HUNTINGDON Life Sciences, the animal testing group under siege from extremists, suffered a fresh blow yesterday as the New York Stock Exchange pulled the plug on a planned listing.

Moments before its shares were to begin trading, Catherine Kinney, the NYSE president, stunned Huntingdon executives gathered at the exchange to celebrate, by saying the listing was being put on hold. There were unconfirmed reports that she had received calls from worried members of the Wall Street financial community who feared reprisals from animal rights extremists.

Brian Cass, Huntingdon’s chief executive, told The Times: “We arrived for the start of trading at 8.30 or 8.45am, when we were told by the exchange the listing had been postponed. We’ve not been given any explanation at all.

“Obviously we’re extremely disappointed. We have fought our corner in what has been a vicious campaign.”

Mr Cass emphasised that the exchange had described the decision as a postponement, giving him hope that the listing could still go ahead.

The New York listing was seen as an important milestone for the Cambridgeshire company, which has lost a string of advisers, suppliers and shareholders, terrorised by animal rights activists.

It pulled its listings in London and New York in 2002 and at one point had to rely on the British Government for its banking facilities. Shares under the new name of Life Sciences Research (LSR)have been quietly traded on the Nasdaq over-the-counter market in New York. However, the proposed listing on America’s biggest exchange was seen as evidence that at least one major institution was prepared to back the company in the face of threats.

One Huntingdon executive said that the U-turn was extraordinary. “It’s not as though the NYSE didn’t know all about the history of the company,” he said.

One major LSR investor reportedly said last night: “I am absolutely shocked and disgusted that an august body such as the NYSE should cow down to a small group of animal rights protestors from England. Mrs Kinney should be ashamed of herself. This is an act of sheer cowardice and it sends out the totally wrong message.”

For years staff at Huntingdon have been the subject of a vicious campaign of beatings, hate mail and damage to their cars and homes. Many suppliers, including Royal Bank of Scotland, which pulled in a loan facility in the face of threats to its staff, have deserted the company. An attempt to rally the City to stand up to the extremists and offer a bounty on their heads failed last year.

Explore Health

• Expert Advice

• Health Features

• Mental Health

• Alternative Medicine

• Child Health

• Health Club