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Profits Puzzle Solved for Character Group? (CCT)     

andysmith - 22 Aug 2005 21:37

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.

driver - 15 Feb 2006 19:36 - 96 of 263

Character Group
Shares took on 9-1/2 pence to 76-1/2 after the toys and
games group announced it had received approaches which could lead to an offer,
or offers, being made for the company.
Following the takeover approach news, Character Group also issued an upbeat
trading statement this morning.
The firm said it expects to record "solid" growth in like for like sales in
its financial year to August, and also the calendar year of 2006.

andysmith - 15 Feb 2006 20:09 - 97 of 263

We could be in for some good profits on our shares here folks.
I agree with Drivers estimation of potential value but it could be even higher if the trading update eventually produces H1 profits in excess of 3m added to the strong balance sheet. The thing to remember is to set a target price based upon an offer, if it happens you can sell up and then if the offer doesn't materialise you can always buy back later at a lower price because offers usually come in at a higher sp than what profits and sector PE would provide.
Whoever is sniffing around will have noticed a great recovery stock here with a good product range generating good profits in a difficult market.
Well done to anyone who got on board. Interesting times ahead, perhaps even more interesting and exciting than when I first invested and started this thread.

driver - 17 Feb 2006 10:42 - 98 of 263

Completion of the Sale of the Group's Digital Business
http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200602171031315726Y.html

driver - 17 Feb 2006 15:53 - 99 of 263

That's more like it 200k buy
With a company that has confirmed that it had received approaches the sp should be rising faster than this.

andysmith - 17 Feb 2006 22:58 - 100 of 263

I think taking the easy shares at as low a price as possible, remember not that many available on the open market unless one of the holders is prepared to feed some into the market. Interesting article in Shares mag this week about putting value on takeovers suggesting that any company trading on <10 times cashflow is a bargain. For last year, cash flow for CCT was 20m, OK Digital Division now sold but we know that CCT performing much better. Lets be conservative and say cash flow is 10m which with 52m shares gives sp 20x10 = 200p. Therefore anything less than 200p is considered a bargain for a takeover. I personally would be very disappointed if a take-over happened for anything less than 150p.
With those big buys, sooner rather than later announcements will have to made which will fuel the acquisition fire and send the sp higher.
Either way, interim results or takeover this share is heading for >100p

driver - 18 Feb 2006 14:07 - 101 of 263

andy
I agree with your value of CCT for a take over the problem is the sp has a long way to go to get there, if the company is snapped up quickly we could see it go sub 100p and the small investor will be stuffed again.

andysmith - 18 Feb 2006 23:42 - 102 of 263

Hopefully not, there are alot of shares to purchase yet. A large quantity are owned by current directors, I doubt they'll let them go cheaply when they are at the point of turning the company around?

driver - 19 Feb 2006 12:08 - 103 of 263

Sat's F.T:
QUOTE:
Character Group, which makes and distributes toys such as Robosapiens(above), dolls based on well known Characters such as those from Little Britain and electronic Sudoku, jumped 12.7% TO 75.5P on Wed after confirming that it had received more than one take over approach. The company said that the approaches were at a 'preliminary' stage and that the value of any possible offer was still 'unclear'. The group has done particularly well over the past year out of its series of talking dolls, key chains and mugs based on the Little Britain series"

Peadar10 - 20 Feb 2006 19:54 - 104 of 263

Minimum 1.00, would be upset if less than 2.00. A sure winner

andysmith - 20 Feb 2006 19:56 - 105 of 263

Agreed peadar10, might be worth adding a few more, still plenty of shares to be snapped up by anyone trying a take-over. Size of some trades certainly suggests its on the cards. This will really take-off when a bidder becomes clear, RNS statements needed for every 520k shares under LSE rules. Might get one this week?

driver - 24 Feb 2006 22:08 - 106 of 263

andy
Heres hoping the sp is struggling on non punters awareness.

andysmith - 25 Feb 2006 08:27 - 107 of 263

Driver, until a formal bid is announced I think the sp won't rise too far on speculation until solid results can also be confirmed. I have two sp targets, one based on results due in April and one based upon bids for the company. We have to be patient as its only this time last year that CCT nose-dived and there may be wary investors wanting proof of the pudding, thats why I like these stocks, get in and take a risk before it becomes noticed on more radars and you make more dosh.
Take a look at LDC, appear to on my own but 20% up in <1 month.

driver - 25 Feb 2006 12:24 - 108 of 263

Andy
If you like China its now time to get on board PCM they hope to be into profit by the end of 2006 they are seeking finance to launch Sit Up TV or as we know it Bid Up TV the shares are .0012 most of us on it are share millionaires, could be a multi bagger.
Are you still on ASM?

andysmith - 25 Feb 2006 20:06 - 109 of 263

Not currently in ASM, took my money out and put it into MMG which should rise rapidly over next month just like this time last year. It is high beta, originally bought at 60-70p and sold out at 185p and 270p as over-valued and it fell back along way. Bought MMG again at 122p after funds raised at 135p and now 175p.
Will probably take profits again and will re-invest in ASM.

driver - 05 Mar 2006 17:41 - 110 of 263

The new all walking Dalek from CCT.

driver - 10 Mar 2006 12:09 - 111 of 263

5 Million shares exchanged between Mittel and Valtidone at 78.5,

http://www.moneyam.com/InvestorsRoom/posts.php?tid=9625#lastread

doughboy66 - 04 Apr 2006 17:22 - 112 of 263

This seems to have disappeared off the board recently for some reason? Results due soon and should be good also maybe news will come out soon about possible takeover.Plenty of cash in the coffers due to sale of digital camera division ,so possible share buyback or increase in dividend ,anyway plenty of good news options currently in pipeline for the near future.

andysmith - 04 Apr 2006 17:53 - 113 of 263

Agreed DB66, should be a very interesting 4-6 weeks!!

andysmith - 21 Apr 2006 20:46 - 114 of 263

Results due next Thursday, maybe there will also be an update on bid approaches??
If results as I expect then sp is justfied and in fact well undervalued even without a takeover bid which would need approval of Directors as they own a large percentage of the company.

driver - 21 Apr 2006 21:37 - 115 of 263

Hi andy I'm still hanging in here.
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