Ncc Share Discussion Threads

[sharw] 03/4/2018 13:21

No - if you read it more carefully net assets for sale were £10.6m

[cerrito] 03/4/2018 11:05

Given that assets held for sale were valued at £17m+ at November 30 I am assuming they are expecting to get more from software testing than website performance, and I agree with Jerseyman1 the price for that was pleasing.
Sensible to see the proceeds of the recent sale to reduce debt and as and when software testing is sold I will be interested to see if they use proceeds to repay debt or for investment; I guess if a sale was imminent they would have mentioned it in the RNS.

[markth] 03/4/2018 09:01

Has fallen more than the market. Through support levels and is starting to look interesting again.

[jerseyman1] 28/3/2018 10:06

Well at least one of the businesses to be sold has happened at a reasonable value. Personally thought they would struggle, but this seems a good outcome. One more to go...

[masurenguy] 28/3/2018 07:03

RNS Number : 1226J
NCC Group PLC
28 March 2018

Disposal of Web Performance

NCC Group plc (LSE: NCC, "NCC Group" or "the Group"), the independent global cyber security and risk mitigation expert, is today announcing the disposal of the Web Performance business. The Group completed the sale of the Web Performance business ('Web') to Eggplant (formerly known as Testplant) for immediate cash consideration of £7.5m on a cash and debt free basis (subject to any final post completion adjustments to working capital). Eggplant is a company backed by the Carlyle Group and specialises in user-centric, digital automation intelligence solutions that enhance the quality and performance of the digital experience. Its core test automation and analytics activities are closely aligned to the business of NCC Group's Web Performance business.

NCC Group's Strategic Review which completed in July 2017 concluded that the Web Performance business had little strategic overlap with the Group's broader cyber security and business continuity activities and therefore it would be more likely to flourish under new ownership in a group that was more aligned to its core activities of Website Performance monitoring. This would also allow the Group to focus on its two retained divisions, Assurance and Escrow. At the end of February 2018, Web's net assets were £6.0m, which included the Group's remaining goodwill from the original acquisition of Web Performance (and is subject to post completion adjustments to working capital). In the nine months to the end of February 2018, Web contributed £0.4m of Adjusted EBIT(1) to the Group's performance.

Web Performance was designated as a discontinued activity in the Group's Interim results that were published on 16 January 2018, given the earlier decision to sell the business. The disposal therefore has no impact on expected full year Adjusted EBIT from continuing activities and only an immaterial impact on total full year Adjusted EBIT. The cash proceeds will reduce the Group's net indebtedness. Separately, the disposal process for the Software Testing business is ongoing.

The Group continues to trade in line with the Board's expectations for full year Adjusted EBIT(1) , as announced in its Interim Results on 16 January 2018. The Group expects to report its full year results, for the year ended 31 May 2018 on Tuesday, 17 July 2018.

[a2584728] 12/3/2018 09:29

Chart looks good.

[a2584728] 09/3/2018 07:37

Sopheon PLC Trading UpdateSource: UK Regulatory (RNS & others)TIDMSPERNS Number : 1235DSopheon PLC29 January 2018 For Immediate Release SOPHEON PLC("Sopheon", the "Company" or the "Group")TRADING UPDATESopheon plc, the international provider of software and services for complete Enterprise Innovation Management solutions, is pleased to provide a further update on the Group's performance for the year ended 31 December 2017.On 4 January 2018 we reported that continued momentum and market recognition had led to solid growth in 2017, with particular strength in the closing weeks of the year. Final quarter performance included signing two substantial deals, one in the USA and one in Germany, each with a multinational enterprise that is an undisputed leader in its field. These wins further validate the acceptance of our Accolade solution as a global platform, within some of the world's largest and most influential corporations. Volume of transactions was up, with 59 license deals recorded during the year compared to 49 in 2016. This includes three new SaaS (Software as a Service) customers, enhancing recurring revenue alongside the more traditional maintenance and hosting streams connected with our perpetual license sales.The Board expects that reported revenues for the year ended 31 December 2017 will be over $28m, up from $23m in 2016, and comfortably ahead of current market expectations. The Board expects that both EBITDA and pre-tax profits will be significantly ahead of current market expectations. The year-end net cash position is expected to be $9.5m (2016: $4.2m).In addition to its impact on 2017, the business performance described above contributes to a higher recurring revenue base going forward, a higher services backlog, and further license events driven by the fourth quarter signings. Overall revenue visibility* for 2018 already stands at $18m, compared to $13m at this time last year.An important aspect of 2017 growth was the increased adoption of Accolade as an enterprise platform for areas outside our traditional innovation arena. Licenses sold in 2017 included applications for Accolade as diverse as capital expenditure management, IP management, IT project and portfolio management and enterprise initiativemanagement - each representing extension business beyond innovation. We believe our Accolade platform extension strategy represents a significant growth opportunity, and this will be a key area of investment in 2018.Financial expectations noted above are subject to the completion of year-end financial close and audit processes. Sopheon intends to issue its results for the year ended 31 December 2017, on 22 March 2018.For further information contact: + 44 (0) Barry Mence, Chairman 1276 919 Arif Karimjee, CFO Sopheon plc 560 Carl Holmes / Giles Rolls (corporate finance) Mia Gardener / Camille + 44 (0) Gochez (corporate broking) finnCap Ltd 20 7220 0500

[jerseyman1] 08/3/2018 16:47

markth I understand that Sophos serve a different segment of the cyber security market to NCC, and that NCC are in the main more reliant on selling expensive consultants hours rather than standard solutions as per Sophos. However Sophos wouldn't be the first company to take over a company in the same sector with a view to improving its services offering whilst also believing it could shift more standard solutions to the acquiree's customer base. It would also probably be a welcome move in the City with them claiming to be diversifying their income stream in a rapidly growing market, particularly following the share price fall in Feb which looks like it was due slowing standard product billings in the second half of their financial year, despite confirmed profit guidance for full year. It's also four plus times the size of NCC's market capitalisation so a deal could easily be accommodated.

