So they put this out on 09/05/23 and yet the non-exec Director completely fluffs his lines at the AGM when he is asked a simple question about the plan.
I don’t believe they have one because SMS wants to stay in charge of his new company.
Tom
I thought it amusing when asked about the recent sale by a Director that SMS suggested that the Director himself who was on the call explain why they had sold. He didn't 'throw him under a bus' but asked him to answer the question.
I don't think the sale would have gone down well with any of the existing management and owners of the shares. This is Chris Martin the co-founder of Data Months and currently Chief Operating Officer of Media Monks.
Behind the smiles for the camera's I don't think there can be much love between the founders of the acquired business's and SMS. They must be swearing into their drinks each night "why didn't we sell to Accenture/someone else?". Why did we fall for the charms of this snake-oil salesman?
Regards
Tom
Hi NigeCo.
I found the presentation interesting.
The company have committed its free cash to share buybacks (to cover planned dilution from share options being exercised) and dividends. The attitude of SMS was that if the company keeps delivering then the share price will look after itself.
I found the response of the Non-Executive Director (who was clearly a mate of SMS) to the question of a succession plan to SMS less than convincing and I think I am being charitable. I don't think they have one and will not have one until SMS tells them they should have one. This to me showed a major risk SMS brings to S4. It doesn't matter if people advise him he needs a succession plan if he doesn't want one they will not have one.
To me SMS did not look brilliantly healthy underneath his heavily sun damaged skin.
The Director who made the recent sale explained that the holdings were held in Trusts which he did not control and the sale was made by the Trustee's to diversify the holdings of the trust.
S4 is an interesting company and it is a puzzle to me why the sp so low. Management have significant holdings and if they achieve their 2023 forecasts they will start generating cash so why is the market completely discounting this forecast?
I don't know!
My various holdings are in the red, 11%, 16%, and 26% and I will be holding on to see how this one plays out.
Regards
Tom
Link to AGM Statement.
https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/SFOR/agm-statement/15992057
Link to sign-on to watch the AGM presentation. A free sign-on is required.
Guest access to the AGM without voting or a Q&A facility will be available as a webcast via the following link: https://stream.brrmedia.co.uk/broadcast/6475ca27c0e842f4c6ea98db
Regards
Tom
I have also posted the same. The complete loss of internal control which caused the results to be delayed last year was a schoolboy error. The market is correct to put SFOR on the naughty step and trash the sp.
It has also caused people selling short to target SFOR and so far it has been profitable for them.
I have a significant holding (for my portfolio) and I try not to get excited or pessimistic as the sp moves up and down. My holding is still in profit as thankfully I opted to sit it out once SFOR went to £5 plus and bought in at c£1.50.
A share to put in your bottom drawer and wait 2/3 years.
Tom
I am grateful for the accounting failure as otherwise I would not be a holder. The complete loss of internal control at S4 was a serious failure. S4 is also not yet a profitable company and is in debt so there are valid doubts about the companies performance.
I think media spend moving from paper/TV is a trend that won’t stop and S4 is well placed to profit from it. The revenue growth they are achieving is very good. I was an accountant in a professional services company and utilisation drives profitability.
I did a search for a car, an i30, and I am being pursued by adverts for it. I only searched once and I have seen many adverts including on this platform.
It would be nice to get to £3 but I won’t be selling anytime soon.
We are not there yet though.
Tom
And so I am a ‘muppet’ am I?
The reason I am invested here is:
1) I rate MS.
2) I think he is right that advertising is moving to digital.
I don’t want to double my money. I want a lot more than that!
Over and out - forever - no more forum posts for me.
Regards
Tom
His ‘analysis’ of SFOR included in this video was junk IMHO.
There was no analysis. “This share went down and I think it might go up”. He displayed zero knowledge on the background to the profit warning. He may help guide muppets to buy into the share. At £500 a time probably.
Tom
At higher prices than the current SP.
Good confirmation that the business is on track to deliver.
The delayed results and accounting confusion must have come as a surprise to insiders.
Happy to hold got a re-rating and beyond.
Tom
II have now fixed the historic data on SGOR.
It’s impressive climb to 800+p and fall to 110p is now correctly recorded. A very frustrating time for holders most of whom no doubt wished they had applied a ‘Stop-loss’.
The data on II is incorrect.
All time high of c400 rather than the correct data of c809.
I logged a COMPLAINT last week after a Secure message I sent was ignored.
I have been advised that the data feed from Morning Star is incorrect.
Hi NigeCo.
I think you are right that for SMS a prime motivator is to grow S4 to be bigger than WPP. Currently the WPP share capitalisation is roughly 10 times that of S4.
It will be very profitable for holders who bought in at the recent price weakness if he succeeds.
Tom
I don’t think it is if you are an investor.
I bought for the long term, 5 years plus, it will make me feel good if my holding is in profit but I will not be selling.
I suggest you watch the SMS YouTube videos. He is supremely confident that S4 will be bigger than WPP before he is done. IMHO there will be no PE bid for S4.
He is a young chap broadcasting his opinions on YouTube. He has a bit more initiative than your average Bulletin Board poster (myself included) to keep posting and to try to turn it into a business. I have reviewed some of his video’s and I did not detect any great insight.
Tom
Delaying investing until there is more clarity is not a bad decision. Investing now is higher risk and reward. I am here for the medium/long term. If my purchase were to go into the red it would not cause me concern.
Tom