The RNSM announced that it had sold its old factory site for ?8.575 million, which is way above the value shown in the company accounts. It looks as if this will increase the companys Balance Sheet value by approx. 35/40%. The companys Market value (based on the current share price of 42p) is under ?10 million, whilst the Balance Sheet value will be approx. 15/16 million.
This would seem to indicate a seriously undervalued (and cash rich)company.

I was based at Hitchin for 13 years and took redundance,and taken on straight away to transfer there production to witham,the package they gave me set me up trading full time from last december :-)

spread on these is deadly... hope it narrows, and price rises... should go up in the run up to results, health industry is going well at the mo, thats if my shop is anything to go by...

It was a very good move for Tim Dye to take them over long term i think,but what concerned me and i cannot say to much for reasons,is that they issued a lot of new stock to fund most of the the expansion but that dilutes the existing s/p,the biggest problem they had was the witham production took a lot longer to ramp up production to anything like normal !!!The 3 biggest share holders own about 25% of the company and since they took the shares the value has not risen a great amount-yet,long term it will come good,i still say they should have got more for the hitchin site value wise!!!Just under 5 acres right in the town centre it should have been more that 8.6million !!!

Anyway,because mine were given to me over the years and held them long enough,i can sell them any time,but will leave it for a bit longer.

Sorry i cannot add much more,but i think you will undestand why !!!

Mega...

Thanks for your time mate.... changing the subject, as a bee keeper can you tell me why some honey crystalizes, i know honey from Kent does it a lot? Cheers Tonker

Tonker,hope this helps !!!!

CRYSTALISED AND RUNNY HONEY

Laboratory analysis of honey shows:- Water 17.0% Levulux 39.0% Dextrose 34.0% Sucrose 1.0% Dextrine 0.5% Proteins 2.0% Wax 1.0% Plant Acids 0.5% Salts 1.0% Undetermined Residue 4.0%

The bees collect a very watery nectar from the flowers which they carry in their honey sacs, during this time enzymes are added. In the hive the nectar is deposited in empty combs and he high temperature of the hive, plus the fanning action of the bees wings reduced the water content to 17% when the cell containing the honey is sealed in the cell with a cap of wax.

In the high temperature of the hive ( approximately 85%C) the honey will usually stay liquid. Taken out of the hive, the honey will slowly crystalize and become solid in the jar. The length of time it takes to solidify will depend on the type of nectar. Ivy Honey and Oil seed rape will crystallize in days, other honeys will take years. Solid honey can be converted back to liquid by gently warming on a radiator, but it must not be heated over 100C or it begins to breakdown into a chemical which has harmful properties. Try 2 mins in a microwave.

Crystalised honey will often in time produce a frosting on the inside of the jar. This is quite normal and does not mean that the honey has deteriorated.

Honey will ferment if the water content exceeds 20%. This is how mead is made. Fermenting honey has a very sweet smell, and becomes more liquid and will overflow the pot. It has a slightly different but pleasant taste. It is possible for honey to ferment as it crystalizes. The sugars are absorbed into the crystals, and the water content of the remaining solution increases until it starts to ferment.

The Oilseed rape coming out at the moment is great for qauntity of honey,usually about 20lbs of honey a week from a super,but it tastes very bitty and you only have about week maximum to get it off the hive other wise it sets like concrete and you have to throw a lot of frames away,once it in the plastic storage buckets you can keep it for as long time,but then you warm it and mix it with say clover honey to make it taste better.

Hope this helps your question !!!
Mega...

thanks for the above info, i think it is normally the clearer honeys that crystalize, with the solid being different altogether... or is it that the "solid" honey is actually crystalized but the crystals are too fine to feel? I know you can also get creamed honey, which is (I think!) crystalized honey that has been whipped up, thus smashing the crystals into tiny pieces...

Tonker - shame I didn't know you last year when bees moved into my garden shed. I ended up paying the council to remove them, it was like a scene from ET at the end. I thought they'd just come and capture the queen rather then what looked like a mass extermination.

