Member Info for Fevertreeman

the good Doctor T and an utterly useless board of directors who should hang their collective heads in shame by the way they have conducted the running of this business under Trice and subsequently. There is no commercial strategy here

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30 years of experience advising in listed plc space and sitting on boards with responsibility for the above. My considered take is as follows:

1. This was either a competitive pitch process or Chamois came highly recommended/ were known already
2. ST is a specialist B2B business -that requires specialist PR and marketing understanding and these tend to be small-scale outfits ( i know a similar business in aeropace sector who do well). The issue with larger firms like WPP or Saatchi is that you often dont get access to most senior team, but some juniors tend to run it day to day, so value is not great. Also there is tremendous pressure to cross-sell other services to the client which causes all sorts of issues . This is avoided by going with a smaller focused outfit.
3. Economics are modest: they will be on a monthly retainer, with a clear remit and targets. Thestage at which ST is now, this is a sensible, low risk, positive move
4. PR is different from advertising where you pay to control how you place your product. Makes it simpler to analyse the results. PR less precise but equally effective: campaign to win hearts and minds & position the business and its story with key stakeholders. More difficult to judge results, but say Chamois get them coverage in a top publication that can be worth its weight in gold (FYI years ago I was involved in advising a universiiy hi-tech spin off, and the PR got a small snippet in FT about the tech - result was 30 business enquiries from across the globe, which resulted in 3 major contract discussions

Only issue I see is that this is very a UK business - but ST is aiming at a global market , so in time they will have to think about how they raise the profile internationally which requires a different order of consultancy. But this is a sensible step in my view. and shows that management very much understands how to proceed and is putting in palce a route map to raise its profile

Tend to agree with you - the FD's exit was the sign for me this was in trouble, and I suspect he told the family what they didn't want to hear. Am glad I got out when I did. Am currently looking at Angling Direct which is a fascinating little business with a great digital offer, European footprint, strong customer numbers and in absolutely the right leisure end of the market.

Exactly - my beef is that the Greek has consistently short-changed investors over a long period of time. Board is hamstrung because he holds the ludicrous title of Executive chairman. The dilution has been enormous and then there is the superb financing transaction he did out of desperation with Phillip at RAB Capital effectively handing the guy a 200pc return at 0.6p.

Chance would be a fine thing! Watch out for Harry's legerdemain, possible hints that its all moving more slowly etc, issue to be addressed etc, so end of March now unlikely...he is incorrigble

That's a question we've asked for years as deadlines have come and gone. If funding is approved, I do not expect some explosive move here, as who knows what terms the funding will be on etc... A relief rally towards 5p would be my optimistic guess but with The Greek in charge it could actually crash the sp as he's as likely to chance his arm with an equity raise alongside.

I said I'd eat my old panama if Harry Angostura Bitters actually made good this time on funding. With 3 weeks to go and Harry prepped to spout at this seminar, sadly I feel Angostura watchers will be subjected to his usual legerdemain andchances are he drops a hint that end of March is as dead as dodo.

Excellent

Fair do's - it was of course Ace

Presume they both have deep pockets

fabulous

"How long has this been going on..." by The Eagles.

got me musing that the only gold Harry is likely to see is in the medal pinned to his ample chest by the Ethiopians for services to the mining industry.

Well done the team at ST

They each bring with them (1) a global contact book (2) how to manage global manufacturing (3) inside knowledge of OEM systems (and governance requirements). This is amazing news - am surprised that the sp has not responded. Bundred is not only putting in place the building blocks for a global business but also adding serious management heft to the team. And also probably paving the way for seamless handover of chairmanship come the appropriate time.

In short, a tiny north west business has snagged two outstanding individuals with global OEM and manufacturing expertise. These people are very aware of their reputations, and they will definitely have done their own due diligence. The fact that both have chosen to join speaks volumes for the quality of the exec team, its technology, customer base and prospects. Hats off to the chairman

The issue that you address about the board sweating the assets is very valid and a sensible strategy. What really irks everyone is that the Board has not stated what their bloody strategy is!!! In truth, if this were it, and they had development plans beyond that, people could take a view on the corporate strategy and buy or sell. What is so desperately bad, is the Board cannot articulate a strategy at all, so it looks like they are at the whim of (1)POO (2) BOndholders (3) Reserves update. Thefact that that they seemed to want to destroy the investment case has not made their situation any easier

As I advised yesterday - the PR/financial advisers will have told the board don't respond - correct advice. They would only have to respond if the EV article had triggered a big rise/fall in sp, then the Exchange would be on their case; it didn't, so the board sits tight. CA know this, but are just warming up. They are either in process of sending or already sent a letter to the Chairman outlining concerns & saying if thee aren't adequately addressed, they will go for an EGM. I would fully expect that if they don't get the response they want, they will leak the contents in full; d'Ancona et al will have to decide whether to pre-empt this move by putting out a rebuttal themselves. Watch out for an increase in newsflow. Big question in my mind is why CA doesnt buy the bonds themselves at below par.....mebbe they have....

Historically when CA has come out all guns blazing in other situations, the sp has moved with alacrity, but here yet again Hur seems to be not responding. Equally its not responding to Brents's upward march. I can only conclude that (1) the concussive effects of multiple disastrous announcements from the useless Board has made he market effectively write this off (Winnifrith et al seem to be in this camp) (2) the sheer amount of shares in issue also has that effect and (3) market no longe rbelieves anything the company says or does and that the CPR is likely to diasppoint and even if reserves are written up, the board will ensure that the least positive intenrpretation.