Member Info for CHEQUEMATE

Hello BT. Firstly, thank you for your kind sentiments in your post of 24 Feb. I have only just seen it, so apologies for not coming back to you before now to thank you. I speak to my mother regularly, at least once a week if not more. She is managing as best she can after losing her best friend but is feeling lonely now for the first time; something I feared would be the case. I have been to visit her a couple of weeks ago for the 2nd time and will do again if she needs me to and/or at the end of May. Being over 300 miles away is difficult at times. Yes, a good weekend off thanks. Busy training with the search dogs around Helvellyn. Great news was another dog graded to be a full hill going hound after 2 years of training. And promptly got a call out that evening for folk missing/over due on the fells. They were found finding their way off in the dark in the wind and rain. Yes, (going back to your 24 Feb post), I think you are right about the general election and the market. We are getting ever closer to it and none the wiser as to the outcome. The thought of the 2 Eds as you put it running the country is worrying but I think they will have their hands tied due to a likely coalition. In my opinion when the Labour party chose Ed for their leader they went for the wrong brother and shot themselves in the foot. It may have put them back a long way. However, who knows what the outcome will be?. Some rainbow coalition. All I know is that if you mix all the colours together you get a nasty shade of brown!!!. Well, GBG seems to have been flung out of its gravitational orbit and is on its way again. GBO seems to be trying to make up its mind and is hoping the shorters have had their attention drawn elsewhere. Don't know if you are still in COMS or MONI. I sold out of BOOM last week or 2, taking another loss on what I thought was going to be a recovery stock. Don't know why I take the odd gamble, they rarely play out positively. HAYT is struggling so I would be in no rush to invest there if on the outside until it looks better. REDD I think has more legs. Glad you did well with TRCS - as a % profit for me it beat every other investment I have made. KIBO! - good luck with that one BT. Not one I can remember looking at myself. I have mostly lost out when investing in mining shares, so lets hope this one will be different for you. My latest investment is a small(ish) holding in CAKE (having sold out of BOOM and re-investing what was left!). Time is getting on. Good luck and thanks for keeping in touch. Regards CM

Hi BT, quick reply since I at lunch at the local library. Well done for sticking here. New high by the look of it. CAn't be too upset by cashing in when I did, made a good profit and have moved on, not just as wisely as had I stayed in. However, ITV is doing well for me today and the likes of REDD and LTHM too of late. Catch you soon Regards CM

I had a buy limit on QTX today, hoping to catch an early rise in the share price after todays results. It didn't execute. No worries. Happy enough with my present small holding. It would be nice to see the spread on this share come down considerably but not sure that will happen whilst the share remains illiquid. I wouldn't be surprised if Robbie Burns, the Naked Trader, comments on the results in his next blog. He may have bought more into the share. If I see anything I will let folk know. Regards CM

I have been watching CAKE closely over the last 2 months or so since I watched the following video clip: ttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/investing/funds/11287939/Giles-Hargreave-three-Aim-shares-to-buy-and-hold-for-the-next-decade.html I am already invested in one of the other 2 shares, namely CLL, and CAKE came up in despatches (so to speak). I have today taken a small(ish) holding in CAKE, just £1000. I am of the opinion it is better to invest a small/modest amount in the first instance and watch to see what happens. If the share looks promising and performs well then I am happy to "average up", rather than invest far more and get nervous should it underperform. I am not a believer in "averaging down". I believe patience is key here, so not expecting overnight riches (although that would be nice!). Good to see the likes of Shan posting here. I seem to come across Shan on a regular basis, a worthy poster. Regards CM

