In his time as General Counsel to the Ariadne Group run by Julie “Lingerie on Expenses” Meyer , Mr Peter Bradley had occasion to send me three lawyers letters on behalf of his boss who is now being investigated by the FCA, the MFSA, the SFO, Action Fraud, the IRS, HMRC and is wanted on criminal charges by the Maltese Police.  I had thought that Bradley had parted company with the charlatan, liar and fraudster Meyer in April but the Ariadne website, as you can see below, suggests otherwise. 

Previously writing on cyber security group ECSC (ECSC) it was on board changes - and I was scpetical in conclusion. Now, the shares are currently higher on an AGM statement…

I noted yesterday that Gavin Burnell of Globo infamy was one of the team at Novum Securities which raised £4.5 million for Audioboom (BOOM) at 3p – a placing which is already well underwater. How do I know? Because his name is one of three at Novum on the RNS. But here is a funny thing: Burnell is not approved by the FCA to conduct investment business! As you can see below, it reckons he is “inactive.”. I took this up with Novum boss Hugh McAllister…

Hello, Share Crimpers. Many of us have made a bit of a killing with shares in Ashtead (AHT), the British company which hires out tools and plant to builders here and in the USA. Of course, it’s not the only player in what seems to be a pretty profitable game.

Earlier today Stobart (STOB) fired its former boss Andrew Tinkler and threatened legal action against him for his actions. Via the Winnileaks service, I have obtained the letter from Stobart’s solicitors Rosenblatt sent to Tinkler which discusses the damning allegations made against him in detail. What is most extraordinary is that he is alleged to have been working in conjunction with fund manager Neil Woodford on actions that would have benefitted Tinkler and Woodford’s funds massively, at the expense of everyone else. This could be a scandal too far for Woodford… The letter is extraordinary and we publish it in full below…

On 24 May 2018 I ran an article on the case of former Ariadne employee Steve Lazarus who, like so many others working for Julie “Lingerie on Expenses” Meyer was not paid and had to seek legal redress. That article needs correcting, not for what it said about the appalling behaviour of Meyer but for a question posed of her, now ex, legal Counsel Peter Bradley. An amended article is below.

More fun and games on the good ship Stobart (STOB) today with the Board not holding back and dismissing Andrew Tinkler from company and the Board and plan to bring legal proceedings against him, juts as I thought Tinkler (or Tinker as the Sunday Times called him at the weekend) might have been edging ahead.

Previously writing just over a year ago on Revolution Bars (RBG) it was on it going from ‘platform to be confident about our prospects’ to profit warning in less than 3 months. Then heading towards 130p, the shares jumped a couple of months later on a 200p per share possible offer approach. However, an offer was voted down by shareholders and the shares have subsequently fallen back towards 150p before a Trading Update today…

AIM-listed Turkish gold play Ariana (AAU) has announced news of work at Kizilcukur, its wholly owned gold prospect 22km (but 50km by road) from its JV Kiziltepe mine. It is all very encouraging, if relatively minor.

Tungsten Corp (TUNG) has noted recent press speculation and “confirms that Odey Asset Management LLP has indicated that it intends to propose resolutions to seek the removal of certain directors of the Board of the Company… The board regrets that this initiative has been taken at the moment that Tungsten has reached an inflection point”. Hmmm…

The reference to scumbags John Belliss and Gavin Burnell is explained in full in this podcast which covers CyanConnode (CYAN), Audioboom (BOOM), Magnolia Petroleum (MAGP), Revolution Bars (RBG), Peter Schiff and the economy, AIQ (AIQ), Tern (TERN) and Haydale (HAYD).  Both Brokerman Dan and I are now training with blisters. This weekend I move up to a 14 mile walk ahead of our 32 mile July 28 stroll for Woodarks. Thanks to all who have sponsored us. swe have now raised more than £8,000 with gift aid and are at 34% of our target. To those 90% of you listening who have not pledged, surely you can spare a tenner. You can donate £10 HERE. 

Three months ago I wrote about the St Tropez tan and Imperial Leather soap producer PZ Cussons (PZC) that the share price back down to 2010 levels had piqued my interest. Today's trading update is a mix of good and bad and the share has fallen back down to the levels it was at in my previous piece. However, it is no disaster statement. Sure, bottom of the range chat is never taken well - hence the move today - but there is a group-wide stabilisation here which bodes better for the future...and this is why the share (remains) a buy.

No doubt I shall be held up as a joke for this, but AIM-listed Sosandar (SOS) is a buy again, in my book. So am I flop-flopping? Er, no. I decided I would pay up to 20p. The shares went through that mark so they were a hold. Now they are down to 19.15p, so they are a buy again.

Mobile Streams (MOS) appears to be yet another AIM company where it is hard to see it ever actually returning any money to investors, and whilst it certainly isn’t unique in that regard, I do have to wonder how long it can keep going for before the ability to raise funds finally dries up.

Writing last month on Brave Bison Group (BBSN) it was with the shares having soared on an RNS Reach ramparoonie. Now an AGM Statement…

Hello Share Sweepers. You may know that I made an awful lot of gelt out of an early investment in IQE (IQE), the Welsh lot who make thingies for mobile phones and other stuff (Don’t you marvel at my technical expertise?). Reacting, as I near always do, to Tom’s advice to sell fast last year, I got rid of three-quarters of my IQE shares. But I’m a superstitious soul. So I did dare not part with all my shares, which have probably made me the most profit ever from a single punt. This has proved a bit of a disaster, as now I would like to sell my remaining holding.

I previously looked at AIM-listed Haydale (HAYD) last October (HERE), concluding It may be a great business in the making, but the lack of visibility of earnings (just £6 million over the next 3.5 years) is too thin – profits seem an awfully long way away and the carefully crafted obfuscation in the trading statement makes me steer a wide berth…. Today we got a warning that sales have been disappointing, the CEO stepping aside and cash sitting at £5.6 million. Given that it raised £9.3 million last October (at a 32% discount) one has to wonder how long it will be before the tin is rattled again.

A “Pre Close Trading, Customer and Operations Update” from Surface Transforms (SCE) includes CEO Kevin Johnson stating “these results are encouraging with good progress being made in virtually all areas”. The shares have responded... er, lower to 18p…

Call me mad, but if I were truly part of the Global Shorting Conspiracy I would now be shorting AIM-listed Tern plc (TERN). Having stated I wouldn’t short Tern because a price can go twice as bonkers as it is already, I fancy the time has come for reality to set it. Even Tern has issued a statement saying its own board knows of no reason for the continued rise in its share price. And just for good measure, Tern tells us its cash balance sits at £1.49 million – so I have been bang on the money (and it needs yet another placing).

Last year, after an April results announcement, Connect Group (CNCT) updated on trading towards the end of July. This year, with a results announcement on 1st May – when it was also announced that “Chief Financial Officer, David Bauernfeind, has decided to step down from his role and the board to pursue a new opportunity”, a further “Trading Update” already. Uh oh…