Web Site : http://www.universe-group.co.uk/

HTEC Web Site : http://www.htec.co.uk/


Nov 2005 CNBC Interview with Ray Mackie (open the url below in Windows Media Player or equivalent)

http://www.universe-group.co.uk/news/media/ray_mackie_cnbc_111105_large.mpg


Half Year End 30th June
Full Year End 31st Dec
____________________________________________________________________

Latest Broker Forecasts

Charles Stanley 9th December 2005 BUY

2005 Pre Tax Profit 1.37M
2005 EPS 1.8p
2005 Div 0.75p

2006 Pre Tax Profit 2.03M
2006 EPS 2.3p
2006 Div 0.75p
______________________________________________________________________

31 OCTOBER 2005
UNIVERSE GROUP PLC

HTEC UPDATE
NEW HYDRAPOS INSTALLATIONS

Universe Group plc ("Universe" or "the Company"), the forecourt payment and
loyalty systems company, is pleased to announce that it has received a further
significant order for its HydraPOS petrol forecourt system. Following ASDA's
purchase of 12 former Safeway stores from Morrisons, which include five petrol
sites, in Northern Ireland, ASDA has placed orders with HTEC for HydraPOS to be
installed at each of the petrol sites on Toshiba TEC hardware.

This follows other recent forecourt industry developments which saw Fuelforce's
sale of 22 sites to Somerfield, 61 petrol sites to Murco and 25 sites to
Malthurst. As a result:

* Somerfield, and Malthurst, one of the biggest of the independent groups,
have now become significant customers of HTEC;

* HTEC, with Toshiba TEC, now has the largest presence in Murco's Point of
Sale estate. HTEC was already a supplier to Murco.

Commenting on today's announcement, Ray Mackie, Chairman , said: "It is pleasing to see continuing success from our efforts to gain an increasing our share of this dynamic market. HTEC is working closely in partnership with Toshiba TEC to give our customers the best service on the best equipment."

___________________________________________________________________



Universe Group PLC
09 September 2005

UNIVERSE GROUP PLC
UNAUDITED INTERIM RESULTS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2005

Universe Group plc ('Universe' or the 'Company'), the retail and information
systems company, is pleased to announce its Interim Results for the six months
ended 30 June 2005.

Highlights:
Continuing turnover of 14.7 million (2004: 11.0 million)
Operating profit on continuing business 1,229,000 (2004: 757,000)
Profit before tax 482,000 (2004: loss of 224,000)
Adjusted earnings per share 1.45p (2004: 0.84p)
Sale of First Remit completed on 12 August 2005
Unchanged interim dividend of 0.25p
Appointment of Bishopsgate Communications Ltd as Financial and Corporate PR.


Commenting, Ray Mackie, Executive Chairman of Universe said:

'In the first half of 2005 we achieved an operating profit on our continuing
business and before exceptional items which was 62.3% higher than last year. In the main this was the result of an excellent performance at HTEC. Continuing operating profits before exceptional items were 1,229,000 compared to 757,000 for the first half of last year on a like for like basis. Our continuing business is that of HTEC and the Paris shops of Master Change'.

'The medium term prospects for HTEC are excellent although the second half will
be quieter. With its shop closure programme completed there are signs that the
Paris shops will put in a strong performance for Master Change.'

.
______________________________________________________________________


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,2740-1851929,00.html

The Times November 01, 2005

Smaller stock to watch

Universe Group, the AIM-listed provider of forecourt payment systems, added 2p at 19p on announcing further orders from Asda for its HTEC division. Universe, after the purchase by Britains second-biggest grocer of 12 former Safeway stores in Northern Ireland, is to supply the sites with its HydraPOS petrol forecourt system, in conjunction with Toshiba hardware. The company also said that Somerfield and Malthouse, the independent petrol retailer, have also become significant customers, while HTEC now has the largest presence in Murcos point-of-sale estate.

A good day yesterday DB66 and 3:1 buys gave us some good rises, more buys today will force the price up even more so I am hoping we get more buying volume today.

