Mbl Share Discussion Threads

[jeffian] 28/6/2011 14:11

Times,

I was under the impression that you weren't a shareholder -

"Timesmoney - 17 Mar'11 - 19:36 - 3735 of 4085
...If I were a shareholder which I am not (and have no loss or cause of action)..."

- which doesn't, of course, preclude you posting opinions about the company but I, for one, could do without your advice and "lessons", thanks. And if you want to make life difficult for the Directors, I'm not sure that posting on an anonymous free bb is the way to go about it.

As for the last bit, I see that you are not imbued with a sense of humour!

[timesmoney] 28/6/2011 12:42

That you are probably a shareholder now and holding a loss does not give you an exclusive on having an opinion. I am not currently a shareholder but was, as I have posted before. That I have a historic loss is irrelevant, I am in the same boat as you.
I post on this company in the hope that I keep the focus on the directors, and that in my wildest dreams they get their just rewards!
If you dont like it sorry, dont read my posts.
Your comments on kittens and puppies? Grow up.

[jeffian] 28/6/2011 12:12

Times, other than rubbing our noses in it and making yourself feel good, what are your posts designed to achieve? You say 'shareholders should do this' and 'shareholders should do that', but you're not a shareholder, are you? Maybe we do speak to the clowns in Preston but there's unlikely to be a running commentary on an anonymous free bb or RNS statements until there's something specific to say.

What you say may be quite true, but you've said it on many occasions so perhaps you could give us a break now and go back to getting off on drowning kittens or kicking puppies or whatever else it is that floats your boat.

[timesmoney] 28/6/2011 11:29

jeffian. I understand your frustration but don't take it out on me. There are a bunch of clowns in Preston for that.

[jeffian] 27/6/2011 22:54

Thanks, Times. Your posts are invaluable. We are not worthy.

[timesmoney] 27/6/2011 17:46

Shareholders should not lose sight of the real issues. None of the remaining activities are ever going to restore shareholder value, however patient you might be. The reality is still a board (such as it is) who are reluctant to communicate, even when in intensive care. They go about their business like a private company. Misleading RNS statements abound with no penalty. Salaries continue undiminished. What happened to Deloittes (or whoever it was) producing a report?. What happened to the Morrisons obligation on the stock?
What happened to selling UExplore?
The best you get is 'we will update you in August'! No rush then, after all 96% of shareholder value has been lost already.
At the level there is no point in selling the shares, how ever many you have it can't up to anything, so staying with it to see the outcome is logical, however if you can see a way in which shareholder value might increase, you have a better imagination than I.
Lessons to be learnt.
Regulators are asleep and toothless never imagine they or the rules help you.
Never invest in a one trick pony
Never invest where management hold over 25%
Never invest where the board is unbalanced or in this case is non existant.
Never invest where there is only one non exec
Never invest where the remuneration committee consists of one member.

[charliebrown2000] 27/6/2011 16:08

But to be fair, it's not like they've made misleading statements before, eh?

[timesmoney] 27/6/2011 14:48

A casual comment to a trade mag becomes a survival strategy. don't make me laugh.

[charliebrown2000] 27/6/2011 10:00

Des. Talk is cheap. So far all we see is the rebranding of a Big store to Bee.com. If this plan is more than just a Powerpoint presentation, why hasn't there been an announcement to shareholders? Sure, you have to respect the company for trying, but if this is the best they've got...

[deswalker] 25/6/2011 11:53

New news report gives a timeline for the 50 bee.com stores. 12 this year, 38 next.

Hardly a vibrant sector but equally hardly the actions/plans of a bust company. Of course this endeavour could quite easily pull the company under as it is currently priced to do. But if it proves a success ...

[masurenguy] 24/6/2011 14:23

The shareprice is still slip sliding away. At todays midprice of 8.25p, the market cap is now only £1.4m.
To put that into some kind of perspective, the market cap has now dropped below the collective remuneration of £1.45m paid to the Chairman and CEO last year, by 2%, or circa £30,000.

What a contrast with the policy espoused by another AIM company, 21st Century Technology (C21).
At their AGM yesterday, the Chairman was reported to have clearly stated that "there will be no bonus payments paid to directors this year if the company is unable to pay a dividend to its shareholders", according to Davidosh who attended the meeting. For the record it is worth noting that C21 increased
their eps by 20% last year and the shareprice also more than doubled during that period too. Somewhat
of a contrast to MBL whose share price has declined by over 90% during the same period.

[davidosh] 21/6/2011 21:10

I guess one could argue that the Arndale store is now constantly promoting the Bee.com website or building the brand ! The costs will be minimal for that rebranding and I doubt they will expand to more outlets unless the cost of any lease deal can be justified by footfall and profits.

