TAKING STOCK

rShares in Scholl, the healthcare products group under siege from rebel shareholders led by Julian Tregar, hardened a penny to 230p after announcing approaches had been received from several interested parties. Talks are at an early stage, and the company stressed that there was no certainty of a bid being made. One of the approaches is from a private French pharmaceutical business.

rFinding a vacant room at top London hotels is proving difficult these days, but finding buyers for hotels is proving to be easier. Following the sale of the Ritz to the Barclay twins, it now transpires that someone wants to check into the smaller and less glamorous Park Lane Hotel. The shares, one of the first draft on the new Ofex market, are trading at around pounds 7, implying a value for the hotel of pounds 30m.