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.

Its going to be very interesting in the coming 9 weeks before interims. They seem to be keeping the spread wide open to stop buyers and that is a good sign at this stage in my opinion.

squidd/DB66 I would take a guess with a NAV of 42p per share if we get back into profits at news time you might see one very nice golden cross from UNG before too long, in my opinion it is building up for it. Higher highs and higher lows and the across we go in the coming months.

Looks like its hotting up before mid August with some getting in before the herd.

NAV 42p per share and back to profits this year.

Interims on 9th Sept not long to wait now.

I am surprised at the lack of interest on this board in Universe.I recieved a nice dividend on the 6th July from this share and there`s plenty of upside to come from this share in the near future.Roll on September!!!
DB66

DB66 I just topped up and caused them to go from red to blue. We will soon be into the 20 days before results and expect the buys to stream in now with the interims due to be strong, profitable and the outlook very good.

NAV is around 42p per share and this is one of the most undervalued shares around.

Still stick with my 30p target for now and 60p long term.

Good to see your confident enough to top up,but still no interest on the board and i have got to say the markets ,only sells showing today so far.
By the way what about Kuju ,i thought results were due this week .I have to admit i haven`t bought into them but i am keeping a close eye on them.
DB66

UNG is a long term no brainer so no worries. KUJ was expecting them this week but looks like next week now.

Did you get in on PTC today ? Wow, the announcement is massive and they could now rocket on Monday after a solid 100% rise today.

Papal i have to admit i missed out on PTC have read your comments on the thread and must admit it looks worth a punt.I only concern is that with such a massive rise on Friday i don`t want to get caught buying in at the top.
You are confident that there is a lot more to come from this share next week?
DB66

DB66 there is more to come but it will be volatile I think, we should see strong tree shakes and strong rises, people taking profits then the next wave coming in. I am happy to hold now until the November results, but cannot advise when to buy if you want to, as its going to swing all over the place I think.

I think someone has got a large buy order in for UNG as the offer went up to 23p for no reason to discourage buyers Friday. Could be interesting on UNG soon.

Thanks for that Papal,i have got stuck in at the top end of a couple of volatile shares in the past and its not good for my ticker.

I think i will duck out of PTC at the moment as i`m still relatively new at this game and slowly recovering some of my losses on my portfolio.

I have got to say i do hold you in high regard as most of your tips are coming up trumps.You really can see you do a lot of research by the information you put on the threads,although i must admit i don`t fully understand the charts.
Keep up the good work.
DB66









+..6
.

DB66 knowing everything you can about a share and its trading patterns and future potential is all very important stuff and I am happy to pass it on, have been wrong and have been right but thats the same for everyone.

I am happy and sad on OSH, happy as Growth Company Investor tipped it as a speculative buy on Friday the 12th of August which backed up what I am thinking, sad as I have been happily building a nice stake on the cheap while the sellers are still around from time to time and wanted to keep getting some more in, but that tip will make buying more the cheap more difficult now. Its one you have to hold for 18 months to 24 months to get the full benefit of improving revenue and profits. Its still speculative at the moment but I hope the improvements will be confirmed at interims in December and then the prelims next year and interims December 2006 will be major turning points for the SP, if it all goes to plan.

DB66, I am glad I topped up last week !


Universe Group PLC
15 August 2005

UNIVERSE GROUP PLC


Universe Group PLC

Sale of First Remit to Travelex

Universe Group PLC ('Universe'), the retail and information systems company,
announces that it has sold its international money transfer business, First
Remit, to Travelex Money Transfer Limited ('TMT'), a subsidiary of Travelex, the world's largest foreign exchange specialist, for an undisclosed price.
Since 2002 First Remit has established a network of more than 3,500 locations in 46 money transfer countries including UK, India, Jamaica, Eastern Europe and
parts of Africa.

Universe Chairman, Ray Mackie, commented 'We are very pleased with this outcome. First Remit is a small operator in a huge market. We believe that Travelex has the resources to make best use of the First Remit Network.'

