275 days ago
Versarien (VRS) has today, after hours natch, announced that it cant find an external chap to act as CEO as it heads towards insolvency so has promoted Stephen Hodge from CTO to CEO to steer the Titanic for its last few yards. It has also announced that Neill Ricketts has finally left the board. as a reminder:
288 days ago
Still trying to negotiate a death spiral in order to avoid a looming insolvency, hopefully being investigated by AIM Regulation for not flagging up revenue/cash issues before the last placing, you thought things could get no worse for cash guzzling Bidstack (BIDS)? Think again…
296 days ago
I start on the 0.5% hike in base rates: who is to blame? What does it mean for house prices, recession, corporate insolvencies and the next General Election? Then I look at Oracle power (OCP), Contango (CGO), Shanta Gold (SHG), More Acquisitions (TMOR) which is treating Doc Holliday very badly, Bidstack (BIDS) – target now zero – and Powerhouse Energy (PHE), ditto.
304 days ago
Those who have pumped Versarien (VRS) shares up to 6p of late via podcasts, twitter and chat room posts should hang their heads in shame. You know who I mean Doc Holliday For results for the six months to March 31 are out today and are just shockingly appalling even by the standards of this POS. Insolvency clearly looms on the not too distant horizon.
392 days ago
At the top of the results statement covering the six months to December 31, serial dog Mosman Oil & Gas (MSMN) yaks on about how there will be lots of jam, sorry oil, tomorrow. That will please the morons. I doubt they will look at the hard numbers for they are awful and show that this company is already, to all intents and purposes, insolvent. And then there is an explicit warning from Mosman itself
392 days ago
I guess with a looming cash crisis and possible insolvency as soon as June, the clowns running Versarien (VRS) in the post Neill Ricketts era probably have more to worry about than breaking AIM Rules. They may, like Ricketts himself, regard rules as for little people and as such view what follows as pedantry.
471 days ago
In today’s Bearcast I discuss Chill Brands (CHLL), which fesses to another TW Gotcha, as it serves up piss poor numbers. Then Cellular Goods (CBX) which I cannot see digging itself out of a hole of insolvency. Finally Argo Blockchain (ARB) which has merely postponed death by 8-15 months with today’s announcement. The target is still 0p.
523 days ago
Peter Wall the CEO and interim ( for more than a year) chairman of Argo Blockchain (ARB) has been caught with his governance trousers down yet again. When will the regulators accept that Wall is a bad actor who should be ejected from the PLC stage?
541 days ago
On 24 October Vast Resources (VAST) held a GM where shareholders voted to allow it to issue more shares. But fear not, the chairman stated “ It should be stressed that there is no commitment at this time to issue the new equity share capital for which authority is sought, and it remains the policy of the Directors to minimise such issues.” That was deceptive as the company HAD to raise money this month to avoid going bust. Today, as I predicted, came the deeply discounted placing.
589 days ago
If you are a senior member of staff having a consensual relationship with a junior member of staff that should be okay as long as you are open about it with the folks who run the company. It would be hypocritical of me to say otherwise. But that brings me to Parsley Box (MEAL) which is lurching towards insolvency as it is.
668 days ago
Shares in the fraud, Supply@ME Capital (SYME), raced ahead on news of a financially immaterial transaction. Crazy, eh? And how do we know it was immaterial?
752 days ago
Appbox Media is the sister company of One True View and has stolen around £15 million of investors money with the FCA standing idly by ignoring this massive boiler room scam in the heart of the City. But while One True View is reinventing itself to steal more cash as revealed yesterday HERE, Appbox has filed for insolvency. But patsy director Amanda Hussey, the rather simple “fall guy” for the mastermind of this £50 million bezzle Polat Hassan, has now told a £5.4 million lie under oath. She urgently needs to get legal advice before Polat lands her in even more trouble than she is already in.
972 days ago
It is only two weeks since Crowd For Angels, the world’s worst crowdfunding firm, closed its failed attempt to raise £500,000 for the serial liars at Verditek (VDTK) and now we get interims which tell you that, by Christmas, those fools lured by Richard “Gollum” Gill’s grotesquely misleading financial promotions into backing the bond will be at risk. These numbers are a disaster for the company led by Tory toff Lord Willetts. Insolvency beckons.
1029 days ago
I start with l’affaire Hancock and what it says about standards in public life, whether politics or the corporate world in Britain today. For three reasons, not including the fact that he is useless or the act of infidelity, he should be fired. He will not be. I then consider late results with reference to Ariana (AAU) and the fraud Supply@ME Capital (SYME) which is now – perhaps – just three working days from slipping down the plughole leading to the sewer of insolvency.
