Member Info for horace678

I'm still here - nicely up !

Ashcroft's next move will be (in my opinion) a merger with Dods using one of his 2 shells (Shellshock or Shellproof) taking him up to 40% in Dods (from 23%). Ashcroft has been talking about making a move into the media and he is already in politics, so Dods fits like a glove. As for Restore, he will build it up and could potentially merge with Impellam - a neat fit considering that he (or his family) owns 57% in both. Of course, patience is key.

Ashcroft has been talking about branching out into the media and Dods fits the bill. As observed below, the appt of Andrew Wilson to the board is a step in the right direction.

I think Ashcroft will put in a bid for Dods fairly soon

Still making a proft http://www.bcbholdings.com/assets/pdf/press-releases/2009/19112010_bcb_2qpressrelease.pdf

IPEL gets a mention: http://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/fundsNews/idUKLNE6A101L20101102

The market cap of the company is now roughly equal to the assets of the company (£92m). Of course, a company has to be worth more than just its assets, i.e. a company is more than just the nuts and bolts that constitute it. I think IPEL could still double in value in the long run.

195p-210p as of writing...

Yes, notice also how after the placing of new RST shares, Ashcroft (or his family) will own 57.74% of RST and 57.21% of IPEL. This adds fuel to my long-held theory that at some point in the future Ashcroft could bolt the two companies together.

i agree - if you look at the intrinsic value of the company, it is a still a good buy (rather than a goodbye!) - i predict a final value of about £3.50

Very nice indeed...

I remember when Corporate Services Group was as much as 120p (when Ashcroft had an abortive attempt at a takeover in around 1999). The shares then went down to about 10p and stayed there for a while before dropping to less than 2p, when Ashcroft picked them up on the basis of roughly 50 CSG shares = 1 IPEL share. I think I bought a load of CSG when they were 9p. To get that value back in IPEL I would need the IPEL shares to be about £4.50. The shares still look like good value, however. We also have to remember that Ashcroft had 20+% which he bought at a higher price than the present price, and he of anyone would want to see a return on his money...

Yes, for you it is a matter of making a load of money, whereas for me it is recouping the money I "lost" when the share went all the way down - I had shares in both Carlisle Group and Corporate Services Group which merged to form Impellam - I think Carlisle went up as high as 190p at one point (1 Carlisle share = 1 Impelam share). Corporate Services Group meanwhile was also much much higher historically. There might be a little profit-taking with IPEL, but the recommendation with these shares is still *HOLD*. Also, if IPEL can rise effortlessly during a recession, then so can BCB.

Yes, you were lucky to buy at 28p as the shares were then rock bottom.

Up again nicely - BTW, I have been following Ashcroft for about 12 years and my father followed him (and knew him!) from 1979 onwards - I have the long view!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00vcch5/Panorama_Lord_Ashcrofts_Millions/

Interesting programme - it's no surprise with all this bad press that the share price is so low, but that's all the more reason to buy the share in my opinion...

Damn, I missed it - still I can watch it on BBC iPlayer, thanks for that...

Ashcroft has launched 4 such shells previously, since 2005 - Seashell, Seashell II, Bombshell and Cockleshell - the latter was mentioned in the Swen Lorenz article. Two of them doubled in value, one trebled and the other quadrupled...Also, by retiring from the deputy Chairmanship of the Tory party, Ashcroft has indicated that he's got more time for business. I think something will happen with the shells fairly soon...

http://www.shellshocklimited.com http://www.shellproofimited.com And this is the outfit that manages the shells: http://www.annestreetpartners.com