The following is taken from March copy of GCI: "My favourite colour is Redde: Let's face it - who wants to be in a car crash?. i have had a few (minor) crashes in my life, and they are extremely stressful. Nowadays, however, even the most minor dent sees people carefully analyse their every move in an effort to win a payout. It makes me sad that the UK has become such a litigious nation that even when there are no serious injuries and many of our problems can be solved amicably we tend to seek out the services of a lawyer. Redde, the company formally known as Helphire Group is one of those benefitting from this trend. The company has 6 businesses under its umbrella, which collectively help it turn over approx £200 million per year. Its businesses include 'Albany Assistance', a claims management and replacement vehicle specialist that deals with a variety of services related to car accidents including handling the process of connecting someone injured in a car crash with a solicitor. Meanwhile, 'claims management' helps in the collection of debt from insurers while offering what it says is a 'first-class sales and support service'. Another company under its umbrella is Helphire, the business which it was previously named after. Helphire is a crash repair, rental and fleet management specialist. It offers a weekend rental service for consumers looking to use a car at the weekend, a fleet of cars and vans for rental, and a network of repair outfits. Other businesses that fall under its umbrella include the likes of 'Cab Aid', a provider of legal services, repairs and replacement vehicles for taxi drivers. The team at Redde is led by CEO Martin Ward, who joined its subsidiary Albany Assistance in 2005, becoming managing director four years later. The chairman is Avril Palmer-Baunack, the former deputy CEO of trucking giant Sobart Group. The company sits on a forward price-to-earnings rating of less than 17, with a dividend yield standing at a hefty 5.2%. The forward price-to-sales rating is just over 1, while the price-to-book rating is below 2. Its price-to-tangible book value is 3. While the industry serving the car crash sector may not be th emost appetising way to make money, Redde's many businesses do provide services that can be considered to be essential, such as crash repairs. With a repectable rating, we think the shares are far from car-crash material. Buy." I have had a subscription to GCI for a number of years and have made a number of profitable investments by using their research as a tool to begin my own research. It is always good to have got in ahead of them. I believe it is better to "average up" with strong holdings rather than the more popular "averaging down" with weaker holdings. It may be that I increase my holding with REDD, although other shares are vying for my attention. I may need to sell elsewhere before investing further. Good luck and regards C

Taken from the March issue of GrowthCompanyInvestor: "A good investment, touch wood." James Latham is another business that is not reinventing the wheel but that nonetheless holds considerable appeal for those looking for a fast-growing business with a surprisingly diverse product range. Founded in 1757 in Liverpool as an importer of hardwoods, today Latham sells a diverse range of wood products. These include engineered timber for use in door and window frames, flooring products for use within homes and decking for exterior patios. The group boasts that in addition to its headquarters in Herfordshire, it has 11 sites in the U.K for distributing its wares, including in Leeds, Gateshead and Dudley. Other products include its range of panels for use in bathrooms and kitchens, and hardwoods used in the transport industry. an interesting product sold by the group is known as "solid surface", which can be combined with wood or metal to form a dense material that can be used with doors and interior walls. Latham imports hardwoods from locations including the Far East, Africa and North America, while its softwood hails from the Nordic nations and the USA. A family run business, chairman Peter Latham continues to hold the role of chairman, having started at his family's company over 40 years ago. Fellow family members Piers and Nick Latham work as executive directors, while Pippa Latham holds the role of non-executive director. Non-family members on the board include non-executive director Meryl Bushell and finance director David Dunmow. In its results for the 6 months to September, pre-tax profits rose from £4.1 million to £5.2 million on sales that increased in value from £82.2 million to £89.1 million. Trading on 15 times forward earnings, Latham also has a price/earnings-to-growth ration of 0.4 on 2014 figures. There is also a dividend yield of 2.1 per cent. The price-to-book ratio is below 2, in addition to its price-to-tangible book figure. The price-to-cash flow rating is over 11, with the price-to-sales rating standing at 0.7. Latham is a company with a long heritage that is a big player in the industry. Its steady sales growth is partially due to its efforts to diversify into a number of niche wood products as well as bolster its number of distribution bases. This is one company that will not need to knock on wood to succeed. Recommendation - BUY" I've found GCI a very good source for information to back up my own research in the past. Many of their tips have proved profitable, although that in itself is not a recommendation. Regards and good luck CM

Hey, no complaints folks. Can live with it every time!. I have lost too much over the years by investing in "exciting" shares. I only need to remind myself of Jim Slater's excellent book "The Zulu Principle - how to make extraordinary profits from ordinary shares" to rest easier. Out of interest "boring" is a term that Robbie Burns, The Naked Trader, often uses in his stock picks. Boring not by performance only by business. Shan - good to hear from you - great result today. Regards CM

