Member Info for jointhedots

" subtle deramp IMHO."

bigsmoke - how dare you! It was so subtle I didn't even know I had done it, it was intended as a direct criticism nothing subtle about it.

I didn't know I was implying anything. I don't know what anyone's up to. My point is that it's all down to our dear leaders - wishing shorters away doesn't work.

Loopup will provide an update and everything can then switch, they advertised marketing managers jobs (£45k to £60k basic) in the last week, either some staff have left or more to my liking the opportunities are growing too quickly to cope with - all the signals are that there will be good progress reported in the next update.

Shorts closing - I think it is a non-issue.

Shorts increasing or shorts closing, it's a moving feast, if shorts close then they are likely to be reapplied later - it doesn't help unless shorters go away - and we're back to what I keep harping on about the BoD are wholly responsible if we go to the root cause.

Shorters can't hurt us once applied, they simply provide a pool of potential buyers.

Does anyone really think the number of trades (I think almost 100 yesterday) for this largely ignored by the market company represent 100 or so entities trading - there are far too many of those that are placed simply to manipulate the price Up and Down to meet agenda's.

The BoD can change that by giving investors a reason to buy and reasons to trust in a strong future - shorters are not idiots.

A few days ago I posted about Loopup getting on the Governments list of suitable suppliers, I just noticed that Steve Flavell presented at an event specifically for government entities "digital government" on the 13th - looks to be exactly the type of audience they need to reach.

https://digital-government.co.uk/agenda/

I agree with the view that:

- Ms is not a potential suitor for Loopup - we have nothing to offer an IT major
- A low-ball take uot is a non-starter - we have supportive IIs and our directors are greedy.
- There is a possibility some competitor or new market entrant might like to buy our customer book and hence that entails the company

I have no fears the company will be around for a few years or taken out at a very healthy premium, at least double the current SP would still be cheap.

Irrespective of the st*** performance of the SP and current low shareholder morale I really do believe the SP will soar this year, all the management need to do is no "screw up" the opportunity they now have.

So much potential to expand and grow markets, if they can't manage a great outcome this year then IMO they are not fit to run any company. They know the industry intimately and Loopup have a persuasive track record that should have companies queuing up to sign up.

So though we may be feeling a bit jaded at the moment lets not forget the underlying business proposition remains in good standing. All could change wrt share price at any time.

stew200 - no I don't think the attack is undertaken to facilitate cheap options - but it is likely financially beneficial to our management team and perhaps explains why they show no interest in defending the company at this stage with an update on progress. History suggests Options have been as terrible motivator for our front line staff - staff retention average of 2 1/2 years and some sacked for underperformance. Give them lucrative bonuses, that'll do the trick and let them buy shares in the open market or at a forward loaded premium of say 10%/yr. The difference in signal is profound - that they believe in the future and value staff rather than playing a catch up game on past failures.

Over the weekend you have been trying to rationalise what is going on, you can't because those that may been working against you are hiding their activity. I don't know who is pushing the SP down, can only guess like everyone else.

But I repeat what I have said multiple times the BoD are ultimately responsible - they create or a least allow the environment to persist whilst this happens.

I suspect most would agree this is far from a simple puzzle and IMO there are multiple causes now, shorting], MMs, lack of management action.

But this post is about one other contributory factor, and a root cause IMO, "Options".

Having looked at the grant of options over the past few years I believe the management and employee interests are no longer in alignment with ours in the short term. If there are going to be new options this year then the low SP is great for them, and any good news is best issued later from their viewpoint. They tend to be issued this time of year and are a huge problem, because of the blunder when the exercise price for previous years options was reduced massively to 75p. Who is to say they won't do it again

If I had paid £4/share, I would have been livid, I suspect it was too much for some, especially as they said it was to secure shareholder value. Are they having a laugh.

Got my shares at 68p - clearly they struggled to carry the SP down and prior to buying just under £6k worth I could sell £6k worth at slightly over 67p.

Those figures don't suggest to me the apparent dip in SP is anything other than contrived to test shareholder resolve. It was not in Auction, they simply closed the door to buyers.

I've been here many times before - the MM's will let me buy when they have managed to buy cheap shares and marked the price up. Or if they get enough shareholders to panic then mark the price down again and open up to buyers at the higher price.

The price is marked down heavily, but I can't buy any shares at the. 67p on the offer my arse - only when they've got some mugs to sell lower. It's a stitch up, and IMO is not an II selling at all.

