Universe Share Discussion Threads

[addict] 29/3/2005 08:58

Still too much 'jam tomorrow' for a lot of private investors,but I think the results are showing progress,albeit at a slower rate than I'd like.I think institutional support will remain, and possibly be added to.

[papalpower] 29/3/2005 08:01

And opened up 2.6%, a good start to the week, lets hope it follows through.

[papalpower] 29/3/2005 07:39

All in all what the doctor ordered really. Changes done and out of the way, profit before exceptionals, a 0.5p div and now a lot of strength to go forward with, especially from HTEC, which happily did have its second half strength and will move the group forward a long way this year.

[papalpower] 29/3/2005 07:05

Universe Group PLC
29 March 2005


Tuesday 29 March 2005

UNIVERSE GROUP PLC
UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2004


Universe Group plc, ('Universe' or the 'Company'), the retail and information
systems company, is pleased to announce its Unaudited Preliminary Results for
the year ended 31 December 2004.


Main features:

• Operating profit before exceptional items and development costs up 5 per
cent. to £1,879,000 (2003: £1,790,000)

• Adjusted earnings per share of 2.2p (2003: 3.0p)

• Operating exceptional costs of £905,000 (2003: £645,000) principally for
rationalising Master Change

• First Remit development costs of £443,000 (2003: £3,183,000) written off

• Loss before tax £74,000 (2003: £2,730,000)

• Proposed final dividend of 0.5p making a total for the year of 0.75p


Commenting, Ray Mackie, Chairman and Chief Executive of Universe said:

'In 2004 we achieved an operating profit before exceptional items and before
First Remit development costs which was 5% better than that achieved last year.
As expected, HTEC had a strong second half and did particularly well in the
context of continuing preparations for rolling out Chip and PIN technology in
our payment systems. Currency Division incurred smaller operating losses than
last year as we consolidated our positions in both Master Change and First
Remit.

At HTEC we are seeking to ensure we capitalise on our technology and the current
order position indicates that we should be able to do so. Currency Division has
been rationalised and I expect this to result in an improvement in our figures
for the current year.'


For Further Information:

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

Charles Stanley & Co Limited
Russell Cook 020 7739 8200



CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

In 2004 we achieved an operating profit before exceptional items and before
First Remit development costs which was 5% better than that achieved last year.
As expected, HTEC had a strong second half and did particularly well in the
context of continuing preparations for rolling out Chip and PIN technology in
our payment systems. Currency Division incurred smaller operating losses than
last year as we consolidated our positions in both Master Change and First
Remit. Overall, group operating profits before exceptional items were
£1,879,000 compared to £1,790,000 last year.


RESULTS

Our sales were £44.0 million against £42.1 million for last year. On this
figure we incurred a loss before tax of £74,000 after exceptional charges of
£905,000 and First Remit development costs of £443,000 compared with a loss
before tax of £2,730,000 last year when development costs for 2002 and 2003 were
written off at the year end. Our earnings per share, adjusted for operating
exceptionals, development costs and amortisation of development loan issue costs
are 2.2 pence compared to 3.0 pence last year. This is based on adjusted
earnings of £1,342,000 (2003 £1,163,000).


RETAIL AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS

HTEC had a relatively quiet first half from a delivered sales perspective while
we and our major customers prepared for the move to Chip and PIN. In the second
half our orders and contracts with, in particular ASDA, Morrisons and PayPoint
enabled us to make a good deal of progress. The picture for our future growth
is a good one.


Gemini

As I said at the half year, the Gemini EFT Terminal has now been specified by,
and is in use with, two major oil companies and a major independent payment
service provider. Gemini derivatives are also in use with a third oil company
and other customers as a loyalty terminal. The Gemini Intelligent PINpad is
being installed now. A touch screen derivative and other special features have
enabled us to enter the non-petrol arena with a new customer.


HydraPOS

This Point of Sale System has proved itself as a petrol forecourt leader and is
now being supplied with industry standard PINpads. The roll out across the
petrol forecourts of two of the major supermarket groups is continuing in the
first half of this year. We are now also achieving important HydraPOS sales in
the independent and convenience sectors of the market.


Hydra OPT

This petrol outdoor payment system is a crossover between Gemini and HydraPOS
technology and is EMV approved. A good number of the new OPTs have been
installed and this is a system for rolling out in the UK over several years.


Services

The service component of our business continues to grow with each generation of
devices put into the field by HTEC. In addition, our data handling department
is expanding with on-line loyalty business making a positive contribution from
our installed base.


CURRENCY DIVISION

There are two activities in this Division. These are bureaux de change and
international money transfer, trading as Master Change and First Remit
respectively.

We have been reducing the Master Change shop estate to a core of good
performers. In the year we closed Salzburg in Austria, shops in Rue de la
Harpe, Huchette, Boulevard St Germain and Boulevard St Michel in Paris, and
Antibes in the South of France. After these closures we now trade from fifteen
shops of which ten are in Paris. Two further shops in London and one in
Strasbourg will be closed during the first half of 2005. The bureaux business
will then consist of ten shops in Paris. The shops in Vienna and London will be
part of First Remit. The closures have of course had a substantial cost and
this cost has resulted in significant exceptional items.

