Ig Design Share Discussion Threads

[pugugly] 04/12/2007 15:56

Here comes the reason - Diabolical trading statement - Given the relentless fall it appears that someone suspected or possibly knew something - Sorry for all holders - Glad I kept my fingers away (this time) from falling knives.


Intnl Greetings Trading Statement
RNS Number:1579J
International Greetings PLC
04 December 2007

Trading update

International Greetings PLC ("International Greetings" or the "Company"), the
designer, manufacturer and distributor of greetings, stationery and licensed
published products, today announces an update on current trading.

As indicated in the previous trading statement issued by the Company on
23 August 2007, the UK retail climate remains extremely tough. Following a
preliminary assessment of trading in the key September to October period for
the Company, the Board of International Greetings now believes that the results
for the year to 31 March 2008 for the Company as a whole will fall materially
short of current market expectations. This is mainly due to continuing
difficulties with revenues and margins in the Company's UK greetings division.
The growing overseas operations, however, are continuing to perform in line
with our expectations.

The Company will be announcing its interim results for the six month period to
30 September 2007 on 13 December 2007, which will include a further update on
current trading, future prospects and other initiatives.


Further information:

International Greetings plc:
Nick Fisher, Joint Chief Executive Tel: [phone]
Mark Collini, Finance Director

[shavian] 04/12/2007 14:15

Regrettably not.

[pugugly] 03/12/2007 17:15

Down 21% approx to 155p in auction ? -anyone any idea what is going on - The fall is relentless - A 5 year low - Is ther something seriously wrong? Anyone know anything?

[mirus] 22/11/2007 11:18

Shavian, I take no pleasure in being right but it was clear that the big market falls were going to hit IGR as well, but to a greater degree. Normal for small cap stocks but I was concerned they were not quite low enough to attract a bit more interest. Now, at this level, they do provide a much better value proposition so I will be watching closely for another buy point (will time to coincide with a rising Ftse).

The rewards are potentially greater but some risks still remain.

[shavian] 21/11/2007 15:12

You wrer right. Down we go again. The Christmas season will be critical for this one.

[mirus] 18/11/2007 13:55

I don't think so Shavian. Lots of stocks are getting hit in this current volatile and weak market. Just means they are getting to be better value. Could go lower yet which would be disappointing but the company is growing turnover/profits and dividends are rising so there is a strong case in holding for the eventual share price recovery.

[shavian] 18/11/2007 12:14

Any specific reason for the dump on Friday?

[mirus] 16/10/2007 19:49

RNS Number:6752F
International Greetings PLC
15 October 2007

INTERNATIONAL GREETINGS PLC
("International Greetings" or "the Group")

International Greetings wins two major Disney awards

International Greetings (AIM: IGR), the leading designer and manufacturer of
greetings products and film and television based licensed stationery, is
delighted to announce that it has been awarded European Licensee of the Year and UK Licensee of the Year by Disney Consumer Products.

The European Licensee of the Year Award was presented on stage at the recent
Disney Global Summit in Florida, and both Awards reflected the on-going
commitment of International Greetings to excellent product development and
service levels across the Group both in the UK and throughout Europe.

Nick Fisher, Joint Chief Executive of International Greetings, commented, "I am
delighted that the hard work and dedication of our staff has been recognised in
this way by Disney. We have been a Disney licensee for 12 years now, and
together we have built a licensed products business that goes from strength to
strength."

[shavian] 09/10/2007 17:04

Hi again. Redd, the company broker is Arden Partners where I have a contact, but I can't see any research on their website.

[mirus] 09/10/2007 14:43

Hello Shavian, your target is one I would be happy with over the next 6 months or so. That would take it to the next year end (31 March 2008) so it will depend partly on the company having a good Christmas, which I think is already in the bag, and partly on the success of the international side, of which there are fewer details. In any case, on such a low pe and a decent dividend, the current downside looks quite limited.

Possibly a few more buyers tomorrow due to the Times comment.

