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.

I don't really know ethel, although if 3i thought the portfolio of Preziosi was a crock of the brown stuff would they have a 40% share. Preziosi has a 20%ish share of CCT. CCT represents <10% of my current portfolio but if there is any weakness I will add, I see the latest development as a possible money-spinner making CCT worth a punt regardless of who owns the shares.

From today, Character Group PLC said it will launch a 'Dr Who' range of licensed toys at the start of September. The toy range, based on the BBC TV Series 'Dr Who', has been developed in partnership with the BBC.
Character said its toy range includes a radio-controlled Dalek, a talking Tardis Money Box, Dr Who's essential tool, the Sonic Screwdriver, an LCD game and 3D Walkie Talkies. Chairman Richard King said the first bulk shipment of the radio-controlled Daleks will hit the stores within the next two weeks.
'... whilst the demand for all our Dr Who products is very encouraging, we would expect that the demand for the radio controlled Dalek, our lead product, will far exceed our manufacturing capacity to Christmas of 150,000 units,' he said.

If this and Sudoku are anywhere near as successful as they could be and profits are only 5 per unit I reckon 1st half profits 05/06 could be 3m, EPS>5.5p.
As stated above, with not many "available" shares this could well be a double your money opportunity from here, new target for me 100-120p by the Spring.

Added some more today. Sudoku is everywhere, books selling faster than any others but with one problem, typically only 100 per book and once you've cocked it up its tough. Electronic games can be re-set and more than one person can have a go and there are more puzzles, it will be a money-spinner.

andy
Put this link in your header.

http://www.thecharacter.com

Encouraging information, potentially a good year for Character Group.
Products available on Amazon, www.boysstuff.co.uk, www.justtoys.com, rivertraders.co.uk to name just a few.

Date: Thursday 6th October 2005

Embargoed: 7.00am

The Character Group plc
Character ranges in listings for Christmas


The Character Group (Character) is pleased to announce that, at Dream Toy 2005, The Toy Retailers Association (TRA) has placed Characters Roboraptor in its Hot Dozen for Christmas 2005 listing.

Also, within the individual category listings announced by the TRA, Characters ranges tipped for success were:

Pre-School - Peppa Pig Playhouse
Boys - Stretch Homer
Big Kidz - Dr Whos Dalek
Games - Electronic Sudoko

See www.toyretailersassociation.co.uk for further details on Dream Toy 2005.

This follows on from Dream Toy 2004 where Robosapien first came to prominence and went on to become 2004 Toy of the Year.

Richard King, Chairman, The Character Group commented:
We are delighted that our ranges have appeared so strongly across the toy listings for Christmas.

We have worked very hard over the last few years to produce a range of products that meet the ever changing needs and wants of young people and today, our Toys, Games and Gift Division has a strong product line up with over 50% of its range having been designed and developed in-house and this includes both the Dalek and the electronic Sudoku devices.

We are delighted to note that our Dr Who toys are already becoming very successful at retail. In Amazon UK's current top selling toy list, we have the radio controlled Dalek, the sonic screwdriver, the Tardis talking money box and the mini radio controlled battle pack all listed in the Top 15 of its 100 best selling toy list, with both the Dalek and the Sonic screwdriver being featured in the Top 5.

This is a great start and we believe that this category will become even more successful next year when the new Dr Who series is scheduled to be broadcast.

Jon Diver, Characters Head of Marketing added:
The signs are promising that Roboraptor may even follow in the footsteps of Robosapien, last years Top Toy of the Year and we are delighted that we have made such a strong showing overall. We are very hopeful that Roboraptor, the Dalek and Sudoku will all be high in the list of best selling toys this Christmas.

Enquiries:
Richard King, Chairman
The Character Group plc
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8949 5898
www.thecharacter.com

(City/Investor Relations)
Fiona Tooley, Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Tel: +44 (0) 121 455 8370

(Trade PR)
Claire Sawkins or Andrea Jack, So-PR
Tel: +44 (0) 1937 588988


Editors Notes:
The Roboraptor is the first second generation remote controlled robot from the same family as last years Toy of the Year, Robosapien, which sold in excess of 1 million units worldwide. Invented by ex-NASA scientist, Dr Mark Tilden, the 32-inch robotic raptor beast has already won Toy of the Year in Australia and Norway and was voted top toy for 8-10 yr olds by the Duracell European Toy Survey.

With the Doctor Who series averaging approx 10 million viewers each week, the Dalek is an equal favourite. Not only does the 12 remote controlled adversary have all the gadgets, gizmos and phrases of its real-life counterpart, sales orders indicate that demand is outstripping any other contender for best selling toy on the market.

Carol Vordermans Sudoku hand-held LCD games. Perfect for Sudoku fanatics on the move, Character, through its trading subsidiary Character Options has partnered with Carol Vorderman to launch two handy, pocket size Sudoku products: a hand-held LCD game with over 750 grids, and a touch screen version with over 100,000 permutations of the game.

Very low volume and the sp up 11.25%? Im keeping an eye on these.

Andy
I'm in.

Nice one, good buying opportunity last week and before this afternoon.
It moves well on little volume and if they have turned it around it could be very good news for the sp.

Financial Results in and looking good.

Sales in the year ended 31 August 2005 29.9% higher than in
the previous year

we expect our sales to increase significantly in the period leading up
to Christmas and for the current financial year as a whole.