Last year I said we would have a period of consolidation at First Remit. We
have improved our prices and margins at the expense of volume growth but even so
value sent at £15 million was 50% more than was sent in 2003. Development has
continued at a reduced pace; we have opened in Cyprus and we have a new licence
in Austria. We have new banking partners in Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Sri Lanka,
Morocco and Philippines.

The international money transfer market has been very competitive in 2004. This
made our work on prices and margins all the more important. The competition
will remain challenging in 2005 but we intend to make further progress against
this competitive background.


GOODWILL

We believe our businesses have an indefinite life and we do not amortise the
goodwill arising on consolidation. This has been the subject of adverse comment
by our auditors in recent years and, again, this year. The IFRS regime will be
adopted from 1 January 2005 and our treatment will be consistent with IFRS.


DIVIDEND

Having regard to an interim dividend this year that came from reserves we are
continuing to adopt a prudent approach. Accordingly our final dividend will be
reduced to 0.5 pence per share. Payment will be on 6 July 2005 and a scrip
alternative will be offered.


STAFF

It has been a challenging year and I am grateful for the efforts our staff have
made to overcome the challenges that have faced us.


PROSPECTS

At HTEC we are seeking to ensure we capitalise on our technology and the current
order position indicates that we should be able to do so. Currency Division has
been rationalised and I expect this to result in an improvement in our figures
for the current year.


R J Mackie
Chairman and Chief Executive
29 March 2005

[papalpower] 28/3/2005 10:31

Some info on HTEC and what they do, and where we hope some good news will centre from Universe Groups pending results.

[papalpower] 27/3/2005 10:53

I am sticking with my estimate in the header, the short term target remains at 30p. We shall see on those results and what happens after.

[papalpower] 26/3/2005 08:18

Well, if the results are 29th, the RSI and MACD look ripe for good results. Are we preparing for the big push north ? We will find out very soon, and that mostly depends on HTEC's performance for UNG. Profit and a nice dividend, all will be revealed soon.

[addict] 24/3/2005 19:52

dealit,
Thanks very much
Gubinz-it used to be compulsory but these days it's at the company's discretion.The big companies have standard reporting dates.I believe it's good practice for companies to give notice,but that's just a personal view.

[dealit] 24/3/2005 17:47

Addict, I asked about result over a week ago and got this resonse:-

Yes, the plan is to announce the Universe results on the 23rd March.

Regards

Julie

I e-mailed them yesterday and recieved this e-mail today:-

The results will be on the 29/03.

Regards

Julie

[papalpower] 24/3/2005 15:45

I reckon it will come at 5pm today - with things looking bright for next week, would be an excellent play by them if they do do this.

[gubinz] 24/3/2005 15:43

Shouldn't there be a "notice of results" RNS to inform investors of the date of release? I don't know if it's compulsory - just going by other investments I hold. Can anyone enlighten me?

[addict] 24/3/2005 09:28

dealit,
Who sent the email-I tried to call them today but didn't get anywhere.Their website seems to be in need of updating on investor relations contacts.

[papalpower] 24/3/2005 09:20

They should, and hopefully are, protecting the interests of their shareholders. A number of companies are getting bashed this week, and even ones posting good news. If next week is a more sensible and reasonable week, lets hope they release them at close today, or early next week when its all calmed down and people become rational again.

No point in releasing good news if people will bash you just for the hell of it as its in vogue this week.

[dealit] 23/3/2005 12:03

Cheers addict, yes I bought them thought I had missed something.

Results should have been posted today according to an e-mail I recieved last week. I topped up on Monday morning and was taken back by the share price drop yesterday. Usually Companies post early in the day and I am beginning to fear that the result are not so great as I fought.

[addict] 23/3/2005 11:14

Nov. 2003 at 21.5p, 3 for 8

[dealit] 23/3/2005 11:02

what rights issue

[addict] 23/3/2005 10:42

Me too-but I've been adding.

[philo124] 23/3/2005 10:33

I am underwhelmed but still holding.
Philo

[addict] 23/3/2005 10:28

Anyone taking up the rights or placing at 21.5p must wonder what's going on.A recent buy note suggested a target S P of 30p.DYOR.

[dealit] 23/3/2005 09:59

Yes I agree, results not out yet all buys today the last time I looked.

[addict] 23/3/2005 09:55

Has all the potential in the world.After a mountain of development costs,the company looks poised to reap the benefit of rapid revenue growth.DYOR.

[dealit] 22/3/2005 23:23

Results out tomorrow. If the results are ok and the price moves North, todays price fall could be due to institutional buying i.e. MM`s pushing the price down to fill big orders at a lower price. You will not get to know for a couple of weeks via RSN.

[chris nuttall] 22/3/2005 19:49

arn't the finals due out this week, may be somebody knows something,
or are the mms going to try a tree shake to clear away the stop
losses before a large rise????
Finals posted last year on 23/03/04.
chris.

[philo124] 22/3/2005 16:06

Back to sqare one on no volume.
Philo

[gubinz] 22/3/2005 15:35

OK Can anyone explain why this has just dropped 10% for no apparent reason!!!