Yes I know Im on holiday so Ill make it quick. Just had a phone call and an e- mail from a City pal of mine and hes drooling over this company. Hes a trust worthy chap and has given me some fantastic tips over the last 10 years.
Hes going on about it being a ten bagger, but I dont like that kind of talk, best to just see how the market rates it. He says theres going to be a lot of news flow so that should provide for a momentum driven price. Have to say I have never known him quite so excited about a stock. Ive just gone in and bought a nice holding.

Heres the e-mail he sent me. It might be worth your while having a dabble. Citywire seem to think its going to be a hit.

Health minnow makes strong return to market
Published: 11:51 Wed 22 Oct 2003
By Joanne Wallen, Associate Editor
Email to a friend


The chief of Healthcare Enterprise Group sold his last business to private healthcare firm Bupa and he's now raring to go again; the business may be worth a second look.

Shares in the 24 million AIM-listed business were suspended in August pending a couple of key acquisitions, and returned to the market on Monday after the deals were announced.


Healthcare Enterprise Group (HCEG) (HCEG) paid a total of 11.5 million for the Safa Group and Industrial Pharmaceutical Service (IPS) as well as a 60.7% stake in SafaTec. The company raised a total of 10 million via a placing of shares at 1p to fund the acquisitions and also took on 3.5 million of bank debt.


Chairman Stuart Bruck, who previously founded private medical services business Barbican, which he sold to Bupa in January 1999, is hoping to build a significant business providing medical services to corporate customers. He is hoping to be a consolidator in what he told Citywire is a very fragmented market.


Both Safa and IPS provide first aid kits, training, first aid suites and a host of other medical and occupational health services to large corporate customers such as British Airways, Marks & Spencer, BT, Sainsbury and government procurement agency OGC. Both companies also have advanced 'replenishment systems,' which enable companies to maintain adequate supplies to satisfy UK health and safety legislation.


Bruck said these acquisitions would provide a 'platform' for further acquisitions.


The company had previously accrued minority stakes in a total of 14 small healthcare services companies in the UK and the US. In March it listed on AIM by reversing into a cash shell.


Bruck said the minority stakes offered it an entry into the market, but the company has now decided to focus on wholly operating and owning businesses. It has therefore identified four of its US businesses that it would like to buy the remaining stakes in. These are all within a two hour drive of the company's Los Angeles office, and would be run from there.


The company has also 'packaged up' the remaining eight businesses with a view to selling each of its minority stakes. Bruck said the pricing being talked about is already ahead of the indicative pricing given in March.


Safa and IPS apparently already have a 30% share of the corporate medical services market in the UK. They are both cash generative from operating activities. Both companies are based in the North of England and do not have a huge penetration in London, where Bruck believes the company has 'a huge opportunity.'


He reckons they have so far penetrated around 50% of the FTSE 100, and therefore have a 'great client base' to which they should be able to sell additional services.

SafaTec has interests in a number of early stage companies that have developed some innovative healthcare products and technologies, which the company is hoping to commercialise. For example, Safa has secured a sole international distribution agreement with Ebiox, a manufacturer of a unique decontaminant and cleansing product range based on a patented formula. SafaTec UK has a 35% interest in Ebiox and HCEG is negotiating to acquire a controlling interest for the enlarged Group.


Bruck does not expect to make any more major acquisitions in the next year or so, but thinks there are a lot of small players that the company might be able to mop up.


'This is very exciting, I am looking forward to digging in,' he said.


Shares are currently at 1.7p.


Citywire Verdict:


The corporate healthcare market is becoming increasingly regulated, which favours HCEG. Bruck's track record should also be worth buying into.


The corporate structure looks pretty complicated at present with all of the minority shareholdings, but Bruck now seems keen to get the point quickly where HCEG controls the majority of the businesses it operates.


This is obviously early days, but for anyone that fancies a speculative punt on a penny share, HCEG is worth a second look.ENDS.

Well it looks very good to me although its a speculative punt, what isnt in the markets today. Good chance to get on board aswell on a bad day.

