Miserable morning down south, so did a bit of a trawl through healthcare companies.Don't normally go for tiddlers, but although VDN only came to the market last year, it has been around for 36 years and its customer base looks a who's who of the pharma giants.Traditional business of manufacturing specialist storage cabinets now seen as base for expansion into outsourcing storage and other services for their customers. Interims suggest pretax margins of 20%. Debt higher than I like, but cash generation good. Based in Diggle - must be not far from you Alan (all I remember about it from my youth is that it has a tunnel under the Pennines!). Anyone in/any views?

Partridge - Was in Deltex for ages and lost a bundle, my personal feelings are that spending in healthcare is very minimal at the moment. Having said this outsourcing is very popular at the moment so will have a look at this equity when I have time.

Thanks for input, explosive. Agree that trying to sell anything to NHS is a nightmare at present, hence part of Deltex problem. They also lose money/burn cash. From comments with first interims released, VDN sells to the likes of Glaxo, Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, Smith & Nephew, Proctor & Gamble, who all have big R&D budgets. They also seem to have long term relationships with their customers, never to be underestimated when trying to sell different services to them.VDN also appears to have healthy profit margins and generate cash.Annual results should come out in March and may learn more then.

Very solid set of results. No nasty surprises, but nothing wildly exciting either. Strong cash generation makes high gearing manageable and it should drop sharply in 2006. Key is whether management can leverage relationships with their excellent customers to grow the business significantly. Starting from a low base, so happy to give them the benefit of any doubt for the time being.Suspect it may take a few years to really bear fruit, so not for traders, but IMO these have a good "feel" to them and look a good one to lock away.As always DYOR.

Unusual level of activity in these today (thankfully mostly buys!) - anyone else in?

And up a little more today.

Large volumes, "B" trades, "T" trades, most unusual and still the price ticks up.Intriguing.

Very pleased with these last couple of months and they seem to be getting a following. Bought for the long term, with small but regular SP increases providing better short term performance than expected. Any followers on these boards?

I have a holding partridge and have been watching the chart with pleasure over the last few months.

capa

Good to have you on board capa. Such a small co that newsflow likely to be spasmodic at best, but hopefully interims due Sept will show strategy bearing fruit.

Still buyers nibbling. Good feeling about this.

More small buys today and price ticks up again. Now up over 40% in just over one month since last purchase at 14.5p mid March - just shows you can do well from businesses which make profits/generate cash without having the risk attached to drilling holes or wielding a shovel in some far off land!

Solid results today.Debt still a bit high for my liking,but reduced last 12 months and manageable. Quality of their customer base suggests growth should continue if their service levels remain high. Always DYOR.

Good write up in the weekend press (Sunday Telegraph?) has spurred a bit of activity.Very little news flow but IMO still looks a nice little company.

Not much interest (yet) but another solid set of results today and this little company showing early signs of becoming a much bigger one. Always DYOR

Lots of activity today (by their standards!) and rising nicely.Anyone else in these?

Hi Patridge,

I invested in Vindon approx 9 months ago, albeit a small one at that. A sound niche business that is well worth holding long term IMO!

Good luck,

Iankn73

Another good set of results this week and share price has held up over last 12 months better than most in my portfolio. Move into storage of heritage items could provide lots of opportunities and from a small base the growth could be excellent. 50% increase in (modest) dividend a gesture of confidence and these remain locked away. Always dyor.

RNS profit warning

Thanks Halifax. Found the RNS puzzling - VDN provide storage facilities rather than capital goods, so would have thought their business might gain in the sort of climate where large capital purchases being deferred. Cannot understand why profits should be "materially below" expectations. Because I don't understand it, I am now out. Some you win, some you lose and some like this you breakeven!

Agree don't understand either, a pity seemed to have promise.