Porta Communications Share Discussion Threads

[qs99] 02/3/2017 10:47

don't get why they won't/can't issue a trading update...or get their numbers out before next year end ! DYOR etc

[kimboy2] 02/3/2017 10:39

6.9m shares gone through this morning so far, which is a bit over 2%.

Somebody will have bought them and perhaps an overhang is cleared. It isn't going to go up till there is some news though.

[guildedge] 01/3/2017 17:00

@ Geoff - I think they know exactly how the firm is doing. The board will know the exact figure for each division per month. So they will likely known the results early January for 2016 year. I don't know why they leave the reults till May. Maybe time to prepare them? 1-2 months?

They'll know what contracts they have won and lost too. Like Tesco F and F clothes brand that Porta has announced today. Certainly the F and F contract looks a good win here. Major UK/European brand as a client.

hxxp://publicasity.co.uk/announcing-our-latest-agency-win-ff-at-tesco/

I don't think they have closed down 13 as such. They have just pulled it under the Newgate brand. Gives them access to so many more clients and less confusing when cross selling products. How this works out with ownership I don't know.

There has been a steady news flow in last 1-2 weeks. Just no trading update!

[geoffmorris] 28/2/2017 19:02

Whatever happened to "I want to build a company trading at 50p per share"!!! two months gone and no EOY results suggests that the company needs an urgent Financial overhaul! Delays may have been acceptable earlier in the life of the company, but not now! The question arises that if those who are running the company work with accounting that is this late, then how do they know what is happening? Otherwise, as shareholders and part owners of the company, we should be appraised of the position. Some of us have supported this company from the start and it is about time that we received proper consideration!!!

[kimboy2] 28/2/2017 17:56

May have failed but was said to be trading profitably in May. The announcement suggests rationalisation;



I would have thought the boss of 13 would have fallen on his sword if it was outright failure.

But then perhaps I have fallen victim to the spin.

[markie7] 28/2/2017 17:32

thirteen folded into newgate - must have failed then.

[guildedge] 28/2/2017 16:48

Trading statement will arrive when it does. (If it does!) Porta are actively busy. Looks like they now have House of Fraser as a Client. Not sure how long that has been the case. Website is being updated regularly.

They have also taken in sister company Thirteen under the Newgate brand. Lots going on in the background that they are slowly releasing into the news feed (Gorkana is picking up most of these stories). Including all the new hires.

There is clearly someone who wants to sell in background and that is reason for share price falling. Also 2 other parties exchanging shares on a weekly basis.

[stav5001] 25/2/2017 09:58

I am getting one message loud and clear, and that chart is not a happy one!

[oldie52] 20/2/2017 12:06

Last year trading update 3 February and they rushed out their results a mere 3 and a half months later! For a financial PR agency they dont appear to see communicating with shareholders as a priority

[jefftwo] 20/2/2017 10:29

A trading update is what it saysCan only assume they want to tie this in with something elseI don't think we need to get too nervous.Still plenty of tradingMaybe worth another punt and reduce my average below 14p. Don't all laugh at once!!!!!

[dbnout76] 20/2/2017 07:41

And still no trading update!!!! What is going on? All is not well on the great ship Porta Comms I think.

[guildedge] 08/2/2017 17:35

@ Karm - Since your comment they have hired 2 more senior hires and a new public affairs person. The one announced today bought many clients with her. Seems really positive if they can afford to hire so many more people. Is Newgate starting to gain traction here?

Looks like Newgate may have secured an IPO and part of a 2m pot for the Royal College of London. Redleaf 2 new contracts in last week or so.

RNS today confirms HH still hold all shares here.

Hopefully they can keep this news feed up for 2017.

[markie7] 02/2/2017 21:04

No, I remember that very clearly, yet another reason of many why I don't own this share. Insider dealing is highly illegal. The chairman of Porta at the time of this has now been completely 'cold shouldered' by the FCA, which is an enormously unusual sanction.

