If Steve Holdsworth has not passed away as I was told I hope he enjoys what I have to say about him. If he has that is my greatest loss today although I do also discuss Optibiotix (OPTI) and Skinbiotherapeutics (SBTX) in detail, the two battering the value of my pension fund. I won't push Steve O' Hara in the River at Sharestock but if he brings his chairman I'd be tempted. Grilling O'Hara in person over a Wrexham lager is surely another reason for you to book HERE. The number of seats now needed: 74. Join the crowd on September 10. I discuss Red Rock Resources (RRR), Allied Minds (ALM), Canadian Overseas Petroleum (COPL) and, on behalf of a convalescing Nigel Somerville, Haydale Graphene (HAYD). 

A zombie firm is one that cannot even cover its band or bond interest from free cashflows. The chart below is of firms from the Russell 3000 Index, aan Index comprising 97% of US listed companies and it shows that 25% of them are now zombies. The last time that number was anywhere close was in 2001 at 17% and look how that played out. But in 2001 interest rates were being cut, now they are increasing just as a consumer slowdown means that free cashflows will be decreasing so that Zombie percentage is going to head sharply higher this Autumn.

Describing itself as “a leading global software and technology provider delivering digitally enabled buildings, spaces and services for landlords and flex workspace operators”, essensys (ESYS) states that it “is pleased to announce a pre-close trading update for the financial year ended 31 July 2022” and “revenue and adjusted EBITDA in FY22 are expected to be in line with consensus market expectations… we remain confident in the market and opportunity for the group in FY23 and beyond”. So what of a share price response currently up just over 4% to 63p?

We have already apologised a number of times for any suggestion made on this website that Mr David Lenigas was a penny share promoting spiv rather than an objective mining analyst who is so honest and insightful that he must be regarded as a national treasure. But in that vein, the third greatest living Australian after Mr Peter Tatchell and Mr Barry Humphries, appears to have suffered a spot of amnesia when issuing the tweet below yesterday.

I haven’t written about Iconic (ICON) since 10 January 2022 when I wrote “Still on life support, toxic Dave Sefton will, shockingly, get away with everything”. Well, based on the following statement published by the Administrators yesterday that appears to be the case:

Previously writing on “global media and hospitality business” Time Out Group (TMO), last year I wrote General Meeting approval for (as warned here) material dilution – concluding that with the shares up to around 50p, capitalising the group at circa £166 million, and a profitable business proposition still to be proven I certainly continued to avoid. Today the shares are 41p on the back of a “Loan Facility” announcement.

A thing about both eyes going a bit blind is that you have to give up your driving licence. I may have felt a bit frustrated about this early last year, but obviously it is very smart to fully adhere to. So I am useless now for people such as Lookers plc (LOOK), which “proudly represents 32 manufacturer brands, selling a huge range of new and used vehicles from 144 franchise dealerships in the UK and Ireland”. But what do I think about it after its first half numbers published today?

These chaps are two pillars of the establishment. Gent has been CEO of Vodafone (VOD) and Chairman of GSK (GSK). Clarke has been running companies including Majestic Wine since he stopped being a CSFB bankster in the early nineties. And he went to Rugby and Oxford so is a true scholar and a gentleman. Okay, Eales is a relative oik.

Hello Share Swappers. Tritax Big Box (BBOX) is another of those rare companies that's boosting its cash-making. Its half-year numbers showed operating profit increased by 5.6% to £88.8 million. So well worth a look, gang, as so many other outfits struggle.

Aeorema Communications (AEO) has announced its scale of work completed in the final weeks of its financial year, primarily at Cannes Lions, has had a further positive impact on expected profitability and that “there is undoubtedly strong demand for Aeorema's innovative event services… pleased to announce that it has opened a new office in Amsterdam”, helping the shares up to currently 78.5p.

I start with a reference to this personal podcast about Christmas Day 1914 HERE. Then it is onto Ironveld Resources (IRON), Kefi Gold & Copper (KEFI), Skinbiotherapeutics (SBTX), Advanced Oncotherapy (AVO) and Argo Blockchain (ARB) and it is one of two more reasons give to book your seats at ShareStock on September 10 NOW HERE

Previously writing on group which describes itself as “a leading developer of radiation and bio-detection technology solutions for the advanced imaging and CBRN detection segments” Kromek (KMK), last month I noted a new distribution agreement but asked what about financials?, and concluded continue to avoid. Now it “is pleased to announce that it has completed a fundraising of £1.14 million through the issue of convertible loan notes”.

The first lawyers letter this website received about a week after its 2013 launch was from Pirate Pete Landau the boss of Range Resources (RRL). We continued our battles with Purate Pete and his associates such as Greg Smith and I am delighted to say that, last week, Mr Landau pleaded guilty to nine criminal charges in Australia. These days that is not a pre-requisite for a free trip to Oz but a prelude to a jail stretch. Landau will be sentenced on 31 January and he is going down.

Yesterday CyanConnode (CYAN) emphasised a “largest-ever order” but I noted ramptastic over financial detail again. So what of now results for its year ended 31st March 2022?

What is the Polish for “Powerhouse Energy (PHE) looks increasingly fecked?” Another JV agreement has had to be rewritten as nobody external will bankroll this unproven technology. Today’s news casts a new doubt over the commerciality of its IP and also of when ( not if) Powerhouse will need to do yet another bailout placing.

RM plc (RM.), “a leading supplier of technology and resources to the education sector”, has announced results for its half-year ended 31st May 2022 and that it “is starting to build encouraging revenue momentum across the group which demonstrates the strength of our offer and market positioning”. So what of a share price currently of 65p, down more than 34% in response?!

Just under three months ago, I observed that “Wood Group (WG.) won’t re-join the FTSE 100, but that’s not the forward story…” and talked about the opportunities and challenges of “one of the world’s leading consulting and engineering companies operating across Energy and the Built Environment”. And is the new CEO working on a positive surprise, as I hoped a quarter or so ago, too?

Having told a grotesque lie to investors about raising cash which it had in fact not raised, the board of Aquis listed Love Hemp (LIFE) should be in jail. Instead, with almost no cash, it limps on, its shares suspended as no advisor has signed up to replace Peterhouse, which quit when the lie emerged. Today another deceit.

Hello Share Changers. If you’re looking for a an outfit that’s a monopoly and that’s going to be protected by the government from ever going bust, then there’s not much choice. However, an obvious candidate is the National Grid (NG.) and here's why its share price could move up.

It s just 19 days to Sharestock and I bought the big tent for it yesterday!. It will not just be about shares to short. Peter Hambro will talk about gold and how to play it. Chris Bailey will talk about making money from long only value investing in a bear market and 3 CEOs will face a 15 minute grilling from me, including Optibiotix boss Steve O’Hara and Cathal Friel of Open Orphan. But the short sellers presenting are legends.