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.

Large volume today 51 million at the last count. Unable to tell what are sells and what are buys. Share price rising though and the warrants going up,so looks good news.

From ADVFN, Rumours of approval of its ebiox disinfectant in the NHS and US.

http://www.ebiox.co.uk/home.htm

tobyjug, from natwests site todays buy/sells - i bought these by mistake on a momentry lapse of concentration getting a real time price a while back - glad they are heading north!

16:56 1.76 284090 purchase 1.68 1.78
16:45 1.76 1000000 purchase 1.68 1.78
16:36 1.77 1000000 purchase 1.68 1.77
16:28 1.77 500000 purchase 1.7 1.77
16:25 1.76 83621 purchase 1.7 1.77
16:22 1.76 142497 purchase 1.7 1.77
16:22 1.72 400000 sale 1.7 1.77
16:02 1.72 65000 sale 1.7 1.77
16:02 1.76 500000 purchase 1.7 1.77
16:01 1.77 50000 purchase 1.7 1.77
15:52 1.76 250000 purchase 1.7 1.77
15:45 1.73 500000 sale 1.7 1.77
15:34 1.7 250000 sale 1.7 1.77
15:34 1.69 500000 sale 1.7 1.77
15:24 1.69 300000 sale 1.7 1.77
15:17 1.76 28372 purchase 1.7 1.77
15:00 1.76 25000 purchase 1.7 1.77
14:54 1.71 150000 sale 1.7 1.77
14:46 1.76 139532 purchase 1.7 1.77
14:45 1.76 100000 purchase 1.68 1.77
14:43 1.67 300000 sale 1.68 1.77
14:34 1.68 150000 sale 1.68 1.73
14:32 1.69 150000 purchase 1.66 1.69
14:29 1.66 370000 sale 1.66 1.69
14:23 1.69 41420 purchase 1.66 1.69
14:07 1.69 5917 purchase 1.66 1.69
14:03 1.68 500000 purchase 1.66 1.69
14:00 1.69 25000 purchase 1.66 1.69
13:43 1.69 50000 purchase 1.66 1.69
13:34 1.69 59100 purchase 1.66 1.69
12:58 1.69 1000000 purchase 1.66 1.69
12:57 1.68 1000000 purchase 1.66 1.69
12:51 1.69 46012 purchase 1.66 1.69
12:50 1.67 500000 sale 1.66 1.69
12:30 1.68 2000000 purchase 1.66 1.69
12:07 1.66 1100000 sale 1.66 1.69
12:03 1.66 132105 sale 1.66 1.69
11:59 1.66 7500000 sale 1.66 1.69
11:57 1.66 20000000 sale 1.66 1.69
11:55 1.68 100000 purchase 1.66 1.69
11:44 1.68 178571 purchase 1.66 1.69
11:36 1.68 120000 purchase 1.66 1.69
11:36 1.66 8400000 sale 1.66 1.69
11:35 1.68 349940 purchase 1.66 1.69
11:30 1.68 75000 purchase 1.66 1.69
11:26 1.66 250000 sale 1.66 1.69
11:16 1.69 850000 purchase 1.66 1.69
11:14 1.68 100000 purchase 1.66 1.69
11:11 1.66 50000 sale 1.66 1.69
11:05 1.66 100000 sale 1.66 1.69

Davepyle 1 Thanks for that.

See RNS ref purchase of Ebios Ltd

Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC (HCEG), the healthcare products and services
company, has agreed terms in principle to increase the Group's 35% holding in
Ebiox Ltd, an innovative developer of patented decontamination and disinfection
products, to 49% for a consideration of 15 million HCEG ordinary shares. Under
the deal, it is proposed that HCEG will be granted call options to acquire all
of the outstanding shares in Ebiox.


http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200401120700100848U.html

RNS Number:0848U
Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC
12 January 2004


Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC


PROPOSED INCREASE IN HOLDING TO 49% IN LEADING DEVELOPER OF PATENTED
DECONTAMINATION AND DISINFECTION PRODUCTS


Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC (HCEG), the healthcare products and services
company, has agreed terms in principle to increase the Group's 35% holding in
Ebiox Ltd, an innovative developer of patented decontamination and disinfection
products, to 49% for a consideration of 15 million HCEG ordinary shares. Under
the deal, it is proposed that HCEG will be granted call options to acquire all
of the outstanding shares in Ebiox.


