Nichols the AIM quoted soft drinks group and one of our AIM favourites announced today that it has traded successfully since the beginning of the new financial year and that results so far are on target to produce another year of growth. With regard to the preliminary discussions regarding the possibility of an offer (originally announced on 19th March 2007) they said that discussions continue, although there is no certainty that an offer will be made.

If one assumes that they were also in discussions well before 19th March it all appears to be taking a long time to sort out (good things come to those that wait I suppose). I sense that perhaps we might be receiving one of those ‘discussions terminated’ statements in the not too distant future. The shares rose fractionally on not much volume following today’s announcement. Offers notwithstanding it remains a good business.