The Mission Marketing Share Discussion Threads

[paul_butcher1999] 10/1/2014 11:02

if Aleman isnt in I'll eat my hat (unless he has just had to buy a house or something)

[envirovision] 10/1/2014 00:57

You still in Aleman?

[paul_butcher1999] 10/1/2014 00:39

Is it making a break to go up to more sensible levels again? Or just meandering inexplicably in the doldrums?

[deanowls] 23/10/2013 17:16

It came through as an rns this morning at 7am on investegate bio?

[dr biotech] 23/10/2013 16:58

This didn't flag up for me as it wasn't an RNS.

The Mission Marketing Group PLC

23 October 2013

The Mission Marketing Group plc

Acquisition of Solaris Healthcare Network Limited

The Mission Marketing Group plc ("the mission(tm) " or the "Company"), the national marketing communications and advertising group, is pleased to announce that it has acquired Solaris Healthcare Network Limited, ("Solaris"), for an undisclosed sum ("the Acquisition").

Solaris is an independent, management-owned medical communications agency with an office in Richmond offering a wide range of services including strategic communications, medical & patient education and a rare disease specialism across a Client base including household names such as GSK, Almirall, Bayer and Gedeon Richter. Solaris operates in a very focused niche that fits well with the strategy of the mission(tm) and its portfolio of specialist agencies.

Solaris has historically been both profitable and cash generative, and expects to make a modest profit in the current financial year. The Board of the mission(tm) expects the Acquisition to make a positive contribution in the next financial year and will be financed through the mission(tm) 's cash flows and existing bank facilities.

Solaris's operations will be combined with those of the Bray Leino Healthcare business and the combined operations will trade under the name of Solaris.

Executive Chairman of the mission(tm) , David Morgan, said: "We are delighted to add to our Healthcare business within the mission(tm) family. Solaris is a very focused business, and adds considerable value to our existing Healthcare offering & heritage. We look forward to driving Solaris's growth through our infrastructure and shared knowledge."

[dr biotech] 04/10/2013 10:13

FWIW and I realise its not a lot, but I have got some of these this morning. PE ratio seems too low for what is a reasonably solid company. Not a big position but could be an interesting play if we get a solid recovery in the UK and advertising budgets pick up.

[aleman] 21/9/2013 14:11

Centaur media are flying after recent results.

[aleman] 20/9/2013 12:52

If the full year is similar to last, as suggested by the Chairman, H2 eps will be about 3.2p, making it the strongest since H1 2009, I think. I don't really expect the forecast of 5.5p earnings for 2014 to change much but would not be surprised if it was revised up a touch. Given supposedly strengthening markets, its quite possible that next year could bring well over 6p of earnings. I don't think the market has actually taken on board what the chairman has said.

[aleman] 20/9/2013 12:37

hxxp://www.4-traders.com/THE-MISSION-MARKETING-GRO-4006018/news/The-Mission-Marketing-Group-plc--Solid-first-half-to-the-year-sees-the-mission-return-to-dividend-17280086/

[mathewawood] 19/9/2013 09:14

Shanklin - Its cheap because it was considered a bit of a basket case (too many aquisitions pre 2008 = Debt £21M). But under new management they have now got their act together and at current rates will be debt free by middle of 2015.
Marketing is always the first to recover after recessions (see Post 544). So Im expecting the broker EPS fc of 5.4p (P/E 5.2) for 2014 to be beaten. The NAV is currently 81.6p, so a massive discount.

There are 2 similar companies Creston (Mkt Cap £63M) and Cello (£54M) both with lower Revenues and Cello has lower profits! So whatever way you like to value companies this ones cheap.

[deanowls] 19/9/2013 09:00

Peniaphobia, is that being unable to pee when someone's at the next urinal?

I think the company is moving in the right direction and will give them another 12 months.

[cliffpeat] 19/9/2013 08:26

Disappointing results relieved by:

1. Small dividend in December.
2. Chairman's vocabulary! - my investment strategy should be (but isn't) driven by "peniaphobia".
3. Borrowings down

Earnings is the only "value supporting" element of this sort of business (Balances sheet Intangibles still greater that Shareholder Funds, working capital deficit etc. etc. ).

