Analyst Review: Panmure Gordon & Co
Imaginatik (IMTK.L, Mkt Cap £6.3m)
We had our first meeting with Imaginatik (IMTK.L Mkt Cap £5.9m) earlier this week. Our general impression is that forthcoming results are in line with expectations. The company describes itself as a market leader in the provision of Innovation and Collaborative Problem Solving software and processes. The ongoing client base includes Nokia, Chevron, Pfizer (impressed enough to take a stake in the business), Kraft, Cargill, GE Aviation and Lexmark. In truth, Imaginatik is a useful play on IBM websphere and Lotus groupware technology. The ‘smarts’ should be the back end process. We like the practical use of industry standard tools and solving a business need and the tactic of working with HR departments on general Human Capital Management (HCM) approach. While this is an interesting niche we highlight that groupware tools are more pervasive, as indeed are collaboration and project management tools including ‘out of the box’ from Microsoft. In addition companies are increasingly using social networks in an enterprise setting – BT and also Cisco. There is still the innovation groups creating a web presence – for example Pure Insight and indeed companies like STRATEGYN who in the UK boast of completing nearly 40 projects for Microsoft. Going forward with social networks about to build open APIs it will be easier for third party application vendors to port to these sites (this will be a help and hinderance for Imaginatik). For the short term in our view Imaginatik should consider strengthening its presentation layer and given the opportunity ‘going for broke’ and re-doubling sales and marketing efforts in order to carve out a niche. This seems to be one to watch.
George O’Connor
Software & IT Services analyst
Panmure Gordon & Co
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