After a difficult trading year that has seen losses for CCT and the sp nose-dive to 25p at one point the solution to return to profits may come from the launch of electronic Sudoku games in time for Christmas. Character will launch two Carol Vorderman Sudoku products. For Sudoku fans on the move, there are two handy travel size products: a hand-held LCD game (19.99) with over 750 grids, and a touch screen version (29.99), with over 100,000 permutations of the game. A plug and play version, allowing addicts to play Sudoku on their home TV (29.99) will follow later this year. It won't take many sales to rack up good profits if these are anywhere near as addictive as the puzzle books have proved to be so far.
500,000 sold at guess 5 profit per item would rack up 2.5m, with less than 53m shares that is a healthy EPS of 4p on one item alone and my estimate is probably conservative? They also have licensing rights to Dr Who, Little Britain and Batman amongst others.
Also 70% of these shares are in the hands of Directors, Pension Trusts and Funds and as has been seen in recent weeks, moderate buying has pushed up the share price. It has all the hallmarks of a possible recovery stock as was IDS which I tipped last year at 81p and is now 382p. Not saying this will reach those heights but if Sudoku sells well this Christmas expect CCT to show a good start to their financial year. 2005 figures ending August 31st will not be good but we don't buy shares on the past, there is no gearing and 8m of shareholders funds available.
Take a look. The profits could be more pleasing than solving the puzzles.

Character Group sees FY profit for ongoing business above market expectations
AFX

LONDON (AFX) - Character Group PLC said strong sales in the last days of the financial year mean that it expects profits for its ongoing business of toys, games and gifts to be significantly above market expectations.

The company added that it incurred some additional exceptional costs during the second half of the year related to the sale of its digital business but said they will have no material effect on the continuing business results.

It added that its products continue to perform well at retail and will give a further update when in announced results on November 28.

newsdesk@afxnews.com

tc

Looking good, doubled my money on this now, more to come me thinks.

hoorah- 1 at last. 1.50 is a very real prospect if earnings are as good as expected a strong PE ration should be on the cards, especially considering the money already sitting in the bank

elmfield - 26 Nov'06 - 15:29 - 1277 of 1281


A BLUE WEEK AHEAD:
Read this,
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2471991.html


The Sunday Times - Britain





The Sunday Times November 26, 2006


A Cyberman isnt just for Christmas...
Maurice Chittenden



NOT even a race of evil robotic Santas can stop it being a Doctor Who Christmas. A toy linked to the time lord tops most boys gift lists and a seasonal special in which the Doctor teams up with a new companion is expected to win the television ratings war.
The toy, a Cyberman mask that changes the voice of the wearer into alienspeak, is in such demand that many toyshops have long sold out and it is being bartered for almost double its retail price on websites such as eBay.



Some enterprising parents who recognised it would be a hit bought dozens of the toy and now expect to pay for their own Christmas from the profits of selling it for a mark-up of almost 100% on eBay.

The BBC will tomorrow announce the peak-time viewing slot chosen for its Doctor Who Christmas special.

Comedian Catherine Tate plays Donna, a bride who is late for her wedding, and the Tardis has to turn into a taxi to get her to the ceremony. But she is being chased by a mysterious empress and it emerges that she is the key to an alien plan to destroy Earth involving the robotic Santas.

The programme shows little signs of losing its magic touch, despite the loss of Billie Piper, who played the Doctors companion Rose.

Last month it scooped three prizes at the National Television Awards. David Tennant, the latest time lord, and Piper won the best actor and actress awards. The show was also voted most popular drama.

Next months one-off special will be a precursor to a new series that will begin in the new year and in which Freema Agyeman, who plays medical student Martha Jones, becomes the Doctors new assistant.

Russell T Davies, the shows writer and executive producer, said: We were delighted and honoured by the second series success and we can promise new thrills, new laughs and some terrifying new aliens.

The Doctor and Martha are destined to meet William Shakespeare, a bloodsucking alien named Plasmavores, an army of galactic stormtroopers called the Judoon and a sinister intelligence at work in 1930s New York.

The BBC confirmed that plans are in place for a fourth series. Even the spin-off series Torchwood has been a huge success, attracting 2.4m viewers to BBC3 when it was launched.

