RE: TRADING UPDATE11 Jan 2021 13:15
Shandy I think you are being overly harsh. It's not a great statement but there are opportunities.
It's the first trading statement by the new ceo so he is going to clear the decks and get as much bad news out as possible. Mark Ward has invested quite a bit of cash as a shareholder and is now sticking in £500k as a loan. He's on the inside. Unless he is getting a good deal re security why would he stick more money in.
Covid has understandably had a big effect but they still managed to do £4.1m. Last year was £5.1m, the year before was £3.8m, before that £4.2m. Covid completely wrecked the launch of nuthing and relaunch of roots. I imagine they will have been discounting prices so volumes may still be similar. It needs the country to be open again at Easter.
Cash, they give no figures so we will have to wait until the half year report. But it has always been a struggle at this time of year when they are building up stock for H2. Hopefully it is a short term loan. A placing might actually be good as we will have cash to start exploiting the international opportunities and can push nuthing.
I'd welcome them selling life sciences as it just seems to swallow cash that could be used to push international markets for skinny tan, charles and lee, nuthing. These seem better bets than a hair helmet and a small plastic device that looks like it should cost £10.
Intangibles seemed to be an issue with investors before . New ceo can write off chunks of the customer list intangibles and it might be more attractive to investors (after the short term paper hit). Everyone new the balance sheet was weak.
Is Joe B a loss. The company has just be bumbling along with no momentum. Lets get a proper strategy in, back it with cash and see what happens. I'd rather take the increased risk now and see if it works than a slow drawn out death.
It's going to be a bumpy 12 to 24 months but hopefully there is a pathway.