1040 days ago
The staff at Bidstack (BIDS) should get paid next week, assuming that their employer can delay paying other bills. But it is unlikely to be able to meet next month’s payroll so calamitous has been the shortfall in trading vs expectations. Unless Nomad and Broker Stifel can get away a rescue placing within weeks, Bidstack staff should be brushing off their CVs as a matter of urgency. I have written to AIM Regulation as a statement is needed asap.
1049 days ago
Another day and another statement from the loan sharks at Amigo (AMGO), folks who – as a judge pointed out the other day – are A grade bullshitters in the league of Julie Meyer. Yet again, Amigo threatens folks, quite unnecessarily, with the spectre of insolvency. The company’s market update today is just plain disingenuous.
1087 days ago
If there is a material change in your trading outlook, as an AIM Company you have a duty to inform the market at once, as per AIM Rules 10 and 11. But if you are Lyin’ James Draper of Bidstack (BIDS) you do not give a flying fuck about the rules. So has he issued a horrible lack of sales/increased losses warning by simply speaking to the analyst at house broker Stifel who slashes forecasts? Is it the case that as of Friday clients of Stifel heard the bad news, other morons who owned the stock did not. And the news, is rumoured to be dire. Cretinous low grade PR firm Buchanan, employers of the journalist smearing fraudsters PR of choice Henry Harrison-Topham, are failing to answer emails or calls on this matter but should get off its fat collective arse and issue an RNS or at least say this is not true if it is not true.
1618 days ago
In today’s podcast I look at the British Journalism Awards and Neil Woodford ( no shocks here folks), Union Jack Oil (UJO) and that planned placing, Tissue Regenix (TRX) as the FD walks, FastForward Innovations (FFWD), and at Plutus Powergen (PPG) , dire news and surely looming insolvency and yet more evidence of not gviving a flying wotsit about stockmarket rules.
1656 days ago
In the current dispute between Vox Markets and Align Research, I thought it would be interesting to look at their respective published results for the years that are available at Companies House. Neither publish full accounts just a balance sheet and some notes. As can be seen below Vox has generated four years of losses and has only staved off insolvency by pumping in additional capital where in contrast Align Research has generated two years of profits. Thanks to Winnileaks I can show why it is even worse than that for Vox….
1852 days ago
Anyone who follows me on twitter knows my feelings about the vermin of the IRA but I have a daily chat these days with my pal the IRA man about Brexit. I discuss its effect on shares and suggest that a far bigger political threat is really not priced in. I explain why I know Yourgene (YGEN) is having a trading statement on Monday and what makes good journalism. I look in detail at Mobile Streams (MOS), insolvency law and the nature of trade receivables and at Gear4Music (G4M) and its latest warning which is enough to turn a man to drink, the shares remain a stonking sell. Finally. get your wallets out!
1856 days ago
In today's bearcast I speculate how Neil Woodford's flagship dog, his Equity Income Fund, appears to have lost £90 million since the weekend. I look at RM2 (RM2) - largest shareholder Mr Woodford - where a statement is needed as insolvency beckons, at Motof Bio (MTFB) and at Big Sofa (BST). I also discuss Dan Levi's bum and the problems generated by his latest 20 mile training walk for Woodlarks. If you'd rather I desisted from any further discussions of this nature make a donation to the Rogue Bloggers walk for Woodlarks NOW HERE
2326 days ago
Shares in BOS Global (BOS) a company teetering on the edge of insolvency and where the Nomad has already announced it is walking now trade at 0.85p-1p. Beware: broker Peterhouse is trying to do a placing at as little as 0.1p. I have written to Peterhouse in the spirit of the season as you can see below.
2337 days ago
The publicity hungry, failing, fund manager Neil Woodford is all over the papers. On the markets he's right ( and bearish) but when discussing his own (failing) funds he is talking utter bollocks and I explain why. Brokerman Dan (Levi) has formed a shareholder action group on Ascent Resources (AST). I discuss his case against them and make a few suggestions to the company. I comment on R4E (R4E) on the disgraceful behaviour of Pathfinder Minerals (PFP), look at RM2 (RM2) and then finally at Sabien (SNT) which look either to be on the brink of a last gasp fundraise ( at a more than 99% discount to the IPO price) or of insolvency. In the same breath I mention Inspirit (INSP), another AIM boiler room dog that should be shot.
2587 days ago
Ho ho ho. Even as it faces insolvency those wags at Advanced Oncotherapy (AVO) do so with a sense of humour as they try to spoof us all with news of an even more desperate financing which will keep the lights on until late June. Dr Michael Sinclair you should go on the stage. You really are a hoot.
2596 days ago
A couple of days ago I noted how the London South East Bulletin Board ( aka the LSE Asylum) appeared to be heading towards insolvency - HERE. It is the fate which, almost, invariably happens to companies that hire Zak, the Sith Lord, Mir. For Judas is also Jonah. And now a closer examination of its historic numbers shows that the crisis may be far worse than even we thought. Timber!!!!!
