Maxima Holdings Share Discussion Threads

[tech] 11/1/2005 13:56

Probably full page write up next month in Techinvest.

[currypasty] 11/1/2005 13:55

MM's cant have much stock... price moves up on small buying volume

[currypasty] 11/1/2005 10:14

Further to the New Issues note in last month's
Techinvest, IT software and services
consolidator Maxima Holdings arrived on
AIM on November 24, having raised £5.0m
of new money before expenses. Maxima
placed a total of 4.4 million shares at 110p.
The latest price is 109.5p.
The Placing part-funded the Company's
first acquisition, Azur Holdings, for which it
paid £14.25m. The final consideration is made
up of £6.0m in cash (funds from the placing
and bank debt) and £8.25m in Maxima shares.
Chief Executive of Maxima, Kelvin Harrison,
described the acquisition as "our first step to
building a significant IT services group", with
management eyeing "a significant number of
targets" for future acquisition. Buy.

The CF Techinvest Technology Fund took
an allocation in the placing.

[currypasty] 10/1/2005 11:49

A couple of 50k 'B' trades, ie broker to broker... usually a good sign!

[currypasty] 10/1/2005 09:54

Just a few points from Azure accounts... they had a turnover of 12 mil !!




I am pleased to report excellent results from the Group in the year to 31 May 2004 with profit
before tax up 360% at £1,867K against £406K in the prior year. The Profit before Tax margin of
15% was higher than the vast majority of quoted IT service businesses. Operating margin
improved to 14% (2003: 4%) on marginally lower revenues from continuing operations of £12.4M
(£12.6M). This impressive performance in challenging market conditions was as a result of
consistent application of high quality business processes. I thank all of our customers for their
continuing support.

Our cash position remained good throughout the year and at 31 May 2004 was £2.5M (£2.8M),
despite an outflow of £1.9M to finance the above acquisition. As a result of strong cash flows, all
remaining preference shares (with a value of £438K) were redeemed early in the year. A dividend
of 4.802p per share (2003:£nil) is proposed, representing 20% of profits after tax.

[currypasty] 09/1/2005 08:04

any press over the weekend ?

[currypasty] 07/1/2005 13:32

Vision and Values

Azur Group will be the top business solutions provider for the UK manufacturing and distribution markets.

To Achieve This We Will::

»Be known as the intelligent partner of choice, in a world where commercial creativity, business insight, technical excellence and service reliability are key drivers for success.


»Ensure that the flexibility of our product and service portfolio, combined with our extensive experience of our clients' markets and customers, will deliver innovative technology and business solutions, including application management, which will provide our clients with maximum, measurable ROI.


»Have an enviable reputation as a company with the insight to truly understand the issues and drivers, which are shaping our clients' businesses on a short and long-term basis, resulting in business solutions which exceed expectations and build customer loyalty through a spirit of partnership.

What Do You Want?::

»Our clients come from a wide range of industrial and commercial sectors, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and high-tech operators. A wide spectrum of activity with a common need for IT solutions which address their business processes from a single comprehensive database of information which can be accessed, utilised and reported, quickly, accurately and flexibly, on demand anywhere at any time. Trust Our Commitment::

»Azur Group is committed to delivering what you want, when you want it, in an efficient and professional manner and at a cost effective price.

You Will Want::

»To deal with people who understand your business, how you operate and how to take you from where you are to where you want to be. You want systems that fit your processes, reflect your priorities and which your staff can learn and use quickly and with confidence.


»A systems and a supplier able to take change in their stride, who reassess situations quickly and provide exactly the functionality and assistance you need to maximise your current situation and prepare the ground for future reorganisation and expansion as and when it occurs.


»A supplier who listens to your needs and works with you to achieve them. Not one who imposes its own systems, methods, functionality and technology on your company, regardless of your stated requirements and industry knowledge.

[currypasty] 07/1/2005 13:18

too late....lol

[currypasty] 07/1/2005 13:18

last chance to buy in at IPO placing price of 110 !!!

[currypasty] 07/1/2005 13:11

Obviously something cooking !!

[tech] 07/1/2005 13:11

Expect a full write up this weekend and possible tip for year.

[ppowerscourt] 06/1/2005 11:11

Currypasty:

TECHINVEST, a private newsletter is with you. Techinvest Fund investors (of which I am one) are with you here.

