A would-be activist has written a second open letter to shareholders of OnTheMarket Plc, launching a scathing attack on the running of the property search portal and its decision to snub his investment bid.
Brett Stone, a former partner at US investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald LP who now runs his own holding company, told the press says that he offered to invest more than £50m in new shares last year, but had his proposal rejected.
Stone, who claims the firm’s failure to retain customers is diluting stakeholders and handing greater market share to rival portals, Rightmove and Zoopla, is stepping up efforts to put greater pressure on OTM with a follow-up letter.
He claims that OTM’s management risks “destroying value” if it continues on its existing strategy, a noting that the property portal also rejected a “friendly proposal” for new investment.
Stone, formerly a partner at New York-based Cantor Fitzgerald, which provides investment banking, brokerage and fixed income dealing services, founded Truckstone earlier this year. It is an investment firm which is focused on “companies which incrementally improve the property commerce category at scale”.
OTM shares edged up 0.6% to 53.30 pence each yesterday, but have has lost 42% in value over the past 12 months.
“Its core portal product is in decline. Its new products appear to be complex, underfunded and underdeveloped. Furthermore, they appear to lack compelling business cases and a strong overall customer value proposition. Without proper investment by OnTheMarket in its products, teams, and business, it is likely in my opinion that OnTheMarket will continue to lose customers and destroy value for shareholders,” Stone said.
The company is also “irresponsibly diluting shareholders”, the investor argued, noting it has issued 5.5 million new shares and granted 5.4 million options since the start of last year.
“This takes the total new shares issued since IPO to approximately 19.5 million and the total options granted to 13.2 million. A combined total of 32.7 million new shares and options, an increase of approximately 50% on a fully diluted basis since IPO. The majority of these shares and options have been issued to insiders and new customers who have not had to pay for them or will not pay for them in the future,” Stone added.
OTM is also struggling to retain estate agent numbers, devaluing it in the eyes of advertisers and therefore increasing “Rightmove’s pricing power”, Stone said.
Stone continued: “I do not say these things to be negative, my goal is for OnTheMarket and all stakeholders to be better informed and better off. For this to happen, I believe honesty and candour with all stakeholders is the only way to go. With honesty and proper investment by OnTheMarket in its products, teams, and business, OnTheMarket can likely succeed. Without these things it will not.
“Back in October I sent a friendly proposal to OnTheMarket’s board offering them the capital and digital market expertise required to deliver attractive returns for shareholders and simple compelling products for customers at speed and scale. The proposal included a significant investment in new ordinary shares and was a win/win/win solution for shareholders, customers and employees.”
That proposal, which would have needed shareholder approval, required “no additional capital or commitment” from other investors. Stone said the proposal would not have resulted in OTM surrendering its public listing.
Stone added: “My expectation was that the board members and I would have a confidential discussion about the specifics of the proposal and how the additional capital and expertise would benefit shareholders, customers and employees. Then, subject to mutual due diligence, you and all shareholders would get an opportunity to properly consider and then vote on the proposal at a general meeting.
“Unfortunately, OnTheMarket’s response was ‘we have no interest in receiving or discussing any proposal of any kind’. This is a position they have stuck to while losing estate agent customers, irresponsibly diluting shareholders, granting options to insiders, launching poorly planned, underfunded and complex products, watching customers spend on portals increase, and watching OnTheMarket’s share price decline.”
OnTheMarket has declined a request from EYE to comment.
I am not surprised at the rejection of the offer, what Jason is doing is the correct strategy for what OTM is now and where it’s future lies. A steady organic growth, one bit at a time
If Mr. Stone has intelligent money to invest in the property industry he and I should talk.
My last project is now owned by Corelogic. To bootstrap a system that’s capable of attracting the attention of and passing due diligence with a global technology firm with their presence, reputation and client base is testament to my domain knowledge.
A few readers might post why it wouldn’t be a good idea but I’m fairly confident I have demonstrated who I am and what I’m capable of quite well.
Material information (a project I started in 2019 and can prove I started) has the potential to be turning over £300m with significant revenues for agents. I know how to build and deliver it, I have the contacts and buy in to deliver it but don’t have the cash required to deliver it.
Now that’s something to put a fox in the hen house!
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
I can just imagine the children employed by many agents being laid peanuts having the ability to do this LOL
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Trumpian caps lock sign off, sigh……………
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
In English?
Have you seen the age of most estate agents these days?
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Let’s face it- no one ploughs £50m to be nice- huge dev team growth, huge marketing expansion- leading to huge cost increases. You can only charge RM fees if you capture the consumer en masse. If Brett is so confident he knows better- why isn’t he launching a newly funded portal? Stinks of ulterior motives and American bravado.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Sorry to new post a reply Kristjan there’s no keyboard available on reply
There is a £300m disruption to the industry available to those able to deliver it. Rightmove can’t; the consequences of change is something they won’t risk. ZPG don’t have the wit or wherewithal and OTM is growing at its own pace.
it might be a bit outspoken to suggest the Duopoly are vulnerable to change but not everyone needs it to be part of a very tired group-think
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
So what’s in it for Brett Stone? What were the conditions he wanted? Who offers to invests £50m into a company without all the legal dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s in who’s favour/control?
Who declines £50m or was it $50m unless there was some serious concerns. Seems people forget to remember the foundations/idea of OTM. Did that have an influence in the “No”?
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register