I have quietly been building up a strong holding in this one and am pleased to see what appears to be a significant breakout this morning.

Looking for a stock that is both spicy AND defensive??
Music Choice Europe might just fit the bill perfectly!

Over 19 million in the bank against a market cap of 24 million. Suitably defensive.

Roll out of digital tv and broadband through their communications concept. Spicy.

Promise of several added broadband distribution deals this year. Excellent.

While the Sky contract led to a fall in revenues last year, it also meant falling costs and the company promises break even pre-ebitda this quarter, with rapid growth thereafter.

The market has got its knickers in a right twist over competition here. Yes it is fierce, but in a huge fast growing area and with all that cash and the European rollout Music Choice is set to be one of the big winners.

Cherry ripe for a re-rating from the current 20.25p, now results are out the way - and the cashpile represents a whopping 80%+ of market cap.

From the recent results:
Taken from the recent report, some of the reasons i believe MUS is a must have in any growth portfolio:
Successful completion of two broadband distribution contracts in the
UK and France

Three year contracts secured with Sky Italia and BSkyB

Launch of SMS return path on digital television ('DTV') service

Growth in subscriber base by 200,000 to 14.4 million (2002: 14.2
million)

Cash and cash equivalents of 19.8 million (2002: 20.9 million)

Mike Thomas, Chairman of Music Choice, commented:

'We are delighted to announce that for the first time in its ten year operating
history, through careful financial stewardship and the diversification of
revenue, Music Choice will break even at EBITDA level in the opening quarter of
the current financial year. With plans to build on our initial successes in
broadband and secure further DTV contracts, the next twelve months will see us
strengthen our position as a pioneer of visual audio products across all areas
of the home network. We anticipate 2004 to be a year of growth for Music
Choice.'

And bid hopes (or a cashback) in for free imho. Expansion, says the company, likely to come from expansion into Asia, (as well as new contracts elsewhere) which is at present a disparate market with almost immeasurable growth ahead.

Noticed the volumes creeping up here even before the UK-A tip. promising as there is a big chart gap just ahead.

Has proved reluctant to achieve the breakout but that cashpile at the current shareprice means that the rest of the business is effectively almost in for free! Is quite extraordinary and if there was a major shock in the financial or outside world that many still expect then this has a tremendous attraction as a defensive lock-away.