Manipulation - we appear to have sales first thing in the morning, each day to set the tone for the day and sap confidence. A similar tactic at the end of the session leaves shareholders seeing nothing but misery on the horizon. It's a game IMO, as I've said on the BB I have my own opinion on who is responsible so no point going into that again.

I regularly check the headline Bid/Offer (I realise that is only indicative) and was surprised yesterday near the close when the offer went instantly from 72p to 69p - I assumed someone had sold a quantity.

When I checked, I thought it laughable that there was a trade placed at 69p for 2 shares to set that price - give us a break it simple set the mood that the SP was going down and a low open today. It is not simply trading shares, the objective appears to be to set the tone.

I see no reason why an II selling would play that game - and I'm not convinced there is any institutional selling at all - PI's are being mugged as they join with the selling.

BigBoo2 - "Mike, Steve, you guys alive?"

in the strictest sense of the word YES, but they are not alive to PI's concerns or your questions.

Though I would be amazed if some Loopup employees don't read the BB's occasionally (I believe firmly that for most companies the small group of active posters represents only a small subset of the BB readers). I very much doubt any employees relay the BB sentiment to either CEO though - that's a very difficult conversation for an employee.

Pokerchips - that sums up more or less where we are, waiting for the BoD to provide irrefutable proof of the business case.

In the meantime the company's adversaries will have their way, playing with the SP.

The only thing we know about the 2021 outcome is the it will be similar to 2020 with a slight dip in turnover.

Yet what we really need to know is the growth path - the outlook this year I guess is really consolidating the business offering and hopefully build traction for next year. Sales could start to snowball, and unfortunately even the BoD don't know.

The signs so far are that the new offering is being really well received, so at risk of annoying those that have been very patient for a long time I would say all we can do is be patient.

Whatever they report at the next TU it will only give us a hint of what is to come in a rapidly moving market, IMO though the opportunities that we are aware of are huge there will be lots more transformational opportunities if they can unlock them. I don't need a newspaper journalist to tell me the workplace has changes forever, remote working in teams is the new reality as companies now know they can succeed that way and cut out costs

I suppose the product/offerings they are developing/improving with their increase in Software Development budget will be commercially sensitive, but they said they where looking at complementary opportunities so we could finish up with a whole new revenue stream if they get it right.

I suspect a large number of the trades today are from the same entity, buying and selling to manipulate the SP down and hoping PI's capitulate and help the process - I'm sure some have obliged having lost confidence.

I guess we have to come under maximum pressure, distress, before we can recover. It feels very much like the SP is being manipulated. If they pull off the planned expansion then upward movement will become irresistible, in the meantime the only consolation is that there's the opportunity to top up cheaply.

CHRI55 -"Someone on the other board said it could be taken private for a low amount"

Was that you? You are incredibly quick to bring us anything you perceive as bad news.

There is about as much chance of this being taken private on the cheap (of course the current price is cheap) as there is of us buying out Microsoft to gain control of MS Teams. But anything is possible, if you have a vivid enough imagination, tap your feet together three times and make a wish. Seriously, how would that generate an out opportunity for our biggest shareholder? They are represented on the BoD and their business model is to build/support/develop investee businesses for a lucrative exit.

last post someone submitted without finishing should read:

I did notice that the average retention period of staff is around 2 1/2 years, which I thought was rather low as some staff stay for many years.

Paying staff benefits with shares appears a little inappropriate (not working), if the company is to grow as they intend they must retain the best recruits or they'll forever be training staff who are not getting the best outcomes by replacing skilled operatives - the focus seems to have been on smart young graduates (I believe CEO got MBE for graduate initiatives).

I recall a couple of years ago they, sacked a group of underperformers, clearly there was a problem that they hopefully addressed effectively. I suspect/hope they have improved outcomes but we have no indication. No indication of conversion rates

As an old crinkly and I believe sometimes it pays to recruit bit hitters with a proven record. An old crinkly in the IT/Comms industry could be in their 30's, lol.

Perhaps they are doing that, nice balance I hope, but whatever, I think they need focus on retaining staff.

For those that wonder what the hell am I wittering about - bear in mind the quality of out team will be critical in turning our huge enquiry pipeline into sales and building it further before we all become old and crinkly. The staff are the business for this type of company

Though I find the current sp weakness frustrating, I have taken a little top up this morning.

Unless they are planning a real dirty trick on shareholders (e.g. Placing or new employee incentive farce), it is a great opportunity.

I did notice that the average retention period of staff is around 2

Looks like the company are losing the confidence of shareholders, even though they posted very bullish annuals the market is not convinced they truly are on a transformational path - the message appears to have somehow failed to drive optimism.

They need to work a lot harder in getting the message across.