Bought some first thing this morning.. SP then went up 1p... Has had good press recently.. should do well this year (imho)

FYI They're a new business that floated on AIM in April 2005. "Hardide" the product is a toughened coating for metal componentry such as drill-bits, valves, etc, that greatly prolongs the life of these parts in a cost-efficient fashion.
Initial order take-up has been good, with BAE naming them as preferred supplier. The fundraising is to build a new manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas, in order to take advantage of growth in the oil-prospecting market, etc.

Loads of useful info, including final results published on Dec 13th 2005, can be found on ft.com.

I have an initial holding of 5,000 shares for which I paid 12.25p last August and am happy with the 24% gain I've made so far. When I get around to re-shuffling my portfolio I'd definitely consider coming back for more.

Yes, but the Shares Mag article seems to be more recent. Have only seen a reference on 23 Feb on Yahoo Finance 'What the Papers Say' - 'Hardide seeks funds to meet demand for tougher equipment.' I had some but they were sold at a profit on a stop loss when the price fell back from the recent high.

The placing was first announced on 13th Dec and the new shares were admitted to AIM for trading on 29th Dec. It's only "news" if you're new to the company - the Houston facility was announced in April, three weeks after the IPO. Actually the Yahoo article you mention seems to be the one from p58 of Shares Mag of 23Feb-01Mar as the title is the same. This edition of Shares mentioned Hardide twice, as the stock is also included in their article "100 Greatest Growth Stocks" - at number 8!! Shares' commentary anticipates big jumps in sales this year and next.

It looks as if it was old news. They've a couple of favourable comments in the IC as well. Big jumps in sales are expected, but this is anticipated in the current share price. This is from Growth Company Investor following the results in December(when share price was 12.25p)
" For the current year, analyst Alan Matthews of shop broker Seymour Pierce envisages a move to pre-tax profits of 500,000 on revenues of 2.9m, yielding earnings of 0.4p and placing the shares on a pricey forward multiple of 31 times. Jim Murray-Smith, chief executive, insists Hardide sits 'poised on the edge of major breakthroughs in two immense global markets, oil and gas and aerospace. If he is right, the shares might merit the rating. Speculative buy."

Encouraging but a bit vague: released 13th March. Hasn't made much difference to the SP.

Hardide PLC - Trading Update
RNS Number:6480ZHardide PLC13 March 2006
Press Release 13 March 2006 Hardide Plc ('Hardide' or 'the Company') Pre-Close Trading UpdateHardide plc (AIM:HDD), the provider of unique surface engineering technology, is pleased to give the following trading update in advance of the Company's Interim results which are due to be announced in May 2006.The Directors are pleased to announce that good progress is being made in the business and management's targets for 2006 remain on course. Hardide's main manufacturing facility in Bicester is now profitable at an operating level. The new pre-treatment plant that was established in August 2005 continues to enhance Hardide's customer service and is enabling the Company to generate additional revenues by offering faster turnaround times to customers at premium rates. Progress has also been made towards the implementation of the new manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas.In line with a statement made at the Preliminary Results on 13 December 2005, research into new Hardide coating variants, advancements in furnace efficiencies and the development of additional applications for Hardide's unique coating continue to progress well. Jim Murray-Smith, Chief Executive, said: 'Trading for the first half of 2006 has continued to be healthy with Bicester now contributing to profits on a monthly basis. We are also making good headway in setting up the new manufacturingfacility in Houston, Texas. Accordingly, I am confident that the Company will meet market expectations and the Board looks forward to updating shareholders at the Interim Results in May.' Ends

I thought it was rather vague too - and it hasn't done anything for the sp. The following lock-in arrangements are from the prospectus. The shares were floated on AIM on April 4 2005.
SHARE LOCK-IN UNDERTAKINGS
The Directors, who will on Admission hold in aggregate 5.25 per cent. of the Enlarged Issued Share Capital, have each agreed with Seymour Pierce Ellis and the Company not to dispose of any of the Ordinary Shares held by them on Admission for a period of one year from the date of Admission and for a further one year be subject to an orderly market arrangement between themselves and Seymour
Pierce Ellis. These undertakings do not apply in certain specified circumstances, including acceptance of an offer for the share capital of the Company that would result in the offeror obtaining or consolidating control of the Company (as defined in the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers) or the execution of an irrevocable commitment to accept such an offer. In addition certain of the Vendors and the Covenantors, who will hold in aggregate 43.9 per cent. of the Enlarged Issued Share Capital have also agreed with Seymour Pierce Ellis and the Company not to
sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any Ordinary Shares held by them at Admission, other than in certain specified circumstances, for a period of 12 months following Admission, and for a further one year be subject to orderly market arrangements between themselves and Seymour Pierce Ellis, save for Oxford Gateway Fund No. 2 which has agreed not to sell more than 3 million shares during the lock-in period.

Only 0.25p spread today - the tightest I've ever seen it.

Hi guys. I've been following and buying into HDD over the last year. Isn't it hard to actually get an order! Every single piece of news from this company is either excellent or entirely expected. Having said that, the news is limited and controlled (??). So, are we being very clever or are we mugs? I'm giving it another year but not adding. Any views?

No. we're not mugs.quality will come through...this'll double at least..(imho)..

IMO this does indeed have a bright future ahead of it. However, I like living really dangerously, so have cleared out of this with a small profit and topped up my BLR (BLack Rock Oil & Gas) instead.

No proverbs about the sellers of picks and shovels making more money than the gold-diggers, please - I have enough sleepless nights as it is :o) Good luck to those of you still in, and I expect I'll come back for another visit to the HDD table in due course.