[guildedge] 02/2/2017 20:46

You forget just over a year ago when one of the directors bought almost a day before the TU. That would not stop them in my opinion pending on the announcement. Pends what they tell the market.

[kimboy2] 02/2/2017 17:45

There will be an RNS shortly regarding trading for the year. This is price sensitive and will prevent director buys.

They can of course buy afterwards if they wish.

[guildedge] 02/2/2017 17:40

Accounting year end is 60 days before the results. Results are normally end of May. So 2 months would start from around March 28th. Pending on results date.

If the directors are locked out here I am sure the senior managers would be too. Similar rules apply. There is no listing on Porta's website of PDMR (persons discharging managerial responsibilities) Did these rules start July 2016?

To put this in context BM bought shares at levels 50% higher than current market prices just after the results. So at 3-4p all the directors should be snapping up stock here. Not much has really changed here. Revenue will still be circa 35-36m this year in my opinion.

Someone snapped up 500k of shares today. People still buying here. Looks to be at least 2 parties exchanging shares still. Hard to know who.

[markie7] 02/2/2017 07:46

Of course they are locked out. It is a December year end and it's a closed period. Re the COO, as a senior manager, all his dealings are disclosable these days. Under the new AIM regulations it isn't just directors who are subject to the disclosure rules.

[kimboy2] 02/2/2017 07:23

The bottom line is that Morton was happy to take on 12m shares at 4.25p.

He could have extended the loan at 10% interest if he had wished.

[guildedge] 01/2/2017 19:48

@ Oldie. Not your best post. Reading the RNS. They ticked the box that says 'An event changing the breakdown of voting rights'. The RNS clearly shows their share holding has not changed in size. If you look back to July when the holding company for their shares changed you will see they still hold all their shares. The RNS is purely due to all the recent share issues.

There are other funds involved with Porta. Just because they don't meet the 3% holding mark does not mean they are not involved. We know Porta issued 40m shares 3 or so years back. Only management will truly know which of these still hold shares. 2-3 smaller funds may have sold out but other investors have mopped up the shares.

I think the directors are probably locked out here or I am sure they would of all been buying here. If Gary Wyatt has bought 7m shares he must see something in this firm.

As for the COO Gavin. He is not a director of the firm. He does not have to inform the market when he buys or sells shares. How do you even know what stock he even holds?

DYOR.

[kimboy2] 01/2/2017 11:32

Not sure that FIL have sold anything. The Retro deal on the 27th Jan reduces their shareholding to 4.99%.

[oldie52] 01/2/2017 11:22

Big sell down from Fidelity today. For an institution of that size to have bought shares was a big coup. for that same institution to sell down at a third of the price they bought at is massively damning. So you now have a situation where the only institution involved is selling, the CEO holds no shares, the COO holds no shares and the main backers are only there because they get over 12% interest on their cash. Looks like the gravy train is finally running out of steam.

[guildedge] 27/1/2017 21:21

My view is they borrowed the extra 500k to pay for the 50% cash for Redleaf deal or that 398k loss from discontinued operations. I don't think they are short of cash. They had 1.7m in bank at H1 results. It was a similar amount a year ago. Most of the losses reported have been from D and A in last 2 years.

Why would staff leave the firm? Porta have been hiring with many new clients announced in H1 accounts and strong growth reported in operations abroad. We have now had 5-6 hires announced in last 10 months. 3 in the Public affairs. Charlie Chichester last June. Plus David Telling in Jan. Not forgetting Gavin Devine last March who is now CEO of Newgate.

DYOR.

[karm] 27/1/2017 10:13

Unless they show a profit at the next results, it won't surprise me if we start to see staff leave. More dilution.

[qs99] 27/1/2017 09:45

Yup, should have tried the same a year ago instead....wasted opportunity, now has no leverage with lenders IMO.....at least the £500k takes the immediate pressure off I presume