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

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

ABOUT UNIVERSE GROUP PLC

The retail and information systems company whose main trade name is HTEC.
HTEC is an international supplier of electronic payment, transaction and loyalty systems to the retail and communication sectors.
HTEC is an international group, providing integrated technology based services to the retail, telecommunications and business sectors.

LOYALTY SOLUTIONS - EUROPE
HTEC has vast experience in all areas of customer loyalty from hardware, software and installation to polling, database management and reporting.
Utilising the latest techniques in datamining. HTEC extract the true value of customer loyalty programmes - providing information, not just data, to enable companies to improve their business by establishing longer, more profitable relationships with their customers.
HTEC caters for both magnetic stripe and smart card platforms, and multi-retailer schemes.
Solutions for magnetic cards can also include options to convert systems to smart card.
From complete stand-alone terminals to fully integrated systems that interact with existing EPOS and management systems, HTEC focuses on the smooth implementation of loyalty programmes, with minimum disruption to business.

ELECTRONIC POINT OF SALE (EPOS) SYSTEMS AND ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER (EFTPOS) - UK RETAIL
HTEC design and manufacture high quality, integrated EPOS and EFTPOS systems for the forecourt, hospitality and high street retail sectors. HTEC systems are designed to maximise speed at the checkout, minimise management effort and bring total compatibility with existing systems.
One such system is the EFT Gemini payment terminal - a single unit designed to accept virtually any non-cash payment and which is compatible with both magnetic stripe and smart cards. The Gemini EFT terminal can provide APACS 30 on-line authorisation from aquiring banks. It also provides a ready made, flexible loyalty infrastructure.

SPECIALIST TECHNOLOGY SERVICES - EUROPE
HTECS's specialist technology services offer design, manufacture and assembly of innovative products and new technology experts in PCB design, HTEC are at the leading edge of bespoke manufacturing cabability - delivering high quality products to meet a variety of telecommunications and international standards including BABT, CSA and FCC

Should get stronger into March, results late March or early April and all is still looking good for UNG I think

I still maintain that if results are in line, and the HTEC progress is as good as is said, these should be over 25p by results time.

I hope that results are in line, I would be very disappointed if not, and have seen not one pointer or news piece saying they should not be in line. ;)

All there has been is good news on new contracts and orders.

I'm in today.... small time, but let's see how it goes... usually, if i buy a share... it's the kiss of death, let's hope it's different this time.

Thanks for the warning skyhigh. I had better stay on the sidelines for a while then!

I am hoping you bring us some good luck skyhigh :) and a nice rise to around 27p ;)

PP
Well, I did buy in on Ekay at 24.5p and within a couple of weeks it went to 50p... should have sold then and re-entered and current levels.....but didn't
Anyhow, let's hope the same happens with UNG.... I'll settle for 27p !

coeliac1... seriously, I wouldn't stay on the sidelines with this one...can't go anywhere 'cept up (imho of course!)

Well, there you are... I decide to buy in and the SP falls ! hopefully it's just a minor movement... one step back and two steps forward and all that....

BTW... have you noticed that, aprt from a couple of exceptions, that most aim / sm co. shares are taking a battering at the moment ? seems to be a general down pattern going on...

Got myself in here today PP and looking forward to results later this month !!!! Watching Henderson as well, any ideas on that PP ?

Welcome aboard B2B

Yep.. looking better today.... coiled spring !

B2B it is looking good now, strong move up in March I think ! and hope:)

skyhigh, a few more large buys along the way this month and end of month the spring should be unleashed :)

This was the Sept 05 Charles Stanley note at 23p after interims with a BUY recommendation, and all we have since this is contract wins :


The group has announced interim results which show a good performance from HTEC and robust trading at Master Change. While the reported result has been diluted by First Remit (which has since been sold), the continuing operations showed a significant improvement on the prior year and the group is now well placed for the future. HTEC has benefited from the roll-out of HydraPOS to a number of retailers although the divisional margin was slightly lower than expected given the costs associated with Chip & Pin. Following these results we have modestly reduced our HTEC forecasts for the full year (to reflect the lower margin) resulting in our adjusted group pre-tax profit forecasts falling from 1.49m to 1.37m and giving an adjusted EPS of 1.8p (assuming an effective tax charge of 20%). The shares are up modestly since the disposal of First Remit was announced on 15 August and while we have reduced our HTEC forecasts, given a clean group structure (post the sale of First Remit) and a 2006 PER of 10.2x based on conservative growth assumptions, we retain our Buy recommendation.