[phil200] 21/6/2011 20:37

I emailed Bishopgate this morning regarding Manchester Arndale and below is their reply :

"I have been informed by the Finance Director that MBL has rebranded its existing store in the Arndale Centre to Bee.com. Previously the store had been branded as Big Retail.

MBL is planning to open further stores dependant on the success of the rebrand and new proposition within the Manchester store."

[masurenguy] 21/6/2011 11:44

Kimboy2 - 21 Jun'11 - 4068: I presume they didn't know about these potential 50 outlets 3 days ago which fully explains why it wasn't in the RNS.

Typo56 - 21 Jun'11 - 4071: "has announced" plans for 50 outlets. Hmm, where exactly have they announced this?

LOL - the RNS that was issued last Friday was entitled "Company Update" !

Presumably they never told Bishopsgate about their new 3,000 sq ft retail store at the Arndale Centre or their plans to roll out 50 outlets by the end of 2012. It would appear that they consider this move to be too insignificant to bother to make any formal announcement or maybe Cueentertainment got it completely wrong. As usual, the rest of the shareholders are just left to wonder what on earth is going on at MBL !

[deswalker] 21/6/2011 11:43

I'm no fan of this company and management and am loathe to give them any support being so far under water.

But, they do seem to be criticized both ways at times. The same people seem to be saying that they are going bust and then when we hear news which would seem to indicate otherwise they criticize that too. I suppose the two arguments are just about consistent but it does seem that some people are determined to be negative come what may.

The market cap is £1.5 mill. It is priced to fail. So surely any news that this company might have a future let alone a growth strategy should be welcomed with an element of relief at least and even mild optimism at most.

I still anticipate making a big fat CGT loss on this one when eventually I sell but maybe just maybe that loss might be smaller than it is currently.

[typo56] 21/6/2011 11:21

"has announced" plans for 50 outlets. Hmm, where exactly have they announced this?

[timesmoney] 21/6/2011 11:12

Brilliant strategy! rather than following the rest of the industry in slimming down and going digital (or offshore physical)- retail stores, genius. Lots of landlords and leases, rates, shop fittings and staff, marvelous. The fact that every other entertainment bricks and mortar retailer has gone bust doesn't stop our boys.
Perhaps they can stock, LPs, if it goes well, casettes, 8 tracks and then sheet music.
Somebody stop them.
ps have they forgotten the retail chain they bought some years ago, Purple something? rapidly closed and hidden under the carpet as I recall.

[jeffian] 21/6/2011 10:24

Ahem! Opening stores costs money.

8-(

[kimboy2] 21/6/2011 09:08

I presume they didn't know about these potential 50 outlets 3 days ago which fully explains why it wasn't in the RNS.

[jeff h] 21/6/2011 08:19

" Wholesaler MBL Group has opened a 3,000 square foot store at the Manchester Arndale shopping centre under the bee.com banner and has announced plans for 50 outlets by the end of 2012."

[tommyjnewton] 17/6/2011 18:48

I think the share price of the last few months made it perfectly clear that the stock at Morrisons wasn't worth much and that Uexplore was a very dodgy deal indeed. It was worth zilch. The gullible were being strung along.
I would imagine there would have been arrests if this company had been based where regulators are more savvy.

[timesmoney] 17/6/2011 18:04

So back to the main event.
A rough translation of the RNS.... Morrisons have not taken the stock, beacuse they don't have to. Uexplore majority shareholders offered £1 for the 15% and the Landlord of the new site says 'pay up'. All of which if not terminal will be close to it.
The Auditors will have some challenges with the numbers. The 'Morrisons stock' is suddenly not worth much and Uexplore goodwill likewise. Shareholder funds are going to be taking a bit of a kicking.
Re the staff reduction of 50%, I take it Allan, Cowgill and Co will be showing solidarity with the workers and taking sustantial salary cuts?

[madmix] 17/6/2011 14:44

Fair enough Mas, I agree that the situation with Morrisons hasn't exactly been resolved "imminently", so I understand why you used the "!".

I was just making the point that you can't subsequently claim that your statement was neutral, as you've introduced some personal emotion.

Anyway, it's probably best that I don't clutter up the board any further on the matter! :-)

[masurenguy] 17/6/2011 14:39

jeffian - I use the standard 10pt size which reproduces differently according to the font that is used.
On the web the accepted convention is that SHOUTING IS ALWAYS DONE IN CAPS !!! ;o)

perhaps I should whisper instead :o(

[masurenguy] 17/6/2011 14:31

madmix - an exclaimation mark is often used for added emphasis and it can also be used to show that a statement is very surprising. In #4053 it was used as emphasis to indicate that it was still very surprising that a resolution of this issue had not been achieved almost 6 months after the statement contained in their January 31 RNS.

I don't view your comment as a wind up attempt - we clearly have some different or more variable views on the use of grammar and punctuation ! (just for emphasis) :o)