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Oh please...lol...the sites that put it on their sites simply didn't include the introduction that we have up on www.valueblogger.com.
As for the "Analyst" title, anyone can call themselves an analyst. The only stuff that we cute and paste was the biographies of the executives which we took from Uwink's website. If you read the original PDF version, it is very clear that we quoting. On the version that we cut and paste onto the site, it may not be as clear. I don't think it's important. The part about the valuation being good and our suggesting it as a speculative buy is in EVERY "edition of the report." When other websites picked up (presumably because they thought it was well-done), they didn't always use the introduction where it talked about this being our first report and the recent-ruup. Copying the biographies of executives from the company's website for a report on that company is not unethical at all. Everything else, with the exception of a quote from an analyst (clearly quoted), is original. Your comment that "most owners and their companies, investors and the SEC do not like folks who maybe misrepresenting themselves when it comes down to personal gain" is just sort of silly and not really worth responding too. We have clearly disclosed our positions in the stock (That I have one and Kevin doesn't), and pumping the stock is not a goal of the report. We are young people who are interested in investing and have done quite well, and we write because we enjoy and make interesting connections. I now have the phone numbers of several very smart hedge fund managers who m I learn a lot from because of my writing.
As far as my accusing people of pumping, I think I may have not made it clear. I am certainly don't think that anyone here is attempting to pump and dump this stock. That's why it puzzles me that there is much talk about trying to pump up the stock price. Our disagreement is purely philisopical. I, like Warren Buffett, beleive that mgmt and investors should focus on the business and the stock price will follow. Others believe that management and investors should focus on increasing the stock price. If everyone focuses on the business, the stock will do well as a biproduct of that. That is my opinion. It's why I don't worry about the stock price. People are certainly free to disagree with that, and I welcome intelligent debate.
Anyway, I really do apologize if I have offended anyone here. I really do not normally have problems with people like this, and I'm a bit puzzled by this. But I can understand that if you thought i was accusing you of trying to pump and dump a stock you would be upset. Reading over my previous posts, I can understand that you would have gotten that impression. That certainly was not my intent. I was just saying that as long-term shareholders, we shouldn't worry about short-term swings in the stock price.
Anyway, we are all long UWNK, so we probably all have bright futures. Let's all be friends! :) Zac
While your point about the secondarys is 100% true, you had seemed to indicate earlier that they would not need to do a secondary. And I think that UWNK's management does share my philosophy of not worrying about the stock price. When I talked to a rep a couple weeks ago, he said as much. He said that it wasn't a story stock and they were focused on building a really great restaurant and expanding based on that, and the stock price would come in time. That's how I feel about it. I think it will come in time, and there's no reason to worry/concoct plans to lift the price. Of course if they need to do a secondary, that's different. But my understanding was that by collecting franchise fees, they would cover working capital needs without that. Zac
<<With a wider base and with higher average daily trading volumes, there will be less dramatic fluctuations in the price per share when limited selling is occuring. Those of us that are long here, know that some really crazy PPS decreases can occur when very little activity is occuring today.>>
What's wrong with really crazy PPS decreases? It presents a buying opportunity if you're bullish long-term.
I'm writing because i enjoy it/enjoy the networking that sometimes happens as a result. I'm not BY ANY STRETCH mentioning it to try to lift the stock price.
Just to be clear, I'm not saying that the motley fool newsletters are hyping stocks. But if you're making a deliberate effort to get a stock mentioned there to try to drive the price of the stock up (presumably so you can sell), that is hyping. I just think we can have some faith in the awesome management team and let the stock take care of itself.
Well you're referring to getting the stock hyped in newsletters...that sounds like pumping the stock price. Why would you want to inflate the share-price if you're not selling. Just let it lie low so you/we can keep picking up shares on da cheap.
I just don't see any reason to do a pump-and-dump. If you think the concept will be viable long-term, a low-price allows you to pick up cheap shares. Price and value WILL converge at some point. Is you goal to just try to pump this thing to 4 bucks you can dump it?
I don't think we can do that/nor should we. The company will be successful and the stock will follow.
http://www.gurufocus.com/news.php?id=3390
Our piece on UWINK is now on Gurufocus as well.
We received feedback that it was a major pain in the butt to sign up so we decided to just do it that way... :) Zac
any comments?
I don't think you have to join to read it...just click the link and it should come right up...you can view the article that we wrote that was linked to at www.valueblogger.com. Thanks, Zac
thestreet.com mention:
http://www.thestreet.com/_tscs/newsanalysis/investing/10321484.html
A piece that I wrote on UWINK with Kevin Kelly has been linked to on James Altucher's column on Thestreet.com...lotta readers. Zac
That's pretty impressive looking. :)
Very interesting article...20%+ greater sales when people order themselves...very interesting...thanks for posting it! Zac
I thought 2 weeks seemed awful quick...hehe...well anyway. have fun wherever you're goign.
hehe...so you think about 2 weeks? ;)
The new quarterly report comes out next week...not that I think there will be too much of note there (except the financial health of the company, but i doubt that will have changed radically). Perhaps there will be additional annoucements with it. Rawnoc, any guess as to when the first franchise sale could be announced? No rush, just curious. Zac
so by nice slow-ride up, you mean a few percentage points per DAY?
Very true
Nov 13, 2006
I don't know if anyone saw the interview with Bushnell from the new issue of Fortune-here it is:
Turning Cheese Into Dough.(FIRST; QUESTION AUTHORITY)(Interview). Ellen Florian Kratz.
Fortune 154.10 (Nov 13, 2006): p47. From Student Edition.
