Shares: Taking Stock

Kevin Leech, the man behind ML Laboratories and the Queensborough leisure group, is thought to have descended on little, loss-making Kay's Food. Millennium Ventures, believed to be linked to Mr Leech, has picked up a 5.2 per cent stake. Kay's, once a butcher, now a London contract caterer, took a 35 per cent interest in a company providing domiciliary care for the disabled and elderly in June. It has an option to buy full control. Kay's shares held at 2p, capitalising the company at pounds 2.4m.

Shares of Charles Sidney, a car dealer with Mercedes distributorships, have edged forward to 85.5p in the past week. There is talk Reg Vardy, the aggressive garage group, is steering towards a bid. Vardy, with around 60 dealerships, already has Mercedes links.