Member Info for Fevertreeman

Btw, Newland sibling's track record of backing winners is somewhat moredistingusihed than Nero, having trained a Grad National winner back in2014

In the realms of you couldnt make it up, and given the racing analogies, amusingly Nero's brother is one Dr Richard Newland and yes, he is a racehorse trainer (look up Urloxhey Stables)! Equally amusingly he appears to share his brother's taste for hyperbole:

"Dr Richard Newland is one Britain’s top racehorse trainers with over 600 winners and he's created a top class team at Urloxhey Stables to deliver an outstanding experience for both horses and owners." Some might say that knowing this, we might stand more chance of making a decent return by backing the gee gees

I doubt that - they were forced to buy in the raise as not to do so would have been to admit that the prospects that Neero was touting to institutions at the time were at worst fantasy at best wishful thinking.

shows how much they know! it would aid newland's case if instead of his usual unconstrained bs, and hyping which has been going on unrestrained for far too long! the new chairman appears to be as uselss as the previous occupant. perhaps it is time he say down with nero and instructed him to show some humility, admit the **** ups, explain the timelines, give proper update on the 30+ conversations he touted were active with pharma, & gave investors exposure to the new senior hires. and it would help if the rest of the board that until recently looked like an old people's home given the average ages, also purchased shares.

Congrats on your purchase at the bottom; no harm in that. But there is a fundamental difference between trading and investing ( ask Charlie Munger or Peter Lynch ). Sadly Newland’s consistent hyping, poor communications, missed deadlines, obfuscations & generally lousy attitude to shareholders has meant this has become just a trading counter, as there is no faith in the fundamentals

Couldn’t agree more. Newland would do well as a barker at a fairground. No sign that Nero’s constant hyping has been reined in. Only crumb of comfort are that he has announced one small deal with Eisei (a company some of us actually know of), in contrast to the 2/3 micro start-ups he signed deals with last year. But he needs a consistent string of commercial deals (and the results of the Solaris trials) to really prove that the corner has been turned rather than another U turn.

Those of us who have invested here over an extended period have little faith that Nero & Griffiths aren’t plotting another cash raise at this level. It would be in keeping with previous modus operandi…this time around tho’ with Jefferies no longer around to anchor the US institutional side of things ( they finally threw in towel last year) it will need a monumental hyping effort to get new heavyweight holders onboard at these levels (rather than hot money traders & hedgies). So Andrew over to you

Couldn’t agree more. Newland would do well as a barker at a fairground. No sign that Nero’s constant hyping has been reined in. Only crumb of comfort are that he has announced one small deal with Eisei (a company some of us actually know of), in contrast to the 2/3 micro start-ups he signed deals with last year. No faith that Nero& Griffiths aren’t plotting another cash raise at this level - would be in keeping with previous modus…this time around tho’ with Jefferies no longer around to anchor the US institutional side of things ( they finally thee in towel last year) it will take a monumental effort to get

Newland never ever faces serious questioning which is why tomorrow will be another waste of time

Newland's baleful reputation and shafting of his investors is well documented. He is incapable of sover anaysis, and insists on hyping every announcement. Serious investing institutions like Balillie Gifford& Aegon were seriously burnt by Newland's hyper ramping, and have significantly reduced their exposure (in the case of Aegon by 100pc). The announcement by Newland last week was yet another attempt to hype the share price and name check potential collaborators in what appeared a desperate attempt to get more commercial discussions going. Inconvenient facts should not be overlooked, and lately these have included

1. Jefferies resigned/were pushed off the brokership and believe me Berenburg know sfa about the US market and have little heft with investing community there in comparison.

2. They shut the NA lab (opened to much fanfare) to save money, coming up with the fanciful argument that it doesnt matter where tests are carried )it does actually, and Americans hate doing stuff outside their borders

3. Newland hyping a global pharma player that turned out to be a mid sized player - Eisai !

4. No news on the trials Newland promised us by year end....what is happening with Solaris?

Milverton has come out of the blocks fast - 3 contract/contract extensions ….well done

They stated they needed £8m, but any delays or further issues around ramp up ( which given the issues they've had have been just on the existing ops at the current site, before they are even at Phase 2 ) seems inevitable. How long do we think £m will last - I dont know, but look at the burn involved to sort out current issues and it isnt comforting analysis.

