Tinopolis Share Discussion Threads

[robsy2] 27/6/2007 12:30

Another nice purchase !

[mam fach] 25/6/2007 16:14

Thought article in Telegraph lacked any sense of direction.Very luke warm as to how much success TIN will achieve.Waiting for more positive proof before they commit themselves to an opinion.

[brando69] 24/6/2007 19:14

"Lyndus - 11 Jun'07 - 11:32 - 579 of 582


Other Welsh shares are starting a recovery e.g Newport Networks lets hope TIN's time will come."

Lyndus, can you tell me which investment houses run Welsh funds, and can you also tell me where I can monitor the Sheepdaq online?

[lbo] 24/6/2007 19:12

The Real Business: Tinopolis hopes to turn base metals into TV gold
By Richard Rivlin, Sunday Telegraph
Last Updated: 2:13am BST 24/06/2007


Expert eye

Question Time's David Dimbleby needs no help in managing the competing messages of his panelists. It is a skill that the board of Tinopolis, the company behind the show, should absorb.

Tinopolis was the 19th-century name for Llanelli in Wales, when it was a world centre for tin production. The media business was set up in 1990 and evolved into the largest supplier of Welsh-language programming for S4C, the Welsh equivalent of Channel 4, before its reverse takeover of an Aim shell in January 2005, when the shares stood at 43p.

At the time it was a simple story that investors liked: a fast-growing regional TV production business coming to market at the very time when broadcasters, not least the BBC, were coming under pressure to commission more outside the M25.

But less than two years later the management team, led by Ron Jones and Arwel Rees, the executive chairman and managing director respectively, have used what was a real distinguishing feature to leap into the mainstream. Deals to acquire Television Corporation - owner of Mentorn and producer of Question Time - and Sunset + Vine, plus the recent purchase of Video Arts, have now been completed.

The new Tinopolis is a significantly larger business than the one that floated, producing sport, drama, animation and training content as well as the original Welsh-language programming. As befits a growing company, it was poised to move to a new site in Hammersmith on the day we met. The new home should save £700,000 in costs.

Sales and profits have already risen as a consequence of the acquisitive strategy. In the year to September 2005 the company made £1m of profits on sales of £10.4m, increasing to £1.3m on sales of £47.3m last year; the forecast from Investec, the broker, is £3m profit on £64m of sales this year.

The market has yet to fully absorb the shift in strategy. The fact that the shares are actually lower than the float price at 37.5p, valuing the business at £35.5m, suggests that the market is uncertain about the direction management is taking - or, worse, does not actually buy it.

The company has £11.5m in cash, so the underlying business is valued at £24m, suggesting that the market needs to hear Jones update it on his strategy. Jones says: " It is about good television backed by interactive and online content that draws viewers further in." What this means in practice is websites for viewers to get more involved in Tinopolis programming.

But if the company is so committed to television programming, why has it bought a training company that happens to deliver its content through videos? Admittedly, paying £2.3m for a business generating sales of £4.9m and profits of £500,000 in the year to December 2006 looks like a good trade but it does seem to cloud the strategy.

Jones disagrees. "Our interactive unit was already producing bespoke training content in soft skills. Because we have a heavy commitment to new media, Video Arts is a good fit," he says.

He seems to have a good idea of how he will turn the library of content into a more profitable unit. Instead of selling the products piecemeal, as historic owners have done, the intention is to sell licences to corporate clients and give them access to the whole library. This is smart and will appeal to HR directors and training managers.

Meanwhile lots of effort is going into turning Mentorn back to profitability. John Willis, a former director of programmes at Channel 4, has been appointed to run the unit and has enjoyed some early successes. Sales of British formats such as Britain's Worst Driver to US networks can only increase this pace. Jones says: "This business lost £2m in the year before our purchase of it. Next year it will be profitable. We are a few months behind where we want it to be but progress is being made."

Richard Rivlin is managing director of Bladonmore
www.bladonmore.com

[igdavies] 13/6/2007 12:24

good results. and if what Ron Jones says is true, then the share should take off at the end of 2008, unless some profitable (i.e. BIG) aquisitions are made. Long term share I suspect!

[robsy2] 12/6/2007 18:07

good set of results. not much interest in this share though!

[lyndus] 11/6/2007 10:32

Other Welsh shares are starting a recovery e.g Newport Networks lets hope TIN's time will come.

[igdavies] 09/6/2007 18:31

Still not moving, very boring share at present

[mam fach] 16/5/2007 15:37

Not much interest shown in TIN.Perhaps this is going to take time.

[igdavies] 15/5/2007 18:18

Tinopolis/Mentorn recomitioned to produce 'Paradise Hotel' for 2 US stations.
Could be the reason for the rise in the price today?

[lyndus] 12/5/2007 10:04

Hope someone followed me and bought VIY.

[igdavies] 10/5/2007 17:34

Just read that Objective Productions are up for sale!
Could be a good acquisition.
Apparently looking for £35 - 40m

[robsy2] 04/5/2007 15:06

Looks like a good deal. PER 4 ish and a library of excellent product which should bring in some income. I have seen some of their sales videos starring John Cleese and Ronnie Corbet and they are brilliant and timeless.

[igdavies] 04/5/2007 10:26

Acquisition of Video Arts Group.

Tinopolis executive chairman Ron Jones said: "Buying Video Arts is in line with our acquisition strategy of looking for companies that provide value for our shareholders and extend our presence in our major markets.

Don't see this making much difference to the share price!!!

[lyndus] 04/5/2007 09:49

Looks like VIY is on the move.Pity we can't see any sign of TIN going in that direction.

[mam fach] 30/4/2007 15:41

Perhaps this share needs a dose of viagra.Better still invest in Vialogy(VIY) this will make you some money this week.Message from "cariad bach".

[ludlow3] 23/4/2007 09:27

they have very little .till bbc and other broardcasters buy there products,

[mach10] 21/4/2007 12:03

Dudlow you really are priceless. I doubt if u ever had any to sell but trying to deramp when u offer no basis for predictions means u are either dishonest or stupid but maybe both. Come on then let's discuss the fundies of this company if u can!

[mam fach] 21/4/2007 10:13

Perhaps they are waiting for 25p to buy back the shares cheaper.
We desperately need some good news or this will go lower and lower.

[ludlow3] 20/4/2007 09:17

mach , keep to sheep farming ,

[ludlow3] 20/4/2007 09:16

these are going down to 25p betold,

[igdavies] 19/4/2007 14:45

very nice. WAD seem to be doing quite well.

[mach10] 19/4/2007 14:30

glad u sold these too dudlow! Please move on u are causing a virtual draught!