Petards Group, the surveillance systems developer expects to make a profit in the second half after it completed its restructuring.

Friday 29 Sep 2006:
Chairman Tim Wightman said, From an operational perspective we have now completed the structural changes necessary to implement the board's longer term strategy that was embarked upon over 18 months ago.

Petards said it expects significant deliveries to customers in the last quarter, adding that it is encouraged by the promising pipeline of orders that should secure its continued recovery in 2007 and beyond.

Petards' UVMSTM software is a versatile and totally scaleable network management
tool for the recording, storage and instant retrieval of high volumes of digital
surveillance video. It features advanced recording, camera mapping & image
replay functions and will form the backbone for any new or existing CCTV system.
Its flexibility to grow with clients' security requirements ensures their CCTV
systems have the ability to expand in the future whilst working over a variety
of network protocols.

More information on the on-board digital CCTV systems can be found on:
http://www.petardsjoyce-loebl.net/en/Products/cctv.aspx

I cannot disagree with you trigger. It's gone through a bad patch like a lot of small companies but it does seem to be getting its act together. I like the area in which they operate. Surveillance is an undoubted growth business and Petards have been picking up some nice contracts of late, many of which are from the MOD, rail networks, gaming industry, etc. As Hanson used to say, "they are doing rather well over here and over there" and are forcasting going into profit in H2. No one can be certain about anything, but at these levels I believe they are well worth a punt. Good Luck!

This must be a growth industry with all the new CCTV systems being installed in every town and city in this country.

Correct, Superjock.

"In the last few decades, heightened fear of terrorism in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US, in tandem with rising conventional crime rates in many countries, analysts predict that the access control technologies and other security systems (like biometric, CCTV and Video surveillance equipment) are likely to witness a colossal demand with an approximate annual growth rate of 36.9 percent across the world, by 2009."

link to source

grevis, would you regard petard as a direct competitor to apn?

apn thread

Bosley, I think it's safe to say that both companies use similar technology, so perhaps they are made for each other. However APN produces those annoying camera traps for the unobservant motorist, of which, of late, I am one*, whereas Petards concentrates on systems for observing real trouble makers.

*My crime was to exceed the 30MPH limit by 6 MPH for which I've just been fined 60 and 3 penalty points. I'm not a happy boy!

Good to see steady buying today!

Just to add TWO pennyworth:
I hold PEG and APN - there is a difference IMHO.
- PEG is in recovery from poor management (who else?) and the notion [mentioned here]....that more CCTV cameras about is good for PEG -it doesn't follow IMHO. PEG needs to develop its sales teams to get business. Many CCTV contracts will go to whoever got there first...so it is by having a better alternative that PEG could drive sales. They have some good products (esp Swift, the "clip-on Camera" for anticipated hot-spots due to Marches, animal rights etc)
Re ANPR and [APN] in particular: APN is developing an intelligent model that can read numberplates at an angle, or if the numbers are unclear - many other systems match numbers (hence the need for consistancy) - but as long as there is a human operator it will be possible to "process" the difficult images, that's why I am none too keen n APN's idea of being the best - when alternatives are perfectly "good enough" and there are plenty of potential targets out there (us idiot motorists for allowing "speed" to be the only issue.....I'll wager Grevis2 had a stopping distance far shorter than cars of ten, or twenty years ago, or even a new transit van fully loaded - but cameras can only register speed....Ho -Hum. Bad luck,..."There but for the Grace....."
Why did I invest? PEG was the scrapings of "Screen" which I sold out at about 8p having lost a lot.....and I bought into PEG on the basis there were still there and at a fraction over 1p it looks like revcovery won't be too far.
APN was bought believing "numberplate business" was bound to be lucrative - it was for Capita and Our Ken, but no-one else has seen much of the Loy....
These companies have stood the test of time and that is worth considering.
....Both have been Buys in 2006.....

Hi hangon! I've been busy helping my daughter do up her new pad which she bought a few weeks ago. The plasterer's in today, so I'm keeping well out of the way.

I've reluctantly paid my 60 fine to Thames Valley Police and now have 3 penalty points for my sin. It will teach me to switch on the cruise control in future. My fault was to turn out of a side road straight into a speed camera, so there was no time to look down a my speedo. I was in 3rd gear at that time, which is my norm when driving through built up areas.

