Interquest Share Discussion Threads

[foxman14] 23/2/2015 12:23

Yea, although IPEL and EMR are my favored companies in the recruitment sector I was tempted to buy a few on Friday at 80p. Thought the trading statement in Jan was ok and some m&a activity going on with Matchtec so expecting to see a reasonable return. Disappointing to see it drop further today.

[wiseacre] 20/2/2015 15:03

Must be a buy ahead of figures on 10 March

[the shuffle man] 21/10/2014 07:52

Great news today, let's hope for a decent premium.

[davidosh] 18/10/2014 17:29

Just to let you all know that Interquest will be exhibiting and presenting at the Mello2014 investor event in Derby in 6-8th November and will be presenting on the Friday www.mello2014.com

There are nearly 60 companies presenting and over 20 really excellent keynote speakers through the three days so well worth a visit. I have a tiny few half price tickets left if anyone cares to email me.

[luckymouse] 11/10/2014 03:57

Vol Sold 15,415
Vol Bought 15,000

-10.00p
-8.44 %
Reason chart d.top - result MMs brought it down to completion instantly to cut you off

Just in case you had any doubt over who controls the price

[tiredandweary] 09/9/2014 11:23

Profit up 85%

[bones] 23/7/2014 00:41

So, the above points (I argue to myself) should eventually lead to a re-rating as the interims approach in September unless something weird happens to the business. At the moment this share is so rarely traded and illiquid it is simply not noticed and the couple of MM's that bother with it are picking up odds and bits when there are trades. Mostly seems to be small holders getting bored and taking their cash elsewhere.

I thought I would look at the major shareholders to see what this might tell me. Quite interesting it is.

First of all, the "not in public hands" shares (including the management) seem to have about 50% between them. According to the company's website, this is:

% of shares not in public hands
Gary Ashworth 36.6%
Helium Special Situations Fund 12.3%
Mark Braund 1.4%
Michael Joyce 0.5%
Paul Frew 0.2%

Gary Ashworth has plenty of skin in here (good news) and some "previous" from successful forays in this sector not least when selling out Abacus Recruitment. I like to think this could happen here too at the right time of the cycle. One reason for being in.

The Helium Fund appears (from a Google) to be a Cayman Islands domiciled fund. I am unsure why it is classed as not in public hands when other institutions also hold ITQ. Maybe because it is in a fund not available for the public to invest in very easily. They show a chart demonstrating a 300% gain since 2009, so they seem successful. Wonder what attracted them to invest in such a small UK company? (EDIT: on reading the header to this thread, this would seem to be Luke Johnson's stake or maybe ex-stake. I see from Luke Johnson's own website intro that "...He (LJ) was co-founder/owner and Director of InterQuest Group plc, before stepping down in 2010..." so maybe he no longer has the interest)

See:

Looking at the shares "in public hands", the biggest holding seems to be Jim Mellon with nearly 7%. This is also encouraging as he is regarded as one of the great UK investors of our time. This interview sheds some light on him - certainly an adventurous sort so I am intrigued by the investment in ITQ. Surely anticipates a decent exit at some point.



Then there are a couple of more standard investment funds with 3% or so each so I'll pass judgement on them. Who knows what basis they used to judge this investment!

Overall then, I see a shareholder base that instinctively is likely to be seeking a suitable and opportune exit. Whether that is this year or a few years down the line, who can say. We are in a hot upward trajectory in the economic cycle in recruitment I would think and ITQ have a niche offering. With ITQ presaging excellent trading at the recent AGM, I hold these with some confidence and believe the current pause in the share price is temporary due to the quiet summer months and illiquid market for the shares.

If it goes pear-shaped, however, I'll put it down to experience :)

No advice intended with the above. DYOR as always. These are just my doodlings on a hot evening in England.....

[bones] 03/7/2014 18:31

Added some more at 113p. What's not to like in the above update from last week?

This is so illiquid, it will motor once the numbers come in that support the bullish management talk.

[bones] 24/6/2014 08:01

Good AGM update today and comment from the company:

"The Company's strategy has been to focus on specialist disciplines in key niche markets with a concentration on leveraging the strength of our relationships with our clients. The emphasis has been to be able to service our clients' needs across multiple disciplines and to be able to cross sell our niche offerings into each and every client.

It is therefore pleasing to report that the efforts of the Company are being rewarded. Our contract business has continued the positive momentum seen towards the tail end of 2013 and the early part of 2014 whilst our permanent business has seen a good pick-up in activity over the last three months. In addition, the Ecom acquisition is proving to be a complementary addition in our offering to our clients and its integration into the business has been achieved ahead of schedule. We are therefore very pleased with the performance of the Company to date which has been above management's expectations.

We have been diligent in re-focusing the Company and creating a unified business and, with confidence building in the economic outlook, we look forward to the rest of the year with optimism"

[bones] 11/4/2014 10:32

So tight that someone managed to pay 129p when it never printed above 122p! You've been had :)

Bought a slug at 100.5p in late Feb after reading about the industry prospects and Gary Ashworth's past modus operandi. As today's move was on a "tip", I would expect the price to come back a little over the next few days, when I might top up, but not right now.

[the shuffle man] 11/4/2014 09:03

Great article, looks like one of the cheapest recruitment companies on the market with great prospects. No stock around so only a few buys get them going hence the strong rise this morning.

[tiredandweary] 11/4/2014 08:17

very positive article in money week

[bones] 03/4/2014 13:03

Little tick-up, on little published volume so far.... new highs pending....

[ukinvestorshow] 21/3/2014 12:37

will be appearing at the UK Investor Show, 5 April 2014 at the , Westminster. Company directors will be attending the show. Be sure to turn up and ask any questions you have. Also attending will be , author of The Darker Side of Blinkx, who will be revealing some material not previously seen elsewhere. All £50 Gold tickets are now sold out, but there are still some £10 tickets left, click the button below to get yours.

[wiseacre] 06/3/2014 16:06

Agree with last post. Puzzling that so little interest in this stock. This is a vibrant sector geared to UK recovery and ITQ has graduated so far up the value chain it ought to outstrip its peers. Can see 50% upside in next few months.

[tiredandweary] 27/11/2013 10:07

stonking acquisition for InterQuest.
Ashworth's at it again and is a 38% shareholder
Jim Mellon's a big shareholder too
Mark Braund the CEO has a fairsized chunk as well
none of them are idiots
should see some big share price growth in this stock next year
as the UK market recovers
wouldnt be surprised to see £2/share

[spot1034] 26/11/2013 09:52

Another flurry of activity today after recent signs of strength. Very thinly traded so might just be one person accumulating in dribs and drabs, or is there more to it?

[joesoap3] 14/8/2013 13:52

Tipped in the Daily Mail today

[spot1034] 14/8/2013 13:01

This is a very nice rise today. Not the first time it has risen several pence on very little volume but this one seems to be rather more substantial. Interims due next month - I wonder if that's the only reason.

[swiftascent] 21/11/2012 11:04

Interesting announcement re Helium special situations. Wonder what they've seen?