NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THIS LITTLE RASCAL-WHATS HAPPENING-ANY NEWS ABOUT MERGER-THERE IS RUMOURS THAT IT COULD VALUED AS MUCH AS 10P A SHARE-IS IT TRUE??IF ANY ONE KNOWS ANYTHING PLEASE REPLY-I COULDN'T BELEIVE THAT PEOPLE STOPPED WRITING ABOUT THIS SINCE THE MERGER ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE-BUT PLENTY OF SUGGESTIONS AND POSITIVE NOTES BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT-IS IT GOING BUST???????

I bought these shares about 3 months ago on broker recommendation. I phoned my broker today and mentioned that RBS had recently sold 6 million shares in IAL.
My broker still recommends holding the shares.

Geoffrey,
Would be interested to know who the broker was and what are his reasons to recommend holding the shares.
I bought 100k shares @3p some 6 months ago from Hoodless. However, I bought these on the back of Shares mag buy rec. on recovery play. Hoodless also say hold on to shares.
Sometimes it's better if mergers don't come off as then company's can focus on getting things back on track, more quickly with more motivation... we'll see...In the meantime. it's like watching paint dry waiting to find out how it's going to turn out.-- painful!

It was Hoodless who advised to hold. They said, "it doesn't always mean there is something wrong when banks sell shares in the company".

I think we may see the shares rise if the next set of results show an improvement.

yo`ure right skyhigh, holding this stock is very painful, i think they are announcing some results in april if i recall so we should know a little more then about where the company is heading......

The below communication just released by BBB may be relevant ?

It looks like a re-org just before they merge with IAL. did he walk or was he pushed ? perhaps they are already rationalising and making room for the snr IAL guys. either way, we should get some news in the next week or two !



Berkeley Berry Birch PLC
03 March 2004



For Immediate Release

Berkeley Berry Birch plc Announces Board Changes

London, 3 March 2004: Berkeley Berry Birch plc, the financial services
distribution group, announces the appointment of Clifford P. Lockyer as Group
Chief Executive. This will be in addition to his current responsibilities as
Group Executive Chairman.

Craig Butcher will now remain as Finance Director with broader commercial
responsibilities.

Stephen Ingledew, the Company's current Group Chief Executive, has left the
Company by mutual consent to pursue alternative business opportunities.

I agree skyhigh, the CEO probably left as he was surplus to requirements in the new structure, or because he was against the merger proceeding.

Not looking good today though,,, down a 1/4p.. I always wonder why peeps sell just before somethings going to happen. Perhaps they know something...
Anyway, I'm still hanging in there.. hoping for the best ! :)

does anyone know why this share has lost 1/2p in two days?

I feel a dilution coming on !? Could be we're being softened up for a share placing / fund raising exercise ?
Unless something else startling happens, it'll go down a bit more, there'll merge and our shares will be devalued in some way.
In the long term, it will be good (12/18months away) as MKT Cap & Revenues will be double what it is today but costs will be halved. so profits should come good in the end.
there will also be some exceptional costs assoc. with the merger)

That's my take on it (IMHO. I could be totally wrong (usually am).
If it goes down further, might be worth buying some more. (speculative)Interested to hear other views...
Good luck all :)

SOME VERY BIG SELLS GOING THROUGH TODAY, 37 MILLION IN TOTAL, ANY NEWS FROM ANYWHERE?

Help ! what next ? Do I sell now at a 30% loss while I can ? or do I still continue to hold hoping it will still come good one way another. (or it could be worth even less then it is now !) It's s**t or bust !
The suspense is killing me ! :(

Being in financial services I've heard enough about IAL to know that I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole. Like most companies in the industry they are paying far too much for the business they're pulling in. The government is systematically screwing margins with lower charge products (CAT standard ISA's, stakeholder pensions and the 1% world,) most companies have out of date technology, systems and working practices and can't afford to replace them - heap on the misery and cost of 'pension and endowment mis-selling' and you have an industry in pretty dire straits. I think this government is out to bury us and they're doing a fine job. I just hope we lasts the 10 years needed to get me to retirement. We're not all bad and I think we'll be missed. Not a sector I favour but dyor, sorry and good luck.

Been a holder for sometime and I`ve basically decided I`m going for broke - i`m just hanging on with a view to possibly losing a fair sum. I know this is not ideal situation but it`s all or nothing for me.....

Same here ! I think I may sell 50k of my 100k shares.
I won't gain so much when it comes good but then again, I won't lose so much when it goes down. Could touch 1p when / before news is announced, then it will be upwards from there.
I have heard that 12March could be the day we'll get some news re : merger.
Does any one else have any news ? :(

i`m with you sky high, i sold just over half my holding a few weeks ago to reduce my exposure, i am just taking the cautious stance with this stock now.

Sold 100000 IAL at a loss of 500 for 2.10 yesterday, Bought 100000 HCEG @ 2.33
lost out i know but thought i probably stand a better chance of a gain with
this stock, Did not feel happy holding IAL anymore, to many selling
What are your thoughts, any input is welcome

Confidence sorry guys I'm adding and just done so, expect allot of negative stuff when dealing in troubled companies like this.
Fingers crossed :0)

I bought 35,000 shares some months ago in IAL and I am hanging on. I just think people are getting jittery. On the Finacial Times website under concensus there is a single analysts recommendation: and that is buy.

Geoffrey, I think your right. Peeps getting very jittery. I certainly am ! I decided yesterday to hang on to my full 100,000 shares that I've had for about 6/7 months...Wonder how long the "BUY" rec. has been on the FT website ? was it before the possible merger announcement or after ?
Lets hope the eventual news is good. :)

skyhigh,

The buy recommendation has been on over 13 weeks

consensus Estimates for yr. end 2004:

Sales; 65 million
Earnings per share; 0.10 p
Profit: 0.9 million
Dividend: 0

please remember IAL have had negative historical surprises in the past 2001/2002