For the six months to 30 June 2005, continuing turnover increased by 33.6% to 14.7m (2004: 11.0m) with total turnover (including First Remit) up 9.6% to 22.3m (2004: 20.3m). The continuing H1 operating profit (which included HTEC and the French Master Change operations) was 1.23m (2004: 0.76m) with the operating margin increasing to 8.4% (2004: 6.9%) reflecting the improvement at Master Change outweighing the decline in margin at HTEC. The discontinued operations contributed an operating loss of 0.45m with 0.1m derived from the now closed UK and Austrian Master Change activities and First Remit contributing a loss of 0.35m, materially unchanged on the prior year. The operating exceptionals of 0.3m were mainly as a result of the closure of the remainder of the bureau de change outside Paris and were in-line with expectations. The group has declared an unchanged interim dividend of 0.25p per share and net debt at 30 June was 3.4m (2004: 4.4m).

HTEC continues to perform well although the H1 margin was slightly lower than expected given continued investment in Chip & Pin and increased contracted engineering field resource (given strong demand). The first half of the financial year has benefited from the roll-out of HydraPOS (point of sales system) to Morrisons and Asda which we estimate will result in an H1:H2 weighting of c.60:40. The order book for H2 gives visibility of near 100% of our HTEC forecast (assuming no slippage) although we expect the H2 margin to be lower given the product mix. The groups Chip & Pin Outdoor Payment Terminal (OPT) is now in use at Asda while the on-line loyalty programme with Morrisons has been successful and we expect the group to roll this out to other retailers in 2006.

Master Change now has a core estate of ten profitable shops, all based in Paris. The peak summer season has gone well and the business is on course to generate a divisional operating profit of 0.35m in 2005.

On 15 August, the group announced that it has sold its international money transfer business, First Remit to a subsidiary of Travelex, for an undisclosed sum. The performance of First Remit has been disappointing over recent years and with the business unable to reach critical mass in a competitive market, it had continued to be loss-making, diluting the improvement at HTEC and Master Change.

Good news, thanks to gowise, and it confirms what I was hearing that all is ok and things are going very well for UNG.


gowise - 10 Mar'06 - 10:35 - 138 of 138

Papal, you may be interested to know that I spoke to the company secretary this morning as I was worried that there was no pre-results trading statement this year. She reassured me that that was a one-off last year on the broker's advice and said that as they had issued a few notices of contract wins they didn't think a statement was necessary. Everything appears to be fine and results will be as usual in the week beginning 27th March.

Strange then that the SP has fallen from the Sept'05 23p "buy" recommendation.

Hope they don't put another one out, it might go down to 12p ?

Seriously, let's hope that the results speak for themselves and will boost the SP over the following months... I can wait until Sept for the high !

Dipped a toe this morning and a tick up.
Good timing for a change.

That's what happened to me a few weeks ago... it went up a bit..then... fell back a penny !
Still it's all small movements.... once results are out the SP will start to climb over the summer... may even get a small rally leading up to the results.

Should be a big rally,when you think present forecast is now once results are out, a historic EPS of 1.8p, giving historic PER of times just 9, and then new current year EPS pr will be 2.3p, with good chance of an upgrade to nearer 3p for 2006 year.

So it should be a strong rally into results, not a small one :)

Cool ! Bring it on !

(Let's hope it performs better than ACC !? )

skyhigh, ACC is doing fine, and it will deliver more to holders as the months goes by, saying that I would expect better and bigger moves on UNG from here.

ok