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

RNS Number:9867V Universe Group PLC 21 December 2005
21 DECEMBER 2005 UNIVERSE GROUP PLC

HTEC ANNOUNCES ANGLIA REGIONAL CO-OPERATIVE
SOCIETY CONTRACT WIN

Universe Group plc ("Universe" or the "Company"), the retail and information systems company, is pleased to announce that the Anglia Regional Co-operative Society ("Anglia") is to roll out HTEC's complete petrol forecourt retail solution to their 11 petrol retailing sites.

The HTEC Petrol EPoS (HydraPOS) provides the retailer with a range of business controls integrated into one solution. HTEC's system provides Chip & PIN card payment integrated into the EPoS; system resilience provided by HTEC's unique duplex pump interface; and HTEC's Virtual Back Office. The system will enable ARCS make price and product changes, and receive site sales data on a constant real-time basis.

The agreement with Anglia will be implemented over the next 4 months and will include an ongoing maintenance agreement.

Mark Ward of Business Systems at Anglia says: "We evaluated all of the credible systems on the market and chose HTEC because of the remarkable range of functionality available. We know that the HydraPOS is the choice of ASDA and Morrison and others and this fact, together with the remarkable resilience of the system, gave us the confidence to proceed with HTEC."

Ray Mackie, Chairman of Universe Group comments: "We are very pleased to have Anglia on board. Their requirements are extensive and we are confident that both Anglia and their customers will benefit from the new systems."

--ENDS--

I have this down as a stock that has a chance of doubling in 2006. The reasons behind it are the potential sale of Master Change, and the fact that HTEC is a real jewel in the crown that will deliver more and more, much more as time goes on.

Will be a return to full year profitabilty at prelims, and high growth again come interims later in the year.

A good day for UNG and a move upwards, looks good.

Moving again as well :) Merry Christmas all !

I`m sure our patience will be rewarded Papal, a half decent divended,the fact they have sold a loss making part of the group and recent contracts wins means i look forward to 2006 with a lot of optimism.
Have a good Xmas
DB66

DB66 a Merry Christmas to you ! 2006 should be a good year for UNG.

Charles Stanley 21st December 2005 BUY

2005 Pre Tax Profit 1.37M
2005 EPS 1.8p
2005 Div 0.75p

2006 Pre Tax Profit 2.03M
2006 EPS 2.3p
2006 Div 0.75p

I asked fingers xxd on AFN to take a look at UNG as I have it down as a potential stock to double in 2006, and the kind response is;


UNG - 19.00p .. Apologies for the 'spiders web' all over the first chart .. it is showing me that there has been a great deal of downward pressure throughout the last 6 yrs, and the fact that the 15.00p level has been acting as its 'ground floor' during the last couple of years .. should this support level fail at anytime, I would look upon this as a very strong warning sign, as it would take the price to levels that it has not seen before.
Zooming into its 6 mth chart, it can be seen that the price has mainly been within a range with a 'selling low' of 18.00p, and a 'buying peak' of 22.00p, so closely watch for trades appearing outside of this range, as an advance signal of a possible breakout ... a 'closing price' outside, would tend to confirm that the price is attempting to leave this range behind .. which obviously applies to both directions.
At the moment, its indicators are rising, suggesting it is in a 'positive period'. The price has moved up through its downtrends of the last couple of months, and there are signs of an underlying uptrend developing, so the price may well move on up to the ceiling of its present range.On the 100% thread, I note that you have a 'starting price' of 18.50p .. I see the 25.00p level as being the strongest barrier above, and I reckon that it holds the 'key' to whether it can double or not. If the price can 'close' above 25.00p within the next 12 mths, then I reckon it has the potential to reach 37.00p quite quickly afterwards.
As usual, just the unbiased thoughts of a non-holder.

A little bit more blue today, want a lot but a little will do ;)

The only buy today was 15K at 4:05pm, it was not a T trade either, so I can only imagine the mark up was the MM's now knowing there will be no more sellers for year end cash, will start to walk the price back up ready for January buyers.

A bit more info on what they did with Morrison's;

http://www.cimtalk.com/news/tos/tos104.html

http://www.casestudyit.com/new/viewArticle.php?article_id=2811

L2 still 3 v 1 so I think they are still trying to pick up sells on the cheap. They got 41K this morning at 16.5p, how that can be with 3 v 1 I do not know but someone was willing to give a new year bonus to the MM's. I am waiting for L2 to worsen so I can hoover a load more up cheap, but its not moving yet, which I why I think they are accumulating for someone.


With results due end of March, and they will be a return to full year profitability, increased revenue, increase OP, actual profits and hopeful an increased dividend, you can see why I want more if I can get them cheap.

Soon to be on a current year forecast EPS of 2.3p, with new forward EPS of around 3p, these should be trading in the 28p to 30p range I think, so I will keep adding more :)

Down a little but not much, makes me think again they are accumulating for someone from the volumes this morning, small buy and it goes up after some volume sells. Should I add more now, or wait a little longer to see if it drops just a little more, I will wait, but knowing my luck it will now go up.

I did think about selling up some where else to add to this but i`m not sure i have the confidence to do it ,although UNG does seem to have a bit of a trading pattern .
I wish i shared your confidence in this being a share that could double in 2006.

25p is the key level and I agree with fingers there, a close above 25p would be a bullish sign. If we get very good prelims and interims there is a chance, as there is a chance if they sell of Master Change this year. Potential is there for sure, NAV is over 40p (thats NAV and not NTAV)

Got myself another 20K at 17.25p today.

Should be a trading update end of this month and then prelims in March, and all should be good.

Well done Papal i`m sure this is the bottom of its downward cycle.

Doesn`t the dividend get paid out on Monday? If it does i`m sure we will soon tick up slowly, very slowly knowing this stock.

It went ex div last month I think DB66. This should be around the bottom, I still think its a false drop to encourage people to sell ahead of the end Jan trading update. If we fly up just before/after the trading update, then the MM's are still well in control here.

I still think this year will see a change in the way UNG is valued, with profits and a dividend and finally a clear outlook with no more First Remit, and possibly Master Change sold too, then its finally time for a re rating.

Directors taken scrip, so a vote of confidence again in the future.

RNS Number:9440W
Universe Group PLC
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%

For further information:

Universe Group plc 020 7287 0888
Ray Mackie, Group Chief Executive

Charles Stanley & Co Limited 020 7739 8200
Russell Cook

Nice to see a rise today on the back of the directors vote of confidence. Trading update soon and that should emphasise these are trading on a very low PER, in otherwords, cheap as chips.

And moving up again which makes me happy to see, cheap as chips, the last Charles Stanley note was at 23p and a buy rating !