The latest Investing Matters Podcast episode featuring Jeremy Skillington, CEO of Poolbeg Pharma has just been released. Listen here.
This has little to do with AFC IMO. BMW, Audi and the rest are not companies with a great history in motorsport really. Extreme E , the one we're supporting, has very similar cars for all contestants and the winners will be the best drivers rather than the best technicians. Also we have zero emmissions from fuel generation , I'm not sure that Formula E does. Thats our great selling point.
I would have thought an update conveying positive news such as the one we just had might move the SP.. However, it was very vague and there clearly needs to be something more specific. The board seems to be very guarded about actual time scales, anything their performance could be measured against. Specifically I think the market would like to see: commercial orders, a timescale for completing the assembly site and the confirmation of the "relationships" with customers in the construction, temporary power and ultra rapid charging fields. The latter was promised "shortly" which is maybe the same as "in the near future" possiby less than "soon" but probably more than "imminently".
For a company that is key to the success of Extreme-E AFC is remarkably quiet as far as I can see. Where is the excitement, where is the promotion, advertising and discussion in the media specifically focussing on energy production? Their logo should be everywhere. They should be shouting from the rooftops rather than hiding under a blanket shy of the media.
It's all about visibility. Watch the race, see a big poster saying , "Fuelled by Clean Energy by AFC" Look at the cars see the company logo. AFC needs to raise it's profile so it's seen as the "go to" company for clean energy. With a bit of luck the race series willhelp with this although that is not enough on its own. Advertising is the key IMO.
If AFC are powering the E1 series etc. why isn't there a "by line" on every heading on TV ads, posters, advertisements and correspondence saying something like .... "Powered by AFC clean energy" . Marketing opportunities are being missed all over the place, or am I missing something?
I am truly shocked by the video of cruelty to pigs. I cannot imagine the reason the pigs were boiled alive here (back in March). Surely not religious because my understanding is that pork is not permitted as a food to eat by the religions involved and in any case ritual slaughtering does not involve boiling alive I think. I'm glad the belgium slaughterhouse was closed but it has now reopened with surveilance cameras. I hope the animal torture has now ceased. I know it's off topic but really this is a very serious issue and I'm glad I saw it although as I say I'm apalled.
If AFC is a leading company in the Hydrogen sector I would have thought it would be trying to take a high profile, pushing its corporate image out at every opportunity. I just cannot understand the silence. A few quid spent on marketing would be beneficial in attracting attention to products and raising the company profile. Being quiet (or silent!) is no way to promote a business however ground breaking the technology.
When I hear stuff like this Iit emphasises to me how below par AFC public communications are. We should be high profile now we have products to sell. Whilst I'm very positive about our prospects but why on Earth are we hiding our light under a bushell? The motorsport initiative is great but lets get some momentum going here.
Expecting a large late trade again today! This is becoming very tiresome and predictable. Small rise early on followed by a drift lower and then "hocus pocus" after 16.30. I think 6 months is enough of a wait for a sale for anyone , I'm literally biting the bars of my lock-down cage . Surely with all these share option goodies up for grabs the sales team can get a move on!
Whilst I understand the prospect of sales might have been knocked off course by Covid 19 there could be take up quite soon by some customers . It surely depends on the sector. The construction industry may well want to explore Carbon free generation soon assuming that big projects will go ahead, HS2 for example. Surly the government will negotiate contracts on the basis of low carbon footprints. Local authorities and public services like the Post office will need to invest in new kit and they will also want to reduce their carbon footprint asap. From reading the AGM doc. I believe AFC will survive the lock-down and emerge as a company with a good future in prospect.
I just thought it's worth pointing out that i understand the "really nasty" aspect of Corvid 19 isn't the death rate (although it still frightens me!). but the rate at which it transmits. I understand this is easier to catch than flu for example. So the total number of infections could be much higher and consequently the total number of deaths much higher than some of the other diseases mentioned here.
If the government precludes the use of diesel generators construction firms will have no choice but to find alternatives with a low or no carbon footprint. AFC clearly have a compelling product here. Similarly local authorities and bus firms will want to move to a low carbon footprint. This issue is not going away with the virus crisis. The government has targets which it will not want to move off and I think the core demand for AFC products will only increase with time.
Many potential customers for AFC products will be decimated by the damage to the market caused by the virus and be very hesitant in investing large amounts at this time of crisis . However, a substantial number of customers will be public utilities and government related organisations. I would think those institutions will still be on track to buy products. Climate change isn't going away and the pressure on government to be seen to be doing something to bring down the carbon footprint of the nation is still there. Based on that I would expect us still to be able to land substantial orders fairly soon.
I know this is probably a daft question, but I've always thought if you don't know something ask anyway.
If there is a sale and a NDA then can the sale be part of the non disclosure agreement?
Some organisations may not want it disclosed they are buying these until they are unveiled as part of a marketing strategy.
Just my opinion but I think this is a very short sighted view. If they cancel this project it will put another nail in the coffin alongside Brexit of so called "Global Britain". You can't grow the economy without modern and effective communications. They have been putting off this project for decades. Sorry if I'm off topic.