DB66 with results due this coming Friday, a weekend then to chew them over and broker upgrades on the 11th/12th the next two weeks should see that strong move up. I am looking forward to enjoying it.

My only concern Papal is that any rise will soon drop straight back after results.
I have had some bloody good shares that have posted good results only to see any gains made dissappear and the chance to bank profit and get back in wasted.
I`m not sure what i will do come Friday?

I have got to admit that UNG is still the only share your tipping that i`m holding and have now got some spare funds to invest.I was thinking about Kuju as it has been marked down,any thoughts?
db66

UNG I would advise to hold until at least the 13th or 14th if you are thinking of selling, broker upgrades are due and you will know when its issued to their clients as there will be one very strong buying day, and if you are to sell then sell into buying strength to get the best price. I will remain holding UNG as I see this as a turnaround point for them for the mid and long term.

A small holding of BOI would not go wrong I think given expected good results, interim dividend and positive outlook, should be at a much higher level in the 6 months, and if it peaks before then no harm in taking some profits.

If you want a speculative one then add a little BSP on the coming potential deal, might be worth waiting to see if you can get a lower entry point this week, presently its about 1.15p to buy, this is a speculative risky one though.

TAG you can watch as again its a more risky play, if you see news next week or the week after on well 3X and over 1000 bopd coming out of it then buy.

FTO normally has a good run into results each time and then drifts afterwards, its starting to pick up the last 2 days and results are due on the 28th Sept.

Thanks for the advice Papal,summer trading is something Goldfinger also warned me about because of the low volumes.I must admit though i have banked some half decent profit given the size of some of my holdings,i`m not sure whether i put this down to me being a bit wiser at trading or just some speculative punts paying off.

As for UNG i think i have decided to keep on holding ,i did start investing early in the year for the long term but it is easy to get carried away with short term punts that pay off.

I also have decided to go with BOI as like you say it is paying a dividend even if it is small and i`m sure there is some reasonable upside to come in the Sp.
Many Thanks as usual for your advice and research.
db66

I do not know why, but Hemscott still has a hold rating from Charles Stanley on 16th August, when in fact it was changed to BUY.

Results Friday and more upgrades to forecast expected, this could be the big move up in the next 10 to 14 days.


http://www.newratings.com/analyst_news/article_971625.html

Tuesday, August 16, 2005 4:38:09 AM ET
Dow Jones Newswires

0819 GMT [Dow Jones] Charles Stanley ups Universe Group (UNG.LN) to buy from hold, after improved group visibility in the wake of the disposal of First Remit and in light of good growth prospects at HTEC. Notes that First Remit has held back the group in recent years and has diluted the strong performance of HTEC and improving performance of Master Change. Keeps '05 pretax profit forecast at GBP1.5M and adjusted EPS at 2.2p. Maintains buy rating. Trades +2.3% at 22.5p. (DWE)

Excellent !

Universe Group PLC
09 September 2005

UNIVERSE GROUP PLC
UNAUDITED INTERIM RESULTS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2005

Universe Group plc ('Universe' or the 'Company'), the retail and information
systems company, is pleased to announce its Interim Results for the six months
ended 30 June 2005.

Highlights:
Continuing turnover of 14.7 million (2004: 11.0 million)
Operating profit on continuing business 1,229,000 (2004: 757,000)
Profit before tax 482,000 (2004: loss of 224,000)
Adjusted earnings per share 1.45p (2004: 0.84p)
Sale of First Remit completed on 12 August 2005
Unchanged interim dividend of 0.25p
Appointment of Bishopsgate Communications Ltd as Financial and Corporate PR.


Commenting, Ray Mackie, Executive Chairman of Universe said:

'In the first half of 2005 we achieved an operating profit on our continuing
business and before exceptional items which was 62.3% higher than last year. In the main this was the result of an excellent performance at HTEC. Continuing operating profits before exceptional items were 1,229,000 compared to 757,000 for the first half of last year on a like for like basis. Our continuing business is that of HTEC and the Paris shops of Master Change'.

