Vianet Share Discussion Threads

[jeffian] 12/3/2021 22:46

To be fair, that's a comment that could have been posted on any company thread!

[its the oxman] 12/3/2021 22:20

Vianet is going places, just a matter of time re covid getting sorted.

[jeffian] 12/3/2021 17:46

Thanks, edpick, the whole article is worth a read.

[edpick] 12/3/2021 16:45

Yes, it's been an amazing ride. Can only guess it's due to buzz around SmartVend. www.planet-vending.com/mark-parry-of-vianet-my-names-above-the-door-its-down-to-me/
"There’s a lot riding on the successful launch of this latest development, which Mark refers to as ‘an absolute game-changer for us and the industry as it will be the first platform to fully integrate functionality that currently exists across multiple platforms. Vending operators use either existing Vianet systems or the Vendmanager management software, but there is no system currently in the market that fully integrates contactless & telemetry data with these ERP systems in a seamless way. There’s nothing out there that currently delivers feature rich functionality, insight and analytics as an end-to-end solution, but we will change that this year’, he said."

[jeffian] 12/3/2021 12:23

There has to be more to this than meets the eye surely? The recent - and apparently ongoing - rise seems to be well ahead of any recovery in the underlying business.

[ntv] 09/3/2021 19:55

regretted selling at 69 for a small loss not long ago but only a small stake

[its the oxman] 09/3/2021 15:32

It's just market recovery catch up. Was well and truly left behind. Not so much the case now.

[jeffian] 09/3/2021 14:21

It does seem odd. The recovery seems more dramatic than is justified by just the prospect of pubs reopening in April. Welcome, though.

[edpick] 09/3/2021 12:55

100p paid. What is driving this? Some surge in the past couple of weeks

[boonkoh] 04/3/2021 12:53

Desperately needing some sort of trading update.But yeah, looking like the market has priced in a much rosier scenario, compared to two months ago.

[jeffian] 04/3/2021 11:56

Seems to be recovering remarkably well. Not sure whether this is just relief that the pubs will be reopening soon or indicative of improvements in the contactless sales side.

[its the oxman] 29/1/2021 11:47

Should of bought Marstons or MAB

[pottsypotts] 17/1/2021 17:02

Thanks for that, reading the last results looks like the working from home could be detrimental for the office vending machines also

[jeffian] 16/1/2021 16:04

#798,
pottsypotts, for the year to March 2020 (i.e. before the full impact of Covid kicked in) Smart Zones (the beer monitoring business) provided 75% of the operating profit. This disappeared at the following interims. Unfortunately, although the Smart Machines business is growing and their target is clearly to build up this part to offset their reliance on the pub sector, it is still very early days. I'm sure there will be a business when the pubs reopen but when that will be and what size pub estate will remain are unknown. I am reasonably confident that the national pub estate will recover in due course - the sad fact is that whilst operators will go bust, at some point those pubs will reopen with new tenants or managers - and the need for VNET's monitoring equipment is now well-established as an important management tool. I will sit on what I've got (not very many) but I would not be brave enough to buy until the mists clear a bit. Things could easily get worse before they get better.

[illiswilgig] 16/1/2021 15:08

Hello Boule,

Hope you are well?

Yes, you are correcrt, probably not brave - just foolish. And risky.

There is madness in my method. Perhaps.

The current shareprice fall seems to reflect the risk of raising fresh equity.

I think the company will work hard to avoid this. The chairman owns 17.5% of the shares - so I can't see him wanting to raise more capital unless its really necessary?

It will be a close thing. They will need to tighten their belts considerably to avoid raising capital based upon the cash burn in the recent interims.

The small purchase by him and the CEO, who steps down in March and owns 0.7% - so has reason to not buy any more - I see as a signal to confirm they don't intend - and I use the word intend advisedly - to raise fresh capital.

Having been sitting on the fence waiting for some kind of information either way - I've pretty much got to back it as I see it - but it is a small purchase, just like the directors.

So yes, risky it is.

cheers

[pottsypotts] 16/1/2021 14:12

No recovery at all in the share price which is to be expected due to lockdown yet pub chain like Spoons seems to have recovered some ground from the lows? What percentage of Vianets business is at risk with pub chains, anyone know

[bouleversee] 16/1/2021 12:38

Very brave, Illis. I also hold but everything I have topped up after a fall in the past has just compounded my loss so I will give it a miss, especially after numerous
large losses in my p/f yesterday.

[illiswilgig] 16/1/2021 11:52

Boonkoh - Thank you, that's the way I've read it as well.

Having been sitting on the fence - I decided to back my hunch and follow the directors lead with a small purchase to top up.

cheers

[panshanger1] 15/1/2021 09:00

Just too much uncertainty to invest or add at the moment ( for me )Trading update March will see what they have to say then

[boonkoh] 15/1/2021 08:45

Definitely trading at a bargain price.The key risk I see though is possibility of an equity fundraising.My calcs is that they probably have about £2-3m cash left, having drawn down all their CBIL and overdrafts. Don't think this is enough to see them through half year, especially needing to increase working capital too for ramp up into new sales.But director buys yesterday means no fundraising imminent, otherwise they wouldn't have been able to buy.

[panshanger1] 14/1/2021 16:41

Did see Liontrust and Gresham House ( institutional holders ) increase their holdings during the carnage last year though If it can weather through might look different at the end of the year Long haul here though

[boonkoh] 14/1/2021 16:01

Three token director purchases today. What's the point?Especially CEO and Chairman already have a big chunk of shares.

[boonkoh] 05/1/2021 13:19

Looking gloomy for Q1.Even if new Lockdown ends after 8 weeks, it's not going to a full unlocking. Probably back to Tier 4, then Tier 3, etc...Expecting pubs in UK to be closed at least till early March, if not end of March.

[boonkoh] 29/12/2020 14:29

Can't believe this keeps dropping like a stone.Either there's a fundraising in the background and info has leaked, or investors are afraid of further Tier 4 impact in Jan-Mar on Smart Zone revenues.

[illiswilgig] 26/12/2020 14:39

Hi Oxman,

unfortunately (for us holders) this one is very much a game of two halves.

Covid has had the effect of highlighting the future growth prospects of the smart machines (unattended retailing/IOT) division. Thats the second half. But to get there with no profits from smart zones (pub customers) to bridge the gap - the customers need to roll in to smart machines before the cash gives out - or there is the prospect of fund raise.

Cash drain in H1 was flattered by the change in working capital (decreased revceivable s and inventories). They can't keep doing that.

But that doesn't mean a fund raise will actually happen - the new customers may arrive. Or the Chairman may decide to slow the product development and make the cash last until the customers do arrive. Given the significant holdings of the chairman - and his recent buying - I think thats more likely. Provided the customers do arrive.

There seems to be something of a buyers strike while we wait to see which way it goes, as any fund raise will likely be at a significant discount - which may account for the price drifting downwards.

I am waiting to see how low it will drift before adding - but I do recognise that any contract news will likely cause a significant re-rating?

cheers