Good report on Stockopedia yesterday - Paul Scott's small cap value report. "Share price: 103.5p No. shares: 292.2m Market Cap: £302.4m Interim results - these are remarkably strong results, covering the six months to 31 Dec 2014. Turnover is up 32% (of which half is organic, the balance from acquisitions). Adjusted profit before tax is up an astonishing 172% to £11.5m for the half year. So whatever they are doing, is working very well indeed. My opinion - based on its superb interim results this morning, I think REDD looks a much safer bet if you feel compelled to invest in this rather grubby sector. REDD has proven it can generate copious cashflow, control its balance sheet very well, and pay generous dividends. Maybe it is benefiting from Quindell's weakness? Redde's figures look very attractive to me, at what is probably still quite a reasonable valuation (broker forecasts are likely to be raised following these results, and we could be looking at 8p EPS, so at just over a quid the shares seem good value). Worth a look anyway." Quite a relief. I have been away for 4 days and generally without internet access and the ability to trade during such times. Often it is the key for my shares to take a tumble!. Wish I had invested more here than in the more speculative offerings that are around and always look enticing!. It is often the case that the boring shares are the ones that out perform rather than the perceived exciting ones despite what others on the other boards may believe. About time I learnt my lesson once and for all!. Regards CM

Thanks for the suggestion Spikey!, very kind of you, lol, hadn't thought of that one!. Ok, I'm back now, phew!. Nothing drastic has happened by the look of it, but there was a parp when I saw there was a RNS today and couldn't read it. I thought it may be more details about the vat issue and half expected the share price to take another hit; thankfully not!. Good luck and regards CM

This is very near a 52 week high. Turn the clock back............I want to get back onboard!. Well done to those who have held their nerve through difficult times. Regards CM

I am away for the next 4 trading days. Whenever I go away and unable to trade it seems to be a signal for this and other holdings of mine to head South!. It happened in October and it happened a few weeks ago when the news of the VAT saga broke!. I could see what was happening to the share price but could take no action. So, I will probably set a stop loss on this just in case!. Then again, it may head North!. Good to see this above 90p again. Good luck all. Regards CM

Hello BT, good to hear from you. Hope your time away was good, do anything exciting?, didn't drink too much Jura I hope!. Yes, things seem pretty good with GBG. No nasty surprises and steady. Good for you for holding. I have been trying to learn the lesson from selling in October last year and trying to keep my nerve more this year with my holdings. Too bad I sold out here,but I keep it on a watchlist along with other holdings I have held, i.e TRCS. Thought that was heading South to where I sold out at last year where I could possibly be tempted to buy back in had I the funds. Otherwise it is selling elsewhere to buy back in as it is with anything right now. No, no predictions this year BT. To me that is just asking for trouble or for a reversal, lol. No, lets keep it simple and look for gain to be received with thanks. To be honest, if I/we can get a return of around 10%-15% that would be a success compared to what we can get from any bank or building society and would probably beat most returns if we go to some financial adviser and pay for the privilege!. I believe that if we invest in strong companies with good fundamentals in good sectors and making a profit and having done our research then we can't do much more. Of course we can get caught out by a RNS. I need to learn patience. There is possibly room for the odd more risky share holding as long as we don't put too much into them. For me it is BOOM. I only have a small holding thankfully, it is rather volatile and needs a trend reversal. it is another one of those jam tomorrow shares. There is potential there but I would and do feel far more relaxed at having a far more sizeable holding in the likes of ITV, maybe boring in comparison but I can sleep with boring and lose less sleep. Yes, the markets are pushing towards an all time high. It is a long time ago that the market approached 7000, the end of 1999 infact. I remember it well. Talk then was of the market hitting 8000 and we know what happened. I guess at some time the market HAS to reach 7000, it is what happens after that matters. It will be interesting??? to see what happens with the run up to and after the general election, very interesting. It is likely there will be another coalition but with who with who?. Or possibly a minority government with a 2nd. election within a year. Some sad news from here is that I had to shoot South a couple of weeks ago to be with my old Mum who lives alone and is not in good health and lost her faithful old dog after having him for 13 years. I didn't want her to be alone, particularly the first night and the first few days. You know all to well about the feeling of loss and I felt she needed me to be there. She is coping as well as can be expected but I feel for her. Better go BT, enjoy the weekend. Regards and best wishes. CM

