Notice the comment on HMY and it looks a good business. Would have liked it more if as it appears their F/D site in Poole not sold/leased back before the float - would have done the same in Nikko position and they must have done very well out of HMY. MTI also been around a while and now benefitting from heavy R&D expenditure a few years ago - they make explosion protection devices used in hazardous areas such as oil rigs. Recent interims show good progress and reasonable dividend yield just under 3% covered 2.5x. Good cash generator - ungeared. Quite modest P/E 13 even after good run last 12 months. Encouraging noises about prospects. Market cap 43M. Not the double or quits type mainly featured on these boards, but worth a look for the patient value investor - and F/Ds feature in their balance sheet. May be on the radar of some bigger players. I am interested in 5000 shares bought over last 3 years at average price 150p - last added at 226p.

Continues to power ahead. AMEC reported strong growth in the process industry sector today (and they could imo do worse than spend half their spare cash on MTI). Maybe I will buy a few Christmas presents after all...

And now it all becomes a bit clearer. This is a superb business and I hope that more than one party will now come to the table.

Formal cash offer made by Cooper Industries on 20th December at 708p, but cannot see news release to this effect? Having paid less than 1 for some of my holding and highest price 226p I cannot grumble, but still feel the buyers (well known to MTL management) are getting it cheap and it all seems very conveniently timed.