In regard to PEG, they are certainly operating in an area with massive potential. This is illustrated by the fact that Smiths Group recently agreed to sell their aerospace division and are now looking to grow their profitable 'detection' interests.

'By selling Aerospace, we crystallise the value for our shareholders. At the same time, we know this business is going to a great owner.

'Looking forward, Smiths continuing businesses serve markets with attractive growth prospects, enabling delivery of enhanced returns and strong cash conversion.'

Smiths said the detection joint venture with GE, entitled Smiths GE Detection, would combine Smiths Detection with GE Homeland Protection 'to create a leading global business serving the fast-growing detection and homeland protection markets.'

With all this anti-terrorist activity, must be a good for companies like Petard

Superjock:Not for widows and orphans, but well worth a punt at these levels!

Press Release Source: Petards Group, PLC


Petards Group PLC Appoints Frank Baitman as President of U.S. Operations
Tuesday January 30, 9:23 am ET
Company's 2007 Expansion of Security and Surveillance Solutions to Target the Public Safety, Homeland Security, Transportation and Gaming Markets in the U.S. and Canada

Press Release Source: Petards Group, PLC


Petards Group PLC Appoints Frank Baitman as President of U.S. Operations
Tuesday January 30, 9:23 am ET
Company's 2007 Expansion of Security and Surveillance Solutions to Target the Public Safety, Homeland Security, Transportation and Gaming Markets in the U.S. and Canada


BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Petards Group, PLC (www.petardsplc.net), the AIM listed developer of advanced surveillance systems, announced today that Frank Baitman has been named president of their U.S. subsidiary, Petards, Inc., as a part of the company's expansion in the U.S. Baitman brings to Petards more than 25 years of experience guiding both emerging and mature corporations through significant transformations ranging from raising capital, IPO's, sales and marketing initiatives, product development, and selling businesses.
"Having been in the global security business for more than 20 years, and already an established leader in video surveillance system market, Petards is now aggressively expanding in the U.S.," said Bill Conn, CEO of Petards Group. "Frank is the ideal person to lead and manage this growth as he brings us such extensive experience as a manager, marketer, technologist and strategic thinker."

"Not only am I honored to be working Petards, as they really set the stage for advanced surveillance systems to come of age by developing the first digital video recorder back in 1989, but I'm enthusiastic about bringing our global experience to the U.S." said Baitman. "We work with a broad ranging businesses and organizations, but our primary focus in 2007 will be further targeting the public safety, homeland security, transportation and gaming markets."

Before joining Petards, Baitman served as Director for the Institute for the Future, a Palo Alto-based think tank that focuses on emerging trends and discontinuities that will transform the global marketplace. Frank was also a venture capitalist for Nobska Ventures, the Baltimore, MD-based early stage venture fund whose focus is on investments in information security, homeland security, and healthcare informatics. Previously, he held two positions for IBM in Armonk, NY. Frank was Director of Corporate Strategy where was responsible for identifying and launching new growth opportunities for IBM globally, and also as Manager, Market Analysis and Strategy at IBM Research in Yorktown Heights, NY where he created and led a marketing team that commercialized "disruptive" technologies for the broader marketplace.

Baitman's security experience began working with the U.S. Department of Energy where he helped to develop standards and 'red-team' the security and safeguards systems at the National Labs. Frank has worked extensively on emerging technologies for physical and information security, evaluating products and advising early stage security companies on market entry and product design.

Baitman began his career in public policy; he has consulted for US Government agencies on policy matters including national security, nuclear nonproliferation and international affairs. He holds a Master's of Public Management in International Affairs and National Security Policy from the University of Maryland at College Park, and a Bachelor of Arts from the State University of NY at Albany.

About Petards

Petards, Inc. is one of the most trusted and respected security partners in the world, with installations in 40 countries. We design, manufacture, supply and support digital surveillance and security systems for environments where there is no room for error. Clients select Petards for its unique combination of flexible, user-friendly technology and rock-solid experience in critical security environments. Our solutions include integrated control systems; smart CCTV for automatic threat identification including automatic number plate recognition; in-car video evidence and enforcement systems; and mobile, wireless surveillance solutions. For more information, please go to www.petardsplc.net.



