Dowgate Capital (DGT) are sitting in the middle of a goldmine! This company through their sole trading arm City Financial Associates are looking to take full advantage of the "booming" AIM market this year. Dowgate provide NOMAD (NOMinated ADvisor) services to AIM companies and also have full Corporate Broker status which means that they can fund placements on behalf of the companies they represent.

Website: www.cityfin.co.uk

On first sight, the fact that Dowgate exist in the often veiled financial services sector makes you think twice about investing in company such as this because it would be impossible to understand what they were doing - however, think again! DGT bring new companies to the AIM (Alternative Investment Market). For each new company "floated" on AIM, they take arrangement fees when acting as NOMAD. After the company is launched then for a nice steady earner DGT get another healthy chunk of cash every year for looking after them (note that all AIM companies must have a nominated adviser - thereby securing a ready source of recurring income). Because DGT also act as a Corporate broker they can get a very healthy percentage for arranging placement of shares with insititutions before a new company floats. In addition, because placements come outside the sphere of yearly NOMAD work, they can also gain healthy percentages of placements which companies may need to make throughout the year when they need a quick injection of cash to speed growth. Current NOMADships: 28 companies represented (gives recurring income of approx 480,000 per year) Current on-going Brokerage agreements: 19 companies (income depends on placements) For flotations, depending on the size of a company, fees charged will be anything from 50,000 to 100,000+ For placements (the real earner), DGT get anything from 3% to around 12% of the TOTAL AMOUNT RAISED - For example a new company raising 3M though a placement will earn DGT anything from 90,000 to 360,000 ! These figures are indicative as actual deals all differ due to circumstances and DGT sometimes take payment in shares - they still have a tasty chunk of Setstone shares and when this Russian exploration company comes back to AIM, predictions are that the share price will rocket. Note that the amount that this little company can earn in fees is huge and every new deal that comes through we know will contribute another healthy chunk into the bottom line. The good news with every new floatation means that it's another chunk of recurring revenue which could go on for years, with DGT having to do very little. New clients gained in 2005 are: Mediazest (NOMAD & broker) Elite Strategies (NOMAD) Process Handling (NOMAD) Poland Investment Fund (NOMAD) Nanotech Energy (NOMAD & broker) Archimedia Ventures (NOMAD & broker) Red Leopard Holdings (NOMAD) Alba Mineral Resources (NOMAD & broker) Intandem Films (NOMAD & broker) Motive Television (NOMAD) IncaGold (NOMAD) Sportswinbet (NOMAD & Broker) Infoscreen Networks (NOMAD & Broker) Mark Kingsley (NOMAD & Broker) Croatia Ventures (NOMAD & Broker) Pantheon Leisure (NOMAD) Firenze Ventures (Ofex Advisor) FlightStore Group (NOMAD & Broker) Euro Capital Projects (NOMAD) Pearl Street Holdings (NOMAD) Worldwide Natural Resources (Ofex Advisor) Dovedale Ventures (Ofex Advisor) Other 2005 work completed:Neptune-Calculus VCT offer for subs of up to 12 million Advisory work for TGM on London Bus disposal for 20.4M Advisory work for Creightons on property disposal Advisory work for Hampton Trust on company restructuring Advisory work for Interbulk Investments on acquisition of Inbulk Advisory work for Fundamental-e Investments on two disposals Advisory work for Designer Vision re: Design Rights against Centurion Electronics Click Here for fundamentals and profit projections.

Paulo2 - No real cause for concern because the lack of recent deals is already reflected in the share price.

I think you also have to remember Paulo that DGT had an exceptional H1 which has set them up for the remainder of the year. With their recurring income and the deals completed since the Interims (however small) should contribute to a reasonable set of figures come the end of the year. I think what the market will be looking for is confirmation of returning a full year profit. Once that milestone is achieved, people will sit up and take notice.

pth

pth - I think that may be Paolo's point - the price as a reflection of trading.

On my model (which we all now know needs to be taken with a large pinch of salt!) assuming no more income for the year and no staff bonuses (but allowing those already gtranted in H1 to stand), I get a net profit for the year of about 100,000 - i.e. a loss for H2 of 190,000. So I am not si sure how satisfactory this would be, or how appetising to new shareholders.

I''ve mentioned before my own concerns about relative lack of visible business and somewhat agree with Paolo as we near the end of Q3. Here's hoping some slower burning deals, as yet unreported/noticed, will reach consummation during the remaining months of the year.

sd

Firenze Ventures plc
Type of Issue: Placing
FIRENZE VENTURES PLC

Firenze Ventures plc ("Firenze" or the "Company") is applying to have its
shares traded on the Ofex market.

