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Technology Stocks : Electronics Boutique (ELBO) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Night Writer who wrote (405)	7/15/1999 11:50:00 PM
From: ratherbelong	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 779

<Of course I'm much older then when the first movie came out.> Aren't we all.:-) LOL EOM RBL

To: Night Writer who wrote (405)	7/18/1999 12:10:00 PM
From: Mad2	Respond to of 779

Here's something interesting out of London. Note that Electronics boutique PLC trades on the London exchange which is the unit they are speculating the buyout on. Best Regards, Mad2 Copyright 1999 Newspaper Publishing PLC The Independent (London) July 8, 1999, Thursday SECTION: BUSINESS; Pg. 25 LENGTH: 1190 words HEADLINE: MARKET REPORT: US BID RUMOURS PUT ELECTRONICS BOUTIQUE INTO PLAY BYLINE: Francesco Guerrera BODY: THE MARKET plugged into Electronics Boutique yesterday as the videogames retailer was put in play by rumours of US corporate action. Dealers used their computer skills, developed through hours of practice on their Sony Playstations, to click on the "buy" window and send EB more than 4 per cent higher. At the end of play, the stock was 4p better at 97.5p in respectable turnover of 4.5m shares. The dealing floor's sages believe that EB is set for a major share reshuffle which could pave the way for a bid. The market's US spies have been told that EB's largest shareholders, a sister company confusingly called Electronics Boutique Inc., is preparing to sell its near 19 per cent stake in the British group. The Americans built up their holding five years ago when they saved the UK company, then called Rhino, by supporting a rescue rights issue. However, they are believed to have been approached by a US electronics group that is keen to buy into EB following its recent acquisition of competitor Game. The mooted US buyer might want to go all the way and snap up, Pac-Man- like, the whole of the UK videogame seller at a chunky premium to the current share price. A less popular story suggested that the US shareholder might want to take EB private, hoisting a "Game Over" sign on its life as a public company. On the analytical front, bulls of the stock were buoyed by whispers of a forthcoming "buy" note from broker Merrill Lynch.

To: Night Writer who wrote (405)	7/18/1999 12:48:00 PM
From: Mad2	Respond to of 779