Techinvest tipped MXM as a new Buy in their Dec.04 issue, published on 4th Dec.04. Headline---"Eyeing large number of takeovers".

Furthermore, "on behalf of the Techinvest Technology Fund, the editor took an allocation in MXM's placing."

[currypasty] 06/1/2005 10:12

unicorn VCT has a few shares in Maxima

[currypasty] 30/12/2004 11:35

walked up, then back down again, on low volume, and no news.
price now 98 - 113, and well below AIM debut price.

[currypasty] 06/12/2004 07:55

something afoot here, up 5p pre-open... it was all quiet last week, must have had a mention somewhere

[currypasty] 26/11/2004 08:06

Maxima are off to the races today... 1.07 - 1.12

[currypasty] 25/11/2004 16:20

Much better day today, perhaps yesterday MM's trying to get some stock in !

[currypasty] 25/11/2004 08:24

dissapointing first day, but marked down on only 80k total trades, of which 45k were 'B' trades (broker to broker).
I supose the 'value' of the Company, and hence the placing price is at the end of the day only a best guess, which is then subject to market forces once listed. It is a little known share (yet), and so may take a while to get going. Take a look at ASG, similar pattern, poor opening on AIM, but now is moving really strongly. Im in MXM mainly for the EIS benefits, and so am looking at three year hold.

[21richyrich] 24/11/2004 23:25

CP
Looks like you and I are the only posters so far

Surprised by the drop in the shares today - would have expected a premium based on the Directors past records...

Techinvest have taken a stake in the fundraising which is normally a positive sign...

Have you any views on where we go from here?

[currypasty] 24/11/2004 08:16

RNS Number:5709F
Maxima Holdings PLC
24 November 2004




Maxima Holdings plc floating on AIM following a
successful placing

Maxima Holdings plc ("Maxima") announces that its shares will begin trading on
AIM this morning under the symbol MXM following a placing of new ordinary shares
at 110p each by Seymour Pierce. The placing comprises 4,360,567 placing shares
and an employee offer of 73,361 new shares. In total, the issue is raising up to
#5.0 million of new money before expenses.

Maxima was formed by an experienced management team with the purpose of
exploiting the many consolidation opportunities the Directors believe are
available in the computer services and software sector.

It is the Directors' intention to create value for shareholders by building a
number of vertical market focused application services and software and services
businesses, through a combination of acquisition and organic growth.

The placing has been arranged to part finance Maxima's first acquisition, an
agreed #14.25 million purchase of Azur Holdings Limited ("Azur"), a private
company supplying IT services and software to a broad range of small and medium
sized customers in the UK commercial and industrial sectors.

The consideration payable by Maxima will comprise approximately #6.0 million in
cash (funds from the placing and bank debt) and #8.25 million by the issue to
Azur shareholders of 7,505,720 Maxima shares.

Kelvin Harrison, Chief Executive of Azur, who will be Chief Executive of Maxima,
and Linda Andrews, Azur's Finance Director, have each agreed to exchange 90% of
their holdings of Azur shares (including those arising upon the exercise of
options) for new ordinary shares in Maxima to the extent that they will be
issued with, in aggregate, 4,182,998 new ordinary shares. Other Azur
shareholders will receive 40% of the consideration in new ordinary shares in
Maxima with the balance in cash, subject to certain escrow arrangements.

In the year to 31 May 2004, Azur's pre-tax profits amounted to #1.87 million
(2003: #0.41 million) from revenue of #12.4 million and it generated net cash
from operating activities of #2.35 million. Its staff number in excess of 100
and its customers include Amtico, Diageo, Geest, Hewden Stuart, Marconi,
Lockheed Martin, Boots Manufacturing, Thales and Securicor.

Kelvin Harrison, Chief Executive, commented:

"The flotation of Maxima and acquisition of Azur is our first step towards
building a significant IT services group. We have a business formula which has
proved it can deliver profits and generate cash and a management team that has
the ability to turn around underperforming companies and develop them. The
sector is highly fragmented and we can see a significant number of targets that
fit our acquisition criteria. I look forward to progressing our aims."

[currypasty] 24/11/2004 08:03

Maxima Holdings has taken over SAP reseller Azur for £16.7m.