You have kind of answered my point. Johnson being unaware of how just weak the ops management of the business was & how underpowered and miles off target the finance function was, goes right to the heart of the leadership issue. If he was unaware of these things he just cant be left in charge of the next crucial phase of development. And it is not as if he has mended his ways; the insistence they'd hit £8.6m and they didn't. I would love to be sitting in the boardroom and watching the interactions.

Wise words, but what does that tell you about Johnson's ability to lead this company from the current valley to the sunny uplands and beyond.

What we've seen unfold most acutely over the last 18 months is that classic growth company situation with all the focus on winning customers, proving up the product, whilst hoping that they can successfully retrofit the systems and people needed (management, training & financial) without the wheels falling off or any one noticing. it didnt work and we are where we are. Add gnerous doses of bloody-mindedness , denial, and naivete from Bundred & Johnson and all the lements came together.

On a more optimistic note because I am a big believer in the tech, Board now has opportunity to reset things , clear the air, and get this company functioning as a grown-up plc. COO and CFO joining have started that process, but helluva long way to go frankly. If they can do this they have a fighting chance of remaining independent but I think odds are company gets taken out.....

Well you'd imagine correctly (and less of the supercilious tone). I'd venture that Sneller like most of us was keen to average down, and been so heavily exposed it won't have been pleasant. Whilst he will be updated by management as a top 10 shareholder and was no doubt taken over the wall ahead of the placing, dont assume he is any better placed than the rest of us about the day to day management of the company.

Possible fund raise? Nailed on probable given that Adams has a history of stiffing shareholders as you know over the last 5/6 years. I'm surprised that s/p is holding up as well as it is. when still no sign of any cash in bank after years of promises. Currently TK is just a plan on paper -no resttlement, no mine built, no gold etc extracted.....shameful frankly

Bundred is not the man to chair this company as what is needed is some honest conversations and self-examination, and that is clearly not going to happen while he is chair supposedly overseeing strategy, holding KJ and Maddicks to account and properly representing owners' (i.e. shareholders ) interests.

Too bloody right! If I were Richard sneller, I'd be on the phone to our useless chairman demanding an explanation.

Another lousy display of leadership from Bundred & Johnson, who continue to prove (a) their complete lack of understanding about how the public markets operate and their complete disregard for their own investors. This Tau was hugely important in setting the right tone and restoring some faith in the management and board. It did neither! Bundred has to Look, once again operationally one can’t believe a word they say!

In the teeth of an existential crisis that entailed investors bailing out the company, Bundred & Johnson went on record repeatedly stating they were on target to hit £8.3m YE, blustering about Oct being best month ever at £1m.

Come today’s TU, they miss that target & give no apology or explanation, leaving us all wondering whether any forecasts they make can be trusted. Whilst 300k in lost production is small vs potential, it is the principal that is at stake here with 2 individuals who clearly just make stuff up!

If they can’t get these forecasting right god help us when we get to £75m potential capacity So they basically flat lined into year end, blithely missing their own target, waved 2 fingers at s/holders in the process .

As of that’s not enough, then there’s the weasly PR spinners wording around “No new technical problems have arisen in recent months ”, effectively signalling that existing technical problems persist as do “ potential points of failure” Johnson and new FD need to be hauled over the coals for this ….not good enough!!!!

Bottom line - despite all the s*** Bundred &Johnon have put s/holders thro in last 18 mnths they still cant to be trusted and that is why in the absence of any evidence eto the contrary, the share price will continue to languish.

Just an obsessive chartist is our Zak…will be delighted if the tea leaves are accurate as will be part way to recouping the accumulated losses sustained under Newland and Griffiths. However I treat everything Mir produces ( like that other punter Winnifrith) with a salt mountain. After all wtf does he know about the fundamentals, the management, the tech, the history….

Am cautious, and carry the battle scars of Newland’s leadership like many long term holders. Newland needs a steady stream of announcements to show that after 10 years this is finally a grown up company with a grown up management capable of delivering on the multiple promises made over that time. One concern always with Newland and Griffiths is that they are shoving out announcements just to tee a/holders up for another hugely dilutive fund raising. They claim Q2/3 next year but with their track record, don’t be surprised if it happens much sooner