Contact:
Petards Group, PLC
Media Contact:
Wills & Associates
Brad Wills, 301-767-1919
bwills@wills-pr.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Petards Group, PLC

Petards Group PLC
07 February 2007




Petards Group plc ('Petards' or 'the Group')


Period-end trading update and Contract award


Petards, the AIM quoted developer of advanced surveillance systems, provides the
following update to progress in respect of the year ended 31 December 2006.


Financials


The Board reports an increasing momentum in the Group's recovery and that it
expects to report a full year operating profit slightly ahead of market
expectations. It also expects to report both a lower than expected net debt
position and a smaller than expected full year pre-tax loss after charging
exceptional items and interest.


Contract award


The Board is pleased to announce that Petards Limited has won a contract worth
in excess of 3m to provide BAE SYSTEMS with software and hardware as part of a
recently awarded UK Government project. The contract includes support and
maintenance for a period of 5 years.


For further information:


Petards Group plc Parkgreen Communications

Andy Wonnacott, Finance Director Paul McManus
Tel: 01932 788 288 Tel: 020 7851 7480 or Mob: 07980 541 893

www.petards.com

paul.mcmanus@parkgreenmedia.com

Moving up nicely!


Top % Gainers
# EPIC Name Price Chg %
10 PEG Petards Ord 1p 1.2 0.125 11.63


From The Times
February 08, 2007

Petards hoisted by BAE deal

Petards Group, which supplies dashboard-mounted video equipment to police forces, rose 0.12p to 1.07p after winning a 3 million deal with BAE Systems and saying that its annual profits would be slightly ahead of forecasts, which were centred at about 500,000.

There was a new research report on Petards today. See Edison website for details. Very positive.

Petards Group PLC
09 February 2007

Petards Group plc ('the Company')

Holding(s) in Company

The Company was informed on 9th February 2007 that, subsequent to a purchase of
shares on 8th February 2007, Hargreave Hale Limited has a notifiable interest in
45,000,000 ordinary shares representing approximately 7.07% of the issued share
capital of the Company.



9th February 2007




This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange END

Something interesting is happening here!

Volume Leaders
EPIC Name Price % Chg Volume Avg Vol
1 VOD Vodafone Grp. Ord Usd0.11 3/7 148.75 -1.16 225,660,287 331,029,830
2 QQ. Qinetiq Ord 1p 206.5 -1.31 166,813,644 N/A
3 PRTY Partygaming Ord 0.0015p 31.75 4.1 154,958,545 N/A
4 PEG Petards Ord 1p 1.225 13.95 98,616,959 N/A

Petards Group PLC
Major Shareholders
Shares in issue:636.7m 1p Ords

Name Amount % Holding
Mr P Doherty 100,000,000 15.71
Idyll Investments Ltd 50,000,000 7.85
Hargreave Hale Ltd 45,000,000 7.07
Finsbury Technology Trust PLC 41,500,000 6.52
Close Brothers Group PLC 38,533,667 6.05
Chelverton Growth Trust PLC 25,000,000 3.93
Close Beacon Investment Fund 24,082,666 3.78

Other Directors
Name Amount % Holding
Timothy Redmayne Wightman 10,360,363 1.627
David John Mills 10,000,000 1.571
Ian Colin Taylor 5,400,000 0.848
William Francis Conn 3,000,000 0.471
Timothy John Sulivan 2,191,057 0.344
= Director

provided by Hemscott Group Ltd.

RNS Number:1349R
Petards Group PLC
12 February 2007



Petards Group plc ("the Company")

Holding(s) in Company

The Company was informed on 12th February 2007 that, subsequent to a purchase of
shares on 9th February 2007, Hargreave Hale Limited has a notifiable interest in
79,500,000* ordinary shares representing approximately 12.49% of the issued
share capital of the Company.

*60,000,000 of these shares are for a unit trust operated by Marlborough Fund
Managers Ltd, for which Hargreave Hale manages the investments on a
discretionary basis. The remaining 19,500,000 are held on behalf of other
discretionary clients.

12th February 2007




This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

Nice to see the steady growth of the last few days