometimes, people feel very confident of themseles when things are going well, Maz is no different

[tonyr] 21/6/2007 12:49

Is an MBO, at a low take-out price, on the cards here?

[hirschnathan] 21/6/2007 12:48

When the company was young, it could afford to keep quiet. To grow the company, if the company wants to grow further, we have stressed that some new communicator is needed

[stemis] 21/6/2007 12:47

Maz owns 17.1M shares so he isn't exactly immune to the consequences.

[upthetic] 21/6/2007 12:44

As usual no investor communication and the small investor gets shafted. I have been a shareholder for over two years now and this has come as a shock to me. How do we go from being so positive to the current state of affairs. Maz needs a good verbal kicking imho for this.

I am not advocating an "information highway" wher info is freely available, but it would be better than the current "information footpath".

NOT HAPPY MAZ!!!!

[slapdash] 21/6/2007 12:43

Yup I think Maz is very bad at explaining the whole thing..... and no chairman!!!

Company only has itself to blame.... Slapper

[nickcduk] 21/6/2007 12:42

Totally agree that the company has communication problems. In the meantime buying back cheap stock doesn't do long term holders any harm. I imagine we will get a wave a selling tomorrow morning as private investors who haven't seen the news bail out. Hopefully share buy backs will mop up those sells.

[hirschnathan] 21/6/2007 12:38

nick

sharebuybacks wouldnt be needed if the model could be explained properly

[68steve] 21/6/2007 12:37

Enough said.......

[nickcduk] 21/6/2007 12:37

I imagine share buybacks may start to kick in around current levels. It wasn't pretty at first glance but there is a strong underlying business. I think around 20p or so is about right for the time being.

[hirschnathan] 21/6/2007 12:37

STemeis

You have got to agree that we are correct, maz seems to have problems communicating with the market.

I agree the bussiness hasnt changed but a bit more explanation is needed, I may even plan a revolt

[stemis] 21/6/2007 12:34

Behave yourselves boys

[clocktower] 21/6/2007 12:27

Great roller coaster for a few days..Up Down Up Down