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Clearly the future is in smart building design, there really isn't an argument against is there. If you wanted to invest in the sector there seems nowhere else to go. Aukett has barely any visibility amongst the usual followers of small companies - two posts here in a week for example. The BOD aren't doing anything much to change this at present, but this is likely to change. One significant contrarian investor has taken stealthily taken a position. Over 5 years could this be a ten bagger (ground floor) or a hundred bagger (basement) - I have no idea and neither have you, but on a probable outcome basis, any downside such as there is, looks comfortably covered and the upside is in for zilch
Oh dear. He has a lot to answer for it seems.
Jim Mellon recently interviewed in link
Google him dj let us know if you find anything interesting.
Who is he?
Https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/AUK/holdings-in-company-gog43km565blgyo.html
....I'm surprised by how quietly this was received
.
Is it agents or financiers holding the sale back ?
Have just bought modestly at 1.25p on reading results. Pros: new technology and embracing A1, management leadership 40s (not yet able to retire!), employees encouraged to buy shares/good take up, a pair of significant inst. investors including Braveheart/a biggish buyer from the IoM today, active financial management. Cons: cashflow problems/paye & vat bills o/s, expecting first half loss/second half gain, the outlook would be much better if/when they sell a freehold building under mortgage which is due to be renewed (pull finger, ppty agent?)
I'm an investor because I like the sound of the smart buildings strategy and this is why...
In my experience, MEPs (as professional service providers), generally design and specify building services but they don't implement them, or monitor their on-going performance, or maintain them. Buildings often fail the smart test (with poor levels of comfort, energy efficiency, high operational costs, etc.) because they weren't commissioned adequately and no one is monitoring their on-going performance. The MEPs (and others) have left the building and moved on to the next project. This is a well recognised issue and one which seeks to be addressed by the Soft Landings scheme. So, if a Smart Buildings, Master Systems Integrator implements the designs of an MEP, ensures that the systems are commissioned effectively and takes on-going responsibility for the smart operation of the building, we might get smarter, more sustainable buildings. This is not a professional services type project engagement, it is a different approach that needs different skills and expertise and it is a recognition of the importance of generating scalable, recurring revenue, that is, of course, profitable.
Seems angrybeer only comments on AUK and always with a strongsell attached. Agenda maybe?
If you are 'selling' professional services within a 'very small company structure', then the CEO & the Directors who are 'selling' that service are expected by 'Clients' to know what that service is all about.
When you have no skill within the company within the Building Services Engineering (MEP), and that is your only strategy to expand, then that sounds alarm signals to me.
In a small professional company everyone needs to be delivering fee income, otherwise they are simply just adding to the cost base, with little shareholder value.
I always undertake a detailed consideration of the prospects of a company that I wish to invest in.
I raise concerns when I see them.
I do not offer investment advice, with warnings to investors when I see an obvious problem.
Part of your lack of logic is that a CEO normally has previous direct experience in the services etc that the company operates in.
Emma Walmsley , Archie Norman and others have successfully delivered success, in spite of challenges in areas that are new to them.
If you are an investor? Please enlighten us with your 'sophisticated' analysis of companies that you are positive about?
If you are not an investor?
AUK believe – somehow – they are ‘Master Systems Integrator in the Smart Buildings Arena.’
AUK do not have any such skill base.
These skills are already provided by Building Services Engineering (MEP) in the UK – there are multiple highly skilled practices with decades of experience.
Building Services Engineering (MEP) is carried out by specialist engineers, in the early design phases of any major building project.
The traditional MEP Engineers that AUK has worked with for decades, already deploy the skill set that the new AUK CEO now seem to want to deliver. Unfortunately, the CEO that has dreamt up this strategy, has never designed a building, nor will he. The AUK CEO has never partaken in any part of the MEP process however he now suggests the market will flood to him?
