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When you owe the bank $1 you are in trouble – when you owe it $42m the bank’s in trouble: Canadian Overseas covenant waiver, more death spiral vicar?
Canadian Overseas Petroleum (COPL) continues to breach the banking covenants on its $42 million of senior debt. But what is the bank meant to do? Call in the debt and try to flog Canadian’s shite assets in a market meltdown to try to get its cash back? Really?- By Tom Winnifrith |
- 14 March 2023, 12:20 |
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The comedy continues at Virgin Wines
Assuming you ignore a tiramisu for dessert every few months, it has been over thirty years since I last had any alcohol. Even when I was eighteen it did not really excite me, as back then all that interested me was economics and cycling…and not too much has changed since. Therefore, when Virgin Wines (VINO) says on its website that “more than 90% of our wines by volume are exclusive”, it does very little for me. A couple of years ago, during the deep COVID-19 excitement about internet home delivery, I observed that the then 200-250p share price of the recently-listed company did nothing for me and, with today’s share price just below 45p, it was very wise to call the shares a clear avoid back in 2021. I see today’s H1 2023 results start with the observation of a “strong performance from flagship WineBank scheme despite tough trading conditions”, though the harsh reality is that matters are terrible.
- By Chris Bailey |
- 14 March 2023, 11:18 |
Eneraqua Technologies – argues strong growth, but how confident to be in the order book for the near-term ahead really?
Previously writing on energy and water systems company Eneraqua Technologies (ETP), in October with the shares up to 300p I concluded ‘it’s material net cash generation I’ll continue to monitor for here and currently Avoid’. The shares most recently closed at 350p but are currently heading back towards 300p on the back of a “Year End Trading Update”.
- By Steve Moore |
- 14 March 2023, 11:17 |
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Spotting "winners" with the next Chancellor, Labour's Rachel Reeves
I have already demonstrated that Rachel Reeves MP is perhaps the most economically illiterate person in Halitosis Hall, and that takes some doing. An obsession of politicians is always "picking winners" in the private sector. And so, yesterday, Ms Reeves joined the man who did not prosecute Jimmy Savile, visiting a company I have covered many times before...- By Tom Winnifrith |
- 14 March 2023, 08:49 |
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Medcaw - is it ashamed about Charlie Wood and if not why not?
Medcaw (MCI) listed on the disgraced Standard List just before Christmas as an investment vehicle looking to make an acquisition, yadda, yadda, yadda. Yesterday its shares collapsed by just over 60% to 2.5p as one punter decided to make a sale on a day of market turmoil. There is no liquidity, no demand and maybe this is why.- By Tom Winnifrith |
- 14 March 2023, 08:17 |
ShareProphets readers tips for 2023 prize competition – monthly update
Having asked for readers tips for 2023 for the prize of 1/2 litre of Tom Winnifrith's Greek Hovel olive oil (2023 harvest) HERE, the following is the second of the monthly updates (to be eligible needed to have selected, on a once per username basis, a buy & sell pick from the LSE, AIM casino or Aquis lobster pot and the stocks not to have been suspended at the commencement of 2023).
- By Steve Moore |
- 14 March 2023, 08:10 |
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Tom Winnifrith Bearcast: Another disaster from Andrew Monk and an excruciating video from the disgraced broker
I start with a few thoughts on getting old as Olaf suffers her last ever Oxford tutorial. Then it is onto SVB, an apology to Euro loon Jonathan Price – let this be the last – and a few words on Aferian (AFRN). Then, after today's ouzo moment as the fuzz arrest a fraudster whose company I have exposed, onto the disaster that is Tungsten West (TUN). This company was IPO'd by the Monkey and VSA to monetize and asset first discovered in 1867 and which has flopped more times since 1916 than Monk might care to admit. I discuss its financial woes, VSA’s research coverage and bring you a video featuring Monk dressed as a road builder and celebrating the endorsement of Liz Truss. It is excruciating. Then I cover Ariana Resources (AAU), Condor Gold (CNR) and Chesterfield Resources (CHF) and how some disposals are just so misleading.- By Tom Winnifrith |
- 13 March 2023, 14:48 |
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Aferian – “financial position remains robust”. Really?!, as shares slump again
Having slumped on Friday on the back of a “Trading Update, FY22 Results Delay & Board Update” announcement, what of shares in B2B video streaming company Aferian (AFRN) currently down a further more than 14% today despite a ‘research’ update including “financial position remains robust”?- By Steve Moore |
- 13 March 2023, 14:45 |
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BREAKING: Who have the City of London Police arrested in raids on the frauds Eden Pharma and Aries Robotics, its ouzo time again at Sheriff Towers!