LISTING DETAILS

* Sector classification: Speciality and Other Finance
* Principle Activities: Sourcing of reverse acquisitions or investments in
the industrial support services sector
* Corporate Adviser: City Financial Associates Limited

Firenze Ventures plc is a newly incorporated company established by Griffin
Securities, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Griffin, an AIM-traded UK and US based
investment-banking business. The Directors of Griffin and the Company believe
that now is the right time to seek admission to Ofex for a new investment
company that will look to make a reverse acquisition or investments in due
course.

The Directors' investment criteria are that:

* the acquisitions or investment opportunities are in the business of
providing industrial support services;

* the target should be profitable or have significant asset value and should
operate in a sector that has opportunities for consolidation or further
development; and

* the owners of the business should accept a large part of the consideration
for any acquisition in new Ordinary Shares or other securities to be issued by
the Company.

The Directors believe that their broad collective experience in the areas of
mergers and acquisitions, accounting, corporate and financial management in
relation to small and medium sized businesses will assist them in the
identification and evaluation of acquisition opportunities.

Brief details on the directors are set out below:

Stephen Dean, Executive Chairman

Stephen Dean developed interests in the industrial support services, technology
and financial services sectors and is currently director of a number of AIM-
listed companies including Pearl Street Holdings plc, Interbulk Investments
plc, Euro Investments Fund plc and Process Handling plc. He is currently
Chairman of Griffin Securities.

Vincent Nicholls, Director

Vincent Nicholls qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1983. He left KPMG in
1986 to become a partner in Spokes & Company and became a Fellow of the
Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1993. In addition to his continuing
partnership with Spokes & Company, he is currently Finance Director of Griffin
Securities and of a number of AIM-listed investment companies.

PLACING

Conditional on Admission, Seymour Pierce Ellis has agreed to procure placees
for 11,666,667 new Ordinary Shares at a price of 3p per Ordinary Share, to
raise gross proceeds for the Company of GBP350,000. On Admission, the Company
will have 26,666,667 ordinary shares of 0.5p in issue.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Firenze Ventures plc: Vincent Nicholls, tel: 01732 836300

City Financial Associates Limited: James Caithie, tel: 020 7090 7800


Trading in the shares on Ofex is expected by 30 September 2005.

The Directors of Firenze Ventures plc accept responsibility for this
announcement.

Why do I find the cosy relationship between Griffin, DGT and a number of companies they have sponsored slightly distasteful - I don't mean morally, but commercially. Whilst DGT continue to rely upon creating listed shells, rather than going for businesses that want to float in their own right, I feel the scope to mature into a more stable and broader based profitable business will be limited.

Whilst this style may well have been inherited from the original prinicpals of DGT, I am not sure whetehr Tony Rawlinson has yet managed to steer the ship into clear blue water of his own making - maybe that was never the plan.

Any thoughts?

sd

sd

I believe that the more recent admissions had little to do with Griffin Securities, at least that's the way it reads from the admission documents. Hopefully they are slowly steering away from that dependancy. I too am slightly uncomfortable that the cost of Griffin providing the cash for a deal, is invariably a place for Stephen Dean on the board, plus a raft of options warrants and fat salary.

pth

from reading what Firenze intend to aquire, I think that Mr Dean may be looking to get back into MGP ( nee Cater Barnard ). I may not like the idea of `Griffin` involvement with MGP, nor I will add, DGT but it may help their share price in the short term, if he does make some overture towards them.

SD, that's exactly what I meant. I wouldn't want all the hard work of H1 to go to waste. I'd hate to think people may be resting on their laurels when really the job is only half done if this is to be a full-on recovery.

Snakey, by "overture", can I take it you mean buyout?

I've said on another thread something smells here the only people who have been able to buy shares at the mid price has been the Directors,you can sell at 0.48p for the last week or so HOW MANY 7MILL and its still goin on,buy at 0.51-52p nothing less I've tried,OK its either a Management buyout or a takeover,buy now for a 40/50% gain,i have.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a statement like RAF today. Up 100%

snip25 - don't understand what you see is happening

28:6 buys:sells today yet the sp goes down by 5% ??

"Curiouser and curiouser", said Alice.

I am totally perplexed by my entire portfolio this week - good news, seems to inspire MMs to mark the price down.

sd

Sounds like Blunderland to me, Stockdog! :o(

Thanks - always rely upon ones friends for a word of comfort in times of need!

Thanks, SD. It is comforting to know that others shoulder some of my misery in September - makes one realise that one is not alone. :o(

We are not the broker, but at least it relieves the boredom. Be nice if we could get involved with Venue in some way.

