Science Share Discussion Threads

[grahamite2] 25/3/2010 12:46

Please give details of your experience with shareholder action groups.

Particularly welcome would be details of any SAG that has been successful.

[jonwig] 24/3/2010 15:31

atholl91, yes indeed! This has been discussed here.

Notice, too, the anomaly in the valuation of the main asset, Harston Mill:

the indicative valuation for the building under a sale and leaseback scenario is £13.75m ... generated rental and services income of £2,200,000

On an 8% yield basis (which I'd have thought about right for such a property) the valuation should be doubled: £27.5m.

Trouble is, how to realise the value. It's debatable whether consulting can generate sufficient profits at present to pay the rent after sale and leaseback.

Anyway, the share price today says he won't get many acceptances, and seems to suggest he'll move to realise value for *all* shareholders.

[atholl91] 24/3/2010 10:07

Keep buying as this stock is worth a minimum of 47p. The usual suspects acting for Ratcliffe - Lacey doo-dah of the African "Bankers" Investec.

[jonwig] 23/3/2010 16:47

Well, the market doesn't seem to think shareholders will roll over to be tickled at sub-24p, though the closing spike to 28p looks false - we'll see tomorrow.

[linhur] 23/3/2010 16:03

jonwig/kooba

thanks for the info. Looks like a copy of the GNE situation. In GNE Ratcliffe was assisted by J O Hambro (North Atlantic Smaller Cos) and Marlborough 9Giles Hargreaves). SAG may meet the spec for a tech IT better than GNE.

However I would not underestimate the Chairman as he has stuck throught it for a few years - at lease he might extract a few more pence,

regards
linhur

[jonwig] 23/3/2010 12:26

Ginger - agreed. No doubt Catella was happy to exit its stake. They've held it for years and must have felt there had been enough chances for a turnaround.

Kooba - thanks, I haven't had time to look into his form. What might save us is the employee share scheme: SAG has suffered defections of staff in the past, often setting up their own companies. Riding roughshod over these would be very damaging.

[kooba] 23/3/2010 09:52

have a look at gne if you want to know his style.another big discount to cash situation...got himself on board having taken a lumpy stake from a distressed seller suggested a highly lucrative arrangement for himself turning into a technology investment trust.. shareholders revolted against that so he then gave us a fait a compli bid at a big discount to nav.he will have his own agenda here that might not be in everyones interests.but he is a clever fellow.

[gingerplant] 23/3/2010 09:35

Jonwig - very disapointiung IMHO. As you say, he can effectively do what he wants after this. It's patently too cheap, but saying that doesn't help us unfortunately as it's become a private fiefdom like many other AIM companies that exhibit otherwise wonderful value criteria.

[jonwig] 23/3/2010 08:12

So that's it, a bid. I can't find the announcement anywhere except here in the header.

23.8p and he already owns 48.4% - the Catella shares. He plans to leave the AIM listing open but will surely reach over 50%. To a large extent, we'll be prisoner to his integrity. I don't know anything about him or Microgen.

[jonwig] 17/3/2010 08:00

Sphere Medical was a big hope for IPO or trade sale a couple of years ago, before the big freeze. The suggestion was that SAG's stake would be worth more than its whole then MCap.
That might be fanciful now, but who can say?
I'm also a big fan of the potential of Atraverda.

[gingerplant] 17/3/2010 07:52

Interesting that it happened very late in the trading day, too. I was hoping for an announcement of some kind this morning but alas no. Let's hope someone significant has spotted the inherent value here - or there's a sale of some sort in the offing (property or tech).

[jonwig] 17/3/2010 07:46

Hi, Russman. Yes - I didn't see the share price action until late yesterday. Normally this isn't a 'leaky' company but the volume of buying does suggest news rather than noise!

[russman] 16/3/2010 23:35

jonwig:keep up the good work; things are looking up.

[jonwig] 05/3/2010 13:54

HD-LED used in a new steam locomotive (!):



Results presentation on website.

[investinggarden] 02/3/2010 11:46

Buy recommendation from Growth Company Investor

[jonwig] 18/2/2010 09:16

FY results typically early and very detailed.

On a quick glance, they seem to have kitchen-sinked the venture investments and repaid a proportion of the property-secured debt.
Consulting profits small, but H2 a distinct improvement on H1.

'Underlying' profits of £0.2m, or around 1p/sh earnings.

It's possible they may realise more for the investments than the current book value.

[jonwig] 06/2/2010 08:30

This is the HD-LED application originally designed for operating theatres. SAG kept the IP for non-medical use.
There should be some revenues here, and all of them profit.

