Sorry that you took a hit here, Becky, but since the PPS has never gone to the 4-decimal point range, '0', nor SPRL lapsed into shell status let's hope that "..ALL.." was more author's license than fact. I certainly would have preferred to see you make a buck, or at least leave even.
There are numerous Caveates posted on SI: Message 22803955 And, there are explicit cautions, warnings, descriptions of stock disasters, scam operations, etc., posted on most all the Chat Boards, OTCBB.com, Pinksheets.com, and dozens of other sources.
SPRL has certainly become an enigma time-wise, and there are those who will always find favor or fault with a pick or an opinion depending on some date in the past or the direction of the prevailing wind. The share structure of the company has remained stabile, however, with no major dilution that I'm aware of. There is no hint of impending failure of the company, either. Progress has just been slower than molasses in January.
If you go back to the beginning; the Strat R/M into the old failed F2 shell as 'SPRU' did the usual pop and dribble routine as the PR-slinging, deal-making, 'gimme-share' holders bailed and presumably some Canadian and/or MMM shorting also helped take it down. That mostly happened before anyone really knew what Strat was all about and what they are trying to accomplish in Russia.
Those who collected SPRU at the lows (0.0025 range) were all aware of the 13:1 R/S and symbol change that was coming, as it was PR'd in advance by management. That was a real switch in the Pinkie game, practically unheard of elsewhere. SPRU did not tank further prior to the R/S - as would have been typical - and then it converted at slightly above equal value to 0.03 as 'SPRL'.
Subsequently, it tracked up to 0.35+ in reasonably short time. As you can imagine, everyone was ecstatic..!!! It stayed in the 0.15 to 0.30+ range for a long time, obviously being day-traded and 'worked' like crazy once it became a known quantity. Since then, it has gradually tracked down on spotty progress in Russia - which has to be a business nightmare considering world events and the Russian O&G fiddlings.
The company had a couple of leftover 'F2 worms' in the woodwork, who I recall got caught playing trading games with broker-dealers and PRs; Sam Hyams subsequently crap-canned them. Not an unusual situation for the Pinks, or to anyone who should be reasonably aware of the risks of these Casino Money non-reporters.
There have been lots of up and downs for collecting and selling if you're an occasional or day-trader, and lots of delays in the expected progress as promised by management. Pretty typical, really. Most of the old longs hold 'free-shares' and some recent 'cheapies'.
It would appear that now is the time for Sam Hyams, et al, to capitalize on the information and contracts released in recent the PRs. If they do, that will be great. If they don't, then it will be time to get out. I don't see the potential for an Enron-grade meltdown here, regardless. If one decides they need to get out, the downside should be minimal and hopefully involve mostly free-shares.
It is entertaining to see how some posters, who may have gotten lucky and dumped at a high - then turn basher, find fault with those who were enthusiastic about 1100% gains or some level of profit taking in the middle. Concurrently, they conveniently forget about 'free shares' and collecting on dips then selling some on pops to increase one's 'free share' count. Preferring the 'Drive By Media' approach they sputter libel relating to people being 'paid' and bend the statistics of a .35 to 0.005 decline over several years to being an "..overnight Enron-grade meltdown..". A question as to why these Guru's aren't a daily consultant on 'Cramer's Stock' show comes to mind..!?!
Issues like HXSI, WEGY and ADVR seem to hold a lot more promise for quicker gains these days, and they are all "..in country..". Foreign efforts, like SPRL are highly speculative. That mining scam in the South Pacific comes to mind where geologists were inadvertently 'falling' out of helicopters.....
And, just because one experienced a loss (..paper or otherwise..) on the way down, doesn't mean you can't easily make up the difference in the other direction. The complainers never seem to mention or stick around during those scenarios. Nor, do they ever tell you have much they made on the way up the first time - or where their 'red flag / get out' information so timely came came from. Sheer brilliance, no doubt..... :-)
Pinks and pennies are a tough game. And since 9-11, the ongoing war, and the fuel situation has affected all the markets rather substantially, the Fun Times have subsided. I've learned to be a little less enthusiastic - since the 'Mickey D' drive-up whiners (..and next year know-it-alls..) who just loved the Green days clearly can't deal with the Red days.
Poor old LFZA (..Laforza armored SUVs..) that went to 0.000? and shelled-out after failing came back as USSE charging all the way to 0.40+. Holding oldies and bottom feeding can be fun, if done carefully.
Good luck in the future, with whatever you pick... atm_profit is doing very well with his Puts and Calls, it seems.
John :-)
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