I would have been glad to help, never nice to have a hive in your garden... unless your a bee keeper! Have you seen the "get together" thread... you should come along, London is not too far from the South Coast (that all depends on where on coast you live...), think I will be going

Hi Tonker, no offense but I'd rather not attend a "get together", I've had some experience of these events and there not really for me.

Why is that?

I have found those at meetings that are normal people, those that pry, those that boast, those that try and convince you to buy shares they hold, whos got the most money, best job, best standing in life. I suppose its OK if your like minded..

I see, maybe it will not be for me, I like genuine people, can not stand glory hunters... Or rampers... I like facts and figures

Me too tonker, if you have never been before then of course you should attend. It may also be a good idea to see what investments others have made. At least you'll have an idea of what topics might be discussed. Nothing worse than having and oil and mining potfolio to find everyone else holds services or manufacturing. Other than that it's always worth checking portfolio sizes to ensure your not wasting your time with big players who make their money on small margin gains.

Other than that you'll have to grin and bear the glory hunters and those who just want to show off their new toys. Havng said this there alot of decent people at events who if you've spoken to previously on the BBs are nice to meet and put a face to the alis.

Wm Ransom FY pretax trebles as it raises dividend, sees sunny year ahead
AFX


LONDON (AFX) - William Ransom & Son PLC said pretax profits trebeled in the year to March 31, with higher sales in all areas of the business and an omtimistic outlook for the current year giving it the confidence to boost its dividend by 7 pct.

Full-year pretax profit before exceptional items rose to 3.4 mln stg from 1.1 mln the year earlier.

Sales climbed to 32.5 mln stg from 19.8. Of these, sales at its fully integrated Optima unit contributed 11.2 mln stg.

The total dividend was raised to 1.6 pence from 1.5.

'Sales were up across all areas of the business, the new manufacturing units began to perform well in the second half and the integration of Optima is producing some real sales and cost benefits,' Chairman and Chief Executive Tim Dye said.

'I expect the high level of momentum which we achieved at the end of last

year to be sustained throughout the current financial year, and early

indications are that this will be the case,' he added.

Ransom(William) & Son PLC
13 June 2006

For Immediate Release 13 June 2006


WILLIAM RANSOM & SON PLC

PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2006

SALES GROWTH IN ALL AREAS DELIVERS SUBSTANTIAL PROFITS RISE

William Ransom & Son plc ("Ransom"), one of the UK's leading natural healthcare
companies, today announces its unaudited preliminary results for the year ended
31 March 2006.

Highlights:

Sales increased by 64%, to 32.5 million (2005: 19.8m)

Organic sales growth of 12%, to 21.3 million (2005: 18.9m)

Group profit before tax* up 209%, to 3.4 million (2005: 1.1m)

Earnings* per share up 30%, to 3.43p (2005: 2.64p)

Gross margins improved to 41.5% (2005: 38.8%)

Consumer healthcare sales growing at 15% p.a.

6th and largest acquisition in 4 years - Optima - underlying sales
growth of 10% p.a.

Integration of sales and marketing yielding cross-selling benefits

New manufacturing units performing to plan

Total dividend up 7%, to 1.6p (2005: 1.5p)

* before amortisation and exceptional items


Tim Dye, Chairman and Chief Executive of Ransom, commenting on the preliminary
results and outlook said,

"It's been a very good year. Sales were up across all areas of the business, the
new manufacturing units began to perform well in the second half and the
integration of Optima is producing some real sales and cost benefits. As a
result, profitability has increased greatly, with further upside potential.

The growth of the natural consumer healthcare market, driven by demographics and
social trends, continues to outstrip the standard over-the-counter healthcare
market. I expect the high level of momentum which we achieved at the end of last
year to be sustained throughout the current financial year, and early
indications are that this will be the case."