TMT's CEO, Mohit Davar said 'The acquisition of First Remit is a significant
step towards helping TMT enhance its global presence. It will add a further 16
markets to the current 109 countries in which TMT already operates. It will
also help us gain additional market share in over 30 countries.'

First Remit was profitable in the first half, so that negates any small losses on Mastercharge first half. HTEC as expected makes profit and more and more as time goes on.

So they have sold off a profitable First Remit, can now pay back their remaining small debts if they wish and move on to a proper PER rating, with HTEC making more and more profits and Mastercharge due to break even financial year end and into profit next year.

If that is what happens then due a major rating upgrade.

Debt at end of 2004 was 4.83 million.

2006 EPS is forecast presently at 2.3 but that should be upgraded after results.

Present PER is times 9, so give it a sector average before upgrades to 2006 forecast and you have 32.2p and with an upgrade to EPS of 3p for 2006 then 42p.

Going up.

Thanks for that Papal ,i wondered why the price had gone up.
I just hope they got a good price for it and they spend the money wisely.
DB66

DB66 paying back the debt will do wonders for the SP as it allows a higher PER rating. Not long to wait now as results and full update due on 9th Sept.

DB66 with the sale of First Remit for a nice sum and with the cost of running First Remit removed from some of the second half I am sure that full year EPS will be 3 or above, which makes UNG very undervalued at present.

Watch for any broker updates to forecast Tue/Wed and read those interims, as I feel they will contain good news with this latest action.

DB66, an nteresting start to the day with initial buy under 23 but recent reported (under NMS) of 23.5p buys. Could be looking at some strong moves up here.

Anything over NMS size will be delayed reported by 1 hour.

DB66 In fact I got things the wrong way around yesterday :) Mastercharge is making profits now and First Remit was still losing money in operating costs.

They have kept HTEC making big profits and growing, Mastercharge which is now making profits, and got rid of First Remit which was costing money.

Thats why the EPS forecast for year end and 2006 will soon be raised up a lot higher in my opinion, as they have sold the loss making First Remit for cash and now have 2 profit making business, so earnings per share will be flying up, if of course something bigger does not happen after the results ?

I hate to rumour but if you take a new revised year end EPS of 3p and forecast 2006 of lets say 3.5p, you really could sell this company for loads of money on forward earnings ! It is well known and stated that HTEC by 2007/8 could be worth 20 million on its if sold on future profits. Maybe someone is now wanting to get it before the price goes crazy ? That is why the large spread is being kept in place to limit buyers ?

Hold on tight DB66 it might explode soon.


30th June 2005 Trading statement
Universe Group, the retail and information systems company, announces that its results for the six months to 30 June 2005 are expected to be in line with management forecast. The board anticipates that results for the full year will be in line with market expectations.
The key features of trading in the first half are Turnover at HTEC has increased significantly over the same period last year, primarily as a result of Chip & PIN. Currency Division (Mastercharge) has been reduced to a core of ten bureaux de change all operating in the centre of Paris. The bureaux have historically reported an operating loss in the first half but following the restructuring of the division it will report a profit in the six months to 30 June this year.
The cost to the group of operating First Remit international cash transfer is continuing to reduce. In the period we have expanded our 'send' business from Austria.

The interim results are expected to be announced on 9 September 2005.

UNG certainly are comming good like you predicted Papal,you topped up just at the right time.
A nice buy went through at the end 50,000 at 25p.I am in the nice position of not being down on these now,so everthing upwards now is a bonus.
Cheers DB66

DB66 it is looking good. I am thinking over if someone like RTD would be buying UNG.

If you look at the release over the sale of First Remit it says "undisclosed price" and you only do not disclose it if it was terribly low or other bigger things are going on in tte background. I would not believe the price was low at all, so I think there are other things happening.

No broker upgrade today but it may come tomorrow, the forecast has to be upgraded as with the sale of First Remit end of year EPS target must be in the region of 3p now and next year much higher.

Keep holding them tight, the results and full statement are just 3 weeks away.