[a2584728] 08/3/2018 16:44

Sopheon Sir

[markth] 08/3/2018 15:19

Sophos is a product company, with a mix of largely shrink-wrapped low-end solutions for small and mid-tier business and retail consumer. NCC is a service-led company, focussed on consultancy and high-end bespoke solutions for larger enterprise and government segments. The two companies have different offerings into separate markets, and a hugely dissimilar business model. If they came together, there'd be no synergy premium, little savings on duplication (apart from one board) and hardly any cross sell or channel consolidation between the two sets of customers. Not sure why they'd be interested?

I don't disagree with the idea of a bid at some point. More likely though to be a company whose capabilities and customers overlap, who would remove the diddy management team at NCC and improve execution in the business.

[rivaldo] 07/3/2018 08:52

Shore Capital yesterday raised its rating to Buy as follows:

"NCC Group Has Reduced Staff Turnover Concerns: Shore

1238 GMT - Cybersecurity company NCC Group has allayed concerns over staff turnover rates, boosting prospects for margin recovery, says Shore Capital. The brokerage says figures from NCC show that net staff levels at its key assurance division are broadly steady at 25 leavers and joiners a month, indicating that the unit is operating in a sustainable manner. "As the margin begins to rebound and the long-needed enterprise planning improvements take hold, we believe NCC's valuation credentials in the high-quality end of cyberservices will emerge," says Shore, raising its rating on NCC stock to buy from hold. Shares are up 0.1% at 199.30 pence."

[a2584728] 07/3/2018 08:25

Yes. I agree. He will be buried in trying to rekindle shareholder value I suspect. This is a giant of a company and is capable of so much more under the right stewardship. He will also be talking to sector players as well to see if any opportunities lie out there

[boadicea] 06/3/2018 22:51

Nearly everything fell back a few days ago, the good with the bad (except for a few that managed to issue some good news) and especially those like SOPH that had doubled in the past year. It was due to profit protection. Anyway, not a good time to draw specific conclusions.
For the past two years the NCC update has been on the last Thursday in April (26th) but given the management changes the pattern this year may be different.

If a bid were on the way a common pattern would be for NCC to be sold down aggressively in advance to make any offer look more generous. There is no sign of that yet.

[jerseyman1] 06/3/2018 09:58

Having said SOPH share price looking better I should have noted it fell back from c540 a few days a ago to c495, so what do I know!!?Needs to make a bid to get it moving!

[jerseyman1] 06/3/2018 09:54

SOPH share price on the up again, so could make sense to add another string to their bow. I know that public profile is not necessarily a good thing for a CEO, but there has been no presence from NCC new guy, and no apparent progress on disposals that were trailed last year. Last year was a bit messy what with Cottons departure so it's hard to compare news flow but I would have thought we were due a Q3 RNS around now....Just very quiet

[a2584728] 06/3/2018 09:18

Mmmm still think we will see a bid at some point, all of the clues point to SOPH but who knows huh?

[jerseyman1] 27/2/2018 11:38

Seems to be a bit of sustained upward momentum in price this last week. Maybe because it was oversold post the Wall Street correction early February. Still no news re disposals, and next corporate news a month or two away.Scene was set for a strong second half performance at the H1 and Q3 update....wonder if bid coming as turnaround starts to register and be demonstrable. Timing could be interesting.

[a2584728] 14/2/2018 11:29

Bid 220p????

[markth] 12/2/2018 13:52

Well there's 187 again, if it goes under 185 then it will drop another 4 or 5 percent more I feel. Then it may be worth a further look through the long term glasses!

[markth] 12/2/2018 11:56

Not that I'm a chartist - but if I were I'd be fretting at the Head and Shoulders pattern this is now forming. Sold my position again for a very modest gain.

[1r0n1cer] 09/2/2018 11:51

Sold 20% of my holdings a couple of days ago. As much as I believe this share should be trading above 250.00, it looks like the rest of the market is not buying it. Keeping my 80% in hope of better weeks to come, if it keeps dragging between 180 and 190, I'll move my portfolio to different products until the eve of full year results when the announcement will definitely be a very strong one.

[markth] 08/2/2018 14:10

Bought a small slice at 187. I think it may dip so 30d limit order placed just in case.

[a2584728] 05/2/2018 15:18

Ripe to be taken over

[mazarin] 29/1/2018 11:19

I posted my reference to AIVD (Post 1625 above) because last year NNC had some issues with Dutch Government being concerned with non Dutch Companies handling data. I think NNC have now resolved the matters but have Contract with Dutch Government.

[markth] 29/1/2018 10:26

Yes everyone knows that Ivan is a very naughty boy in the hacking world. There is also a growing awareness that they lean on commercial companies to help them - see recent press about Kaspersky for example. This is a trend that favours trusted sovereign companies, should NCC come to be considered as one such this would be to their benefit.