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"Shares in Asterand (LON:ATD) soared almost 40 per cent in early deals after the stock market historian David Schwartz drew investors’ attention to the opportunity presented by the tissue science specialist. In his piece published by the Financial Times, Schwartz said Britain’s small caps offered much higher potential returns than some of the blue-chip stocks. He then revealed his favourite type of target was a “beaten-down tiddler that is ripe for a rebound”. According to Schwartz, Asterand is just one of those "tiddlers" - the company has recently revamped its strategy, while keeping a keen eye on the cost base. Both initiatives have gone largely unnoticed by the market. The 2010 results are also expected to show a major improvement in the company’s financial fortunes, according to the Schwartz. The company quietly adjusted its strategy and has reduced its reliance on the pharmaceutical majors, which are cutting their spending on contract research. It is now focusing on government work and targeting the diagnostics market too. Apparently, the strategy is working, which was confirmed by a prestigious contract with America’s National Cancer Institute worth as much as US$24.3 million over five years, which was secured by Asterand in September 2010. A little over a month ago, Proactive Investors noted that former Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) analyst Charles Elliott had taken a stake in Asterand. The news that Elliott’s firm Inflection Point (IP) now had a shareholding of over 4 per cent in Asterand drove the pharmaceutical junior’s shares up 16 per cent. However, even with all these signs pointing to growth, the investment opportunity went largely unnoticed and the potential of the business was hardly reflected in the share price, even after the appreciation that followed IP’s taking a stake in Asterand. Back then, Proactive Investors spoke to Asterand’s chief executive Martyn Coombs in an effort to find out what the market missed about the stock that IP was able to see and capitalise on. “What we found out is there’s a quiet revolution taking place which should eventually prompt investors to re-appraise the valuation they currently ascribe to Asterand – which at less than one times sales is a fairly low one,” said the report. This came to pass today, with a little help from the FT report. At 11.00 am the shares were up 5.1 pence at 22.6 pence and hit a session high of 25.78 pence. In the past three months the stock has risen 88 per cent."
A ramp by the FT lol http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/3e9f6c30-2588-11e0-8258-00144feab49a.html#axzz1BwZtLV7c
Has topped up aswell...
600,000 at 345p. Over £2m!
Hi mate, Doing well mate. Hope you had a good Christmas. You still in Lloyds? I sold my Lloyds shares and waiting for a pull back before getting back in. As for ATD, another steady rise today and I believe they will release a trading statement within 2 weeks (they released one about the same time last year, 14th January). I'm gradually reducing my open positions as I expect a retrace in the indices, but this and NOP I'm leaving... ATB
Did you get in?
This was tipped on t1ps.com....
The Naked Trader has a short on these as well...
Wasn't in this, but check out this http://sharecrazy.com/beta/daily/4224/andrew-knight-henderson-morley-a-disgraceful-tale
287 to buy...
It's 3 cents per share according to their statement
Kentz awarded US$30m fast track project in Madagascar London, 05 August 2010 - Kentz Corporation Limited (LSE: KENZ), the holding company of the Kentz Engineering and Construction Group, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a US$30 million contract by SNC-Lavalin on the Ambatovy Project in Madagascar. Ambatovy is a long-life lateritic nickel project set to be amongst the largest in the world with an annual design capacity of 60,000 tonnes. Kentz's scope of work includes the electrical and instrumentation installation for the entire metals refinery area, and the piping fabrication and mechanical installation for part of the refinery area. The Ambatovy project is a joint-venture partnership among the project operator, Sherritt International Corporation, which owns 40%, Sumitomo Corporation and Korea Resources Corporation, which each have a 27.5% interest, and the project's engineering contractor, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., with an interest of 5%. The Kentz team have mobilised on site. The contract is due to be completed by the end of 2010. Dr Hugh O'Donnell, the chief executive of Kentz commented: "SNC-Lavalin is one of the world's leading engineering companies and we are delighted to be working with them on the Ambatovy metals refinery. Kentz has executed a number of contracts in Madagascar and has a strong track record of developing the skills of the local workforce. We look forward to completing another successful project in the region."
Share sub-division Subject to approval at today's AGM the proposed 5:1 sub-division of the share capital of the company, announced in the Group's preliminary results, will take effect from Monday 2 August. The sub-division will increase the number of shares in issue from 65,752,458 to 328,762,290.
Engineering giant Balfour Beatty has said it is in "advanced talks" to make a "significant" purchase which it says would be funded by a rights issue. Balfour did not give any indication of who its target was, or how much it was looking to raise. Newspaper reports have suggested that the firm may go to shareholders for as much as £350m. Balfour is working on major projects including widening the M25 and building the London Olympics Aquatic Centre. It said that there was no guarantee that either the acquisition or the rights issue would go ahead, saying a further announcement would be made "as and when appropriate".
despite a big buy this morning. Could be a good opportunity to top up...
Kentz wins Qatar Petroleum contract London, Friday 4 September 2009 - Kentz Corporation Limited (LSE: KENZ), the holding company of the Kentz engineering and construction group, through its operating unit Qatar Kentz WLL is pleased to announce that it has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract worth in excess of US$15 million by Qatar Petroleum (QP).
yeah. They usually have a stronger H2 aswell.
could be due to it going ex-dvi today
due tommorow. Should be good news. SP rising based on low volume. Something is up....
over £1m worth. Future is bright with this one...