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Subjects
Full Text :COPYRIGHT 2006 Time, Inc.
Byline: Ellen Florian Kratz
NOLAN BUSHNELL, 63, founder and CEO of uWink
Nolan Bushnell made his first fortune in 1976 when he sold gamemaker Atari to Warner Communications for $28 million. Next he convinced parents that gobbling bad pizza, playing arcade games, and watching a robotic rat named Chuck E. Cheese was a good use of their kids' time. Now the entrepreneur is merging the concepts in uWink, a restaurant where customers play interactive games as they dine. Days after his first establishment opened near L.A., Bushnell spoke to FORTUNE's Ellen Florian Kratz.
Why is your business called uWink?
I wanted a name that was playful. Short names are better than long names.
So you think adults want to play videogames while they're eating?
Most videogame experiences that people have today are isolated, and I don't perceive that as being social. I want to create a situation where a group of four goes into a restaurant not knowing a person in there and leaves with six new friends.
You don't have any waiters and waitresses. Won't customers feel a little neglected?
It's almost the opposite. People say, 'Gee, it's so easy for us to [use the touchscreen] for another drink or appetizer.' They're saying it's a little bit like Las Vegas in that it's too easy to spend money.
What's an example of a game you have in the restaurant?
We've got a best-friend game for birthday parties in which the birthday person makes a list of things that she likes and then everybody else tries to guess what they are. Of course, the person who most matches the birthday person is clearly the best friend. Tween girls love that one.
Have you played Grand Theft Auto?
I don't want to be a prude, but I just don't believe that any industry should race to the bottom. I perceive those things to be not good for kids or adults.
You say you've done some clever financial engineering. Can you give an example?
If you're having a normal meal, you never ever pay for game play. It's free. But if you're just hanging out, there's a game surcharge. We're trying to make an economic model that is significantly more profitable than a regular restaurant.
So what was Steve Jobs like when he worked for you at Atari?
Steve was a little bit, let's say, meticulous. I loved him dearly and still do. He didn't abide fools gladly.
Is the food better than Chuck E. Cheese's?
Yeah. In fact everyone made me promise I'd forget everything I learned about pizza at Chuck E. Cheese. uWink's macaroni and cheese has garlic and extra flavors you don't expect because we're using high-quality cheeses [like smoked mozzarella].
Have you ever had your birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's?
I have not. My kids have.
CAPTION(S):
BUSHNELL: DUNCAN STEWART
BUSHNELL He's a serial entrepreneur.
You rephrased stuff from my blog. And that is quite alright. very nice piece. I like it. :) Zac
We are trying to build up a subscriber base...we have both been featured for our writings on numerous other websites (I know it's not a great accomplishment...i'm just saying) and we're trying to build up a list of subscribers to our work...I hope you'll subscribe. Sorry for my adolescent attitude. ;) Zac
I was being facetious. But it is interesting, and there are no "real analyst's reports" on Uwink. Let me know what you think. Best always, Zac
New Analyst Report on UWINK:
Hey,
If you visit that website, and subscribe, you will receive a reserch report written about Uwink by me and Kevin Kelly. Enjoy.
http://valueblogger.com/proprietary-research/
Right..."buggin" will come tomorrow when you post that management needs to announce a new store because the stock is down 8 cents. :) Zac
Yeah,
I haven't been to either restaurant, but from reading the article and looking over the site, it appears, to me, to be far less interesting than Uwink. Zac
Interesting article...thanks for posting it.
A great blog...I couldn't have said it better myself. ;) ;) ;)
<<not asking for a stock promoition.. i just want their story to start unfolding to the public eyes. mr BUSHNELL has an aggressive growth plan. so i am waiting for that to be unveilved to wall street already>>
AKA a stock promotion...they are busy running the business. The story will tell itself to investors once it gets goign.
You want a stock promotion...the second this turns into a stock promotion, that's when I will RUN like hell.
I doubt it. But I spoke to them yesterday and they said they are still planning to have franchises sold in the 4th quarter...i think that's the next BIG catalyst.
I spoke with Uwink today, and they said that it IS still their plan to announce franchise agreements in the fourth quarter. For those looking for a short-term catalyst, that may well be one. Zac
Good...things are moving along nicely. How are you?
a positive book value perhaps? :)
Hi,
It said "Mr. Rotter agreed..." and that "under the terms of the note..." I had thought it might just be a regular case of an investor converting a convertible bond into equity. Apparently that is not the case...not that it's terribly important. The quarter should come out by November 15th? Rawnoc, what do you think the balance sheet is likely to look like?
Thanks,
Zac
I just spoke with Nancy Nino about the debt that we were discussing. In fact it was Uwink's decision to convert the debt (I was wrong) into equity. I think this decision makes sense in light of Uwink's relatively weak balance sheet-building up cash in exchange for some dillution is a good move, particularly if they want to expand without doing a secondary (much larger fees) or taking on more debt.
So anyway, just thought I'd let you know. :) zac
It's also highly unlikely that they had the option of just paying off the CONVERTIBLE bond.
<<< don't get it. Why not take some stock from the treasury and sell it on the open market at $1.30 per share and then pay off the promissory notes. Even the interest they converted at $1 per share. I have a hard problem understanding this. We could have paid those notes off in total with selling about 175,000 shares on the open market. Instead we issued them about 250,000 shares. It seems like dilution of 75,000 shares that was completely unnecessary. Especially considering that the dilution affected the shareholders like us. >>
I think some people were suggesting that there was something bad going on and that uwink did something that didn't make sense...