Building Services Engineering (MEP) includes Holistic design process, Passive Systems, Active Systems, ‘Total view’ sustainability assessments, Energy savings calculations, Environmental Regulation Compliance, ‘Whole life’ costing report of systems and utilities, ‘Future flexibility’ planning and projection, Alternative systems assessments for comparison and design, & Existing building assessments. Building Services Engineering (MEP) carry out a ‘whole life’ costing to assess ongoing and initial costs of maintenance, repair, servicing and operation, as well as social and environmental costs. This process can help the design team and the client choose between alternative designs, systems and strategies and to achieve cost control and certainty right from the start.
That is how it is done.
The AUK CEO or Board has none of those skills, nor are there any senior staff qualified in that skill set!
‘Designing, Installing & Maintaining Integrated Audio-Visual Systems’ is the CEO’s past experience!
Somehow, the AUK Board feel that this is their new strategy, with zero experience and zero track record?
I simply offer this slice of information, so those that are investing in AUK are fully aware.
AUK ye 30 September 2023 [provisional]
o £14m – no growth
o Break-Even
o Property Sale yet to be realised required to clear substantial Debts - c£3m.
o Cash: Uncertain – previously had 10 working days of cash coverage.
Revenue Breakdown from previous recent statement:
o Veretec [Drafting] 30%
o ASL [Architecture] 25%
o Intelligent [?] Environments 25%
o Stage Technology 20%
Strategy: ‘Master Systems Integrator in the Smart Buildings Arena.’
I do not see how a company like Torpedo, as a company ‘Designing, Installing & Maintaining Integrated Audio-Visual Systems’, can pass themselves off as a Smart Building company?
They are not profitable at £14m turnover, as the revenue per FTE is exceptionally small.
o AUK 150 FTE @ 95k/FTE [Fosters + Partners double the performance @ 190k/FTE]
The £/FTE is the real impediment. All four entities simply cannot extract windfall gains from their respective businesses. This has been going on now for many, many years....they obviously are running off contracts with fee bids that are at break even. The skill base has been eroded, and they cannot compete at the top end.
I cannot see any real growth potential, and the risk is that the four separate entities take their eye off delivering their base fee income, by diverting resources to the Smart Building concept that is 'fantasy-land' at best!
11-Mar-24 11:10:50 1.29 641,183 Unknown* 1.00 1.20 8,271 O
11-Mar-24 10:20:20 1.20 109,004 Buy* 1.00 1.20 1,308 O
11-Mar-24 08:11:04 1.199 41,538 Buy* 1.00 1.20 498.04 O
Could someone please explain why this is not a Buy?
: '11:10:50 1.29 641,183 Unknown* 1.00 1.20 8,271' ???
Could someone please explain how the largest trade today
How can a sizable trade, at above Ask, be UNKNOWN?
Are the MMs eating M&Ms and dozing?
Like the Monkees: I'm a Believer!
Results should yield results.
'Date Broker Recommendation Old Target New Target Rating Type
28-Jan-16 FinnCap Corporate 11.00 11.00 Reiteration'
Eight years ago this was the last recommendation shown on LSE.
Eight months from now the new company will be moving strongly in that direction.
Investz
More activity after Results in March.
Torpedo Factory sale should stabilise finances ahead of further growth.
Further activity, this morning.
I disagree. I've invested in and out of Auk for 20 years and they are cyclical, when it's bad it's very bad but when the good times come back they make a fortune. And every time their shares tend to 3-5 bag from lows. I remember buying them at 2p once and it went to 10p in no time. Also a very big seller seems to have ran out of stock judging by the fact I cannot get size now so the recovery should start here
It's been a long ride but the +27% of today looks to be a good indicator for the going forward.
"We are pleased to have returned the Group to full year operational profitability after several years of losses. Looking ahead to the current financial year, we expect the enlarged Group to report record revenues, with the second half performance as usual stronger than the first half. The successful sale of our freehold property would eliminate our net debt, enabling us to accelerate our smart buildings strategy."
It's been a rough ride but is this the start of a sustained recovery? Mr. Market likes it.
Bear17
You appear to have a sophisticated analysis of this company.
Which other companies do you analyse in this way?
Which companies are you bullish about please?