Porta Communications Share Discussion Threads

[jefftwo] 17/12/2015 12:01

Go BabyI love your enthusiasm it's exactly what this stock needsKeep blogging

[go_baby_go] 17/12/2015 11:38

Are we heading back to 10p now, some large buys this morning.

[guildedge] 15/12/2015 18:16

Who knows what Steffan might do. He could well buy in outside his share options anyway.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to the price here. Management are very coy at times and often wait for the price to fall to 6-7p before filling their boots. Still unclear if Ruffers have finished selling too. Hence why the directors perhaps hold off?

Seems to be very strong demand at 7p here. If things were going badly they would of had to inform the market. Don't let nerves get the better of you here.

[androyd] 15/12/2015 15:43

He may well buy in the open market at today's price but he'd be a fool to exercise his options at below the issue price.

[gottopickapocketortwo] 15/12/2015 15:29

If only you could buy - they will let me sell over 100000 but not buy even £1000 at mo - have a go - something a foot me thinks

[pelliot] 15/12/2015 15:27

...or buy in the open market at today's price of 6.875p?

[androyd] 15/12/2015 12:18

They're not free, he has the option to buy them over the next 3 years @ 10p per share.

[salpara111] 15/12/2015 11:56

Like most holders I guess I am just running out of patience waiting for some positive news.
Cant quite bring myself to realise my loss but clearly it has performed very badly this year.
I thoroughly object to management awarding themselves options when the share price is so depressed.
I am going to wait until the next update and if that does not spark a revival in fortunes I will take my loss

[qs99] 11/12/2015 21:40

No mention of any performance measures attached?

[guildedge] 11/12/2015 21:35

No update now before January. 100% on this. You only really need trading updates if anything has changed. Far too close to Christmas and January anyway.

Nice to see Steffan tying himself in for 3 years. He got a pretty sweet deal at 10p share options. I doubt the share will be at 7p in 2-3 years time.

[jefftwo] 11/12/2015 15:09

Will we get an update before Christmas or have to wait for intercoms?An update would be pointless nowVery strange and slightly confused

[karm] 04/12/2015 11:07

Is there a TS on its way...or more directors buying.

[karm] 04/12/2015 09:11

Looks like we have found a floor, some buying this morning.

[guildedge] 01/12/2015 17:19

Hard to tell really Oldie. (Not seen the new figures. Do you have a link?
Main points.
They closed 2 European offices. Presumably losing the clients too?
They have won several large clients lately including Glencore and 2 Sisters.
Their results in September suggested revenue was ahead 17%. Suggesting their focus on certain clients was making head way.
Redleaf client numbers had been rising steadily. They may have 62 clients but add on Redleaf and it's nearly 90+.

As for this trading statement. Either the CEO is on leave and has not done it. They are delaying it so Ruffers can clear more stock to let price drift so Ruffers can sell out to BM or an II? They decided to skip it? Or perhaps plan to do one soon? Could also be delaying it for a big announcement. Remember this is a PR firm. They love to time announcements. All guess work really.

[jefftwo] 01/12/2015 16:41

Oldie point taken about top heavy and in my view overpaid senior personnel.My half full side tells me that the quality of client is far superior to that of 12 months agoAs I have previously mentioned if the broker is worth their salt and the company are producing they should be able to deal with any overhang of stock.Whatever happened to this years Trading update?

[oldie52] 01/12/2015 15:15

looks like the rumours of senior departures was wrong which is a shame as they appear top heavy in the Newgate in the UK. An MD, a senior partner and two managing partners - I wonder what they all do. According to the new Adviser rankings Newgate is 6th with 62 quoted clients - last year they were 2nd with 89 clients. Instead of spending their days managing these guys would be better employed getting some new business.

[mikemo2] 01/12/2015 14:58

Guildedge, got to hand it to you, you're an absolute hoot.

"Porta have a habit of making no announcements whilst quietly getting on with things" has to be one of the funniest things I've read. all they've 'got on' with is destroying shareholder value. The amount they've spent on acquisitions is greater than their total market value and that doesn't include the huge costs on start ups, some of which they've already closed down, including Germany which is now saving them £1m a year. this is supposed to be a positive but what about the £millions they wasted on it in the first place!!!

the only reason people seem to suggest investing in this company is 'the directors are buying shares so they must know something'

given that the directors have been buying for years and the performance of the company over that time, i think it's fairly clear that, actually, the directors know very little indeed, about anything

[guildedge] 28/11/2015 04:11

I really see no need to worry here. Did you notice how the price crept up today on ISDX? ISDX saw buys of 7.4p on quite low volumes. Even with the 180k sold on ISDX the previous day. Buyers in the wings I think.

Perhaps a pause from Ruffers too. I think Ruffers have been buying Laura Ashley stock. So perhaps a transfer of funds for this?

Porta have a habit of making no announcements whilst quietly getting on with things. If we get a delayed trading statement they should be able to pretty much say how the 11 months of year has gone. You can be sure that they will want to announce a profit for 2016.

With the broker expecting a loss of 0.7M this year that really should be a 0.4-0.7M profit once you remove the D and A one off. Add on 1M savings for 2016 and the figures begin to look more impressive. Pretty such they can save more costs at their HQ this year. (Senior jobs lost?) So maybe look for a 1M loss this year with further restructuring costs the main cause. Hopefully in profit for 2016?

I note Redleaf just made a Senior hire this week. Seems strange with Oldie52 comment about Newsgate cutting back on Senior staff.

[kimboy2] 27/11/2015 09:32

There was also a £1m saving from the closing of non performing offices announced in the interims.

[guildedge] 25/11/2015 19:28

Might be good news if true Oldie. One of the comments from the broker was that costs had spiralled a bit at their HQ. Could also be why the TS is so late. More cut backs to be announced. Gradual stream lining of Newsgate operations. Maybe with a plan to squeeze another firm in their HQ?

Nice to see a large buy of 268k today. Maybe the start of more people buying in? Although it barely shifted the market. Which cements my views on Ruffers. Still seems to be an overhang here. 7p seems a good entry point here if you think the directors are holding back.

[jefftwo] 25/11/2015 15:07

If correct good newsCompany does need to rationalise wage billFar too high given its profit levelsWould like the remuneration committee to shave some off salaries and give it back but linked to companies market CapTo finish I did like Guildes comments in the early hours of this morning

[oldie52] 25/11/2015 14:56

Heard rumours there has been a cull of senior staff in the Newgate London office. If true should help reduce overheads

[guildedge] 25/11/2015 00:51

The share price is going down due to Ruffers selling. Possible large overhang of 12M shares if they intend to dump the share. Remember the current share price dip has no reflection on how the firm is actually doing.

I think the board will be keen to do a trading statement. I suspect otherwise they would be buying up the stock here. (Perhaps waiting for Ruffers to sell more?) In 2013 they did a TS at end of November. My guess is today or tomorrow. Hopefully a new institution will buy up some of the stock. (Wishful thinking on my part.) That or BM buys more stock at a bargain price.

I notice on another forum they have spotted Newsgate have Glenclore as a client . FTSE 100 client worth 15 or so billion. Apparently this was one of Steffan's old clients at his last job. A sign of good things to come?

Hold firm and don't panic because of Ruffers selling a few shares. The share will bounce back quickly here. Wait for the dip and buy at the lowest point. Share will be back at 9-10p soon enough.

[salpara111] 24/11/2015 09:36

sadly it looks like we are not going to get a trading update before the end of the year and like a lot of under water holders my patience is being sorely tested here.

[jefftwo] 20/11/2015 18:22

A good broker should line up a buyerEspecially if company's outlook is good