The firm intends to fund the takeover by floating on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) later this month. Mazima is a new venture set up by Kelvin Harrison and Geoff Bicknell. The firm is looking for more acquisition targets among UK reseller and service companies.

Kelvin Harrison, Maxima's chief executive, said: "Azur is the platform from which we aim to build a focused IT services group - a professional services company rather than one that is vulnerable to IT product development...We are going to build a business that creates value through the provision of exemplary service to customers and the efforts of a skilled and motivated delivery team...

The sector is highly fragmented and there are a significant number of targets, application software and service companies generating between £2m and £20m of revenues.They are constrained because they lack a number of key ingredients - critical mass, management experience, finance to expand and the ability to attract talent to help them."

Geoff Bicknell, Maxima finance director, said: "There is constant talk about the need for consolidation within the sector but, in reality, very little has been done about it...The executive team has the ability to run a business many times the size of Azur and with a good second tier management in place, the directors will be concentrating on the next steps. Naturally we are already looking towards further acquistions and are already working on a pipeline of opportunities. Our aim is to become a major European software services business within three to five years."

Azur employs more than 100 staff and for the year ended May 2004 it made a pre-tax profit of £1.87m on turnover of £12.4m. It operates three divisions: Azur for SAP, Azur Business Solutions for manufacturing and construction customers and Minerva Industrial Systems which distributes QAD enterprise software for manufacturing firms.

Michael Brooke and Jeremy Prescott will join the firm as non-executive directors. ®

[currypasty] 24/11/2004 08:02

In its first move, it has completed a 16.7m pounds ($30m) acquisition of Azur Holdings Ltd, a services company with 300 SME customers in the commercial and industrial sectors. When Maxima floats on the alternative investment market of the London stock exchange, it is expected to have a market value of 15m pounds ($26.9m).

Maxima directors believe that a significant number of potential acquisition targets are available in both in the UK and in mainland Europe, which lack the critical mass, financing and management expertise to fully exploit their potential.

Azur chief executive Kelvin Harrison, who will take the same job at Maxima, said he aimed to build a focused IT services group, a professional services company rather than one that was vulnerable to IT product development.

Maxima is targeting application software and service companies generating revenue of between 2m and 20m pounds ($3.6m to $36m), companies "with something to offer but going nowhere fast."

[currypasty] 24/11/2004 08:01

Maxima set for AIM float


MAXIMA Holdings, a computer software and services group formed out of a one-time subsidiary of Glasgow-based Weir Group, is preparing to float on the Alternative Investment Market next month.

The group, formed to take over privately-owned Azur in the first of what is expected to be several acquisitions, is expected to have a value of about £15 million.

Azur, formed through the 2001 merger of Weir Systems Industrial Systems, employs about 40 of its 100 staff in Glasgow.

[currypasty] 24/11/2004 07:59

COMPANY NAME: Maxima Holdings plc

COMPANY ADDRESS: Hillgate House, 26 Old Bailey, London

COMPANY POSTCODE: EC4M 7HW

COUNTRY OF INCORPORATION: UK

COMPANY BUSINESS: Maxima is a recently incorporated company established to
acquire companies or businesses supplying computer software and services to
specialist niche and vertical markets, with the objective of building a focused
IT services group. On Admission Maxima is acquiring Azur Holdings Limited. Azur
is an IT professional services group which implements and supports enterprise
software solutions for small and medium-sized, UK-based manufacturing,
distribution and service organisations.

DETAILS OF SECURITIES TO BE ADMITTED (ie, where known, number of shares, nominal
value and issue price): ( )

CAPITAL TO BE RAISED ON ADMISSION: up to £12 million

FULL NAMES AND FUNCTIONS OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING SHADOW AND PROPOSED DIRECTORS:

Michael John Brooke, Non- Executive Chairman
Kelvin Frank Harrison, Chief Executive
Geoffrey James Bicknell, Group Finance Director
Jeremy Malcolm Prescott, Non-Executive Director


PERSON(S) INTERESTED IN 3% OR MORE OF THE ISSUER'S CAPITAL, EXPRESSED AS A
PERCENTAGE OF THE ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL STATING WHETHER BEFORE OR AFTER
ADMISSION*:

After Admission:

Kelvin Harrison