Stanley Gibbons and Noble hope to get deal licked

Aim-listed Stanley Gibbons is hoping to add rare coin and stamp dealer and auctioneer Noble Investments to its collection to create a global collectibles specialist that would be worth more than 120m pounds.The pair are in talks which could lead to Stanley Gibbons making a takeover offer pitched at 255p a share, which would value Noble at £42m. An offer if made at this level would consist of 192.5p cash and 62.5p in new Stanley Gibbons Shares. Noble, which also trades commemorative medals, banknotes, autographs and rare manuscripts, has indicated it is likely to recommend such an offer if it were made and both parties are clearly keen to get a deal licked.A statement issued to the stock market said: "The boards of Stanley Gibbons and Noble both believe that the combination of the two businesses has considerable strategic and financial logic and will make further announcements as appropriate in due course."Stanley Gibbons would need to carry out an underwritten share placing to raise £37m to fund the deal, the statement said.The stamp specialist has until 17:00 on October 10th to make a firm offer or walk away. But some investors seemed to be unconvinced by the merits of a deal. Shares in Stanley Gibbons were down 1.4% at 307p at 12:38 on Thursday while Noble shares were 4.2% lower at 240.5p. TB