Here's selected financial data on Electronics Boutique PLC from Extel including shareholder data at the end. Mad2 Copyright 1999 Extel Financial Limited Extel Cards Database ELECTRONICS BOUTIQUE PLC (THE) TICKER SYMBOL: EBQ TOPIC CODE: EBQ REGISTERED OFFICE Charter Court, Third Avenue, Southampton, England SO15 0AP Tel: 01703 702345 Fax: 01703 702570 REPORTING COUNTRY: EN; England ; United Kingdom Annual Card June 24, 1999 News Cards For This Company Return COMPANY-NUMBER: EXTEL REF. NO.: EXT001824 SEDOL NUMBER: 0736015 ISIN NUMBER: GB0007360158 SEC INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION: 0076 REGISTRATION NUMBER: 875835 COMPANY HISTORY Incorporated on 31-03-1966 as a Private Company; Registered No 875835; Re-registered on 20-06-1985 as a Public Limited Company under the Companies Act, 1980 The name changed from John Michael (Design Consultants) Ltd to John Michael Design PLC on 20-06-1985, to JMD Group PLC on 05-08-1988, to Rhino Group PLC on 16-10-1992 and to The Electronics Boutique PLC on 22-07-1996. On 12-06-1995 the Company's Ordinary shares of 5p were introduced to the Stock Exchange Official List (Ordinary shares previously quoted on The Stock Exchange Unlisted Securities Market from July 1985). Pursuant to Merger Agreement entered into on 20-06-1988 between the Company and shareholders in Capital & Investment Securities PLC (CIS), the Company acquired entire issued share capital of CIS on 10-08-1988. REGISTRARS IRG PLC, Balfour House, 390-398 High Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 1NQ Tel: 0181 478 8241 Fax: 0181 478 7717 REGISTRATION DATE: March 1966 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 1145 INDUSTRY: Commercial, Industrial and Mining Companies UK-PRI-CODE: 6540 Other specialised retail distribution (non-food) 6190 Other wholesale distribution including general wholesalers HEAD OFFICE: HEAD OFFICE Link House, Ellesfield Avenue, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 8TB Tel: 01344 464000 Fax: 01344 464093 SUBSIDIARIES Electronics Boutique Stores (UK) Ltd (Computer software and video game retailing); Electronics Boutique Retail (UK) Ltd (Computer software and video game retailing); Capital and Investment Securities PLC (Management services) POST YEAR END ACQUISITIONS: Game PLC (Acquired 24-06-99) OFFICERS: AUDITORS BDO Stoy Hayward DIRECTORS NON EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN: P.D. Lewis NON EXECUTIVE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: R.J. Beecham JP CHIEF EXECUTIVE: J.M. Steinbrecher FINANCE AND DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE: M. Long ACIS NON EXECUTIVE: J.J. Firestone MBA; H.N. Lewis; J.R. Panichello CPA SECRETARY J.P. Gorman FCA REPORTING YEAR: February 1998 - January 1999 YEAR END DATE: January 31, 1999 REPORTING CURRENCY: GBP;Pound Sterling; FINANCIAL CALENDAR Interim Report 30th September 1998; Preliminary Figures 12th April 1999; Annual General Meeting 23rd June 1999. RATES: Year ending: 31/01/1999 Period covered: 12 Months Sterling currency exchange rate at year end: 1.00000 Dollar currency exchange rate at year end: 1.64279 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * US DOLLARS * * * STERLING * * * * LOCAL (thousands) (thousands) (thousands) TURNOVER/GROSS REVENUE 261,904 159,426 159,426 PROFIT BEF INT & TAX 25,232 15,359 15,359 PROFIT BEF INT & TAX, PREV YEAR 13,150 8,043 8,043 PRE-TAX PROFIT 25,053 15,250 15,250 PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO MEMBERS 19,045 11,593 11,593 ORDINARY DIVIDENDS 4,805 2,925 2,925 STOCK 18,473 11,245 11,245 CURRENT ASSETS 71,576 43,570 43,570 TOTAL ASSETS 94,907 57,772 57,772 TOTAL ASSETS PREVIOUS YEAR 65,431 40,019 40,019 CREDITORS OR EQUIVALENT 46,158 28,097 28,097 TOTAL BORROWINGS 181 110 110 TOTAL SHARE CAPITAL 21,841 13,295 13,295 SHAREHOLDERS FUNDS, END YEAR 46,864 28,527 28,527 SHAREHOLDERS FUNDS, BEGIN YEAR 32,351 19,693 19,693 NET CAPITAL EMPLOYED 34,909 21,250 21,250 NET CAPITAL EMPLOYED, PREV YEAR 21,464 13,128 13,128 DIRECTORS' REMUNERATION 992 604 604 SHARE PRICE AT B/S DATE 1.31834 .80250 .80250 MARKET CAPITALISATION AT B/S DATE 350,544 213,383 213,383 EARNINGS PER SHARE .072 .044 .044 DIVIDENDS PER SHARE .018 .011 .011 NET ASSET VALUE .176 .107 .107 DIVIDEND % 24.94 WARRANT-RIGHTS: No SHARE-SCHEMES: No OPTION-AGREEMENT: No DIVIDND-REINVEST: No SHAREHLDR-PLAN: No SHAREHOLDINGS DIRECTORS' INTERESTS in the Ordinary shares of the Company at 12-04-99: BENEFICIAL: 4,943,502. OPTIONS: 3,378,936. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS in the Company at 09-04-99: EB Nevada, Inc 66,392,418 (24.97%); Wanger Asset Management Ltd 15,000,000 (5.64%); Abbey Life Insurance Co 13,000,000 (4.89%); Legal & General Investment Management Ltd 9,220,279 (3.47%). Of this holding, 65,424,126 Ordinary shares are legally owned by The Electronics Boutique, Inc and 968,292 Ordinary shares are legally owned by EB Services Co, LLP. Dec 31 Jan 31 Jan 31 Jan 31 Jan 31 1994 c1996 1997 1998 1999 EARNINGS (LOSS) based on Reported Profits Basic - Under FRS3 (2.24p) (4.83p) 0.19p 2.98p 4.36p Diluted - Under FRS3 - - - 2.93p 4.24p Basic - Bef Excpls - (4.64p) - - - EARNINGS (LOSS) based on Adjusted Profits IIMR Headline (2.34p) d(4.63p) 0.44p 3.20p 4.40p Shares on which earnings calculated (000's) Basic a83,894 a176,038 a261,771 a264,121 a265,703 Diluted a268,548 a273,641 NET DIVIDEND - - - - 1.1p DIVIDEND COVER - - - - b4.0 NET ASSET VALUE at B/s date Extel Adjusted 5.4p 4.1p 4.3p 7.4p 10.7p Reported by Company e e

