BOWOOD
31 Aug 2016
Re: RNS Not for you or I B but if you wanted a reasonable top up you may get on the Allenby list. Could of course buy a small amount in the market at the price. Quite a relatively large amount to get away and it will more than double the m/c so the certain large holders will be taking a fair number. On a positive note it would appear that the new CEO is laying the foundation for growth but it looks as if Scanes will be off with a thank you cheque as FCCN takes the Chair. It's not jam tomorrow but it could be jam the day after tomorrow. I'm not sure if this a buy yet but if they get the right consultants in full year 2018 could be interesting.
broomfielder
31 Aug 2016
RNS My first glance of this announcement suggests the capital raising is a Placing, not open to existing shareholders.Thus we have dilution for a purpose(s) that looks little more than sketches on the back of a ciggy packet - mostly for working cap and debt repayment purposes. Organic growth!!Not quite what I had expected and I have to say not a convincing RNS from just about any perspective I can currently think of.B
BOWOOD
10 Aug 2016
Sale Is the share sale today that of S Obrien - looks like a similar number whilst holding on to a couple of shares to remain on the register?
broomfielder
17 Jun 2016
Re: Director Share Purchases Appreciate at these sort of levels it's largely 'gesture politics', but we do like to see some commitment and it certainly helps at whatever amount.I'm sure we all know of so many companies where Directors don't seem to recognise the importance of (their having) some skin in the game and that always troubles investors especially when times get tough.Hopefully above is all part of NBB beginning to improve their public profile under Mike B.B
BOWOOD
17 Jun 2016
Re: Director Share Purchases Good to see JW on the register. Chairman not so important but it would good to see him buy in.
BOWOOD
16 Jun 2016
Re: Director Share Purchases Very responsible PR purchase that sends the right message to shareholders. The first qtr showed a small profit so we are told and it would be a very poor show if we drifted into a loss at the half way. I am sure that MB wil not want to go into the red during his first three months. MC very low and if NBB can turn in a strong performance then I think we can see the SP much higher in twelve months; an upbeat AGM update would help.
broomfielder
16 Jun 2016
Director Share Purchases Well B you got your wish with MB buying 90k shares in the open market today.Now if the Group could just get their PR 'hat' on and structure their story through not only wider media coverage, but also via Brokers and presentations to Institutions etc., we might just get some real traction in the SP over the coming months.Quite honestly, it's looking more and more as if we are witnessing the lead up to a bit of a Regime change here and the next relatively short period could be altogether rather exciting for NBB (and its long suffering shareholders).I know it's a big 'if' but if we don't see any politically induced economic shocks in the near future then the H1 Statement should also announce a much clearer strategy for the way ahead. And I expect MB will play a central role in that (and not just as CEO either)!B
BOWOOD
13 Jun 2016
Re: SP Another small sale
BOWOOD
13 Jun 2016
Re: SP I feel we could well suffer for the first half to the end of June, not only because of the current mood of business ahead of the referendum but also it would be unusual for a new CEO not to make changes during the first few months of his arrival which normally cost money. What ever the outcome of the vote NBB is currently so small in market cap, that the brand and the new CEO should be well capable of pushing the mc much higher over the next 12 months or so.
broomfielder
13 Jun 2016
SP After heavy selling (......OK, well a massive total of 308 shares!), the SP has retreated 8-10% depending upon which website/trader you refer to.No doubt largely driven by wider Market conditions (which is always a good excuse for MM's to make easy money), I guess until this EU referendum is over, market volatility (ie losses) will continue.I wouldn't like to speculate how a vote to exit will be received by the Market's but almost certainly there will be a relief rally if we stay in. If for no other reason that a lot of the funds being withdrawn from the UK will return. Whether that rally will percolate down to AIM is less certain.As for NBB (and recruiters in general), I suspect the Results could be held back again this time by a softer May/June's trading in the lead up to the Referendum as most companies will doubtless have scaled back on most expenditure of this sort until the Ref outcome is known.Thereafter, In the lead up to the Interim figures being released end Sept/early Oct, I agree Bowood that some fairly serious Director share purchases should be undertaken. I think that should also be a prelude to more detailed plans being announced on the way ahead as our new CEO will then have c6 months under his belt.IMO the above should simply be the start of efforts being made to increase the SP and hence the M Cap which at today's £1.95m is seriously understated for a Group of this scale and potential.But as I have said before, they have to start delivering sustainable and growing profits.B
BOWOOD
06 Jun 2016
Re: Grant of Options RNS It needed to happen of course but a better incentive would have been for the Directors to have bought shares in the first place. If you have the option and it dose not work then there is no loss; but if you buy in then there is a real incentive. Also I feel following any option that is exercised those shares should not be sold for at least six months; no hasty exit ahead of further bad news!
broomfielder
06 Jun 2016
Grant of Options RNS The options granted particularly to new CEO M Brennan's are hardly a surprise as something of this order would have been needed as part of the package to lure someone of his background etc. The linkage to share price and EBITDA for both his and those for J Webber make sense.The vesting price of 13.5p is not as high as I would have liked and total Options now exist equivalent to c21% of the Group's fully diluted share capital but the tiered average SP to exercise should provide some comfort to existing and potential Investors albeit this criteria only applies to part of the Options.To be honest I had been expecting some form of linked Profit Participation for MB but he may only get that if he stumps up some cash of his own.We could well see more news in future which I think will provide a clearer picture of where the Group is headed.B
BOWOOD
04 Jun 2016
Re: Results / Key personnel changes The new CEO has a good background and I feel will draw competent and quality consultants to join him. Also I would expect his client base would be in the top draw. Happy with what I feel is now a positive future with a recruiter now running the shop. Too many stop goes, jam tomorrow over the past several years but now I am very confident of the future and the SP.GL
broomfielder
04 Jun 2016
Re: Results / Key personnel changes B - Quite apart from the severance costs of losing 3 of their top people, it's impact on the day to day business and indeed of the Group's remaining people I agree will have been very significant particularly when the CEO goes without a replacement for so long.The recruitment business is of course a very 'people' driven affair and will be extremely sensitive to such changes. I described the Exec Search problems as a blip partly with this issue in mind and partly as subsequently this business part seems to have recovered quickly even ahead of the new CEO etc.For a Group, it now needs to demonstrate it can be galvanised behind its new CEO and streamlined team and start delivering more consistently. It's what the Market demands these days before any wider movement in the SP.If anything, I'm more positive about where the Group is heading with the likes of MB at the helm, but it's always frustrating when recovery plans always take that much longer than anticipated to work through.In my view the Group could have a very bright future in the short term (and the SP benefitting as a consequence) provided they can build now on what they have already achieved.B
BOWOOD
04 Jun 2016
Re: Off topic Have not as yet had an in depth look at the figures but I wonder if the departure of S O'B at the half year led to a decline in Ex Search as turnover was well down in the second half. Will have a look as soon as the Annual Report arrives.