HCEG aims to develop a substantial healthcare products and services business
focussing on both the wholesale and consumer markets. It is a leader in the
supply of products and services to the healthcare market and has a wide
distribution platform across the UK, Europe and the USA. In November HCEG
acquired interests in four new technologies, including Ebiox, which will be
integrated into its existing product range.


The Ebiox technology forms the basis of a range of decontamination products.
Through a unique action by oxidation, the product cleans to a molecular level,
destroying any bacterial organisms. These properties ensure that no resistant
strains can exist and have no side effects.


Keith MacGregor, Ebiox's Managing Director, will prior to the exercise of the
options granted to HCEG, hold 51% of Ebiox. It is proposed that he will join
HCEG's Products and Distribution Division management team.


Stuart Bruck, Chairman, Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC, commented:


'This acquisition is part of our strategy to increase our stakes in companies
where we currently have a minority interest and our aim to take control of both
the business and the sales process. Ebiox has developed an exciting range of
revolutionary decontamination and disinfection products which have world-wide
sales potential across both institutional healthcare and consumer markets.'


The proposed terms, which are subject to further due diligence and the execution
of definitive documentation, are as follows:


* The acquisition of a further 14% of the share capital of Ebiox, taking
the Group's interest to 49% for consideration of 15 million HCEG shares at
market price (which at the closing share price on 9 January 2004 equates to a
value of some 260,000);

* The grant of a call option to HCEG to acquire a further 2% for a price
of 100,000 (to be satisfied in cash and/or shares at a the option of HCEG)
exercisable up to March 2006;

* The grant of a further call option to HCEG to acquire the remaining
49%, exercisable up to April 2006, at a price to be determined by reference to
the financial performance of Ebiox, subject to a minimum price of 2 million and
a maximum price of 5 million, again to be satisfied in cash and/or shares at
the option of HCEG.


12 January 2004

todays buy/sells from gnatwest :

10:02 1.77 500000 sale 1.75 1.8
10:01 1.8 8000 purchase 1.75 1.8
09:59 1.8 11609 purchase 1.75 1.8
09:59 1.8 82227 purchase 1.75 1.8
09:48 1.8 2000000 purchase 1.75 1.8
09:34 1.8 20000 purchase 1.74 1.8
09:19 1.77 56497 purchase 1.74 1.77
09:19 1.76 350000 purchase 1.74 1.77
09:17 1.77 150000 purchase 1.74 1.77
09:17 1.77 27967 purchase 1.74 1.77
09:11 1.77 20000 purchase 1.74 1.77
09:11 1.77 50000 purchase 1.74 1.77
09:04 1.77 55373 purchase 1.72 1.77
09:02 1.77 100000 purchase 1.72 1.77
08:53 1.77 11299 purchase 1.72 1.77
08:44 1.77 150000 purchase 1.72 1.77
08:26 1.76 10600 purchase 1.72 1.77
08:25 1.76 112364 purchase 1.72 1.77
08:25 1.76 55859 purchase 1.72 1.77
08:25 1.76 100000 purchase 1.72 1.77
08:17 1.76 84602 purchase 1.72 1.77
08:16 1.76 100000 purchase 1.7 1.77
08:07 1.76 100000 purchase 1.7 1.77
08:00 1.76 10000 purchase 1.7 1.77

Hi davepyle1

I don't suppose you're the same David Pyle who used to go to DGS, left about 1964? (sorry to go off subject, btw)

Mitch

no mitch.....not even born

Think this is a new high today since I brought them to the boards atttention.

Going in for more in the morning.

cheers GF.

looks good this.....continuous small gains,v.good volumes, small spread and solid buys,

anyone have an opinion why the huge volumes recently haven't moved the price?

This one certainly appeals to me, I would regard it as a confident punt. What I currently like about this share is the fact that the spread (for a low penny share) is very close. Also the health sector is one which really can take off. Will sit and watch for a while yet and more than likely take a calculated gamble on this one.