For further information please contact:

William Ransom & Son plc On the day: 020 7466 5000
Tim Dye - Chairman & Chief Executive Thereafter: 01462 437615
Robert Howard - Finance Director

Buchanan Communications 020 7466 5000
Charles Ryland / James Strong / Simon Potter



Chairman's Statement


The year to 31 March 2006 was a very good one for the Group. Our largest
acquisition to date, of Optima Health and Nutrition, was completed in June 2005
and its integration proceeded quickly and effectively, bringing benefits across
the Group. Both of the newly-constructed manufacturing facilities achieved their
planned levels of productivity by the end of the year and contributed to a very
strong Group performance in the second half and a good performance overall.

Results

Group profit before tax, amortisation and exceptional items rose substantially,
by 209%, to 3.4 million (2005: 1.1m). Group sales rose by 64%, to 32.5
million (2005: 19.8m), of which Optima contributed 11.2 million. Excluding
Optima and discontinued operations, underlying sales rose by 12%, to 21.3
million (2005: 18.9m). Earnings per share (after amortisation and exceptional
items) rose to 1.03p (2005: loss of 0.46p). Before amortisation and exceptional
items, earnings per share rose by 30%, to 3.43p (2005: 2.64p). The Group's net
debt at the end of the year was 6.8 million (2005: 2.6m). Interest cover
(EBITA:net interest) for the period was a comfortable 7.6 times (2005: 4.9
times).

Dividend

The Board proposes to pay a final dividend of 1.10p, bringing the total dividend
to 1.60p, an increase of 7% over last year (2005: 1.50p). Once approved, the
dividend will be payable on 2 October 2006 to all shareholders on the register
on 1 September 2006.

People

I would like to thank staff throughout the Group for their contribution to the
success of Ransom during the year. Particular thanks go to those involved and
affected by the integration of Optima's sales and marketing functions and to
manufacturing staff, who in many cases 'went the extra mile' to get the new
production units operating at target levels.

The appointment to the Board in June 2005 of three new executive directors -
Steve Quinn, Fred Whitcomb and David Wilkie - has introduced additional and
valuable high level sales, marketing, national account and supply chain
management expertise. I would like to thank again William Nabarro, who resigned
in March 2006, for his excellent contribution over two-and-a-half years as a
non-executive director. He has been replaced by Tim Bridge, who brings great
experience of profitably growing a long-established business, organically and
through acquisition.

Outlook

The Group has built itself a strong position in the natural consumer healthcare
market, whose growth, driven by demographics and social trends, continues to
outstrip the standard over-the-counter healthcare market. Based on continued
market growth, integration benefits from Optima and on further recent natural
product contract manufacturing success, I expect the high level of momentum
which we achieved at the end of last year to be sustained throughout the current
financial year, and early indications are that this will be the case.

We continue to look for acquisition opportunities in what is still a fragmented
market, but it is not imperative that we make further purchases. Our
infrastructure is well-matched to our business and we will not be drawn into
over-paying for acquisitions, especially because our in-house new product
development and distribution capability can themselves provide good organic
growth.

Operating and Financial Review

From having no presence at all in consumer healthcare in 2000, Ransom has
established itself as one of the largest independent companies in the UK natural
consumer healthcare market.

At the same time, the Group has fundamentally reorganised and updated its
production capabilities and now has two modern niche manufacturing facilities,
specialising in natural healthcare product formulation and manufacture.

The key operating issues over the course of the year to 31 March 2006 were the
attainment of the targeted levels of productivity at the new manufacturing units
and the integration of the Group's largest acquisition to date, Optima Health
and Nutrition, following its purchase in June 2005. By the end of the year,
after a slow start, the new production facilities were operating to their
planned levels of productivity. Optima's sales and marketing teams were
integrated immediately post-acquisition, with consequent cross-selling benefits
and operational cost savings.

The result was a good financial performance across the Group, with sales rising
by 64%, to 32.5 million (2005: 19.8m), of which Optima contributed 11.2
million. Excluding Optima and discontinued operations, underlying sales rose by
12%, to 21.3 million (2005: 18.9m). Group profit before tax, amortisation and
exceptional items rose substantially, by 209%, to 3.4 million (2005: 1.1m).

