If you’d invested in: MaySale and Atlas Mara

MySale Group (Aim: MYSL) is an online retailer operating mainly in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. Its investors include Philip Green and Mike Ashley, and the firm has entered into a partnership with Sports Direct, which is controlled by Ashley. Gross profit for the year ending June 2016 rose by 21% to A$66.6m, reduced to a loss after tax of A$ 0.2m due to "a number of exceptional and non-cash items". The share price has risen by more than 100% in the last year.

Be glad you didn't

Atlas Mara (Aim: ATMA) is a financial services company founded by former Barclays boss Bob Diamond and entrepreneur Ashish Thakkar. The company's stated aim is "to create sub-Saharan Africa's premier financial institution", having acquired banks in seven African countries, from Nigeria to Rwanda. Things haven't been going so well, but Diamond is optimistic, claiming he is playing a "long game". The share price has tumbled, however, down by almost 60% in the last year, and over 80% since it floated in 2013.

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