2596 days ago
Hat tip to reader Bearfacts for pointing this out but one must ask if the London South East Bulletin Board, aka the LSE Asylum, is close to going bust? Fingers crossed.
2604 days ago
Business recovery and property services group, Begbies Traynor (BEG) has updated on its third quarter (to end January), including that “we are encouraged to see some (insolvency) market stability”.
2618 days ago
Yesterday I pointed out how the £13 million death spiral Advanced Oncotherapy (AVO) had signed with loan sharks Bracknor would see its share price collapse. It should but there is worse news in store - that of insolvency looming in just five weeks time. Insolvency you say? What are you talking about? Let me explain.
2654 days ago
Whatever you say about Strat Aero (AERO) as it hurtles towards insolvency in a few weeks time it is al least the source of true comedy with RNS statements which are such complete and utter bullshit that they should win awards. welcome to the latest chapter in the tale of Hulsey Smith, the yank who litigated against Strat, showed that it had committed fraud, and ended up owning 11% of its equity as part of a settlement. Owning 11% of a company you have proved committed fraud is not an ideal place to be.
2686 days ago
Shares in drowning in debt Avanti Communications slumped again on Wednesday to a new record low of 18p - the market cap is now just £27.6 million and death is imminent. As I pointed out at the weekend, its shares could be suspended on December 30th but its real worry is insolvency - it will be out of cash by January and it looks impossible to refinance. The cry is Timber! This once mighty AIM play is falling and will soon be lying as a rotting corpse on the forest floor. Where has all the money gone?
2738 days ago
In the greater scheme of things this is a trivial matter. Having been exposed for revenue recognition policies that were so bizarre as to teeter on the verge of fraud, of being shown to have issued pre-placing RNS statements that were er..untrue and now facing looming insolvency, Servision (SEV) is in deep trouble. So maybe I should be charitable?
2747 days ago
There is a philosophical game called the fishing village. And today we saw this played out in reality by Avanti Communications (AVN) as it struggles to avoid insolvency.
2772 days ago
The FRC is already looking at the grossly misleading way that Avanti Communications (AVN) bodged its June 2015 annual results. I reckon Avanti is trying to commit an even bigger crime against prudent accounting with its 2016 numbers and they key is a satellite which is now on the move. But Avanti and its ghastly and morally bankrupt Nomad Cenkos, of Quindell infamy, are trying not to reveal the truth. So have five critical questions for Avanti and the shamed Cenkos.
2823 days ago
On 6th January 2016 African Potash (AFPO) announced a major sales deal. Six days later it got away a bailout placing. Gradually over the months that followed that sales deal was shown to be bogus, a sham, not worth the loo paper it was written on. But at least the ramp allowed this AIM Casino posterboy to get its placing away. Now the bastards are at it again. 30 seconds on Google is enough to make you doubt a word this company says as it tries to get another bailout placing away. African is teetering on the verge of insolvency.
2881 days ago
When it comes to cash, Cyan (CYAN) is the AIM equivalent of a crackhead. That is to say if shareholders pony up for a placing, the company responds with a marginal increase in sales but a huge increase in losses and then comes back for ever more. FFS cries executive chairman John Cronin in today's results, "give me some more fecking scrabble" I'm almost out. And that brings us to the £12.5 million placing which Mr Cronin was planning to do at 0.21p on May 24th when I spoiled his party with this scoop HERE.
2902 days ago
The link is in the side bar but Ryanair (RYA) Euro loon Michael O'Leary is today hoisted on his own £315 million EU petard. Fecking excellent news. Elsewhere I look at the piece of Turkish that is Golden Saint Resources (GSR) - still pissing away £3k a month on PR genius Steffi - as it heads for insolvency again. Then it is onto Nighthawk (HAWK) and Trinity Exploration (TRIN) and the problems for banks that lend to oil companies. Then I refer to HSS Hire (HSS) and cover Andalas (ADL) again as its shares sink like a stone. They have a lot further to sink, sell now!
2916 days ago
responding to Chris Cleverley of African Potash (AFPO) starting to do soft interviews and the failure of his company to answer basic questions about Butterfly Corporate Finance I explain why Chris must go to prison for securities fraud and lying to investors and why his company must go bust, the only question is when net current assets go negative. One imagines Cleverley wants a bailout placing asap but who would be mad enough to get involved?
2929 days ago
As we know, having failed to get away a £6 million placing a few weeks ago (raising just £1.3 million) LGO Energy (LGO) will not be able to make its scheduled bank repayment in May and so faces another insolvency risk. Hence it is ramping for all its worth to issue yet more confetti, now that it had permissions to issue 1.6 billion more shares. And thus today's pitiful release below. It is what hapless CEO Neil Ritson does NOT say that matters.
