Posted By Big O on 01/12/2007 8:42 AM

Posted By jfrazell on 01/12/2007 4:31 AM

 

But thats why I'm in energy, we're the boners not the bonees :S

 You've always been the Boner JF, regardless of employment 

  

Posted By Furious on 01/13/2007 4:22 AM
I get the feeling GW is changing in ways that are not immediately obvious and I believe over the last year or two there has been a distinct change in how they are approaching "the GW hobby".

In the last year we've seen the GT's completely done away with and revamped. Now, back and improved (theoretically). We'll see how this works out, but I like the fact Jeff Hall dropped in to get feedback on the GT info. I'd like to see more GW interaction in the future. Hey, although we bash GW, I like to think we've been civil to the GW employees that dare to visit.

We've seen more plastic kits introduced and more blisters/metal models removed from the shelves. Models for basic troop choices are coming in boxed sets and all the weapons upgrade options are often included. We're also seeing Chapter customization plastics (Black Templars & Dark Angels) - something that was once only available from Forgeworld. I think we're going to continue to see a lot more plastics kits in the near future.

We've also seen a new approach to rules, from the friendly "d6 it" game to the Rules As Written (RAW) approach. Hell, we saw even Ed published in White Dwarf...I'm sure we're all still trying to figure out how that happened...but it did. And I have a theory the rumored Space Marines redux may be the result of an effort to tighten up the language in the Codecies.

I honestly think we're seeing GW transitioning into something else...either they're finally identifying and addressing the problems the consumers have gotten fed up with, or they're trying to change their image and business approach. Not for our (direct) benefit, but for something else...Anyway, keep an eye out for more financial news on GW. I think something big is brewing.

Posted By deitpike on 01/13/2007 12:24 AM
perhaps
I kinda took it as them having faith in the company rebounding, and then making some nice $$$ when it does.

Or it could be that Wells and Kirby know that the company is going private and want to grab a bunch of shares for themselves before it does. 

I work for a company that just went public, and when we were private we set our own stock price every quarter.  My companies private stock price did not directly correlate into a public IPO, and it really couldn't.

But if GW went private, and their stock price was low enough, then there isn't any reason for it not to be the baseline for which GW would  base their stock prices when they do go private.  So if Wells and Kirby are buying up stock now when the price is low, then that could be a signal that they know the company will see better days in the future, and in the private market, make them big money.

The other thing, too, is that maybe they think a large (ie Hasbro) firm will buy them out.  Usually that will drive the price of the buyee's stock up, and lower the buyer's stock.  But that would be insider trading.  I also don't think Fidelity would dump GW if that were the case.  But if Fidelity thought GW was to go private, than why not dump them now, before they become too much of a drag on the fund?

-Jmz

Posted By carmachu on 01/13/2007 4:12 PM

Doubtful they grabbed even a good chunk of that 6 million shares that changed hands. THey are officers of the company, they have to disclose what they buy or sell.

That's not the point.  Kirby and Wells would be smart to pick up the shares before the company goes private, because the prices are good.  If the company goes private, than the company controls the value of the stock. 

Who owns the 6 million shares that has changed hands is not the issue either.  If GW goes private than the company itself would have to purchase those shares.  Once the company owns the shares, it can sell/hold/whatever, once it went private.

-Jmz

That's different.  Hasbro (or any company) buying that many shares in a company would look like Hasbro trying to take over GW, or at least gaining a controlling share.  That's obviously not the case because it would have made news.  Remember when Kerkorian bought 7% of GMs shares?  That made news.  It would also reflect in the stock purchase price because GWs stocks would rise if investors saw Hasbro's purchase of GW as a good thing for GW.  But that hasn't happened.  And you can't hide a company purchasing another company's stocks.

My point was that it doesn't matter if only 3 or 4 people outside the company picked up those 6 million GW shares. If GW wanted to go private, they could.  I don't know all the legalities behind it, but I would assume it meant GW telling the stock markets to stop trading on their stocks; offering non-GW stock holders a buyout on their current stocks; and leveraging whatever assets, or taking loans to purchase those remaining stocks.  GW, the company, would own those stocks and could sell them internally if they wished or hold them.

Now, if Kirby and Wells bought a whole bunch of GW stock before the company went private, that is probably not insider trading (I really don't know, I'm guessing).  But, if they thought GW was going private, than buying more GW stock as its going down only makes more sense.

-Jmz

Agreed.

Edit: Content change b/c I was stupid.

-Jmz