The Directors believe that the strategic changes made over the past year and the
improved quality of products will greatly benefit the Group's performance in
both this and the following financial years.

http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200511030700295700T.html

WWL has significantly grown its sales and profits during the year. In August, the last month of the financial year, WWL shipped over US$20 million of cameras, a record level of monthly sales for WWL.

http://www.thecharacter.com/wwl.htm

A solid set of numbers from toys, games and gifts retailer Character Group were seemingly snubbed by the market, as its shares ended 4.5p lower at 49.5p. The company, which among other things, sells Little Britain and Doctor Who toys, successfully managed to fight back against the downturn in its markets with a turnaround of the losses unveiled at the first half, to finish the year in profit. After a 57% rise in second half sales, full year sales were up 30% to 98.8 million pounds and the first half operating loss turned around to an operating profit for the year of 864,000 pounds. The group's pre-tax profit for the year to 31st August was 161,000 pounds. Whilst this was well down from the 3.22 million pounds reported a year earlier, it was undoubtedly a triumphant result following the half-way disappointment. Meanwhile, Character confirmed that the new financial year had begun well with both the company's divisions trading above internal forecasts and with a higher level of sales and orders than at the corresponding point last year. A final dividend of 0.9p per share will take the total payout to 2p for the year, putting the stock on a dividend yield of 4%
UK-Analyst

DB66

The market can snub it for me like it did when I tipped IDS a year ago as it was recovering, eventually the sp took off as profits rolled in. If CCT post Q1 and H1 profits to match the 2nd half of this year the sp should return to 1 again. Perhaps the market wants proof that the turnaround is sustainable?

andy
I agree its looking good, added today at the lower sp, I do not think it was much of a city snub but a small retraction from the previous days large rise.

This from another board D/Mail 21 Sept

Geoff Foster, Daily Mail
21 September 2005
'ER indoors will no doubt be able to tell you there are only 95 shopping days left until Christmas. Richard King, chairman of toy-maker Character Group, is rubbing his hands in anticipation.

Last year Robosapien, a robot which can be programmed to do 67 different manoeuvres and even burps, was the hit toy of the festive season. And there is every chance that one of Character's products will top the charts again in this year's list of bestselling toys.

Buying ahead of a rumoured trading statement - which should confirm the group's confidence ahead of the crucial Christmas trading period - lifted the shares to 64p before they closed 6p higher at 61p.

Character last month launched a Dr Who range of licensed toys. According to industry sources, the radio-controlled Daleks have been flying off the shelves - even at 39.99 each.

An electronic version of Sudoku, endorsed by Carol Vorderman, is also tipped to become a big seller, while the company also has high hopes for its series of Little Britain toys based on the hit BBC TV comedy series.

Figurines of Marjorie Dawes, Dafydd - the only gay in the village - Vicky Pollard, Emily Howard, Lou and Andy and Dame Sally Markham should find their way into many Christmas stockings.

Analysts predict that the group will break even, or make a minimal loss, when it reports full-year results in November. Profits should flow in the first half of 2006.

The last paragraph is why I've bought in. If 2006 H1 results match 2005 H2 or are better this will really take off.

Courtesy of elmfield from another board.

From Amazon uk, 4 and 5 Top Selling Toys,
4.
Carol Vorderman's Touch Screen Sudoku


Usually dispatched within 24 hours
Toy - Character Options / October 1, 2005
More information Avg Customer Review:

Our Price: 29.99
New & Used from 29.98

Manufacturer's Description
Sudoku is the fiendishly addictive number puzzle game that has taken the nation by storm. Licensed by the ever popular Carol Voderman, Character's Sudoku game is a sure fire winner. The game is based around a 9 x 9 grid, divided into smaller 3 x 3 sections. Some cells are pre- populated with the...
Read more

5.
Roboraptor


Usually dispatched within 24 hours
Toy - Character Options
More information Avg Customer Review:

Our Price: 78.95
New & Used from 23.97

Manufacturer's Description

Roboraptor A Fusion Of Technology And Personality

Dinosaurs may be extinct, but Roboraptor brings them into the age of technology. At 32 inches long, Roboraptor is a realistic robotic beast who is easily controlled and mastered with a remote control.
Roboraptors life-like animatronic

Top selling 50 Toys FROM Amazon UK:
2 5 7 19 40 47 from Character Group


1. 20Q 9.94

2. Carol Vorderman's Touch Screen Sudoku 29.99

3. Top Trumps - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 3.99

4. i-dog 29.95

5. Roboraptor 78.95

6. Rush Hour Traffic Jam Puzzle 9.95

7. Doctor Who - Mini Radio Control Dalek Battle Pack 29.99

8. Catchphrase DVD Game 12.99

9. Cranium 19.94

10.Thomas & Friends Aqua Draw 26.99 .

19 Doctor Who - Electronic Sonic Screwdriver

40 Doctor Who - Tardis Talking Money Bank

47 Peppa Pig Playhouse

Every second or third advert on ITV childrens TV over the W/End was from Character Group, nice to see the products getting a viewing.

I emailed Character Group they replied very promptly, I asked if they had distribution problems and why Amazon had run out of Daleks and also my local toyshop, this is their reply.

Dear Mr *****
The Dalek is a very hot toy this christmas..product is being rushed in and we are shipping everyday..Pls check in your local TRU Or Argos as they will be having stock delivered in the next couple of days

Rgds

jon Diver

Driver,
Directors at CCT are very responsive with information and I get my own copy of RNS's delivered to my e-mail within minutes of their release.
Good to see strong sales verified by Amazon. Products available on other web-sites as well. If they post good 1st half to 2006 then the current sp is way to low.
Got some more today below the mid-price!! Andy