I am banking on decent profits for a year or two as the economy recovers - and will sell when showing some capital profit. Not a long long-term hold for me.

[mo123] 19/9/2013 08:15

I liked this one: Our strategy is not driven by brobdingnagian principles; it is quite simply to excel in whatever we do.

Anyway would expect similar EPS for this year of around 4.5p.

[shanklin] 19/9/2013 08:15

Jeff

OK, thank you.

Its a shame the chairman cannot express himself clearly on such an important issue. All he needed to do was write "...expect a similar FY result to that achieved last year"

Why is the share price so low?

Cheers, Martin

[deanowls] 19/9/2013 08:12

Shank loin, read the profit warning before, loopopolooza or something like that, it's these creative types!

[jeff h] 19/9/2013 08:09

Shanklin - they said this in their Trading Update of 10/7/13

"We anticipate significant growth in the second half of the year and expect adjusted profit before tax for the year to be around £5m."

From last years Finals (25/3/13)

"· Headline profit before tax up 15% to £4.9m (2011: £4.2m)"

...so seemingly same message in the latest announcement.

[shanklin] 19/9/2013 07:29

Not looked at these before.

Was surprised to read "We've got a really nice business here.". Doesn't really sound very professional to me

Does "We anticipate a strong second half and expect a similar result to that achieved last year." mean H2 results or FY results will be similar to last year?

If its the FY results, I guess TMMG looks very cheap?

Cheers, Martin

[zippy4ever] 17/9/2013 21:52

Thank you for your posts just looked at private punter a lovely treat !

[jeff h] 13/9/2013 21:13

...and more work with some high praise for their services:-

hxxp://www.prweek.com/uk/news/1211720/virgin-rewards-bray-leino-retainer-uk-domestic-flights/

Virgin Atlantic has awarded its consumer PR account to Bray Leino following the agency's project work on its UK short-haul launch earlier this year.

Virgin Atlantic: has awarded its consumer PR account to Bray Leino

Bray Leino joins Blue Rubicon as retained partners for Virgin Atlantic, with the latter supporting on corporate communications and strategic planning.

It is believed the airline does not have an incumbent agency. In February 2012 it appointed Mischief as its first PR agency with a six-month project; according to Mischief it has not worked for the client since the project.

The agency will report to Virgin Atlantic head of global public relations Fay Burgin and work in collaboration with the in-house team to develop Virgin Atlantic's presence in the UK market.

Bray Leino will also support projects including the launch of Virgin's fleet of 787 Dreamliners and new crew uniforms designed by Vivienne Westwood.

Burgin said: "The Bray Leino team was a critical partner in the successful launch of Virgin Atlantic Little Red and we realised at the end of the project we couldn't bear to let them go. They truly work as part of our team and constantly impress with their creativity and passion."

Other Bray Leino lifestyle PR clients include Virgin Media, Remington, Russell Hobbs and Shloer.

[deanowls] 13/9/2013 04:49

Good movement starting ahead of next weeks update, divi to be announced and a economy that is getting better, onwards and upwards.

[qs99] 11/9/2013 13:05

Thanks looks interesting... Interims should be out soon should they not? Could be with a decent update that this will see a decent hike above 30p....IMO...

[masurenguy] 11/9/2013 10:51

Global win for Big

American flooring corporation Halstead International has appointed Big Communications as a strategic marketing partner, working across a number of divisions and brands. Spend will be in excess of $1million with the brief covering brand development, packaging, collateral, digital, above the line, PR and exhibition support. Big won the account on the back of its track record in the sector and its reputation for creativity. CEO Dylan Bogg will have a central role alongside specialists from a number of key disciplines. The integrated, international remit starts with immediate effect.

Halstead CEO, Harlan Stone, commented that: "We were aware of Big's work in the flooring sector and their creative reputation, and having met the team we feel there is great compatibility here in terms of culture, work ethic and ambition. We want to differentiate our brands and grow our business. We have a top team in place and we expect 2014 to be an exciting year for us as we look to increase share in our established markets as well as break into new ones."