Please DYOR. You are responsible for your own buying and selling actions.

GF.

Been trying to find their website can you oblige please Pommy.
regards.

More drops today, have we been done?

Here it is

http://www.safa.co.uk/

Safa Ltd was established in 1966 and has since become a leading supplier to UK Occupational Health, where we supply many of the top FTSE listed companies. We also offer a wide range of products to First Aid Distributors and Retail Organisations.



Safa Ltd offers a range of products and services which are second to none, from information bulletins and literature to study days and seminars.



Our flexibility means that we can provide a tailor made package to meet the requirements of your business.



A range of our products are available to order on line. If you do not see what you are looking for then please contact us here at Safa Ltd.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Safa Ltd is a member of The Safa Group, which incorporates Safa Ltd and Safa Medical. For further information about these companies and their services please use the navigation bar on the left.

Safa Ltd, 59 Hill Street, Liverpool, L8 5SB

Tel: 0151 708 0397 Fax: 0151 708 7211 E-mail: info@safa.co.uk

Well - hopefully he's just gathering up the small fry. Wonder if Safa would like some help with web design?

Linzimason, agreed. Didn't look that good at all really...

Mind you, I was tempted with the Dr Tooth kit. No seriously, I think the clue is in "Bruck does not expect to make any more major acquisitions in the next year or so, but thinks there are a lot of small players that the company might be able to mop up". Consolidation of lots of fragments. Maybe the website will go before long and we will see it replaced. Does HCEG have a dedicated site anyone know? Found this, dunno if it helps, but it all looks a bit fragmented. Still HCEG comes highly recommended and that's good enough for me. I like entrepreneurs.

http://www.business.com/directory/computers_and_software/computer_services/information_retrieval/healthcare_enterprise_group_plc/profile/

All Buys so far this morning and now moving north. Lets hope for somemore from this one where there is going to be plenty of newsflow which should push the price upwards.

GF.

Starting to move up now. Hoping were going to get some coverage in Shares and Investors Chronicle later this week.

cheers GF.

Having looked at this decided its worth a punt and bought a few although for some reason only one buy showing this morning and it isnt mine. You need to be on the register by the 12/11/03 to get the warrants. One warrant for every 10 ordinary shares. Gives the option to subscribe for shares @ 1.5p on the 30 June 2004 until 2008.

Ive added again this morning and nothings showing up, whats happening??????

GF.

The 100000 sell showing @ 1.62 is in fact a buy and its mine

Janus/GF - out of interest (no experience with warrants), is the register date the same as an ex-divi date; i.e., that's the day you need to hold them, so can sell before 30th June 2004 and still get option?

BTW GF - do me a favour and stick an "h" in the heading, you know what I am like for English. How was your weekend with Peggy then?

Out of this world our Linzi. Sorry about the spelling.

cheers gf.

Linzi,Once you get the warrant it becomes a share in its own right,it can be bought and sold in the market just like any other share.From tommorow you will own x amount of warrants.Your broker should inform you of this. Then you can buy, sell or hold the warrants. If you hold, once a year around June you will be offered the chance to buy shares at 1.5p.If the shares are more than than this price you will be on a good thing ,if they are lower than 1.5p you wait until next year.After x amount of years this offer expires.After tommorow you can sell the ordinary shares you hold,you will still have the warrants. But of course check this with your broker.(edit I have been informed by my broker that the ex. date is 14th Nov 03

Merci beaucoup!!

jobyjug and our linzi, its not such a bad deal that as long as you beleive in them going forward, I do.

GF.

I was'nt aware u still have the shares 2 sell after the warrant issue is this right :>}

That is correct(if we are talking about the bonus issue on ordinary shares)The expected ex. date is the 14th Nov 2003.

Tipped on the Micheal Walters, site,


Healthy Start
20/11/2003

Healthcare Enterprise Group has attracted considerable interest on its market debut. How long before the action starts?
[Read more

cheers GF.

i have sold pipex comm.(416,376) and bought in Healthcare Enterprise Group(2,075,885)shares. i think the shares are waiting to break out.