I have repeatedly warned about Eden Pharma. The folks targeted by boiler rooms pushing it and Aries were also targeted by folks raising £65 million for One True View and Appbox Media. As you can see below in a letter sent out to Aries and Eden investors the fuzz have swooped on multiple addresses and arrested one 40 year old.- By Tom Winnifrith |
- 13 March 2023, 14:32 |
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Chesterfield Resources – another joke asset sale does not nudge the cash crisis dial more than a fraction
Chesterfield Resources (CHF) is in a pickle and is running on vapours. A hugely discounted placing is surely imminent and a recent disposal announcement is all smoke and mirrors and does not nudge the cash crisis dial more than a fraction.- By Tom Winnifrith |
- 13 March 2023, 11:57 |
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I am not dividend-focused enough (yet) to become a Phoenix Group shareholder
The last time I wrote about the insurance (and related) business Phoenix Group (PHNX), I observed that “I am sure there are fans…but not me”. Since then, the stock has moved from a c. 700p price to more like a 600p one, however it has also continued to yield more than 7%. I guess that means there is potentially something for everyone.
- By Chris Bailey |
- 13 March 2023, 11:40 |
Nightcap – schoolboy accounting error: interims should be restated
I admit this is not a huge error and you may call me a pedant. I have been called worse. But if you are going to release results you might as well get the numbers right even if the overall picture, as is the case with NightCap (NGHT) today is one of a cash guzzling shit show facing a financing crisis. Sadly Sarah Willingham’s Nightcap has made a schoolboy error and should issue a correction.- By Tom Winnifrith |
- 13 March 2023, 11:38 |
Hercules Site Services – AGM update emphasises “success”, why the fundraise detail that dare not speak its name then?
Describing itself as “a leading technology enabled labour supply company for the UK infrastructure sector”, Hercules Site Services (HERC) has emphasised “a year where we delivered 50% growth in turnover. This success enabled us to propose a final dividend for the year ended September 2022 of 1.12p per share, resulting in a total dividend of 1.72p per share for the year” and “our recent fundraise provides us with additional working capital to enable us to meet the strong demand for our services we are experiencing”. So what of a just above 40p share price, comparing to above 70p late last month?- By Steve Moore |
- 13 March 2023, 11:27 |
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NightCap Interims – more smoke and mirrors in your £12 cocktail vicar?
Naturally Dragon’s Den Has-Been Sarah Willingham gushes about how brilliant these numbers from Nightcap (NGHT) are. Only a self-promoting twit like La Willingham could describe declining like for likes and surging net debt as “a fantastic half year.” Who is she trying to fool: herself (easy) or dumb investors in this hopeless company ( by definition even easier)?- By Tom Winnifrith |
- 13 March 2023, 10:48 |
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Letter to AIM Regulation & SP Angel – did Versarien lie about its CEO resigning?
On Friday 10 March Versarien (VRS) announced that its disgraced CEO Neill Ricketts had resigned. It said it would determine the management structure going forward and Ricketts was not listed as a contact. But was that true?- By Tom Winnifrith, the Sheriff of AIM |
- 13 March 2023, 10:09 |
Nightingales Are Still Singing for the Future of Berkeley Squares and Avenues
Hello Share People. It takes a courageous analyst to recommend you look at a housebuilder in these dodgy days. But I still think the Berkeley Group (BKG) share price has some milage in it. Even if the latest numbers show sales in the industry down, rather a lot to be honest.- By Malcolm Stacey |
- 13 March 2023, 08:19 |
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Tom Winnifrith Bearcast: Neill Ricketts and the £200,000 scandal & will SVB's demise whack Yourgene and Aferian? Which other listed companies are vulnerable?
I start with Versarien (VRS), the potentially £200,000 scandal and Neill Ricketts. Then to the demise of Silicon Valley Bank, a bubble blow up with associated crime and the wider ramifications: which listed companies could it screw up?- By Tom Winnifrith |
- 12 March 2023, 20:19 |
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Entain and the (changing) world of gambling
The sports gambling world is changing. It is not just that if we want to put ten quid on the Grand National, we access the internet rather than pretending we know how to go into a bookies, but is a reference to the UK gambling regulator’s new white paper which could be published by Easter. I say ‘could’ because it is already late, and lots has happened in the gambling world during the COVID-19 era period already.- By Chris Bailey of Financial Orbit |
- 12 March 2023, 17:53 |
Revisiting My Slam-Dunk Sells For 2022 - What A Bunch Of Dogs!
I see that my portfolio of slam-dunk sells for 2022 has nose-dived since year-end. But I fear there is far worse to come…..- By Nigel Somerville |
- 12 March 2023, 17:46 |
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Is Silicon Valley Bank a one-off event or an indication of wider reaching risks in the banking sector?
The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank has been all over the news and it’s the second largest US bank to ever find itself in this position, but is it just a one-off or a sign of further problems for the banking sector and the risk of a complete meltdown?- By Gary Newman |
- 12 March 2023, 14:19 |