Three Doctor Who toys are in the Christmas Top 20 compiled from the bestselling toys in Woolworths, Toys R Us and Argos. The Cyberman Voice Changer, a radio-controlled Dalek and a K-9 dog are all in high demand with only the Bratz Forever Diamondz range of dolls proving more popular than the Cyberman mask for top spot in the 1 billion festive toy-buying spree.

Shares have jumped more than 12p in Character Group, which makes the toys, after it said annual profits would be significantly above market forecasts.

Waterstones, the bookseller, predicts that the 2007 Doctor Who annual will knock The Beano off its traditional perch as the bestselling childrens annual. Amazon, the internet retailer, is selling the time lords annual for 4.54, a reduction of 2.45 on the retail price. A Sunday Times survey has shown that consumers can save up to 40% by buying their Christmas presents on the internet rather than shopping in the high street.

The Doctor Who toys buck this trend. Glitches in China, the worlds leading manufacturer, is causing trouble in toyland. Factories in southern China have been hit by rolling electricity blackouts and labour shortages caused by workers deserting to better-paid jobs in high-tech factories. Officials in Guangdong province have demanded that manufacturers suspend operations for two or three days a week to avoid overtaxing electricity suppliers.

At the same time many of the store chains have underestimated the demand, perhaps thinking that the departure of the shows two original stars from its present run, Piper and Christopher Eccleston, would lessen interest in the travels of the Tardis.
It means those who spotted the demand for Doctor Who early can make a killing. Last week the Cyberman mask, which can retail as low as 29.99 in Argos, was selling for 55 on eBay.



One eBay seller who uses the trading name of littlemonstersmum turned out to be mother-of-two Sophie Pearson from Rugby, Warwickshire. She has sold the mask for as much as 42. Her husband Chris, 35, who runs his own website selling home and garden gifts, bought 15 of them for just over 30 each a month ago.

I paid almost the retail price but when my supplier said Dont mention the cybermask I knew it would be popular, he said. Whatever they push on television will be a sell-out. Its like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Another eBay trader, Andini Dunn from Shropshire, said: I was asked to get one for a present and told they were hard to get hold of, so I bought a few. They are surplus to my requirements.

CockneyRebel - 26 Nov'06 - 18:29 - 1281 of 1282


Go through the previous high and these are off to the races imo.

Don't know whether that's Monday or Tuesday but I'm sure it's not far off.

CR

23wizard - 26 Nov'06 - 19:16 - 1282 of 1282


Nice article in mail on sat. basically saying toys in short supply, tescos etc online still advertising stock at rrp although they have no more stock !
Amazon usually sell below rrp if they have stock but they have little left, they then direct customers to Amazon marketplace where third parties sell new items without price control. Cyberman helmet rrp 29.99 for sale 59.99, Dalek
39.99 for sale 64.95. Supply and demand eh! If cct can get more to the market place in time(which I'm sure they'll be working on) I think they will be able to sell the lot increasing their profits again. Happy days!

Results on Tuesday.Significantly ahead.CCT pays dividends.

Excellent results! In the Telegraph today CCT mentioned as a possible takeover target.

The Daily Telegraph

The Business Comment Column:
*Will Wal-Mart's new Indian romance stand the heat?
*As MG Rover probe goes on, Phoenix Four make money.
*Piling on nuclear waste in search for energy security.

The Questor Column:
*First Choice - Not cheap, but worth buying.
*Buy - Homeserve (LSE: HSV.L - news) .
*Buy - Mitie Group .

Further news:
*Phoenix Four to reap tax millions.
*CBI chief attacks free trade hypocrisy.
*Underwriters face a storm of protest over hurricane premiums.
*Speculation that Pearson (LSE: PSON.L - news) 's Les Echos could have attracted attention of private equity players.
*Investors suggest Character Group (LSE: CCT.L - news) ( .L) could be a takeover target

I agree an excellent set of results as expected today, onwards and upwards for CCT in 2007

Excellent results, backed by good divi and strong cash position. CCT doing very well in difficult retail sector, 2007 could see these shares up 50% again if not more although I also suspect there will be further approaches that push the sp higher.

Andy

Well done mate, once again you have locked onto a winner. always pleasing to see someome making a few quid :)

pth

given the share buyback plan - 3% announced today and potential up to 25% during the coming year, this will push the p/e down to a 6-7 level...there is no reason why a sp of 150-160 cannot be reached without any approach - 2+ with one ??

Following the buyback and cancellation of the shares, I make it that 3i now have a 25.2% holding in Character.

More buy backs.