[redd] 09/10/2007 14:40

Are there any recent broker forecasts?

[shavian] 09/10/2007 14:30

Hi Mirus, well done for starting this thread. I'm a migrant from the other IGR thread which had no real header stuff which I don't know how to put on. I was attracted to this when I stumbled across all the director share buys last month. Coming from Cardiff, I'm familiar with some of the names, mostly level-headed businessmen. Clearly something was up, and now we know it's the acquistion of Artwrap etc. On The Times analysis it seems to me that 350p is a decent mid-term target which would be fine as I came in at 250p

[mirus] 09/10/2007 11:15

Times Online comment today.

International Greetings

Since August's profit warning, the AIM-listed giftwrap and stationery maker appears to have stepped up its efforts to fulfil the first part of its name; yesterday's purchase of a 50 per cent stake in Artwrap, an Australian rival, marks its third overseas deal in six weeks.

That pace is understandable given tough conditions at home – specifically, pressure on margins from its UK own-label customers – that triggered the summer's alert. Through bolt-on deals and organic growth, International Greetings plans to reduce the proportion of sales from the UK to below 50 per cent, from the current 65 per cent.

Such forays bring increased execution risk, but, at the prices agreed, swiftly enhance earnings. At yesterday's 263½p, the shares sit 36 per cent below their prewarning level, which seems harsh given that forecasts were cut by just 13 per cent. IG remains tightly held, but, at 9.6 times next year's earnings, and offering a 4 per cent dividend yield, looks reasonable value. Buy.

[mirus] 09/10/2007 10:58

Good morning.

Have bought in this morning to benefit from a hoped for recovery. As there are no charts etc in the header I have started a new thread for those happy to change.

[mirus] 09/10/2007 10:53

I bought in this morning after reading the comment in the Times today (see below). If I had noticed the recent Director buying I would have bought sooner. The reason for buying is very straightforward, for a recovery. As usual, the share price appears to have fallen further than the current forecast profit shortfall of 13% should justify.

Without looking at the detail I notice that when they had their last hiccup in 2001/2002 the shares fell 60% from the high and subsequently rose over 200%. This time the shares have fallen 50% from the high and appear to be on an upward trajectory again. Looking at the fundamentals it is pleasing to see that turnover, profits and dividends have been rising. Also I notice that the company is slowly building up the International sales to reduce dependancy on the UK market and profits from the latest aquisitions have not been taken into account yet for the current year forecast by the company. On top of that, they have increased their manufacturing capacity in China and Eastern Europe which should help improve profits.

Consequently I am looking for a 50%+ rise from the recent bottom and will top up if they continue rising. On the other hand if they fall below the last bottom (242.25p) I will sell.

[shavian] 19/9/2007 15:58

Just bought 1000 @ £2.50, although it shows up on the screen as a sell for some reason

[shavian] 17/9/2007 17:11

Anyone know how to put some charts onto this thread?

Further to the above:

Intnl Greetings Director/PDMR Shareholding


RNS Number:7713D
International Greetings PLC
13 September 2007


Directors' dealings

International Greetings plc ("International Greetings" or the "Company")
announces that it was notified on 12 September 2007 of the following market
purchases of its ordinary shares made by its directors on 12 September 2007:

Director Number of Holding Percentage of
ordinary shares Purchase following issued share capital
purchased Price purchase held (note 5)

A Hedlund (note 1) 80,000 255 p 24,031,438 51.07%
N Fisher (note 2) 20,000 255 p 2,520,448 5.36%
P Fineman (note 3) 20,000 255 p 2,188,534 4.65%
M Hornung (note 4) 12,000 255 p 499,576 1.06%
M Collini 4,000 255 p 179,448 0.38%
K James 4,000 255 p 10,562 0.02%

Notes:

(1) The interest of Mr Hedlund comprises a direct holding of 901,238 ordinary
shares together with 20,310,400 ordinary shares registered in the name of
Artistic AG and 2,819,800 ordinary shares registered in the name of Malios
AG. Artistic AG and Malios AG are companies incorporated in Switzerland
which are under the ultimate control of the Hedlund family.

