Sherwood Computer Services Plc’s big loss leaves the insurance and financial software developer looking like a sitting duck, and ever opportunistic, MMT Computing Plc has built up a stake of 4% in the company, announcement of which saw Sherwood’s shares put on 23 pence at 115p on Monday: MMT carried out a similar exercise with Quotient Group Plc before that company succumbed to ACT Group Plc; there is more than a chance of history repeating itself in all respects, although ACT is only one of a string of ambitious software and services companies that would like to get bigger quickly and might see Sherwood as a suitable short cut; Sherwood said it was not involved in any talks on a possible offer.