Consumer Healthcare

Consumer healthcare sales, which are comprised of branded healthcare products,
grew by 113%, to 24.4 million (2005: 11.5m); in its nine months as part of the
group, Optima accounted for 11.2 million of this growth. Excluding Optima, the
underlying growth rate of consumer healthcare brands was 15%.

Within the good level of consumer healthcare growth, there was a very strong
performance in exports of Radian B, which rose by 73% to 1.9 million (2005:
1.1m) and in UK sales of Metanium, which grew by 25% to 0.9 million (2005:
0.7m). Radian B's UK sales were disappointing, declining to 0.6 million (2005:
0.8m), although early indications are in the current financial year that the
decline may have been reversed in response to new promotional efforts. Health
Perception's sales rose by 7%, to 7.4 million (2005: 6.9m), and produced a
greater improvement in profitability resulting from sales cost savings arising
from the Optima acquisition. Some of the smaller brands, such as Snufflebabe,
saw very high percentage growth rates from a small base.

Optima's performance in its first nine months with the Group was good. On a
like-for-like basis, over the twelve months to 31 March 2006, combined UK and
Eire sales grew by 10% and other export sales grew by 11%.

The Optima, Health Perception and Ransom sales and marketing teams were
integrated directly after Optima joined the Group in June. Some long-term cost
savings were made in the process. We now have sales teams for each of national
accounts (such as multiple pharmacy, multiple healthfood stores and multiple
grocery), independent pharmacy, and independent healthfood stores, giving us
what is probably the most comprehensive distribution of natural healthcare
products in the UK market. The benefit of cross-selling products into the
different channels is already being realised with, for example, brands such as
Optima's Allergenics products now being sold by Ransom's pharmacy sales team.

Exports of consumer healthcare products rose by 176% to 4.7 million (2005:
1.7m), of which 2.1 million arose from Optima products. Excluding Optima,
exports grew by 53%. Export markets and agents for Ransom and Optima consumer
healthcare products, the management of which was also integrated in June, have
also proven to be complementary, giving rise to further cross-selling benefits.
Radian B's success in the Middle East accelerated following the integration. The
Group already has good distribution in the Middle East and in countries such as
USA, France, Italy and Eire and the export distribution network is growing fast.

There is a full new product development pipeline and several new natural
healthcare products were introduced in the course of the year, with many more
planned for the current year. New product development supported by strong
distribution is key to sustaining growth in this market.

The recent implementation of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive
(THMPD) in the UK, which allows companies until 2011 to register their herbal
products with appropriate manufacturing and stability data should, we believe,
favour our company, given our special combination of botanical and
pharmaceutical expertise.

Ransom Pharmaceuticals

Ransom Pharmaceuticals manufactures the Group's own MHRA (Medicines and
Healthcare products Regulatory Agency)-licensed products as well as
pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter products for third parties. Sales to third
parties grew by 7% to 4.6 million (2005: 4.3m), and were skewed significantly
towards the second half. The second half bias reflects the new manufacturing
unit reaching its target level of output in the second six months, as well as
underlying growth in the business both through higher volume of existing
contracts and as a result of winning new business. Now that the plant is
operating at its planned level of throughput, we expect that the modern facility
will enable us to win further new contract business.

Ransom Natural Products

Ransom Natural Products ('RNP') principally manufactures botanical extracts for
use in finished products made by Ransom Pharmaceuticals, as well as for sale to
third parties. These extracts are typically used as Active Pharmaceutical
Ingredients ('APIs') by pharmaceutical companies or as nutraceutical ingredients
by food and drink manufacturers. Sales to third parties rose by 16% to 3.6
million (2005: 3.1m, on an equivalent basis).

RNP's sales were also weighted towards the second half, which again reflected
the site reaching its target output in the second six months, although much of
the growth reflects fulfillment of the order backlog which arose during the
move. Now that outstanding customer orders have been satisfied, RNP is seeking
to develop new business and customers, especially in the functional food sector.

RNP's participation in the EU-funded cannabis consortium continued in the year.
The consortium is seeking to develop extracts of cannabis for the treatment of
migraine and rheumatoid arthritis.