(2) The interest of Mr Fisher comprises a direct holding of 1,020,448
ordinary shares together with 1,500,000 ordinary shares registered in the
name of Benalex Holdings Limited, a company incorporated in Jersey which is
owned by a settlement of Mr Fisher for the benefit of himself and members
of his family.

(3) Mr Fineman also has a non-beneficial interest in 851,100 ordinary shares.

(4) The interest of Mr Hornung comprises a direct holding of 315,019 ordinary
shares together with 184,557 ordinary shares held by his pension fund.

(5) The percentage of the issued capital held is based on 47,056,685 ordinary
shares, being the total number of International Greetings ordinary shares
currently in issue.

Nick Fisher, joint chief executive of International Greetings, said:

"The Directors are taking the opportunity of the recent short term weakness in
the share price to add to their own individual holdings. We remain confident in
the Company's strategy and in the long term prospects of our business."

[shavian] 17/9/2007 17:01

Hey! Check the director buys on 13 Sept:

International Greetings (IGR)
Director name: Mr S Anders Hedlund
Amount purchased: 80,000 @ 255.00p
Value: £204,000
International Greetings (IGR)
Director name: Mr Nick Fisher
Amount purchased: 20,000 @ 255.00p
Value: £51,000
International Greetings (IGR)
Director name: Mr Paul Elliott Fineman
Amount purchased: 20,000 @ 255.00p
Value: £51,000
International Greetings (IGR)
Director name: Mr Martin Hornung
Amount purchased: 12,000 @ 255.00p
Value: £30,600

International Greetings execs raise stakes; say confident in long-term prospects


LONDON (Thomson Financial) - International Greetings PLC said its executive
directors have taken advantage of weakness in the company's share price to boost
their shareholdings, adding that they have confidence in the group's long-term
prospects.
The company said joint chief executive Anders Hedlund has bought 80,000
shares in the company at 255 pence each, raising his stake to 51.07 pct.
The other joint CEO Nick Fisher purchased 20,000 shares at 255 pence a
share, making his stake 5.36 pct.
"The directors are taking the opportunity of the recent short-term weakness
in the share price to add to their own individual holdings. We remain confident
in the company's strategy and in the long-term prospects of its business,"
Fisher said.
Chairman Keith James bought 4,000 shares, also at 255 pence apiece, and he
currently holds a 0.02 pct stake in the company.
The group finance director Mark Collini also bought 4,000 shares at the same
price, taking his stake to 0.38 pct.
Besides them, executive director Paul Fineman bought 20,000 shares, raising
his stake to 4.65 pct, while director Martin Hornung hiked his holding to 1.06
pct by purchasing 12,000 shares.
[e-mail]
ami/tsm/ak


Share price has hardly budged since these buys due to the state of the market. Time to wake up?

[gelp] 07/9/2007 08:23

Less Xmas is cancelled don't see a lot wrong long term - a sensible deal announced today & is the established pattern. Looks like a drift down on the warnings and whether further to go is conjecture. In todays market perhaps so.
I'm out at this time but will be watching events.

[pugugly] 05/9/2007 13:41

And yet a deeper 1 year low. Have to go back to 2003 to get a lower low. Mr Market seems to think something is seriously wrong.

Anyone else following ?

- Seems to be minimal broker analysis available. I was tempted but the continuous fall is very worrying.

[gelp] 23/8/2007 16:25

overdone drop?

[pugugly] 23/8/2007 13:58

nickcduk:> You were right BUT timing was a bit out - After today's warning looks as though very much ex growth. If so what price and p/e? Views?

[nickcduk] 19/2/2007 16:02

I can smell a profits warning on the cards here. Share price action is following a pattern set by ACE and InterLink foods in the preceeding days before they warned. If it is going to happen then I would imagine we get it this week.