The latest Investing Matters Podcast with Jean Roche, Co-Manager of Schroder UK Mid Cap Investment Trust has just been released. Listen here.
At this stage, joebop, I'm beyond caring what happens my investment but I'd be lying if I was to deny I'm taking great pleasure from seeing the market agree with the vast majority of CGNR shareholders on these bbs. A mere threat to the bod's greedy reign has led to a 30%+ sp rise since the news. IMO the worst thing that can happen is that there are a few bod changes (which should see the sp rise further after some positive soundbites) and then the same ole same ole but with different people milking PIs. The best thing that could happen is for any changes to result in the unthinkable - a plan of action with approximate dates etc you know, like real companies do. Then (going into the realm of pure fantasy now) the company remembers that it's function is not to complete test after test ad nauseum but to actually get some gold out of the ground, and maybe even sell it for, like, a profit thingy. Anyway, the last couple of weeks have been the first time I've gotten any satisfaction from this absolute mutt of a company.
I'm hoping that what they do differently (or what any new changes as a result of the revolt might cause) is some gold actually being taken out of the ground - like as if CGNR is a gold mining company. At the very least I'd like a plan with a timeframe - start date - finish date, within reason.
Qprswc, a couple of points on your last post. You created a premise based on a scenario you 'suspect', and then answered your own premise. Paul Johnson resigned from MTR last January. CGNR having a licence to mine or not has not made a blind bit of difference to the amount of gold produced by these jokers over two decades - the amount remains at zero. The only time that will change is when the bod changes. But even more important than a bod change is that the public embarrassment of their gross mismanagement of an operation with huge potential might actually get them up of their wealthy backsides and start getting gold out of the ground. I'm guessing but I would be amazed if any long term holders would still be stupid enough to support the status quo. The announcement alone of possible bod changes was enough to see the so rise and stop its relentless decline.
Btw Lionel, I don't think the changes will happen in their entirety but there will be changes. I have been about 2 years asking for one thing from CGNR - a timeframe for actually getting gold out of the ground. In other words, an expected start date. Not once have they addressed that crucial point. I'm hoping that's one thing that comes from this mini-rebellion. If it does, whether CGNR can adhere to it is another thing altogether.
Dshox, good warning but I'm not sure if newbies are being played by the mms or 'other' parties or both. Lionel, in response to question 1 (and I have been advised to be careful here) the probable reasons that there has been no demand for Francis Conroy to stand down are: he is the founder, he has an insurmountable number of shares, over his business career he has made useful political friends both north and especially south of the Irish border. Perhaps a better question would be "why were the others selected for removal by PJ & co?" Put simply, they contributed absolutely nothing to the development of a gold mine that after nearly two decades does not even exist. Some of those named have had extraordinary relationships with the CGNR shares/options. I suggest someone else addresses Sorcha Conroy's CGNR history. Lionel, the shares in issue total on the LSE website was wrong. There are just under 11,000,000 shares in issue. HOWEVER (a damn big however) last year there was a 200 to 1 share consolidation so in actual fact around 2.2 billion shares have been wasted. Many here correctly stated the consolidation was done to set up a whole new series of dilutions. We were right. With regard to your third question you should take a look at the only source on these pages who 'warned' us to stick with the bod. He is not even invested here but has a huge chunk of Conroy's other toy KDR (an RNS confirmed he went over 3% holding there). He believes in Conroy as much as MTR did, I did, and many others did too before copping on to exactly what CGNR is. His agenda is, understandably, stability for anything Conroy-related. Nevertheless, the market's reaction to the potential clean out of CGNR's bod provides all the assurance any of us need. Despite the very kind warning from an agenda-driven PI the sp is soaring. Lol. I'll be voting to get rid of every named individual. I'd be astonished if any honest shareholders voted any other way.
...the greedy bottom feeders arrive. Next we'll have RBHEATH here. Lol. I'm not sure what PJ and his buddies are up to but I'd be very careful here. PJ was instrumental in MTR's disastrous investment in CGNR. He may just be threatening the bod knowing fine well how everyone (almost everyone) is utterly fed up with the bod. A threat like this was obviously going to see a big sp jump as the market finally sees hope that the costly and useless friends and family of conroy might be finally ousted. I think MTR got in around 30p and I know PJ has left them but I don't think yet another person such as PJ likes to have been conned. He may just want the sp higher so his buddies at MTR get their money back. Or, it could be that he sees a load of gold (having been used as a way to pay family and friends huge money by repeatedly diluting the company for years) and thinks maybe, just maybe, it's time to actually get the goddamned gold out of the ground. Who knows? Lionel, I'll take a shot at your questions shortly. Like all posts (including this one) it's only my opinion.
You're now telling the likes of me whose down over 90%, whose been treated terribly by CGNR, who got in AFTER other investors were already down over 90%, to wake up and smell the coffee? Lol. Btw, I was a strong supporter of Conroy for a long time (not to your extent but a vocal supporter nonetheless), until it dawned on me that every RNS was the same (ok the one last month was beyond farcical) - jam tomorrow when absolutely nothing real was happening. This is going on for literally over a decade. I won't offer an opinion on the KDR bb unless somebody provokes me enough but I'll say this: unless Rio Tinto give Conroy the same kick in the hole he's getting from some large investors here you are in for a very rude awakening. Don't do what I did by repeatedly defending a conman, open your eyes to even the possibility that you've erred.
Qprswc, calling people like me who are losing a small fortune on CGNR (all the while being treated like scum by Conroy) 'dull bas tards' is not only wrong but merely adding insult to injury. I don't post insults on your KDR rampathon bb because I respect a couple of KDR investors I know. I know more about CGNR/Conroy having been in here for years than you do. I have met Conroy, been to Clontibret (where absolutely nothing is happening), I've tried unsuccessfully corresponding with the company and ended up seeking legal advice for the way I've been treated. Just because you invested thousands in another Conroy venture you haven't the right to call me or anybody else a dull anything. Hear this: I can't stand PJ as I know his history inside out but I'd sooner have him and his buddies take over this 15 year old scam than Conroy, his cronies and his much rewarded family. I suggest you quit the insults and/or think for a minute or two before patronising intelligent people who were fooled by Conroy.
I posted this on ADVFN too: Is that Johnson formerly of MTR - the crowd that invested in CGNR about a year ago? If it is we are going out of the frying pan and into the fire! Nevertheless, this could be the kick up the hole the bod needs. Huge warning to everyone to expect another super-duper "we have a plan" RNS from Conroy. If there's no timeframe it can be ignored. If it does contain one I absolutely guarantee the timeframe will not be met.
Good day r PIs here. Congrats.
Great day for you holders. Well done.
Impressive RNS. Congrats to all holders. Wish I was one!
Magnificent day for holders. Well done (I wish I was one!).