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

I have topped up with a few more,just went back and read interim results from September just to remind me just how good results should be this time.

2 v 2 on L2 DB66.

It looks like this time no rise before results, and all afterwards, and not the normal all before and nothing after..........I hope ;)

We should be this week into the 10 day period before results, I am guessing they will come on the 29th March. Bring it on :)

There have been a number of sells going through lately which i for one cannot understand.
Recent broker forecasts are very good,loss making business sold off, contract wins since last results and likely dividend of 0.5p again .
If trading was not in line with forecasts surely we would of been told by now.
Yes Papal bring it on!!

DB66 I have asked everyone I can ask, and they all say as far as they know things are going well.

Perhaps this time its going to be flat into results and then move up after them, I do not know why after the interims were good.

It might be the comment that H2 would be a little slower than H1, but thats normal for HTEC which is always loaded more one half than the other, however, broker forecast figures should be met !

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.

I was holding at an average of just over 22p now that has been reduced to just over 19p so in many ways i feel a lot more comfortable .

Universe Group PLC
20 September 2005




20 SEPTEMBER 2005

UNIVERSE GROUP PLC
("Universe" or "the Group")

DIRECTORS' SHAREHOLDINGS

Universe Group plc, the retail and information systems company, announces that
as a result of the purchase on 19 September 2005 of 40,000 ordinary shares at 21
pence per share by the Universe Trustees (no. 2) Limited in connection with the
Universe Group plc Long Term Incentive Plan, and the purchase of 20,000 ordinary
shares by Ray Mackie on the same day, the following directors have increased
their beneficial shareholdings in respect of 50,000 of these shares as follows:


Name of Previous Shares Current Current
Director Holding Acquired Percentage

Catherine Wines 220,051 20,000 240,051 0.39%
Eddie Paul 40,595 10,000 50,595 0.08%
Ray Mackie 7,167,327 20,000 7,187,327 11.65%

#################################################Universe Group PLC
16 January 2006

16 JANUARY 2006


UNIVERSE GROUP PLC
("Universe" or the "Company")

Result of the scrip alternative and Director shareholdings

Universe, the retail and information systems company, today announces that,
under the Company's Scrip Dividend Scheme, shareholders representing 25.3% of
the ordinary shares have elected to receive shares in lieu of cash in respect of
all or part of the Interim Dividend for the six months to 30 June 2005. Under
the terms of the Scrip Dividend, electing shareholders receive new ordinary
shares of 5p each ("New Ordinary Shares") at an effective price of 18.9 pence
per share in lieu of the interim dividend of 0.25 pence per share.

As a result, a total 205,232 New Ordinary Shares have been allotted. Application
has been made for the New Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM and
dealings are expected to commence on 19 January 2006.

The following Directors elected to receive the Scrip Dividend alternative in
respect of their entire shareholdings and as a result their shareholdings are:

Previous Scrip Current Percentage

Ray Mackie 8,417,327 95,070 8,512,397 13.48%
Barrie Brinkman 874,579 11,568 886,147 1.40%
Catherine Wines 240,051 3,174 243,225 0.39%
Adrian Grinsell 59,751 790 60,541 0.10%
Eddie Paul 50,595 668 51,263 0.08%
Keith Buchanan 39,015 516 39,531 0.06%
########################################################

At least this seems to suggest that directors have confidence in the future of UNG with the increase in shareholdings from Sept 2005 -Jan 2006

Sorry about the above pasting ,the listings seem a little out of line.

I`m a bloody amateur when it comes to technology!

PapalPower,as a previous investor in cardclear i am aware how universe came to be.Can you give to me your own view of the prospects UNG,short /medium term.What are they all about? Is there money to be made?.Are they in competition with RTD.You appear to be the major contributor on this BB.so your opinions and any advice may help me decide wether to get onboard.

Thanks BD.

Taken from Growth Equities & Company Research


Universe Group**

Key Data
EPIC UNG
Price 17.25p
Spread 16.5 - 17.75P
NMS 2000
Market cap. 10.17 Million pounds
12 month range 13 - 27.25P
Market AIM
Sector Technology
Contact Ray Mackie
020 7287 0888

It has been a tough couple of years for AM listed Universe. The 9/11 attacks severely hit the number of US tourists prepared to travel to Europe and that caused a sharp downturn in trade at the company's Bureau de Change business, Universe responded by closing all marginal outlets. The chain has been reduced in size by two thirds but has been restored to profitability. An added blow was that Universe's start-up money transfer business First Remit failed to make the headway expected and indeed became an unacceptable cash drain and was sold for an undisclosed sum last year.

The saving grace throughout this period has been HTEC, a division which installs and maintains credit card loyalty and payment systems, principally for petrol retailers and hotels. Chip n'pin has been a bonus for HTEC but it also operates in a long term growth market. Desperate to both squeeze costs (for instance by replacing staff with automatic payment systems, and to enhance brand loyalty), big names such as Shell (SHEL), BP (BP.), Texaco, Total, Asda, Argos and Esso are all lining up to install HTEC's systems.


If Universe were to dispose of its remain bureau de change units which, since they are now profitable, it could well do, we believe that its remaining HTEC business would then be valued on a similar multiple to other technology stocks. Given that this one division could well have generated earnings of 2.5p in 2005 and could be on track to deliver 3p or more this year, valuing it on a mid-teens price earnings multiple would see the shares re-rated, from the current 17.75p, very significantly. Until this necessary measure is taken, shareholders have - as a not insignificant consolation - a yield of 4.2% as a reward for holding the stock.




Year to 31st December Pre-Tax Profit (million) Earnings Per Share (p) Dividend Per Share (p)
2004A 0.8 1.3 0.75
2005E 1.4 1.8 0.75
2006E 2.0 2.3 0.75
2007E 2.2 2.5 0.75

Thanks DB66, I am hoping for the same kind of re-rating on UNG as having past few days on HML :)

Interesting we have EVO on the bid now, and an MM move up this morning to make it 2 v 2.

Some signs of strength returning ?

This will be my UPS choice for next week, with results due around the 29th March :)

Boxerdog, I think most items are covered in the Charles Stanley broker note in the header and recent post, and also the post by DB66.

They are not in competition with RTD, and I would not be surprised for someone like RTD to buy them out.

I see lots of upside, as the GECR note says that DB66 posted, potential for a re-rating :)

It was nice to see the 50,000 buy go through maybe the tide has turned.

Hopefully DB66 :)

Afternoon gents.
Very slow to get started this one but a little buying so far today and a 13k sell way above the bid. Lets hope we can build momentum this week with a good set of results next week, heres hoping anyway.

Behind the scenes L2 moved up to 2 v 1 today from 2 v 2 so its firming up.

I`m glad you said that Papal as todays trades have been poor again.

I must be dreaming i thought i saw someone buy 20,000