Showing posts with label bankrupt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bankrupt. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Suddenly we vote; Edwafin admits all with dangling carrots

One of the readers has kindly provided me with a copy of the newest circular that originated with Edwafin. Apparently if one live up country, the mail takes longer to arrive. I thank the person who provided me with a copy. The contents took me somewhat by surprise though: for months the masters of the Edwafin universe neglected to consult with their investors, denied the predicament their in, and now suddenly they are seeking support for their quest to be placed under Judicial Management. They were a little ingenious though, as they stress the paltry amount (R0.0653) that each investor would get for every R10,000.00 invested with them. On the other hand, aren't they just confirming that they are simply bankrupt at this point? and that they are really, really bankrupt to a disastrous point. Where are the denials now of not being bankrupt, and the company being essentially profit making. Madre Mia!

So we will have another meeting, and further gobbledygook will be presented. Have you also noted how cleverly they have biased this listing of benefits between liquidation and Judicial Management? Should you opt for Judicial Management, then every is going to be fine it seems, so obviously we all join the happy party of Judicial Management. Their badly mastered smoke and mirrors is again evident when the letters states: "Judicial Management is the best option....for...all investor's capital would be repatriated to them in the long term". I must say they are positive thinkers par excellence!

With my outlook in life, time is a relative measurement of awareness, but it seems that Stapleton and friends are themselves, and in their own way, philosophers. Remember how, Patrick promised us money repeatedly at the end of certain repeatedly increasingly longer periods? The last I remember we would be more-or-less back on track by the end of May (in fact that is when he promised I would have my money back), the goal post is once more moved to November this time, and just to makes sure, they have planned goal post movement to March 2010. How in the world, after so many years of deplorable business results, are these people going to put everything back within the next 8 to 12 months? But, miracles happen, and I happen to believe in them, so in spite of it all I am tempted to give them the benefit of the doubt.

I just wonder why they took this step, and the only conclusion I can reach is that they are essentially unsure that they will be granted the request they made to the court themselves. One benefit that I would be very pleased to see happening is point no iv: that the company would be properly investigated with an possible unbiased feedback to the investors and the court.

Having said that, "scepticality" is a new word that applies to the situation I find myself in when I I think about the involvement of the authorities. Remember the protection NCC, SAVCA, FBI, CIPRO offered us as investors. In essence Edwafin defrauded all its investors when it promised, contractually, to refund us our money. And thinking carefully, one should have realized that that would be an impossible scenario. The bodies of authority and supervision, surely must have realized this as well, but nevertheless gave Edwafin the green light (CIPRO, FSB) to go ahead, while the other mentioned bodies were only to happy to provide them with credibility. Let's face it, as matters now stand, we have been defrauded and lied to - if that were not the case many of us would have had our money back by now.

However sceptical I might be, the question is: what has one to lose? If they go bankrupt we loose majorly; if they are given the opportunity to try and redeem the company, who knows? Perhaps Patrick will pull a rabbit from his hat after all.

I would certainly give him all the credit for being a master businessman, and that includes the sneakers and lurkers.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Holding my Breath 2

When I posted the previous entry, I wasn't quit done yet. As it contained a bit of pleasant news I didn't want to taint it by including it with this posting.

To begin with: the Edwafin site is down. Now, that may be to do maintenance on the site, or perhaps things are changing so quickly, that it needs repeated revision. Let's face it, they have removed all the pictures from their site - Edwafin has become faceless. Not that I could add more pictures, though, the blog-server has informed me that I have used up my allocation. Thus, no more prity pictures of Edwafin and its human population; and I so much wanted to include one of Ms Cowan. Perhaps if Marc (FIN24) has found a picture, I will erase one of the many of old Patrick to make room for her. While we are at it, you wouldn't have one of Brian Poliah as well, would you?

Except for two short, curt sentences - each in a separate email - from Patrick, they are as quiet as their bank account. Because of their synoptic character I did not think is necessary to publish the whole email here. The one said:
My wife does not drive a brand new Merc, you are mixing fact and fantasy in your spite.
And the other one said:
So you broke your word
Well, now, we have come to know Patrick as a man of a few words, especially when it comes to providing information or speaking the truth, and this is no exception.

Let me categorically state: Patrick's wife does not drive a new Mercedes. It only is very shiny and looks new, but that does not imply that it is. My informer must have it wrong.


Yes, I did not wait until 31 May, as it became evident, that the masters of Edwafin were not going to refund their investors in any case. When I pressed Patrick on this he refused to respond:
20090325 Email Respond to Stapleton 1
Shame on you, Patrick for being so selective in your arguments.

That brings me to a matter I have been pondering for a few hours now.

There might be investors who are frowning on the actions I'm taking in respect of Edwafin, and they have all the right to do so. Obviously, it might put pressure on Edwafin and its subsidiaries. However, if they are not in financial difficulties, they could easily overcome my arguments by proving me wrong. That would make a fool of me and make their case so much stronger, and everybody would be paid his/her due. I don't mind looking the fool if that happened!

On the other hand, if my supposition is correct that they are essentially bankrupt, then every week that we let pass means that they will spend more and more money on directors salaries and other expenses - at our cost.
In the mean time they will continue roping in gullible investors that might just end up in the same situation as we are. And that for a few months more interest payments, we hope, and possibly/hopefully a recovery that would allow them to cover our investments. Has anybody out there seen the balance sheets of Edwafin recently? I wonder.

Let's be realistic about it. Except for loud protestations stating that they are not bankrupt, they haven't shown investors there financial statements, or have made any attempts to proof that they are not - words, words, words, words.
In reality they have admitted that they are bankrupt, by actually telling us so on 19 December 2008:
CERTAIN INVESTORS, DUE TO THEIR WORRY AND CONCERN, HAVE LEVIED THREATS AGAINST US, WHICH THEY ARE WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT (AND OF COURSE WE DO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY FEEL). HOWEVER WE NEED TO MENTION THAT IN TAKING THE MATTER FURTHER BY GOING PUBLIC OR INSTIGATING ANY OTHER FORM OF ACTION AGAINST THE COMPANY, WOULD NOT ONLY PUT YOUR CAPITAL IN JEOPARDY, BUT THE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS OF ALL OUR CLIENTS WILL SIMULTANEOUSLY BE PUT AT RISK.
Now, isn't that a beautiful encapsulation, if clumsy at best, of the status quo, Edwafin's attitude, and the company's financial health.

Usually I have a cash flow problem, when I don't have money to pay for things - perhaps Edwafin is different. Tutt, tutt, tutt, Patrick, have we been talking ourselves into a corner again? Below is a copy of part of a brochure used to entice me to invest with Edwafin:

Brochure