Member Info for JohnLewis79

Wonder if they are disappointed that the Pools deal fell through? Was that the reason they have been stake building? The bod need to redouble their efforts to get an equitable price for shareholders, what do you reckon they turned down? My guess probably £50m. I agree no chance at that price! Where can you buy a business netting £14-16m profits a year for £50m? Show me and ill raise the money!!! Perhaps the debt attached to the pools (% of total) was the stumbling block? Anyways very regretful.

In line as I expected. The co confirm they received a bid for the Pools but rejected it as the price was unacceptable. I doubt we have heard the last of that as Spo must be more than ready to sell even if they take a slightly lower price.......whatever it was?

I suppose Penrose and the bod may be haggling over the pools take out value. I can't go through the previous 10 years ebita as I did it before but even with the dreadful decline in player nos, incidentally happening well before the advent of the Lottery, the Pools have returned very healthy profits at fabulous margins for a long time. Also one must remember that all payouts are net to Spo ie, all costs are taken out the balance going straight to the bottom line. With the Pools ever more focused on-line I'm sure there are industry players eyeing Sportech with a view to build on the work Spo have done and spent on the Pools. A stand alone operation with 40% margins, a huge potential audience worldwide for the product should be worth at a minimum 50% of current mrk cap. Perhaps all that is needed is a switched on management team prepared to spend and devote more time to the Pools aiming at a younger market, refresh the prize structure, advertise constantly............may well be the turning point in the Pools fortunes? Spo have tried hard to arrest player decline it's now time for someone else to have a go.

Hi Bruce, Worst way they should get 50pps for the Pools business (6-7x earnings) so your 20p could be in sight! Would be a good fit for Betfred and if the vat came our way we would have a large war chest (£200m) for US expansion/acquisitions. We need something to happen and this may in part explain HG's interest?

Report Spo are considering the sale of the Pools division to concentrate on its US racing business. I have been calling for this for at least the last 5 years. My worry? They will sell the Pools too cheaply.We shall see.

Too much good news! We need some really bad news............... to move the sp! Its a sideways drift till the vat decision which will be a......Win/lose/appeal Win/lose/appeal/ Win/lose/appeal.... Dante's 9th circle!

There has been a down on the sector for sometime now (taxes etc...) and despite some consolidation moves Spo stuck in a year long sideways rut. Until the election is done and dusted I cannot see us doing anything different. We need a Tory win or at least enough to cont Governing anything less .....well? We have the H/Y coming up and we will match last years t/o £52m ebita £12m which mirrored H1 2013 so zero progress!

Spo announce that two key customers have signed contracts for extensive upgrades and new equipment with Spo Racing & Digital. The cos Emerald Downs & Eldorado Resorts have ordered extensive equipment and software upgrades including new totaliser board and paddock info boards as well as taking up Sportech's Betjet series betting devices. The good news keeps on coming.

Good luck with that! I have scaled back my horizons to 18months from purchase. Your right there is no quick buck to be had here and lth should prosper.Whether I can see 20p next year is anyones guess but I would be a seller at that price as the summit is too away from base camp and with 25k shares, reaping substantial returns will see me in my grave.

We need a Warren Buffet to make a decision, ie: no longer than 5 minutes!!

DoubleD7 im holding fire until i see the results and statement. Disappointed at the lack of newsflow from the co, surely they could have said when y/end nos would be released? This smacks of alienating shareholders (not that they would care) and all too typical of small AIM companies. As a comparative new investor with a 3 year horizon I dont have much to moan about as you lth, however treating part owners in a cavalier fashion (not keeping us on side) has been the downfall of a few bods over the years! The sp is what it is and Mr Market will make his judgement just as we may do by voting with our feet. Jeez anyone would think running a small co was difficult! Gluck JL.

Cheers comeonvog but ill wait for the annual statement, no doubt will have lots of Q then.

Update... read across to Ladbrokes. End of. Much prefer Spo if only they can........!!

Profits slump (-50 %) first 3 months to just £14.3m. Co trots out usual scapegoats poor footy/horse racing results and gaming taxes. More worrying to shareholders is the drop in footfall through their shops (would not worry me) as takings are adversely affected. While they intend to close nigh on 60 shops this year this will be a continuing process of closures as punters change to mob betting.The dreary shops, empty most of the time will be kept running for the machine punters but in the long run that will migrate to mobiles. Of all the gaming cos to chose from Lads are bottom of my list and would not invest with your money. Shame for years ago they were top dog!

Its getting near the'deadline' for reporting y/end. Cannot remember whether its 4 of 6 months allowed on AIM? Has Zam 'history' of late reporting?

More equitable terms with Shoreline.

Market reaction.....:( :( :( :( :( :( :(

Some big buys going through the tape, 200 & 150 &100 k @12.25. Little movement in the sp.

Sportech has been awarded a full casino/gaming license by the New Jersey (USA) authorities, believed to be the first ever full license awarded to a European company Sportech underwent a rigorous examination of the co and its employees adding to its already considerable footprint in the gaming leisure regulated sector of the Americas. Very very good news!

From Lads & William Hill this week.