had this on my watchlist for a bit and decided it was time to buy today. recently in shares mag and it does seem to be a share for today's times.

apn website

latest results

latest news

Like Bosley, I sold my shares in APN earlier this year but I think now could be a good time to turn the cameras on it again and get rolling. I'm hoping that it's bottomed out and that some of those contracts that had been delayed might be signed before the of this year.

From the RNS of 27Sept, which was a pre-close statement for the year ended 30Sept:

"Significant progress was made during the year in product and market development, and the company maintains a strong pipeline of new business prospects. However, the timing of the receipt of a number of substantial orders, which were expected to be won in the second half of the year, has slipped... These potential orders remain live and there are a number of significant orders that the Company believes it is close to receiving, which will have a major impact on the figures going forward."

I'm confident they'll be signing new contracts and have bought some shares again this morning.

This business is forever saying they've "done this", or that.
- Yet after a small sp-spike, it soon flops back......deals are easy to get, if the price is right - yet we understand Execs believe the technology is somehow more valuable than other software....yet there is a effect that says.....buy the one that's good enough - - - and that means cheaper, IMHO.
If they don't get decent revenue-producing incomes, then they will be running short of cash....and "now" is not the time to be needing cash. Over the last 12-months it's been much the same as earlier times . . . . down!

I've looked up what I did with this: bought it again on 12Oct (when I posted the above) at 5.75p and sold 16Nov at 6.75p - it had been higher than that in the meantime.

Like all these minnows, you have to keep a lookout - and I'm finding it pays to take profits when I can.

Doesn't sound as though you think there is a viable business here, Toya. - For if that was the case, you'd hold in the belief the sp would rise with commercial success.
I got out of this nearly 50% up (on today's sp) and I read their TD is leaving...well Bye.
This has been a great disapointment as they attempt to build an international business - but I suspect their business model is wrong - Indeed being the supplier of software was never the Route to Loot - sinice it is the people holding the infrastructure that have the power, IMHO.
That aside, are you Trading to make money on the Market twists, following each "contract RNS"? . . . I guess that's yr method. Personally I like to hold stocks that will rise year-on-year . . . . but that is very difficult with the Market littered with poor businesses like this.

Hangon: some shares I continue to hold, but others I sell if I think the price is going to drop and remain depressed for some time. I see no point in holding on for months at a loss when I could sell at a profit!

It sounds as though you've done all right out of this, in any case: well done!

RNS today:
Appian Technology plc ('Appian' or the 'Company')

Placing raises 1.5 million

Appian Technology plc, the AIM quoted provider of Automatic Number Plate
Recognition ('ANPR') and traffic management products and solutions, is pleased
to announce that it has conditionally raised approximately 1.5 million through
the placing of 36,913,700 new ordinary shares of 1p each (the 'Placing Shares')
at 4p per share (the 'Placing Price') with existing and new institutional
investors, as well as certain directors of the Company (the 'Placing'). The net
proceeds of the Placing will be used for general working capital purposes.

Appian Chairman Pat Ryan said, 'The Company's pipeline of business is at an all
time high. We believe that this fundraising places the Company on a firm
financial footing and should see the Company through to profitability. Appian is
now a recognised international brand in ANPR and traffic management. Our ANPR
engine is a leading edge technology, which has been installed and trialled
successfully in numerous countries and been customised for many international
markets.

Full details at:
RNS re Appian Fundraising

No Toya, it would have been nice to profit from this shower, but I lost about 25% of my investment from 2001 ( always tempting not to call it a day earlier!).

Now with this funding I suspect there is Dilution....when I sold I could see the lack of progress...each ann raises the market ( via MM's)....then it drifts back.
If I'd sold "now" I'd have lost over 50% - hardly encouragement!

I'm not convinced, even at this price, there is a viable proposition that can do anything that someone else couldn't do just as well.

+ Furthermore I'm not convinced ANPR isn't a means to tax citizens - having nothing (other than Spin) to do with criminals, or terrorists. Don't criminals use false-plates? The whole point is to appear genuine - either that, or hire a van for a few days . . . ANPR is not going to tell what "intention" is contained in the vehicle. Similarly with terrorists......would you expect they know how to spoof the system...thereby sending crack teams to the wrong location? . . . .I don't think APNR is anything more than a useful tool for car-parks, although Ken seems to use it, but I suspect Appian doesn't get a look-in.

So, do you feel the current sp is a good entry-point? Or are you a holder from 8p-ish, where it's been for rather too long, until recently.

Hangon: I sold this some time ago (at a profit). It's one of these rather illiquid stocks that I keep my eye on from time to time, and read their RNSs to see whether things might pick up in the future, based on what contracts may or may not be in discussion.

It looks as though there is some positive movement now so have bought some this morning (at 5p), having read through their past announcements.

I find that IFNC, for example, behaves similarly.

down 8% today on no-news ( Volume?) -
Toya I guess you are a "trader" in these bouncy stocks, - something I've not been able to do as I tend to get suckered-in and then it's tears all the way.

Indeed I suspect my best choices are largeer (Mid-)Caps that have fallen out of grace and then recover over the next two years. Sadly these are very few, for once wounded even these succumb to a cheeky Buy-out, Takeover etc.

I just don't believe the APN story - that they can make good money on some software. The principle of character recognition is open for anyone to find a "better way" and some bright spark ( aided by new technology, perhaps), is bound to do it better that APN given time. APN also has little "pricing power" it seems so things like the Congestion Charge profits rest with Capita (the Back-office) and not the crucial software in the camera.
I think the sp is currently abt 3p - roughly half when I got out at a loss. At least you made a profit the first time - but "getting out" was really the best thing, I suspect.

Hi Hangon - I certainly did get out again, and quite quickly but can't now remember when.

I am turning much more into a "trader" now as I find it's easier to keep up with profits/losses - just don't like staring at a red screen! I'm currently holding on to VIY because I feel sure they will succeed; QTI and PXS in very small numbers only - again, because I reckon they'll pull through eventually; and XTA until the likely bid either materialises or vanishes. The rest of the time, though, I do trade in and out almost on a daily basis on a selection of stocks, keeping an eye on the charts and on Level 2. Although I don't always get it right, I am actually making some money rather than seeing it turn into a Red Sea.

APN = 3/3.5p = down again "on results" - it seems they have continued their progress downwards - oh dear. Glad I'm out (c. 8p), - but can't resist looking at past losers.