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"Online shopping firm Very Group was reported on Friday to have made a recent bid to acquire

N Brown Group Plc, the owner of fashion brands Simply Be and Jacamo, at a price lower than the 40p-per-share offer proposed by Joshua Alliance.

According to Sky News, its sources suggested that the offer from Very Group - chaired by former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi - was made in the weeks leading up to N Brown's decision to recommend the Alliance bid, which would take the company private in a deal valued at £191m. That announcement earlier this week led to a notable rise in N Brown's share price. Although Very Group had expressed interest in N Brown for some time, Sky said there was no indication that it would return with a higher offer."

Just received a call back from Barclays. FWIW, this is how it works with that them.

I'm told that whatever option I choose, I must do so by close today. If I do nothing, the default option of a mix of shares and cash will apply. Today will be the last day of trading in I3E shares on the Barclays platform.

Yes, the market's verdict on their "strategic plans to realise shareholder value" appears to be a big fat BOO. Even the CEO's exit isn't helping much.

Left to the mercy of "strategic plans" cooked up by Kamani and/or Ashley? How is any small shareholder supposed to feel?

But the bottom line is, sales contraction still continues. If they can't get sales growing again then nothing "strategic" will make much difference in terms of "realising shareholder value".

"If you opted for any option and deadline was today then you cannot sell your holding until record day". Thank you mariog, that's what I wanted to know.

And as the record deadline is 6pm on Weds 30/11 and the shares suspended 7.30am on Thurs 31/10, it means that if I opt for any option today, I've committed myself and therefore can't subsequently trade the shares. Thus, if i do nothing today (i.e. take the default option), I'll be able to trade my I3E shares next week but if I pick an option like all-cash or all-shares today then I'm stuck.

"The time is now right to consider options with regard to corporate structure, with the aim of maximising shareholder value." What on earth does that mean? Take it private? Break it up and sell it cheap? Just the usual waffle from our esteemed exec chair.

Another thing. How can they start checking and collating the responses from 18/10/24 if you can continue buying and selling shares well after that date? Makes no sense. I can give an instruction but if I subsequently sell my shares, they're going to have to start again and recalculate. Unless electing for an option today somehow precludes me from then selling them (or buying more).

Indeed. And what are you going to do Corry, default option, or all-cash, or just selling out?

Thanks Corry, I just read the RNS myself. Weds 30th October. But my Barclays platform wants me to elect for one or other of the mix & match options by close tomorrow, 18th October. Why can't I make a decision closer to the time if the shares are 'live' and trading right up until the 30th?

Gents, if this is the last day to elect for whichever option you want in the 'Mix & Match', does that also mean this is the last day of trading for i3E shares? Thanks.

The second RNS states a further reduction from 8.55% to 7.69% on 9/10/24.

Hi SB, thanks I hadn't realised Harwood had participated in the fundraise. The first of the 2 RNSs released today say they trimmed from 9.19% to 8.55%. Ah, but that was on 17/7/24, so a very late release! The second RNS states a further reduction from 8.55% to 9.69% on 9/10/24.

In just 2 weeks, we're already significantly below the 9p placing price. Tbh, SB, I'm surprised Harwood subscribed to the placing. What are they doing selling for 8p and buying at 9p anyway? Not for the first time, I'm lost with this share and with Harwood antics.

According to the beeb. That's one way to deal with problematic customers.

Incredible. But I guess we're all used to it now. Share price has given up all of yesterday's gains. We're back to square one. As if yesterday's positive interims hadn't happened. Such a confused and febrile market.

Unmentioned here is the main reason for today's RNS, which was to announce a delay in medicare coverage determination - pushed out to FY25 - hence the 15% drop in sp this morning. It's good they still have some cash from the last placing 'cos they're gonna need it one suspects. Only going one way this share, look at the chart! Should've bailed last week, but have done so now.

Here are the results of my investments in biotechs over the past 2-3 years. Start with the Harwood stable.

Trellus Health. Bailed 2 weeks ago. Overall completed position including past trading on the share: 50% loss (sp down another 25% since I sold).

Verici Dx. Bailed today. Overall completed position including past trading on the share: break-even (past profits wiped out by this sale).

Renalytix. Still involved. Overall current position including past trading on the share: 55% loss (had I not done some jammy trading when the sp spiked up earlier in the year, the overall current loss would be 92%!)

Turning to the non-Harwood biotechs.

Polarean Imaging. Still involved. Overall current position including past trading on the share: 80% loss.

Destiny Pharma: Not involved. Overall completed position including past trading on the share: 115% profit (pure fluke on my part, company delisted and went into admin soon after).

Moral of the story? Investing in these is like having a flutter, no more no less. Unless you have a science phd or substantial industry experience, you are gambling not investing. The only profit I made was a fluke. Didn't really know what I was doing let alone what was going on inside the company. I've had some fun along the way I suppose, but has the experience been worth the time and effort (and money)? I'll leave that one unanswered lol.

Even the pied piper himself, Mr C.Mills, has had enough.

End game?

Didn't see this coming that the share price would halve in 5 months.

Another asset manager (Liontrust) reports today on continued outflows relating to their UK strategies, accelerating in September.

The pain continues. You've got to believe negative sentiment towards the UK will finally turn once the budget's out of the way and a sensible and viable course is set for the country for the next 5 years. Hopefully...

"I think more is being made of the potential IHT changes than is merited. I seriously doubt that most long term investors are in the AIM market for the potential IHT benefits."

Maybe, but in the past month I've seen plenty of the larger (therefore where there may be IHT issues) AIM companies getting pasted. Also going on is some forward selling to realise gains on any share or asset in advance of mooted changes to CGT rates. Quite a number of commentators have mentioned both of these factors and I've seen the effects, so I think they are issues. Anyway, I'm hoping (and believing) there's no truth to the rumour regarding AIM and IHT, though upping CGT is likely. Personally I'm preparing to move on a number of shares, mostly AIM 100 shares, if there's nothing to worry about after 30th October and their prices remain depressed.

I understand there's a wall of worry out there, esp relating to AIM 100 shares until we know what the Chancellor might do at the end of the month, but does that justify a 40% drop y.t.d. on v little news? 151p is a joke to me!

But it is a shame that this share never seems to catch an even break.

A day of hope..... crushed!

Investing isn't about ramping and de-ramping 01234, trust me it really isn't. You should get out of that mindset. I'm bored with this conversation so i'll let you have the last word. Hope yr VRCI investment multi-bags.