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Of a bidding war scenario for EKF. Ron Zwanziger can see big profits ahead for EKF and has deep pockets to buy control; instos want rapid payback - that's probably why they've put Chris Mills in place [lots of skin in the game at c20%] - Abbott will be watching like a hawk should anyone step in and bid and the Chinese will most certainly want to rebid for their own piece of EKF. Could be a very interesting weekend as it looks like leaky walls may be lifting the price in anticipation. There is little doubt that there is considerable embedded value in a self-contained in-house manufacturing PoC business with multiple offerings.

Now 12.3 to sell quantity - nice price rise indicates action at the coalface. Could an opening salvo be being prepared for EKF?? Either that or we are entering the blue zone on upbeat prospects. Looks like the Brits are now firmly in control.

Point of Care diagnostics is being led by huge consumer demand throughout the world. EKF is slap bang in the middle of that space and must be hitting profitability having divested Molecular. Underlying NAV will be £40m with the expected £60m write-down in the imminent results. That leaves loads of upside from here for a £30m t/o £4m ptp clean business.

EKF PoC is in play. Not before time it is rising to reflect just what the underlying PoC value is. If this triggers a bidding war it could get really interesting. Clean PoC cash-generative companies are the must-haves of bigger players.

I would much prefer EKF to retain its independence. It is now a clean back-to-basics, profitable Point of Care business unencumbered by the cash-consuming Molecular division. Importantly, it has still retained a 'no-risk' exposure to any positive developments in its divested Molecular arm. The clean PoC business with consumables margins now over 50% is a very valuable asset in a fast-growing area of healthcare. The fact that it attracted three bids in excess of £80m less than a year ago is testament to the fact. Now that the cash-hungry Molecular arm has gone EKF must be attracting a lot of attention from bigger players around the world wanting PoC exposure. Abbott must be watching very closely indeed as any renewed interest would spark a counter-bid from the previous parties. The IP is valuable, barriers to entry are quite high and consolidation is the path to retaining big-player market share - EKF has unlocked intrinsic value well in excess of its current MCap and the instos are well aware. If Zwanziger has turned it round and cash is now flowing this could easily begin a bidding war. Time will tell.

Could have been trigger for Chris Mills to come in as Chairman with bidder sitting in wings. Time will tell as this is a valuable business in a growing PoC arena where consolidation is driving developments.

The current clean EKF Point of Care business has a value of around £40m with prospective revenue [excluding any additional tenders or contracts] of around £30m and ptp £3-4m. It also has benefit exposure to any development in Selah with no risk. As such, I would venture that it is a valuable business to any purchaser, not least Abbott Labs who bought Alere........then there are the Chinese who expressed interest last year at a higher purchase level.

makes me think that Chris Mills/Oryx/Harwood have already lined up a buyer following last years £80m attempt to buy clean PoC business. Assuming this was reliant on positive cash generation in the due results that could explain todays RNS.

To be a proactive institutional move to realise embedded value in the clean PoC business valued last year at c£80m by interested parties. The underlying business now has consumables margins over 50% from focused production in Wales and Germany so it's poised for growth with hands-on management either alone or asimmilated. With a current MCap of only £44m and retained interests [with no exposure] in Selah, could be interesting.

Chris Mills and other instos wanted to precipitate the intrinsic value in EKF last year and were dismayed that the £80m plus offers for the PoC business alone fell through. Impatience appears to have concentrated the instos to elect Chris to expedite value here as they are all in over 20p. makes you wonder if Chris/Harwood/Oryx have independently tested the water for PoC sale? Time will tell as the underlying business is worth around £40m NAV with forecast basic annual sales of £30m and profit £4m?

Christopher Mills in as non-exec Chairman - Instos make their move to realise inherent value in EKF PoC??? Christopher is Chief Executive and the sole shareholder of Harwood Capital Management Limited and founder of JO Hambro. He is a fund manager of Oryx International Growth Fund Limited and North Atlantic Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC and has been and continues to serve as a director of many public and private companies. http://www.investegate.co.uk/ekf-diagnostics-hldg--ekf-/rns/directorate-change/201604080700075697U/

The share rises and tries to pick up the momentum it really deserves, the mystery seller drops in a sell (HH still?). We really do need to get rid of Allenby as Nomad and get a really proactive supporting team who actively engages with II's to match a determined seller with a hungry growth fund. That is the way forward. It must be so frustrating for the BoD also as they are working hard, getting results, growing the business and seeing no MCap progress. When it comes to Nomad it's the Wimbledon stance - new balls please.

I cannot see why AAH owners Celesio are not firing an opening bid of £1.00 a share here! I think they'de happily pay £1.25 to get their hands on Quantum. EVERYTHING fits like a glove into what Celesio have and becomes earnings enhancing from day one with excellent prospects built into QP pipeline. Manufacturing facilities in Greece supplying Euro countries especially Germany [where Celesion AG parent is based]. If this doesn't happen I will be amazed; the directors must surely know that this would be a no-brainer for Celesio - and they are now in the closed period. I reckon the clock of independence here is ticking hence I am loading up.

Long overdue for this upturn to match prospects.

Up 8.7% now. I suspect we have bigger buyers in the wings.....

I was going to attend but had to proxy-vote due to delay in getting holdings paperwork sent out. I am not at all surprised that the share price is rising due to the reasons I've given previously. Existing holders like HH wanting to use tax loss have gone with the old tax year - the incentive plan is the ONLY way I can see that directors can get exposure during the closed period - noticeably, Bob Morton is not participating in the incentive scheme so I think he's probably re-scheduling loan debt to help progress. All in all, looking a lot brighter for this year as we pass the three-months-in mark.

Excellent news - directors incentivised to get share above 13p - no payment unless they jump this 'hurdle' and then only proportional to increase over-and-above-it. Considering revenue will have jumped 40 fold over the last five years this year really is the year where Porta should come of age, MCap of only £16.4m and revenue 2015 around £30m gives loads of room for upside. Details of the traction being gained since the start of the current financial year from Jan 1st should show the transformation underway.

It would be a very astute move if AAH parent company Celesio AG bid for Quantum. It is an absolutely ideal fit in the UK and Germany (Europe) and an absolute steal at twice the current price with its Colonis earnings stream exposure.

Falanx appears to be exploiting the wave effect in its cyber business. Everyone is waiting for the 'big' disclosable contracts which are taking due-diligence and test time. They will come soon as they were undergoing validation reading into interims. A series of small, front-loaded contracts seems to be having the desired effect of pushing back any funding to breakeven in August(?) or signing off several pivotal contracts. Once this happens, we have the visibility of earnings combined with cash injection input. That is when the true value of FLX technology will be appreciated and the shareprice will raise the MCap to a representative value of the underlying business IMO. Not out of the woods by any means yet FK but well on the way.

Over the last four years revenue has gone £0.78m, £8.38m, £9.28m, £23.27m with 2015 looking to £30m plus and increasing way above peers. Everything is coming together this year - no wonder directors are happy with an incentive scheme that only kicks in when shares hit 13p. That is easily achievable with current MCap only £16.4m.