To: Night Writer who wrote (405)	7/18/1999 1:08:00 PM
From: Mad2	Respond to of 779

Here's the listing of shareholders from Thompson's database. Interesting is that ELBO is such a closely held stock (28.4% from institutions and 69.04% by insiders) leaves 2.56% for the retail public. If you check out the Extel information you'll see that EB PLC has a market value of 350 mil US with EB Nevada (The Kims trust for their kids) owning 66 mil of 265 mil or 25% and EB Inc (ie ELBO) owning 65 mil or around 25%. That puts the market value of ELBO's interest in EB PLC at 88 mil USD. Given ELBO's market value at Fri's close of 300 mil I'd suggest this hasn't been priced into the stock. I don't know what ELBO's carrying value of this ownership is but will check it out as the market value of the shares is 4.33/share of ELBO. Interesting.....perhaps this wi why ELBO got some gas last week. Best Regards, Mad2 Insider Shr. Trd. Date Price Relation GRIFFITHS JEFFREY W 1 07/28/98 14 VP FIRESTONE JOSEPH J 7 07/28/98 14 O CDA/Spectrum Major Shareholders (000's) as of (05/31/99) Shares Held by Institutions 5.7 Total number of Institutions 33 Percent Held by Institutions 28.4 Top Institutions Chg. in Shr. Shares Held Date Rptd. % Held. PILGRIM BAXTER & ASSOC LTD. 550.2 845 03/31/99 4.19 DRESDNER RCM GLOBAL INVESTORS (682.7) 598 03/31/99 2.97 EMERALD ADVISERS, INC. 110.1 372 03/31/99 1.85 MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER ADV (98.1) 325 03/31/99 1.61 WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT CO, LLP 0.0 259 03/31/99 1.28 AIM CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC. 0.0 200 03/31/99 0.99 FRIESS ASSOCIATES, INC. (55.2) 180 03/31/99 0.89 LEGAL & GEN INVT MGMT LTD. (112.0) 117 03/31/99 0.58 GARDNER LEWIS ASSET MGMT, INC. 105.0 105 03/31/99 0.52 GREENBERG-SUMMIT PARTNERS, LLC 75.0 100 03/31/99 0.50 Top Mutual Funds Chg. in Shr. Shares Held Date Rptd. % Held. PBHG EMERGING GROWTH FUND 565.7 566 03/31/99 2.81 AIM CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT FUND 200.0 200 10/31/98 0.99 VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN VALUE FUND 87.4 153 12/31/98 0.76 MAS SML CAPITAL VALUE PORT (44.0) 141 03/31/99 0.70 DRESDNER RCM SMALL CAPITAL FD (206.6) 114 03/31/99 0.57 BRANDYWINE FUND 0.0 99 03/31/99 0.49 PBHG LIMITED FUND 89.9 90 03/31/99 0.45 HOMESTATE PA GROWTH FUND 34.5 84 03/31/99 0.42 FIDELITY ADVR STRAT OPPTY 35.0 35 12/31/98 0.17 EVERGREEN SEL SPECIAL EQ FD 18.6 19 12/31/98 0.09 Top Insiders Shares Held Date Rptd. % Held. Relation. EB NEVADA INC 13,919.0 07/23/98 69.01 B FIRESTONE JOSEPH J 6.5 07/28/98 0.03 O GRIFFITHS JEFFREY W 1.0 07/28/98 0.00 VP KIM AGNES C 0.1 07/23/98 0.00 B KIM JAMES J 0.1 07/23/98 0.00 B EARLEY JOHN F 0.0 07/23/98 0.00 B