Red Leopard Holdings PLC
04 October 2005


RED LEOPARD HOLDINGS PLC

INVESTMENTS


Red Leopard Holdings plc (the 'Company' or 'Red Leopard') is pleased to announce
that it has today agreed to make the following investments:


Convex Conveyancing Limited ('Convex')

Convex was founded in 2003 and is a bulk web based conveyancing platform
offering, with opportunities for creating economies of scale in a fragmented
conveyancing market. Convex has established a sophisticated, customer-facing and
transparent IT platform, and is already acting for mortgage brokers on their
conveyancing needs. In the year to 30 September 2004, it had audited turnover
of 77,000 and loss after tax of 48,000. As at 30 September 2004,
shareholders' funds were 1,445 and net current liabilities were 59,580.

In return for an unsecured loan of 50,000 to be paid out on completion in
accordance with a loan note, Red Leopard will be entitled to the following:

1. a fee of 10,000 per annum payable as soon as Red Leopard is able to procure
a further round of financing for Convex to the tune of at least 250,000;
2. an option for a period of 2 years from today to require the issue to Red
Leopard of 5,260 ordinary 1p shares, which will be approximately equivalent
to 5% of the then current share capital of Convex.

Ultimately it is hoped that Convex can be floated itself at a substantial
self-standing valuation, as the business platform further develops, with the
assistance of Red Leopard.


Venue Solutions Limited ('Venue')

Venue was founded in 2002 and specialises in the provision of venue management
technologies and services. It was initially formed as a venue consultancy firm,
attracting support from Sony. Venue now offers a suite of products and services
to the venue industry, and the directors of Venue believe that this enables
venue mangers to capture and more efficiently use information about their
customers. In the year ended 30 November 2004, it had audited turnover of
18,530 and loss before tax of 325,269. As at 30 November 2004, shareholders'
funds were 274,394 and net current assets were 167,745.

Venue is itself currently planning to seek an AIM listing in the near future.

The Company has agreed to invest the following in shares of Venue:

- it proposes to acquire from an existing shareholder 15,980 ordinary 1p
shares for a subscription of 150,000.

- it will also have the following options for a period of 2 years from
today:

o to acquire a further 8,323 ordinary 1p shares for a further
consideration of 125,000 at the time when Venue (or any holding
company of Venue) is admitted to AIM,

o to acquire a further approximately 4,994 ordinary 1p shares for a
further consideration of 125,000, assuming an underlying
valuation applicable to Venue of 12,000,000.

- In addition, Red Leopard will have the right to subscribe 100,000 in
the pre-IPO fundraising for Venue (or the holding company for Venue),
which is expected to occur in October, and, if Red Leopard does so
subscribe, then Red Leopard shall also have the option for a period of
one year to take up further shares in Venue (or the holding company of
Venue) to the amount of 150,000, on the basis of an assumed valuation
of 8 million for Venue (or the holding company of Venue).

The board of Red Leopard plc is very excited at the prospects for these
investments, which they hope will deliver substantial value to shareholders.


Note:

Clive Russell, Chairman of the Company, has disclosed to the board of Red
Leopard that Ladybridge Investments (a company in which he and his wife are
beneficially interested) has the following interests in Convex and Venue:

1. Depending on volumes of conveyancing transactions achieved by Convex as a
result of introductions facilitated by Mr Russell and others, Ladybridge
Investments will be entitled to take its percentage holding in Convex to
approximately 5% of the then current share capital of Convex. Ladybridge
Investments currently holds 1,733 ordinary 1p shares in Convex representing
approximately 1.65 per cent. of Convex's issued ordinary share capital.
Prior to the percentage holding of Ladybridge Investments ever reaches 5
per cent. of the then current share capital of Convex, a further
announcement will be made containing relevant related party disclosures.

2. Ladybridge Investments currently owns 3,500 shares in Venue, and is
acquiring a further 6,500 shares in Venue from Starlake Limited, the
controlling shareholder in Venue, as consideration for services already
rendered. In total, these shares represent approximately 2.09 per cent. of
the current issued share capital of Venue.

Stephen Thomson has disclosed the following interest in Venue:

He has been asked to join the board of Venue following the current round of
fundraising. He has disclosed that it is his intention to purchase
approximately 20,000 of Venue shares in the current round of fundraising,
which will represent approximately 0.3 per cent. of the issued share
capital of Venue at the time of the fundraising.

It looks as though it's about time for the price to go North again...

Hold on not yet, waiting for funds to clear this week

AAAGGGHHHH.

stockdog
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