Sagentia amd Nualight partner on brighter LED illumination for retail food displays

Date Announced: 06 Feb 2010

Sagentia, the award winning technology company, and Nualight Ltd, the specialist in LED lighting for food retail, have agreed a licensing deal. Sagentia has licensed its innovative high colour quality lighting technology to Nualight on an exclusive basis for the global food retail sector, enabling Nualight to offer the world's brightest LED fixtures to the retail display equipment industry. The technology is the first in the world to use ultra efficiency LEDs to generate near perfect colour rendition across the full visible spectrum resulting in brighter, more vibrant displays for retailers.

Nualight has pioneered the use of LED technology for reduced energy consumption and enhanced merchandising. By utilising Sagentia's patented solution, the effects of natural lighting can be created when installing Nualight award winning LED fixtures. The deal further strengthens its leadership position in the food retail market

Sagentia originally developed the technology for the medical industry and was recently recognised for the innovation at the Elektra 09 European Electronics Industry Awards. The solid-state technology means that the lights generate no heat, and requires very little maintenance. Efficiency is also exceptional using up to 70 per cent less energy than conventional lighting.

Dr Euan Morrison, head of advanced optical and lighting technologies at Sagentia, comments: " We are delighted to announce this deal with Nualight, which also marks the beginning of an exciting strategic partnership between the two companies. By incorporating our technology into its product range, Nualight will be able to offer a significant performance advantage to its customers, resulting in reduced energy costs and enhanced, more vibrant illumination systems. This will translate into a direct increase in profits for their retail customers through an increase in product sales."

Liam Kelly, Chief Executive at Nualight, said: "By entering into this agreement with Sagentia, Nualight is further demonstrating our commitment to delivering best-in-class merchandising products to our customers through advanced, energy efficient technology. Nualight has established itself as the lighting partner of choice for many of the world's leading retailers and we aim to further grow our presence in the market by bringing innovative technology solutions to address merchandising challenges. Our relationship with Sagentia will enable us to bring the highest quality energy efficient lighting solutions into the retail environment and also enable us to capitalise on Sagentia's expertise to develop breakthrough new product platforms."



Nualight - private US company with a European presence:

[jonwig] 18/1/2010 18:34

Thanks GingerPlant - I should pay more attention to TMF! Good to know that there are more fans. I'll post something over there.

[russman] 01/1/2010 21:46

Sagentia was mentioned in the F.T page 16 on 31/12/09 as part of "Cambridge cluster that combines disciplines for companies worldwide" article. Article was predominately focused on TTP Group successes; Sagentia was named with PA Consulting & Cambridge Consultants.

[jonwig] 01/1/2010 15:47

Thanks, islandbaggers - yes, I read the RNS and have now caught up with the article.

I suspected that the directors' purchase was not the reason for the share price rise, as the shares were merely transferred, not bought through the market. There were a few thousand shares bought on 30/12 which may have moved the share price enough.

I suppose I'm getting cynical - or just old!

[islandbaggers] 01/1/2010 14:29

Article on www.aimzine.co.uk Jan 2010 issue.

re. Directors buying shares.

You must log-in to read but it is free.

[jonwig] 23/12/2009 11:19

Atraverda article:

One of the major developments over the decade has been the growing concern over environmental issues such as climate change.

Allied with this, the focus continues to be on recycling, waste reduction and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

With the Government's targets to cut carbon emissions and the growth of road users across the globe, hybrid electrical vehicles (HEV) have also had increasing prevalence in the last couple of years.

Technological developments in general over the past 10 years have been astounding, particularly information technology and the growth of broadband networks and mobile communication.

We have certainly seen the growing importance of these areas in our line of business, with innovative battery technology needed to fuel growing IT applications and the emerging "green" markets.

At Atraverda, we have developed a bi-polar lead-acid battery which can reduce carbon footprint by using less lead and CO² during the manufacturing process, as well as being lighter, smaller and recyclable.

One area of concern that has arisen since the turn of the millennium is the increasing competition to the UK from the growth of manufacturing in the Far East, particularly China, and the subsequent transfer of production to these regions with the loss of jobs and skills here.

As we deal with these threats, the knowledge economy is more and more important for Wales and the UK to make sure that we continue to compete in the manufacturing sector.

[jonwig] 23/12/2009 08:55

LOL, Russman thanks - I'm sure we'll have a 'result' by Christmas ... but which year?

[russman] 22/12/2009 19:28

Keep up the good work jonwig.