If you’d invested in: PCI-PAL and 365Agile Group

If only...

PCI-PAL (Aim: PCIP) develops software that allows call centres to process credit and debit-card payments securely. Its most recent results showed a 27% rise in turnover in the year to 30 June, with a profit of just over £21,000, compared with a loss of £258,000 in the previous year.

It recently sold two related call-centre divisions to concentrate on its payments business. Since then shares have shot up, and have risen by more than 170% in the last year.

Be glad you didn't

In August 2015, investment firm Iafyds plc completed a reverse takeover of 365 Agile Limited, renaming itself 365Agile Group (Aim: 365). 365 Agile creates apps that let staff access back office systems remotely, with a subsidiary, Wireless Things, developing software for the "internet of things". The management concluded the original business model required improvements, which included the CEO's departure, closure of the Wireless Things subsidiary, and a near-90% slump in the share price.

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