So make 3i's holding now to be 25.77%, they'll have to bid soon if Character keep buying back at this rate.

"the Directors have been monitoring the Company's
share price following the preliminary announcement of the Group's results
announced on Tuesday morning. The Board considered that the conditions were
right at this time to conduct a significant buy-back of the Company's shares"

in other words - they think the sp is still very low considering the results, prospects and possible current pre-Christmas trading!

Investors Chronicle article tommorrow

1 December 2006

CHARACTER (CCT)




"The sale of our digital business was the best thing that could have happened to us," says Character chairman Richard King. The disposal was completed in February, and the company is now reaping the benefits of a three-year strategy to take more development in-house and focus on distinctive toy brands. In-house design now provides around two-thirds of products, from less than 10 per cent three years ago, and nine key brands (including Scooby Doo and Dr Who) now account for 95 per cent of sales.

The new financial year has started well, too, with record performances in September, October and November, suggesting that Character is taking market share in a tough retail market. The company also bought back just under 11 per cent of its shares last year, and is looking to buy back a further 25 per cent.

House broker Charles Stanley forecasts adjusted EPS of 10.6p from 8p in 2006.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ord price: 102p Market value: 48m
Touch: 100-103p 12-month High: 109p Low: 46p
Dividend yield: 3.3% PE ratio: 12
Net asset value: 25p Net cash: 7.4m




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year to Turnover Pre-tax Earnings per Dividend per
31 Aug (m) profit (m) share (p) share (p)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2005* 50.0 -0.16 -1.69 2.0
2006 69.5 5.20 8.49 3.3
% change +39 - - +65

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Continuing operations only
Last IC view: Good value, 76p, 15 Sep 2006 Ex-div: 3 Jan Payment: 26 Jan



A focus on the core business has reaped rewards for Character so, trading on less than 10 times forward earnings estimates, the shares rate good value.

Character Group PLC
06 December 2006

6 December 2006

The Character Group plc (the 'Group' or 'Company')
Transaction in Own Shares

The Company advises that it has yesterday purchased 100,000 ordinary shares in
the Company for cancellation in the market through Charles Stanley Securities,
representing approximately 0.22% of the issued share capital of the Company
(excluding shares held in treasury), at a price of 103 pence per share.

Following these transactions the Company has 44,675,087 ordinary shares in issue
(excluding the 1,754,322 ordinary shares in the Company held in treasury).


Enquiries:

CCT is about to breakout I.M.O

When I receaved this email a few months back after haserling CCT over a cash for share holders, an acquisition or a buy back I didn't know they would go this far, thier doing OK by me.


Today 11:31 Character Group PLC (CCT) Transaction in Own Shares
30/11/06 10:30 Character Group PLC (CCT) Transaction in Own Shares
29/11/06 10:47 Character Group PLC (CCT) Transaction in Own Shares
29/11/06 10:47 Character Group PLC (CCT) Transaction in Own Shares

27/09/06 16:19 Character Group PLC (CCT) Transaction in Own Shares
27/09/06 09:55 Character Group PLC (CCT) Transaction in Own Shares
01/08/06 16:20 Character Group PLC (CCT) Transaction in Own Shares
6/07/06 17:00 Character Group PLC (CCT) Transaction in Own Shares
05/07/06 13:51 Character Group PLC (CCT) Transaction in Own Shares


Email dated 16 June 2006 14:09

With regards to the sale of the digital division,our net cash position will have improved by around 4m once the sum withheld by the purchaser is paid next February.

As you would expect,whilst the remaining business is going through a period of substantial growth,our first consideration is to ensure that we are financed properly to maximise this growth.

Once we are satisfied that our working capital is sufficient to allow for the expected growth,as we have stated in our interim accounts,we shall consider a share buy back if it felt that it is in the interests of the company and or the shareholders.

At this time,we are not considering any acquisitions or other major capital expense.

We are well aware that the current share price is disappointing, but we are confident that it will follow the performanc of the business in due course.

As you are aware,we moved brokers recently,and we expect them to issue a detailed note within a month,at which time we shall commence to market the Group in its new and exciting format.

I trust that I have explained our current position and thinking.

Kind regards,

Richard King

I agree. If we can finish today above 1.04 then the next few days could see the price fly.

Ticking up.

silly question i am sure, but why do you feel 104 is so significant? ...... I had a look at the chart and can see no great resistance/support at that price