Just noticed this from last nights' Naked Trader blog: "And Renew (RNWH) has come back quite a bit from the 300 area to the 270 area and that was enough to tempt me into buying some more this very morning. A company with a great future - once it gets back to 300 any push above that and 320 looks a good target area. " Re-assuring. Regards CM

Hi OSB. I haven't seen any figures. There may be an update before the next trading update is given or almost certainly within the trading update. I had thought of contacting CLL and asking them but I am not sure they would be able to tell us or they probably would have mentioned it in the last RNS. I find that a little concerning not to have a "worst case scenario" but perhaps they don't know themselves. Article on Radio 4 early this morning about how HMRC seem to be going after the easy targets rather than go after those big businesses and wealthy individuals who know the ropes and have some very cleaver individuals in their pay!. The only surprise there would be as far as I am concerned SpikeyJ if things ever changed!. At least we have seen some much needed positiveness in the share price today, although quite how long it will last I have no idea. It may be a good idea if you are thinking of investing here to wait until this all blows over. Good luck all, regards CM

Hmm, what's happening here?. Is this just another of TRCS retraces?. Amazed this is back down to where it is once it had been well over 400p and pushing 450p, at which time I did feel it was rather expensive and over priced. TRCS remains on one of my watch lists due to sentimental reasons...........probably one of the worst reasons, but there you go. If this falls back down to where I sold out at in October, around the 350p I could just be tempted to re-invest, although that would mean finding funds from elsewhere, plus I always feel happier investing into strength and not weakness. Far more trades in TRCS than is normal which was always none for its inactivity when I was invested here. Good luck to all invested here and regards CM

Not invested here but have found this on GrowthCompanyInvestor.co.uk. Hope this copies over ok - apologies if it doesn't: http://www.growthcompany.co.uk/news/2479212/trakm8-wins-marmalade.thtml Regards and good luck CM

Ah ha. That would be understandable. Thanks. CM

Millionaire business man has admitted he hasn't paid tax for over 20 years and gets away with it, won't be prosecuted!. Meanwhile CLL gets the tax man onto them for charitable oversights done in good faith!. Unbelievable!. One rule for one and another set of rules for others!. I am tempted to say perhaps they should make a donation to a particular political party and they may get away with it, but I won't because it may get me into trouble!. Stinks to high heaven. Send the b****r to prison. £60 million he is worth!. CM

Nice to have a decent rise here today, although I can not see any obvious reason for it. Perhaps it was QTX's time for a rise. don't know how long it will last, but I am now in a slight profit!. Spread is still large for this share, probably due to its' illiquidity. Would like to think todays rise will be mirrored very shortly with my other holdings which turned red all about the same time today, around 3 p.m having been blue for most of the day; again for no obvious reason. Very frustrating to see my portfolio fall back to below what it started the year at, despite only holding one higher risk share. All the others are/were meeting a strict criteria I set before investing. May just be a case for holding good quality shares (on the face of it anyway) through some thin times and hoping the cream will come to the surface in time. During the market turmoil in October I sold out of everything and have since pretty much all those holdings recover. Trying to learn from that lesson. Anyone else out there to give an opinion?. Regards and good luck. CM

Blatant manipulation imo of the share price over the last week. Today we have a RNS stating an institutional investor has upped their share holding on 6 February (Friday) when (co-incidently or otherwise!) the share price had fallen right back over the week. Perhaps it is my cynical mind but could it possibly be that the market makers were well aware of their interest and deliberately shook the tree until enough shares were available for the ii to buy at the price they wanted?. Who wins?, the ii, the market makers, possibly (just) any private investor who got lucky or had good judgement (perhaps). Who loses?, the private investors who were shaken out of the market by fear and/or setting what would have appeared to have been a safe stop loss (fully understandable). An illiquid share, with not many shares traded most days, hence the shake over the week. I was not in a position to make any trades late in the week so I stayed put. With more important and pressing family matters on my mind, the last thing I needed was some manipulation going on in the background. But guess that goes with investing in the stock market. Too many decent hard working private investors lose hard earned money by these actions. Although we know the risks, it seems we only know what or whose rules we are playing to when they care to let us know. Rant over. Good luck to all and regards CM May be talking to myself, but nevermind.