Exsprex

6 Comments

    • ON: Wed May 7th 09:53 AM
      Commented on:
      Vultures Already Inspecting Sprint's Carcass
      The big question is whether the Board of Directors will do the right thing (accept a buyout) for the shareholders, or, will they insist on going it alone so that they can ensure that Kansas City keeps 13k-14k Sprint employees pumping $$ into the KC economy. This Board has a history of not putting shareholder interests first. I am guessing that the only deal that will materialize will be one that gives this Board continued control. That would be a major disappointment and financial loss for those of us stockholders who want the company to unlock the potential of its prodigious assets.
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    • ON: Tue May 6th 11:32 AM
      Commented on:
      Sprint Nextel: A Short on Today's Gap-Up
      The German government has a large stake in Deutsch Telecom. That ownership fact might be a bigger block to a DT buyout of Sprint than overcoming the technology challenges of managing 3 legacy networks - and Qchat and Wimax. [Sprint has the experience from the merger to anticipate and manage multiple network problems and those challenges have been met. That makes Sprint a good candidate to manage the next multiple network challenge. And, the next telecom M&A will bring that feature with it.]

      If the rumors about Morgan O'Brien buying Nextel back are true, perhaps he could buy all of the government and national security sensitive parts of the business and clear the way for DT to buy the consumer wireless business??? And, probably let the corporate customers choose between the two? [Just a thought - not sure how doable this arrangement would be]
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    • ON: Wed Apr 30th 07:30 AM
      Commented on:
      Sprint's 'Against the Odds' Turnaround Looks Less and Less Likely
      Wow! Sprint is not even able to pay out commissions correctly? The wheels really have come off the wagon.

      Ed, your points about fear and politics in the KC Sprint culture have been explained to me many times by Sprint employees, ex employees and Sprint partners. It is an innovation killing feature of the culture. It puts pressure on the employees to always be positive no matter what [read the comment from insider Sprint] and it squashes efforts to automate and consolidate functions for fear of eliminating jobs.

      Well before the Nextel takeover, Sprint's headcount was too high compared to its industry competitors. It takes a lot of heads to manage processes that could/ should be automated. Verizon and ATT are way ahead on that count. That's why their costs - especially Verizon's costs- are so much lower than Sprint's. And, when I read about problems like not being able to pay commissions properly, I suspect that it has a lot to do with human error. Commissions - even complex formula commissions - are an easy function to get right when they are automated and when the back office systems are integrated. And getting commissions right should be one of the highest priorities for any company.

      I bought this stock because Sprint has far and away the most promising assets in the industry for the next generation of telecom technology and the price of these assets is far below their market value. I thought that the company would be forced to automate and consolidate to stay competitive with Verizon and ATT, but I now think it will take a buyout to free the potential of these assets. The KC culture will keep the potential locked up.
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    • ON: Tue Apr 29th 10:00 AM
      Commented on:
      Sprint's 'Against the Odds' Turnaround Looks Less and Less Likely
      Sprint management may get some breathing room, but they need cash. They need cash to repair their operations problems, automate back office functions and consolidate systems that should have been consolidated during the first year of the Nextel takeover. As a shareholder, I fear that they will not be able to generate the cash and they will continue to loose customers to Verizon and ATT. As a customer, I fear that the promise inherent in the great technological assets of this company will never be realized and we will not enjoy the greater functionality, reliability and new products that could be generated by effectively managing/ leveraging these assets.

      As a citizen worried about the US economy, my hope is that a buyer with cash and vision will step in and begin maximizing the management of these assets. The US economy needs innovation to generate new wealth/ jobs/ economic strength. Right now, all of that potential is wasting away in this cash poor company.
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    • ON: Tue Apr 22nd 16:11 PM
      Commented on:
      Sprint Is Still a Steal at Current Levels
      So true, idenguy. That 5 billion infusion [that wasn't even considered by the Board] could have stopped the bleeding by now. Painful to think about what the stock would be worth had the Board accepted the SK Telecom offer. I am surprised that the shareholders have not yet filed lawsuits. I wonder if the bond holders are preparing to do just that.
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    • ON: Mon Apr 21st 11:58 AM
      Commented on:
      Sprint Is Still a Steal at Current Levels
      With the current state of the US Dollar, Sprint looks even better when viewed by 'non dollar denominated' suitors. Sprint is fixing what's wrong and has great assets - superior data network and approx 50+ million customers. But the Board of Directors is unlikely to approve any buyout offers that would interfere with / damage their job generating engine in KC. This Board is more concerned about the health of the economy in KC than about delivering shareholder value to ALL shareholders. The Board elections are coming in May. These guys - especially Hockaday- need to be shown the door. Otherwise, a buyout will have to be of the hostile variety and not likely to happen. For those of us shareholders who do not live in KC, the prospect of a limp along future vs a spectacular turnaround rides on the outcome of the May elections. Don't throw away your proxies!
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