2941 days ago
By now Fastjet (FJET) must have negative net assets or near as damn it and insolvency is very much on the cards. Meanwhile the great son of the mighty Hellenic Republic Sir Stelios (don't tell fascist PR bullies Citigate but we love the Greeks here, especially Sir S), is talking of legal action to reclaim his brand. But at least today there is light relief with a shock boardroom departure.
2948 days ago
Last Thursday as it struggled to meet its monthly wage bill Slater & Gordon (SGH) was also rocked by the shock resignation without notice of its senior Legal Counsel Moana Weir, the woman who had to advise it on any corporate legal issues such as insolvency and potential fraud. We still do not know why Moana walked without notice, after less than two months on the job, but here are a few shocking quotes from Moana.
"That's when we understood that something had happened and that the boat was sinking. But there was never an announcement.
2960 days ago
Fastjet (FJET) has today threatened legal action against Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou after he published an open letter to the company suggesting it is heading for insolvency and revealing alarming data on load factors garned from "secret shopping" which Fastjet has bee hiding from investors. Naturally I agree completely with the analysis of Sir Stelios. His letter is below:
2990 days ago
The silence from doomed LGO Energy (LGO) is ominous. There is not even an attempt to ramp the shares ahead of a bucket shop placing because the bucket shops cannot write the sort of cheque this POS needs to survive. I doubt anyone can or will which is why my target price for the shares remains 0p. As I get the beer & popcorn ready for the final act (the death scene) here are 5 questions for hapless CEO Neil Ritson.
2992 days ago
It was just five days ago that Magnolia Petroleum (MAGP) served up a gushing, ramptastic "operational update" neglecting to mention that it was insolvent. I warned you to sell then at 0.23p and here's why: today we saw a pitiful placing at 0.14p for spivs to flip which will keep the PLC lights on for just a couple of months more.
2998 days ago
Magnolia Petroleum (MAGP) today announced that its sole broker is now Cornhill which means that a deeply discounted placing is imminent. A ramptastic trading statement has spiked the shares by 11% to 0.18-0.23p and that may help but investors need to ask how close is Magnolia to insolvency.
3002 days ago
We have already demonstrated that not only is Servision (SEV) teetering on the brink of insolvency (HERE), has a ludicrously aggressive revenue recognition policy (HERE) but that also it announces deals as pre-placing ramps then patently does not deliver on them HERE & HERE. Now lets look at a pre-placing ramp from Brazil from April 2015. This is a shocker.
3036 days ago
This company is on the precipice. It needs to raise £5-6 million in emergency equity to keep going and everything is going against it. The best case for LGO Energy (LGO) is mega dilution from whatever is a confetti issuing machine, but an equally plausible outcome is insolvency.
3119 days ago
Today is day 5 of POS AIM listed Golden Saint Resources (GSR) attempt to avoid insolvency with a £250,000 crowd funded debt death spiral. As we noted on Sunday (HERE), £800 has been chipped in so far by employees of crowdforangels including its imbecilic compliance officer Gollum (HERE). So how much has been raised on day 5? And just how insolvent is the company? Er..
3120 days ago
Today is day 4 of POS AIM listed Golden Saint Resources (GSR) attempt to avoid insolvency with a £250,000 crowd funded debt death spiral. As we noted yesterday, £800 has been chipped in so far by employees of crowdforangels including its imbecilic compliance officer Gollum (HERE). So how much has been raised on day 4? Er..
3268 days ago
Once upon a time US Oil & Gas (USOP) was the darling of Bulletin Board loons. Okay it gotr booted off ISDX and had completely worthless assets but it huffed and puffed and its shares raced ahead on GXG markets. But as it teeters on the brink of insolvency surely it should update us all - if only to give us a good laugh - on how the regulatory enquiries into its numerous lies are going and on how close it is to bankruptcy.
3281 days ago
Having announced in March that “increased activity levels in the typically busier winter months for insolvency leave the group well placed to deliver the board’s expectations for the year as a whole”, Begbies Traynor (BEG) has now disappointingly updated that it “now anticipates that the outturn for the full year will be below market expectations” - pointing to a further decline in the insolvency market in the UK…
4139 days ago
Insolvency firm Begbies Trainor grabbed the headlines just before Christmas with a claim that 147 retailers across the UK were zombies, the living dead, poised on the brink of insolvency. The headline was scary enough. But the detail was even scarier. I sense that the bloodbath on the high street will reach a rather unpleasant finale during 2013…
We know why high street retailers are in trouble. They face competition from giant online retailers who do not have expensive properties to maintain and enjoy huge economies of scale (i.e. they can screw suppliers). Worse, Tesco (and to a lesser extent the other supermarkets) grab an incremental share of the off-line non food trade each year. And finally, the overborrowed UK consumer (and it seems US consumer) has finally stopped spending. That trend will not change in 2013. In fact none of them will.