Doshmaker...this one has been on a steady incline for a couple of weeks. Run by a very shrewd Chief Exec who has done a lot of sell offs and buys of other companies that compliment HCEG business and he has already sold a previous business to BUPA.
My view is there is only one way this company is going to go and that is North...it is just case of getting in at whatever you think is value....be lucky

an absolutely massive volume on friday - 59 million! any mystic meg predictions anyone?

55,750,000 of that volume was in a single cross trade 0.005p below the offer price.

It looks like insiders or institutions are switching stock around.

Sorry to appear ignorant (although I am!), but what is a 'cross trade'? Is it a trade between MMs?

More important, what is it likely to mean for holders of the share?

Thanks in advance

The LSE definition is "a transaction effected as an agency cross or a riskless principal transaction at the same price and on the same terms" ... in other words a block of shares are exchanged between parties where the buying and selling prices are the same (this requires one trade report and it is denoted as an "X" trade).

This can be caused by several circumstances e.g. a fund manager transfering stock from one of his funds to another, or an institution moving stock to a related company, or a large shareholder (what I called "an insider" earlier) passing on stock to another "insider" after having agreed a price.

Basically stock is being moved around and although the reason isn't always immediately clear an RNS message often appears a few days later explaining who has been buying and selling ... though sometimes nothing further happens.

ty intek...learn something every day.

Taken from todays Shares Magazine.

Healthcare Enterprise Group (AIM: HCEG) is a bit of a mystery. The company reversed into AIM-listed cash shell Interactivity Group last March and has kept a relatively low profile ever since.

The normally reticent management made more of a splash in November when it raised 10.5 million in a share placing and announced it had snapped up SAFA group, a medical product distribution and occupational healthcare company. However, little was clear from the interim results about HEGs business apart from its desire to trek the acquisition trail.

The share price tells a better story, having risen 30% from 1.5p, to 1.95p, and it looks set to climb higher.

Face to face, HEGS direction becomes clearer. American chairman Stuart Bruck is a mergers-and-acquisitions veteran In his business acumen a Gordon Gekko of the US healthcare market if you will. Rather than concentrating on blue-sky drug development, he is looking to bring his brand of healthcare M&A to bear on the UK market.

Were a transactional focused company, he explains. Weve bought a lot and intend to continue to grow in that direction.

Bruck was previously chief executive of Barbican Healthcare, sold to BUPA in the 1990s for 25 million following an initial investment of 6 million. The sector is target rich in terms of acquisition, he says. Companies are approaching us now and the profits will drop to the bottom line because we dont need their infrastructure.

Brucks focus is medical distribution and healthcare advisory businesses. The recent purchase of SAFA was canny, giving HEG a profitable medical device distribution business as well as impressive occupational health business.

Headed by Gordon Wood, who lead the management buy-out from parent Intercare(INT), SAFA provides occupational healthcare services to more than half of the FTSE 100s companies, including British Airways(BAY) as well as the Ministry of Defence.

HEGs head office is in London but the company also has bases in Los Angeles and in Germany at Volkswagens plant, where HEG provides occupational healthcare to employees.

SAFA is good solid stuff, says Bruck. It really is the cornerstone of everything else were doing. The division also has an incubator known as SafaTec, which invests in Israeli biotech companies. SAFA was very cash generative but not very sexy, explains Wood.

In 2000 the incubator invested in 10 Israeli companies and has first refusal on any medical product that makes it through. Currently in the pipeline is Ebiox, a decontamination product, which removes the biofilm that holds germs to surfaces and could be used to kill superbug MRSA and SARS. It cleans to a molecular level, says Wood, who also has high hopes of optiscope, a disposal endoscope.

The other half of HEG is its advisory business, encompassing recently acquired MDS, which provides financial analysis and market research. HEG secures revenue through management fees charged to clients and uses the division to fish for new acquisition targets.

Bruck is upbeat about 2004. Its not biotech, its not discovery, its about companies that make money, he says. I would be disappointed if operating profits dont double this year. Speculative buy.