Member Info for FastJezza

Yes, don't disagree with you regarding Oberthur's desire to have dealings, and it may yet happen. I think the downside is the fact that the De La Rue board are obviously very reluctant to talk to potential owners (they didn't even tell the market, never mind shareholders, about the initial bid for weeks afterwards). And not every takeover bid succeeds, by any means. If it happens, holders will be winners. I just feel we may have a way to go before the next significant move.

I sold my holding shortly after the initial news of the bid was released (late) by the company, and I suspect I may have done the right thing this time. It looks a little unlikely that Oberthur have the means to offer over £10.00 a share and so force the board to talk seriously. Always possible another suitor will come along, but for the moment I feel it's more likely than not that the share will coast along at these levels for a while. The other issue, of course, is the Indian contract, which is worth about 25% of the company's revenue. If that goes down, so will the share. But if the Indian authorities renew the contract it would presumably help, although in so doing they may well negotiate better terms for them, and worse for DLAR. I think taking profits if you bought before the bid news is probably the right thing for me and buying now is a gamble on future events.....

... looking less likely now Oberthur have said they's need to raise money for a larger pitch.

Good rises yesterday & today following Merrill Lynch suggestions that the potential loss of a key customer is already reflected in the recently reduced share price, plus a bit of takeover speculation to add value too. Perhaps this will do better than some people thought - here's hoping.

Directors are not allowed to buy or sell shares in their company for two months before the announcement of results (the 'closed period')

I think the main news is already out there - the company's systems were not robust enough to prevent some less than splendid behaviour, but nothing dodgy ever came close to entering circulation. Hoping & expecting that the future is still pretty positive, and I own the shares because I think they're a medium term riser.

I also think/hope these are at their floor and have stuck some in my ISA. Should respond positively to news in due course - the Moneyweek article stuck in my mind after I'd read it, and I came back for another look. Especially like the point regarding the high cost of entry into this industry, and De La Rue are very well established.

Hi mystic - I've been watching this one for a year now, all the way down from 575 and more - hope you're right. The company's got cash, which is why I think it's an excellent recovery play - but when the recovery will really start to kick in and generate business (aside from the probable one-off Icelandic ash thing) I cannot say.....

I'm interested in this company, but any investment now is a pure punt on recovery in the medium to long term. The rights issue is diluting the value of the older shares considerably, and any upturn in the company's fortunes will only become visible after a year or more. If the world starts advertising again, in due course the firm's products will generate revenue - and the shares at their current level could go well. But I don't think the shares are going to be in much of a trading range any time soon - flat, and waiting-to-see is what we're looking at from now until the picture's clearer some time in the fairly distant future. Day traders stay away........