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.

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

andy
I see you are a big player of cct if that was your 60k buy today lets hope it does us both well.

The Character Group plc ('Character' or 'the Group')
Result of EGM and Trading Update


At today's Extraordinary General Meetings the shareholders of the Group approved
all resolutions proposed, including a resolution approving the cancellation of
the listing of the Group's issued Ordinary Shares of 5p each ('Ordinary Shares')
on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority, in light of the Board's
proposals for the admission to AIM of the Group's issued Ordinary Shares. A
final dividend of 0.9 pence per share was also approved by shareholders, which
will be paid on 27 January 2006.

It is expected that the issued Ordinary Shares in the Group will be admitted to
trading on AIM and that dealings will commence at or shortly after 8am on Friday
2 December 2005. The listing of the issued Ordinary Shares on the Official List
will be cancelled, and dealings on the London Stock Exchange's market for listed
securities will cease, at the same time.

Character's Executive Chairman and Joint Managing Director, Richard King
commented to shareholders at the EGM today:

'We believe that AIM, which, over its ten year history, has proved to be a
robust market even in challenging times, will provide a supportive environment
for the Group to better achieve its business and strategic objectives. AIM also
provides, in our opinion, a more flexible and cost-effective environment for a
Company of our size and stage of development.'

'As predicted in the 2005 Interim Report and reinforced in my Chairman's
Statement contained in the Annual Report, the improvement witnessed in the
second half of 2005 has indeed continued into this financial year.'

'I am delighted to be able to report that the new financial year has started
very strongly with reported sales up to yesterday being over 40% ahead of the
same period for last year. We are also expecting to achieve further progress
over last year in the lead up to Christmas and into the New Year. Against this
backdrop we believe that the Group's results for the first half to February 2006
will be far better than the loss of 1.9 million recorded for the half year
ended 28 February 2005.'

'This year, we will continue to focus on improving our operational efficiencies
and further developing our product portfolio. It is interesting to note that, by
the end of the 2005 calendar year, over 50% of our products within the Toys,
Games and Gifts division and over 90% of our digital products will have been
developed in-house. Our expertise in developing licensed properties and quickly
bringing them to market is proving to be a major benefit to the Group in
attracting and winning both new licences and distribution deals.'

'There is no substitute for having great products and, although we have been
operating in a difficult trading environment for some considerable time, the
Group's substantial progress in sales is more than satisfying, especially when
we have not been able to fully meet demand for toys like Roboraptor, Radio
Controlled Daleks and our Little Britain talking-gift products, amongst others.'









Enquiries:
Richard King, Chairman Katie Dale
Kiran Shah, Group Finance Director Citigate Dewe Rogerson
The Character Group PLC Telephone: +44 (0) 207 282 8000 (up to 2pm)
Telephone: +44 (0)207 282 8000 (up to 2pm) Thereafter: +44 (0) 121 455 8370
Thereafter: Mobile: +44 (0) 7770 788 624
Mob: +44 (0)7836 250150 (RK)
Mob: +44 (0)7956 278522 (KS)
Group office: +44 (0) 208 949 5898

www.thecharacter.com

doughboy66
Yes good news coming from the EGM today as we expected sales up to yesterday being over 40% ahead of the same period for last year, and the confirmed move to the AIM market.
Looking good.

good this mean we are heading back to share price of 100p+?

Nice bit of buying ahead of going on to the AIM market as of tomorrow.

Driver, AIM transfer delayed to 30/12 - announced a little earlier