PEMBROKE: Wedding suit

Poor old Michael Weber, the acquisitive chairman of Pifco. He fell in love with a wonderful French hairdryer company, negotiated a marriage and last week, less than two days before the ceremony, she ran off with another suitor.

"They were double-dealing and in this land I believe that is not regarded as ethical behavour," the Manchester businessman complained.

Now, like a jilted lover suing for the cost of an engagement ring, he is trying to get back money for the hefty bill for advice from Warburg, Arthur Andersen and Slaughter & May.

Shareholders should not raise their hopes for a lottery-style prize. In 1991 Pifco made a £3m claim against the auditors Price Waterhouse alleging negligence arising from the 1985 takeover of Salton, but received only £263,000 in an out-of-court settlement after paying £500,00 in legal fees.