'The medium term prospects for HTEC are excellent although the second half will
be quieter. With its shop closure programme completed there are signs that the
Paris shops will put in a strong performance for Master Change.'

Enquiries:

Universe Group plc
Ray Mackie, Executive Chairman 02380 689510

Charles Stanley & Co Limited
Russell Cook 020 7739 8200

Bishopsgate Communications Ltd
Dominic Barretto, Maxine Barnes 020 7430 1600

Chairman's Statement

In the first half of 2005 we achieved an operating profit on our continuing
business and before exceptional items which was 62.3% higher than last year. In the main this was the result of an excellent performance at HTEC. Continuing operating profits before exceptional items were 1,229,000 compared to 757,000 for the first half of last year on a like for like basis. Our continuing business is that of HTEC and the Paris shops of Master Change.

Will keep an eye out for broker upgrades today and Monday.

Just came back from a short holiday and have seen the results of UNG and have to admit they are better than i expected.
Onwards and upwards.
db66

DB66 its all looking very good and UNG remains a very good share to be holding. Charles Stanley reiterated their Buy stance and www.tips.com said they are more confident than ever in UNG being an excellent share to be in with great growth potential.

I will try to see if I can get any feedback on updates from thewrongprice.com on UNG.

DB66 UNG still strong and happy to hold and I am getting into EVS, will put a post on the EVS thread later, could be a very good speculative buy.

Some nice buying today and at full offer of 25p at the end.

DB66

Just listened to the webcast with Ray Mackie on t1ps.com and it sounds very good and all is positive.

We could be in for more news and 30p plus will not be such a very long wait I think, still a wait, but not years away.

No concerns on the First Remit sale and no comeback possible from it, its clean.

Worth spending 20 minutes listening to if you are able to.

DB66 as First Remit was sold off I have a feeling that we might be finishing this year or starting early next year with Master Change sold off too, the debt reduced to zero and going forward with a great earnings machine like HTEC on its own. If that happened then we might be seeing NAV price soon.

Universe Group PLC
20 September 2005

UNIVERSE GROUP PLC
('Universe' or 'the Group')

DIRECTORS' SHAREHOLDINGS

Universe Group plc, the retail and information systems company, announces that
as a result of the purchase on 19 September 2005 of 40,000 ordinary shares at 21 pence per share by the Universe Trustees (no. 2) Limited in connection with the Universe Group plc Long Term Incentive Plan, and the purchase of 20,000 ordinary shares by Ray Mackie on the same day, the following directors have increased their beneficial shareholdings in respect of 50,000 of these shares as follows:


Name of Previous Shares Current Current
Director Holding Acquired Percentage

Catherine Wines 220,051 20,000 240,051 0.39%
Eddie Paul 40,595 10,000 50,595 0.08%
Ray Mackie 7,167,327 20,000 7,187,327 11.65%

Updated forecast added

Charles Stanley 23rd September 2005 BUY
2005 Pre Tax Profit 1.37M
2005 EPS 1.8p
2005 Div 0.75p

2006 Pre Tax Profit 2.03M
2006 EPS 2.3p
2006 Div 0.75p

The news from RTD might be linked to UNG.

Is this why UNG sold off First Remit and have hinted at selling off Masterchange ? RTD would be very interested in the HTEC side of UNG and it could be merged in very easily I think.

Was rab12 an informed insider ? We might see Masterchange sold off from UNG (and the selling off of Masterchange has been inclined recently) as part of a deal for RTD to buy UNG (as RTD would want the HTEC side on UNG). Is this why UNG sold of First Remit recently ? It is possible.


rab12 - 16 Aug'05 - 22:16 - 227 of 341
As i have said previously on this thread ,UNiverse is ready to be absorbed by someone else. RTD is a possibility as they divorced years ago but could get into bed again with no great difficulty.

Card Clear demerged from RTD around 2000 and became the Universe Group. The RTD announcement yesterday means that UNG should be well on the list of potentials due to its previous links and now of course HTEC doing well and First Remit sold off.