Member Info for RogueRiver

"Year low" meaning the last 12 months.

The year low was 100.70p. The final results are out on Thu, so they will be the determining factor as to whether we see a steep rise or fall.

I think DEB shareholders are stuck between a rock and a hard place. If DEB secures the new finance, the share price will be diluted (new value 2 - 2.5p?). If MA makes a bid next week, it is probably going to be no more than 3 - 4p (which, given the current price, the market fully realizes). I think the current DEB BOD will succeed and MA will have to sit back and bide his time until the next crisis - by which time a 3p MA bid might seem quite attractive. Of course, with the new cash injection there is a chance DEB will make a recovery. I really hope so, but the augurs are not great.

You know it's been a bad day when ALY is your top gaining share (which it was mine today, due to the uptick in the bid price)! :~o

sj1313. Ask yourself, why is DEB trading at 3.5p (even with a possible takeover bid in the pipeline)? It is drinking in the last chance saloon. It fits MA's business model to acquire DEBs and he also wants to recoup his losses from acquiring 29.9% of DEB at a premium. As for the bank loan, in merchant banking terms a £40 million isn't all that much and you can bet the repayments come at an eye-watering rate.

MA is not going to make a bid before the expiry of 12 months since his last DEB share purchase, as he would have to pay the highest price he paid for the share during that period (Rule 9 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers applies). After that, he can bid whatever he wants. His current plan is probably to 'disrupt and deny' the DEB BOD until then.

As for any offer, it will most likely be at the bottom end: 3 - 4p. The alternatives? CVA with share dilution - or administration with 0p for shareholders. MA will then buy the remains. Given DEB's parlous state, it's difficult to see who else would be interested in acquiring the business.

Oops, sorry Pearls, I misread your post. Please disregard my last.

"Another negative post from RV, not really a realistic view of things is it?

Presumably you followed Peel Hunt’s recent ‘tip’ and were shorting the stock to 1p?

Just hopeless"

Paranoid much? I wouldn't even know where to start shorting a share - and it's a practice of which I wholly disapprove. Now, how about getting off your high horse and maintaining a civil discourse?

“Capita is investable for the first time in over five years. It remains a broad organisation but its focus is narrowing around defined verticals. We see several positive developments: 1) business units are transforming from silos to integrated divisions; 2) leadership at the senior and divisional levels has been upgraded; 3) internal attention is shifting from firefighting to self-help story delivery.

A return to greater than 10 per cent margins and more than £200m of free cash flow is a question of when, not if?.?.?.?and largely within Capita’s control through cost cutting and turning round underperforming contracts.”

BARCLAYS

I wouldn't get too excited until you've seen his offer (if indeed one is forthcoming). There was lots of excitement last week about a bid for Laura Ashley - until we saw the proposed bid - 2.75p. MA might offer 3.00p and say, "Take it or leave it." If 'leave it' is the choice, he could, as CEO of DEB (if his plan works), then take DEB into a CVA, with a much diluted share price. A diluted 3.00p doesn't leave much for shareholders. I hope I'm wrong, but I think MA will be looking to recoup some of the money he shelled out buying 29.9% of DEB at premium rate.

If it's any consolation, it has been a s*it day across the board. Just for a change, the DEB fall looks quite normal today.

And the prize for most dramatic fall in a blue chip share goes to.........

I know it went ex-divi today - and the forthcoming divis are good, but still!

After all the fanfare, it'll probably end the day where it started - if we're 'lucky'.

BAB seems to be reinforcing its dog status today. Thought I did well getting in at 629 about a year ago - which seems quite expensive now.

It was nice while it lasted - all of a week!

Three interest disclosures published today, showing that MUI and associated companies own a total of 60.98% ALY shares. No surprises there.

"What did Jefferies predict?"

It didn't. The Jefferies rating on the LSE DEB page is spurious.

"...is the decimal point in the wrong place ?"

Probably, given that Peel Hunt's rating as of yesterday is 1.00p.

55p back in Dec wasn't much fun! The subsequent bounce and today's results are very welcome. I'm planning on holding this one for at least another 5 years and wouldn't be surprised to see it in the £1.50 - £2 range by then.

If you want a cheap retail share with growth potential, Laura Ashley (ALY) is looking like a sounder bet than DEB. ALY has no debt, is consolidating its stores in the UK (fewer but bigger) and is expanding into China, where people love the 'traditional English' home and fashion look.