Dylan Bogg, Big CEO added: "This is a fantastic win for us. There is great chemistry and the team is thoroughly enjoying the immersion stage with this amazing business. We plan to challenge the sector norm and produce some outstanding work that will bring growth to the business across many territories."

Halstead International owns a portfolio of brands for the building and design categories. Headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, and with offices around the world, the company has been trading for over 50 years with a consistent focus on design and innovation.

Big Communications is part of The Mission Marketing Group plc (the missionTM), the national marketing communications and advertising group including Addiction, April-Six, balloon dog, Bray Leino, RLA, Robson Brown, ThinkBDW, Story and Yucca.

[jeff h] 11/9/2013 10:38

Nice contract win:-

hxxp://www.themission.co.uk/content/news/global-win-for-big.ashx

[masurenguy] 10/9/2013 17:36

Very quiet here - interims due next week. Recent positive article below.

MISSION MARKETING GROUP
4 AUGUST 2013

I am sure that I am not alone in finding the search for potentially undervalued stocks, becoming considerably more testing. As a result, taking a look at Mission Marketing is perhaps a tentative choice, not least as I have found in the past the sector can in its own way be highly cyclical. And if that isn't enough to contend with I am aware that a number of these players have uncomfortable levels of gearing, weak balance sheets, along with some odd mixes within their respective businesses. However, In the case of Mission Marketing the current price of 25.5p has caught my eye as being worth a look, not least as a new management team installed a few years back appears to be steering a steadier course.

I say that, despite the shares slipping from more than 40p back in March and where the most recent trading update talked of a lower level of profit in the first half. I guess that doesn't inspire much confidence, but I think it is at least worth delving a little deeper. To turn the clock back somewhat, it is worth noting that the current board inherited something of a right old mess here, that consisted of debt racked up on the back of various acquisitions, resulting in gearing surging to uncomfortable and unsustainable levels, particularly in light of the recession.

To its credit, the new team has not only cut the debt, but revamped the business and has picked up some solid new advertising and other wins over the last year. With a number of businesses under the umbrella, the focus is primarily on Advertising agencies that deliver the likes of promotional projects and digital solutions for some pretty large clients. Names such as Big, based in Leicester and Robson Brown in Newcastle UponTyne are well known in their fields, while Bristol based Yucca has been working with the likes of Time Out, BBC Magazines and P&O Ferries. Annual sales over the last couple of years have come in at £116m suggesting that collectively, it is a pretty decent sized operation.

Of course, what investors want to hear about are profits, along with the added attractions of growth and dividends. Clearly, the area Mission operates in is highly competitive as highlighted by the loss of B&Q as a client from within its Addiction Agency, although the Mission Board stressed this was due to poor management in that area an issue that has since been resolved. On the positive side, despite incurring one off costs, the board is confident of strong growth in the second half which it believes will deliver adjusted pre-tax profits of around £5m. Perhaps more encouraging, is the expectation that net debt which was running at a whopping £20m four years back will be reduced considerably. Last year it came down to £12.3m from £15.3m and is forecast to reduce further to around £9m for the year ending 2013. On the business side, Virgin Atlantic has hopped on board, along with wins from Aviva and Brittany Ferries, which counter the negative news.

The company is also talking of paying a dividend which should be announced in its interim results due out in September, suggesting that the business is now sitting on firmer foundations. A couple of Directors have recently bought shares of 41k and 120k, not always a signal, but perhaps worth noting. Broker FinnCap is forecasting adjusted pre-tax profits of £5m for this year, rising to £5.5m next year which would give EPS of 5.4p.

That implies a forward PER of circa 5 against the sector average that comes in at 15 which on the face of things looks decent enough value. Of course, the second half numbers still have to be delivered and like others, I don't like to see a net debt position. That said, the board does appear to have made some solid progress and the various segments within the company are generating cash. And with news that top UK firms increased their marketing budgets at the fastest rate in six years over the last three months, then Mission could certainly be worth my keeping an eye on.

[aleman] 16/8/2013 12:06

Seems to be getting perky ahead of the interims.