Member Info for JohnLewis79

Spo has announced that all interested parties should submit final and full bids to the Co by mid Jan 2016. Should concentrate a few minds! Of course a full bid for the whole Co would scupper those interested in only the Pools.

When a Co makes an announcement that is material to shareholders and worries that a disorderly market may be created via a leak it requests the LSE to suspend trading in the stock. Most common reason is when a Co makes a bid. Generally the LSE frowns on long voluntary suspensions, I believe in the US its 10 days. Further to the above Spo has invited all interested parties to submit final and full bids by mid January 2016.

Interesting article strange that lots of states are anti on line gambling considering Las Vegas & Atlantic City have been in the top 3 wagering capitals of the world for many years. Quite a few states allow on line gaming now and see it as a lucrative form of taxation. It definitely pays to stay 'on side' of the regulators and why Spo is streets ahead of those cos mentioned in the article who face all sorts of punitive penalties if caught. The up-coming court case will be crucial for the Fantasy Sports sector where we are No3 in the US. A knock back will be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court so we could be mired in litigation for years to come....... nothing new there!! This Netplay interest has all the hallmarks of the CG non bid (little market interest) though cash won't be a problem thank goodness! Let's hope for a quick resolution.

A pal has found an article (must be the one you mentioned) he's printing it off, will read it tomorrow?

Obvious disadvantage for Spo holders will be selling the Pools for a so-so price, puts the kibosh on a bid for the rest of the company. Of course should the vat ever get settled and we are successful £90m+ won't go amiss which would potentially make us a very attractive target should we then buy out DraftDay and get a Nasdq quote? A bidder for the whole co may be lurking awaiting the outcome of the NP talks. I know if I was interested in SPO I'd strike now and blow NP out of the water!!

Not a holder here but looked in the past. Am holding Spo & have long urged the Co to sell the Pools so at long last something might happen? No doubt transformational to NP if T.S wants the deal? He was a 10% holder in Spo and was on the board so he knows the Pools business well and the great GP of 40% which pretty much falls straight to the bottom line. I guess it's how much you guys want to pay for a pretty stable £15m annual profit? Maybe NP's only chance to add huge value for shareholders in the medium term? I know if I was holding NP I might even over- pay for the Pools which is ripe for a switched on management to boost players, turnover & profits.

A cautionary start to trading the market showing little enthusiasm for the deal (awaiting another bidder?)..............so far This deal will sink or swim on how much T.Sagi wants the Pools (via his 30% stake in Netplay). I seriously doubt having Netplay shares suspended the two are far apart on price and a consumation could be close.

Confirms this morning that talks are underway with Spo regarding the purchase of the Football Pools. Should the t/o proceed this would constitute a reverse take - over & accordingly Netplay shares have been suspended from trading on AIM until talks are ended or an admission document published.

Don't tempt me Bruce. Need more than a glass! I hate to get my hopes up but this has been well flagged and the sp has done zero, so.....? I'm fearing the worst (as ever) but hoping for a good result which of course would be a take over of the entire Co. Will this happen? Now is the time, pointless in a bidder waiting as they would have nothing to gain, so let's see when the US wakes up tomorrow if others throw their hat in the ring? I think we are in a very strong position as the vat is still to be decided and how this ties up with the pools/STB has yet to be decided( as far as holders are aware) in terms of a settlement /beneficiaries of a vat rebate? So far so good but many a slip between cup'n lip, not that I would spill any Montefalco!

Might be a minnow mrk cap c £22m and ebita of c £1m at the H/Y.... money would be no object with T.Sagi behind them. Did they or rather have they made a knockout bid for the Pools? Any bidding Co does not want to see other suitors appear on the scene. My gut feeling is £75m (37pps) is the minimum Spo might consider, anything less than this is a non starter imo. We may get a comment from Spo first thing as the ST story looks as though it has legs and is material to shareholders and the share price.

Same page a Welly firm readying for a float is valued at £140m + with ebita of £10m!(£6m less than Spo). Go figure!! Ok different sector (retail) but on a cash flow basis alone no comparison as in the Pools the money drops straight to the bottom line. I know which business I'd stick £100m into!

Well if nothing else should get the stock off its arse first thing Monday. Would like to see if Sagi (prev had a 10% stake in Spo & knows the Co well) interest will flush out anybody else. Forget WH they would take 6 months thinking about it, my money is still on Betfred making an audacious bid for the whole Co. Whatever the auction is about to start!

Flushed out. T.Sagi boss of Playtech might through Netplay make an £100m bid for the Pools. Headlines in ST Business section today. The price might be paper talk but should see some action come Monday!

Good luck with the search for quality stocks. Plenty of triple A shares have had an awful year if in the wrong sector or undone by poor management (Rolls). I guess if you throw enough darts at the board you might get the odd bullseye? Oh well I've thrown my lot in with the small cap sector praying for a multi bagger to get me out of the mire and to date with predictable results am still stuck in the doo doo! Luckily i resisted dumping my worst two as i still believe they will come good but I've been saying that for 3 years! Patience, patience and more patience is the key and boy I have plenty of it! Lots of mixed messages for equities next year which may pan out much as this year if rates don't get raised too quickly. More rate rises won't be good for oilies as the $ will strengthen so that's one sector to avoid not helped by the low oil price. I'm stuck, hugely underwater in GNL and loathe to crystallise a loss! Should have shorted that one all the way down from 650!! Speak before the holidays. JL.

Bruce you'll have to tell me how you do it!.... Shares...skyrocketing not in my vocabulary! New Years resolutions are, 1) No o...lies 2) No med devices 3) cut down on the booze 4) well not 3...obviously! Speak soon JL.

Sharescope the trading website did an analysis on div paying companies on the All Share. Criteria was stable cash flow,zero debt & secure future dividends (a year out?) Only 14 companies were found! The top div payer was L.Ashley at 7.3% yield. A surprise to me was to see 888 included at a yield of 4.3% in the 9 above the ftse av of 4.2%. Sharescope found 11 Co paying dividends out of borrowings as opposed to free cash flow (what's left after paying the cleaners) though these Co are not highlighted! BP shareholders must be nervous as the annual div costs upwards of $6BN. Are we not lucky at Spo eh! No threat to our dividend! Heh heh

Duff report on eh in Shares Mag today. Not invested here dithered in the 60's so that boat sailed without me! Might check out now.

Internal appointment to above post. M.Kalifa takes over 4 Jan 2016.

Bruce did you see Proctor got his wrists slapped over a promo video presentation (ramping the stock?). Looks like Boom are trying to lift the sp ahead of another funding round. With enough cash to last to perhaps Q2/3 expect to dig deep Bruce! I take it your still in?

Morning Bruce. No don't keep an eye on GVC I hate that stock! Missed that train and the replacement bus turned out a dud! Could not find anything under share news. Is it on GVC chat board? All quiet on the Sportech front, not expecting any news prior to New Year. One day Rodders!