MLS discussion thread

ABBEYNAT

Thanks for your good wishes, and a very 'Happy New Year' to you and all on Advfn BB and also to all at iii.

Agree it is a bit quiet as expected, but its almost a new year and a new start for MLS with lots of announcements to look forward too, I am particularly interested in the Dubai labs operation when interims are announced, we shall have almost a full half year of income from them and it will be interesting to see if turnover and profits have improved under MLS management, not forgetting Dubai labs are due to move into dedicated premises away from the hospital area this coming half year, which will greatly improve capacity and hopefully turnover and profits, there appears to be huge possibilities for further business over in Dubai particularly with 'Healthcare City' under construction.

LBC should be much in the news 04, with lots of contracts up for grabs MLS have more than an evens chance (on cost and technology) for capturing a large slice of the English/Welsh market and hopefully TDL can capture more of the private business for Surepath.

The Histo/Cyto agreement with TDL looks particularly good for MLS, I was reading somewhere that MLS is the leading UK private provider of Histopathology services outside of the NHS, which is some achievement and can only lead onto further business, particularly the recent contract TDL and UCLH (8 hospitals) have agreed between themselves, MLS should get some direct business from that.

The biomaterials side of the business looks particularly strong and exciting for MLS, I know MLS have 'Great Expectations' for this business to rapidly improve having increased capacity, investment and space for expansion at Pathlore HQ labs, the recent contracts with AZ is a great endorsement for their molecular marker technologies under the care of Prof. Sikora, we can expect to hear of further contracts as the year progresses, also having an office in the USA and with Kinetic Imaging established in Research Triangle Park, this further opens up possibilities for further business, particularly as MLS Biomaterials is a leading provider of tissue and with the urgent need for the Pharmas and Bio's to discover new drug compounds for early stage drug testing, MLS is ideally placed to offer its unique services in the USA.

Pathlore has rapidly grown in 03 and is profit making, first half results have shown a trebleing of turnover, Pathlore is the engine room for MLS generating energy, profile and business, with the move now almost complete to MLS flagship HQ in Nottingham we can expect much more improvement in 04.

MLS also have Kinetic and Fairfield Imaging providing their unique services to the group which are getting more established and recognised throughout the healthcare industry. Kinetic has some worldbeating technology along with Fairfield Imaging who is the UK premier provider of Telepathology services to the NHS, as more labs become effecient and digitally link up we can expect Fairfield to have an input in the management and provider of Telepathology services throughout the UK and extending worldwide.

In a nutshell a great year to look forward too, we have had a good run with the shareprice in 03, with plenty of opportunities to get in at lower levels, as time and developments are announced in 04 we may be looking back this time next year wishing we had bought in at these levels, we do get wobbles occasionally in the shareprice which is only to be expected, but the underlying current for MLS is quite strong and the MMs dont wish to give MLS away at bargain basement prices, as seen earlier on in the year!




HAPPY NEW YEAR!