Optare Plc Share Chat (OPE)

As I have said before, PI's are the minoriity shareholder here so I don't think that OPE are too concenred about keeping us happy. Very little news, no statement from new guy at top. Zilch. I'm in here for £9.2k at av 0.61 and I do believe I will make some mone eventually. But I think a bit more effort could be made by OPE.Please feel free OPE to prove me wrong! GLA

something to kick start this and stop the rolling effect, so much good happening with this company compared to many of the other shares out there.

wonder if some previous rampers have given up and are selling up and moving on?

Lets not forget where we have come and the prospects that await. Announcement by the BOD of orders, orders, orders would now be timely to get this sp going again.

Order book at the end of September 2012 was £19.4m. This current lower level of order is in part a reflection of the shorter lead-times being achieved at the new factory in Sherburn. Optare is also currently awaiting news on the UK Group tenders for 2013 which are planned to be announced in coming months.

· The first 30 buses built in South Africa have now entered service and a total of 98 buses have been built against the initial contract of 190 buses. A further order for an additional 31 buses is under discussion for delivery before June 2013;

· Optare launched 3 new products at the Euro Bus 2012 show at the NEC Birmingham in November 2012. These are targeting fleet opportunities with major UK groups and also the London market. In addition, successful shows in Sweden and Germany and a product launch in South Africa have generated a number of positive enquiries and prospects;

· Plans have been made to build a number of Optare demonstration units for the Middle Eastern market in Ashok's RAK facility close to Dubai. This is seen as an important target market to support growth outside the UK;

· Optare also expects to put its first mechanical hybrid bus into service with a major operator in Q2 2013.

· The Board believes that its investments in developing Electric buses are well timed and we now have a substantial lead on the competition. With increasing fuel costs along with more costly and complicated technology needed to reduce tail-pipe emissions, Electric buses make increasing commercial sense and offers a key growth opportunity.

· Changes to working patterns at the Sherburn factory are planned to be implemented by management on the 2nd January 2013 after extensive consultations with the workforce, union members and ACAS. These will further improve efficiencies and provide greater flexibility to meet customer requirements.

· Material cost reductions of £900 per bus have been made during the first half of FY 2013. The benefit of Ashok Leyland's purchasing leverage is gaining momentum and a further £3000 per bus is targeted in the second half of the financial year. Concurrent to the continuing efforts on fixed cost and direct labour cost reductions, the thrust is now firmly on material cost reductions and revenue growth to achieve sustainable profit improvements.

Notwithstanding the current poor economic sentiments, the Board still anticipates an increase in UK demand, particularly for single deck buses in 2013 and 2014, driven by DDA legislation and an expected pre-buy of buses ahead of Euro VI emission legislation. However an increasing proportion of sales moving forward are planned to come from Export markets to de-risk current dependency on a cyclical UK market.

like your post but to young to remember are you being served LOL keep the faith

major operators such as Stagecoach and Arriva announce hundred-million pound orders for new buses?

Totally agree with all your sentiments mate. I shall remain a bitter ender along with others. But blimey going down; menswear, luggage and perfumery. it doesn't half give you the gitters.

GLA

We will also hopefully get orders from the Green Bus Fund Round 4 (a further £20m is being made available to bus operators & local authorities) which was announced in November 2012.

yes i agree with you but its getting worse the more good news we have

on the back of the Arriva contract in late Dec 2012 (which many thought - we have lift off) and the order from stagecoach early 2013 lets just sit tight as more roll in. Doing business with these twp, we mean business. .