Financial

The greatly-improved financial performance in the year reflects the overall
consumer healthcare performance (including 9 months of Optima) and a net
contribution, in the second half only, from the new manufacturing units.

Sales of continuing operations rose by 64%, to 32.5 million (2005: 18.9m).
Underlying sales growth was responsible for 12 percentage points of this rise,
with a contribution of 9 months' sales from Optima comprising the remainder.
Exports accounted for 22% of sales, up from 18% in 2005, due principally to the
good export performance of consumer healthcare brands.

Gross margin improved to 41.5% (2005: 38.8%), and in the absence of the
exceptional cost of sales attributed to slow commissioning of the new
manufacturing plants, would have reached 43.3%.

Operating expenses, excluding the bad debt provision relating to Food Brokers
Ltd, rose by 62%, to 11.6 million (2005: 7.2m). Optima's operating expenses of
3.2 million and goodwill amortisation of 0.7m relating to the acquisition
accounted for 3.9 million of this rise. The balance of 0.5 million was due
principally to increased advertising and promotion. A settlement with the
administrator of Food Brokers Ltd produced a net reimbursement of 80,000
against last year's bad debt provision. We expect to receive a further, smaller
payment as an ordinary creditor in the current year.

Interest costs rose to 0.4 million (2005: 0.1m) due to the increase in the
term and overdraft facilities with Barclays Bank plc, which were used to
part-finance the acquisition and working capital requirements relating to
Optima.

Operating profit before amortisation and exceptional items rose by 209% to 3.8
million (2005: 1.2m), producing an operating margin of 11.9% (2005: 5.9%).

Basic earnings per share rose to 1.03p (2005: loss of 0.46p). Before
amortisation and exceptional items, earnings per share rose by 30% to 3.43p
(2005: 2.64p).

Net cash inflow from operating activities was 2.6 million (2005: 0.2m). Stocks
fell by 0.3 million in the year, with the major reduction being due to seasonal
factors at Optima. Debtors rose by 1.7 million due to the very high sales
levels in the final quarter.

Capital expenditure in the year amounted to 0.7 million as the Group completed
its investments in the new manufacturing facilities. Proceeds of 0.1 million
were received from the sale of fixed assets.

Optima Health and Nutrition was acquired in June 2005 for a total cost of 23.0
million. At the time of the acquisition, Optima had an overdraft of 0.5
million, which was also acquired. The acquisition was funded in part by the
issue of new shares, which raised net proceeds of 19.8 million, and the
increase in bank term facilities of 4.9m, of which 0.8 million was repaid in
the year. Reorganisation costs of 0.1 million were paid in the year.

At the end of the year the group had net debt of 6.8 million (2005: net debt
2.6m) and shareholders' funds of 37.3 million (2005: 17.5m).

RNS Number:6854L
Ransom(William) & Son PLC
07 November 2006


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7 November 2006



William Ransom & Son plc


Notification of Interim Results



William Ransom & Son plc, one of the UK's leading natural healthcare companies,
will announce its Interim Results for the six months ended 30 September 2006 on
Thursday 16 November 2006.


For further information please contact:


Buchanan Communications

Charles Ryland / James Strong / Ben Romney +44 (0)20 7466 5000






This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange


Lets see if these are going to be as good as expected. Small tick up today.

Another penny rise. Maybe sentiment is changing!!

and i thought this was the company that made the Rolls Royce of lawn mowers

Really cynic lol, its Optima Health & Nutrition that I think will do very well with increased offerings in the high street shops like Holland & Barrett, Boots, GNC, superdrug and the superstores Tesco and Waitrose. Look for the label when your doing your Christmas shop and you may well be surprised!!

I hold a GNC gold card and these products seam to be on the increase, well get more shelf space which in my eyes tells me that they must be selling. Lecithin seams to be popular and I expect more so after xmas with people wanting to shed the extra pounds with a product that contains no chemicals etc.

This company is under valued IMO, a conservative estimate 70p+. Yes I am a share holder.