Smartfocus Share Discussion Threads

[santangello] 12/1/2011 19:15

....cannot believe PI's are giving stock back to the MMs at these levels......unbelievable....

[santangello] 11/1/2011 18:25

Buyers are appearing.......

......and remember that this month the company will issue a trading statement......they didn't do that last year hmmmmmmmmm, I wonder why they're doing that then........wink!

Plus.....they are opening their doors with an investor day in February.

Short term we have an interesting few weeks ahead?

[wjccghcc] 07/1/2011 08:26

Agreed re the takeover, particularly with Underhill leaving.

[glasshalfull] 07/1/2011 00:51

Hi WJ - Agree that STF and RGO should be beneficiaries.

STF adopted a SaaS model in 2008 and I think we are beginning to see the benefits emerge. High recurring revenues and over 90% client retention speaks volumes.

Arbuthnot issued a strong buy recommendation and 18p target some time ago, having upgraded their profit forecasts for STF on 4 occasions during 2009 and also a couple during 2010. Net cash is also forecast to be around £3.5m as at end of Dec 2010.

I've watched for a number of years and only recently bought in. They remind me slightly of IGP in the sense that for a number of years they have developed their product offering and are now beginning to reap the rewards through market leading solutions. IGP remain one of my largest holdings and as I stated earlier, my only concern with STF is the departure of Chris Underhill back in October although doing so by releasing an "ahead" T/S a full 2 months prior to year end suggests that the company is performing well and certainly assuaged many doubts.

I don't think STF will remain independent for too long and get the impression that Arbuthnot feel the same having watched IBM take out Unica in the US and UK listed Portrait Software fall to Pitney Bowes....

Regards,
GHF


edit - 20p target price by Arbuthnot rather than the 18p I stated.

[wjccghcc] 07/1/2011 00:21

Yes, STF should benefit, as should the likes of RGO.

[jailbird] 06/1/2011 13:36

Hi WJCC,

Just seen this today. On my monitor. I came across these articles on another thread..do you see SFT benefiting from this area.. I am not sure how strong their product is for mobile apps..and need some reading to do yet....but a certain growth area.

[wjccghcc] 06/1/2011 13:22

Nice to see you here GHF. I bought back in on the recent dip. Hopefully we should start seeing a step change in the numbers next year as the transition to SaaS completes.

[glasshalfull] 06/1/2011 10:13

Thanks hastings.

Further positive contract news this morning via the RNSON released and during December with the Betsafe announcement and proposed Investor Day scheduled for the 2nd Feb and introduction of the groups new SaaS product suite. I like it when companies wish to open their doors to the market and view this as a positive development.

There certainly appears to be considerable momentum developing here and my onle concern is the departure of Chris Underhill as the company was making the step change in profitability.

Anyway, I like the story and have a small holding. Added a few more today that may well be reported as a sell.

Regards,
GHF

[hastings] 04/1/2011 20:15

May be of interest to holders

[santangello] 31/12/2010 17:46

Marked up on the offer today...

Encouraging.....but not sure why it moved lol.....

[santangello] 06/12/2010 18:02

Buyers certainly returning......very interesting.

All buys today, no sells.

[santangello] 27/10/2010 18:12

Shrewdies climbing on board.......again.

Cracking hold up against the market trend today.

Plenty to come, and that's without any bid ???????

Just my thoughts.....and I do hold substantially, so have an active interest.

[goofball25] 26/10/2010 23:40

Great news today, Shame about the price action though.

Arbuthnot came out with a price targ of 20p earlier today.

[dealit] 26/10/2010 08:22

7% jump before trading as started, cannot be the trading update, this will be the third company this year I have had taken over. All about the price now IMHO.

[santangello] 26/10/2010 07:56

My thoughts exactly......and some stock been bought lately......

[dealit] 26/10/2010 07:55

Yes, good positive trading statement but why would the CEO step down now I am starting to think "takeover" maybe IMHO.

[santangello] 26/10/2010 07:49

STF delivering again...

These are one of my core, favourite and dependable holdings.......and are going from strength to strength.

The company valuation is still low in my opinion and it would not surprise me to see them get taken out...............

[welsheagle] 26/10/2010 07:28

RNS Number : 9757U
smartFOCUS Group PLC
26 October 2010



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
26 OCTOBER 2010




TRADING UPDATE & BOARD CHANGE


The Board of smartFOCUS ("smartFOCUS" or "the Company") (AIM: STF), a leading provider of multi-channel marketing software, wishes to update the market on trading since the release of the Company's interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2010 released on 29 September 2010. Trading has been strong and the sales pipeline continues to grow and as such the Board expects that the Company's results for the year ending 31 December 2010 will be ahead of market expectations.

In addition, smartFOCUS announces that Chris Underhill has stepped down as CEO of the Company with immediate effect to pursue other business interests. He will serve as a non-executive director until 31 December 2010 to support the Chairman, Chris Gater, in the search for a new CEO. Until the appointment of a new CEO, Curt Bloom, President of smartFOCUS International and who has been with the business since 2005 will serve as interim CEO. Curt Bloom brings more than 20 years experience as a senior executive responsible for International software business development in Europe, Asia and North America. Prior to joining smartFOCUS Curt was Managing Director, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Operations for Unica, the USA based vendor of Enterprise Marketing Management software. He was instrumental in the growth of the Unica European business operation, leading the acquisition of the French Campaign Management Company Marketic in 2003/04.

Commenting on the announcement Chris Underhill said: "The Company is in a strong financial and market position with an experienced management team, excellent people, world class products and an enviable customer advocacy. I remain passionate about smartFOCUS and confident in the Company's ability to continue to deliver its financial goals and strategy. I believe that now is the right time for the Company to bring in new leadership that can build on its success for the future. I will support the Chairman, as a non executive director, in the search for my replacement over the coming months."

Chris Gater, smartFOCUS Chairman, further commented: "After 12 years as CEO Chris believes the time is right to bring new leadership into the Company and to build on its current success for the future. He has led the business since 2000 and through his vision and drive has taken the Company to a position of leadership in the marketing software space. Chris is leaving the Company with a strong and consistent financial performance as recently reported in its interim statement and reflected in today's trading update.

"Whilst Chris Underhill will stay as a director until the end of the year, the Board wishes to take this opportunity to thank Chris for his contribution to the business and wish him every success for the future."



-Ends-

[santangello] 20/10/2010 19:35

More solid buying again today.....those large sells were actually buys.

Stake building ????

[santangello] 19/10/2010 18:00

More 6 figure buys today..........getting interesting here.

Company are prime for being picked off imho.

[kirs] 18/10/2010 14:23

Maybe - no announcements - which I would have expected on the size of the trades being made over the recent weeks.

[santangello] 14/10/2010 20:18

Interesting MM activity here ?????