UK 18:30 Friday, 23 October 2026
Breaking news and expert analysis on fast-moving AIM and LSE listed shares
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from ShareProphets). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
My last bearcast from the Greek Hovel starts with the UK Oil & Gas and Horse Hill mob suspensions. Then onto Rosslyn Data and a warning for Charles Clark, but it is not about his career in porn. Then I look at the profits warning from Scicys and what it means for others and then a discussion about running open ended funds and the problems Dave Newton has at Heliium, this covers Coms, Verdes, Optibiotix and Gable.
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Comments
Matthew M
Safe journey Tom, there could be a small sideline venture for your ‘road kill’, artisan snake skin wallets, belts, handbags, shoes and so on. You could also hire a couple of locals for the road kill venture thus helping the economy in a small way, not to mention the use of all those juicy leftovers, snake kebabs and snake blood thirst quenchers. Not too bad in lollipop form as the heat rises!
The Shuffle Man
Dear Tom
I suggest you get your facts right before you do a hatchet job on Mr Newton and the Helium Fund. I agree what you say about running open ended funds but how can this be the case with Helium, when Optibiotix is held in a completely separate fund called the Rising Stars Fund and NOT in the Special Situations Fund which holds GAH and COMS. Anyone would know this if they read the RNS correctly. The Rising Stars Fund is in at much lower levels on OPTI and I assume is taking profits. Its certainly not a forced seller to meet redemptions as you state in your bear cast. For what its worth I think COMS has now turned a corner, they have got rid of the loss making business and strengthened the balance sheet from this disposal and from the recent placing. I think the open offer will also go down well with investors. Frank Beechinor and Mark Braund have great reputations and a good track record and I believe they will now do a good job at COMS, to turn it around.
Safe trip back and look forward to a clarification of the facts in your next bear cast.
TSM
TW Note: He does have redemptions on both funds. GAH, COMS, Verdes and that IPO I mentioned have knocked confidence in him. I feel for him. Ive been thereEquals4
It’s a good day. Sun is shining and everyone’s favourite Share blogger basher has been banned by LSE. Happy days!!
https://twitter.com/LondonSouthEast/status/606445071651770368
Bob Marley
Well said The Shuffle Man although I would be cautious as Mr Winnifrith must know David Newton very well to keep calling him Dave! You would think under the circumstances he would know how to spell Helium (not Heliium).
Fact: Optibiotix is held in the Helium Rising Stars Fund not the Helium Special Situations Fund and therefore selling them is of no benefit to the HSSF where the Gable and Coms are held. Also looking at the trades when the fund has sold them, it would appear they sell into rising prices to take a good profit having bought stock at 8p, not the move of a distressed seller who has to raise funds!
Fact: Tom Winnifrith admits in one of his Bearcasts he has not yet spoken to his contacts at Gable therefore how can he make an informed comment.
Fact: Having spoken to David Newton, I have been reassured that not only do both funds have enough cash to cover any redemptions that have or might be received, but they also have cash available for investment into suitable situations at the right time.
OptiBiotix has performed incredibly well during 2015 and the reduction in their holding is all to do with balancing the portfolio – each initial investment from this fund ranges in size from £500,000 to £1m – based upon the current OptiBiotix price of 40p, if they had retained their initial holding this would have resulted in a hugely overweight position for the fund of £4.5m and contradicts their mandate – they have reduced their position into a rising market which is a sensible and prudent fund management approach.
Coms have new management with an excellent track record of turning around companies who are working through the mess left by Dave Breith and appear to be doing a good job of sorting out the mess. David Newton averaging down on the funds position makes sense and shows confidence in both the management team and the future.
Gable look good long term value at this level if you look at the forecasts for 2016 onwards, Bill Dewsall, the Chief Exec, obviously thinks so having bought 100,000 yesterday to top up his holding. Numis’s recent research note has a target price of 50p
J P Spaghetti
Oh stop yer wailing Bob – chill and smoke something mellow!
Phil
The Shuffle Man & Bob Marley
What planet are you two on.