Universe Share Discussion Threads

[papalpower] 02/8/2006 08:16

No, they have stock on hand and likely trying to make a market, so they need some cheaper sells to allow cheaper buys, a lower price might spark some buying.

All part of MM workings on small not very liquid AIM stocks.

They have the working cap, they have the growth in HTEC, it just needs them to sell off Master Change, clear the debt and then it should be rated at least on 10 times EPS, more like 15 times.

Until then.......its going to wallow in being unloved, and susceptable to MM's looking for cheap sellers at low prices to let them average down.

[rcktmn] 02/8/2006 08:14

Thanks Papal...however, share price bid is down again this morning...not looking good... this looks as though it's being walked down to a much lowere level for some reason. Looks as though we're going to be fleeced !

[papalpower] 02/8/2006 02:36

2.1p EPS even on a times 10 rating for current year is 21p. However, UNG is still unloved at the moment, what it needs is the sell off of Master Change, that would spike the price into life.

[rcktmn] 01/8/2006 20:27

Rabbrooks.... tend to agree with you on this one.... Papal has said a while ago that come Sept this share usually rises

From the last results :
'We expect to announce the interim results for the six months ending 30 June
2006 on 4th September 2006.

Let's see what happens... doesn't look good as they did say the first qtr got off to a quiet start... maybe that's already priced in the share price and it's bottomed out ?

Any comments Papal ?

[rabbrooks] 01/8/2006 17:25

I do not believe there is any future in UNG surviving in it's present form. The For Sale flag should be flown in a prominent place . The price would have to be higher than it is hovering at now to give a fairer reflection of value but i fear it's days are numbered.

[boadicea] 30/7/2006 14:17

Looking back over the trades for the last couple of weeks, it's interesting to note that the mm's are maintaining the price in the face of a steady trickle of small sells.

I'm not sure how to intepret this -
e.g. they expect the next news to push them up so don't mind holding some stock,
or they have been short and are happy to go level,
or they don't want to drop the price for fear of starting an avalanche!

I hope it's the first of those suggestions, as seems the more likely - but perhaps I'm biassed.

[silverfern] 07/7/2006 15:06

HOw it all comes around. HTEC was bought by Card Clear some years ago, then floated off durng the boom as a separate company coupled with the money exchange business as Universe. If HTEC ends up back on its own, well there's a story.

[papalpower] 04/7/2006 10:32

Certainly waking back up now :)

[boadicea] 04/7/2006 09:49

.... It also makes the company itself very saleable imho.

[papalpower] 04/7/2006 02:46

Rabbrooks, I am told my take on the pending Master Change sale as read from today's RNS is correct, and that they are now in the process of selling off Master Change.

This will clear the debt, and leave a new HTECH growing division on an EPS of over 2p for the current year.

It deserves an immediate rerating based on no debt then, 15 times PER would give over 30p................

[boadicea] 03/7/2006 21:45

Rab - Very much my sentiments too.

[rabbrooks] 03/7/2006 17:59

PP---- I certainly hope so. I have advocated the full sale of the division on several occasions. Ung is being prepared for a total sale IHO. RTD should take it back into the fold, unless they can find another tech co. with something to offer in a Amalgamation/Takeover scenario.We all hope that the price has bottomed out,that superflous staff have left,and the slimmed down co. has a commercial future.

[papalpower] 03/7/2006 13:43

Is that an admission that the Paris Master Change operations are currently being sold ? I hope so !

Universe Group PLC
03 July 2006

3 JULY 2006

UNIVERSE GROUP PLC
('Universe Group')
BOARD CHANGES

The Board of Universe Group, the AIM listed retail and information systems
company, today announces certain board changes.

Keith Buchanan left the Board on 30 June 2006 after a full three year period as
a Non-Executive Director and an earlier period as Finance Director. It is the
Board's intention to announce a replacement in due course.

Catherine Wines will leave the Board on 31 August 2006. Catherine is the
Managing Director of the Currency Division. She managed First Remit and its sale and is currently engaged in the sale of the Paris bureaux operations. Catherine will remain Group Company Secretary on a part time basis.

The Board thanks both Keith and Catherine for their commitment and valuable
contributions during their time as Board members of Universe Group.

--ENDS--

[rabbrooks] 29/6/2006 09:39

It's not very inspiring when you look at the paltry amount of shares held by the other directors. If they don't have confidence how do you think the UNG customers, staff and shareholders feel.

[papalpower] 29/6/2006 02:31

Shares in issue: 64.6m 5p Ords

Major Shareholders % Holding

Ennismore Fund Mgmt 15.49%
Raymond John Mackie 13.19% (DIR)
F&C Asset Managers 7.04%
Singer & Friedlander Ltd 7.02%

Other Directors

Barrie L Brinkman 1.423 %
Catherine Wines 0.388 %
Adrian Grinsell 0.097 %
Edwin M Paul 0.082 %
Keith Michael Buchanan 0.064 %

[kenatbabken] 27/6/2006 10:17

Does anyone have a list of major shareholders in UNG, TIA

[papalpower] 14/6/2006 06:21

Current year pr PER of just times 7.......not much further they can go really.

However, I would love to add some more at around 13.5p offer, so do not mind if they do drop a little bit more ;)

[rcktmn] 14/6/2006 06:06

don't speak too soon....! anything's possible in the current market climate!

[papalpower] 14/6/2006 00:55

Its nigh on at the bottom it can go YM, even the MM's would be embarassed if they marked this one down any more.

[yachtmonster] 13/6/2006 18:22

and one of only a third of my portfolio which didn't lose value today.

[papalpower] 10/6/2006 11:48

Rabbrooks that is why its always worth holding these profitable but unloved companies. I also have a large holding in OSH, averaged around 12p, and not a bidding war is to start soon at around 30p a share the rumour is, with 4 or 5 bidders rumoured this could well see 40p a share at the end.

UNG would certainly also go for around 35p a share if took over I would hazzard a guess, if not around the 40p level as well.

Boring, unloved, but worth holding, as its a profitable company and also pays a div.

[rabbrooks] 10/6/2006 11:27

The only hope here is a takeover for the rump of the company after the inevitable disposal of master Change. RTD should take it into the fold again.

[jaypea] 09/6/2006 13:19

Somewhat under-valued maybe; together with un-loved & un-wanted by the market but the question for me is where will a re-rating come from?? I just can't see it from sale of Master Change, its a one-off,surely it needs to come from an increase in the core business...

this is where i have concerns.....they are a small player, Torex is biggest competitor & getting bigger by winning contracts & making acquisitions...is UNG simply being side-lined?? (mind you the TRX balance sheet is horrific!!)
Last contract win announced by UNG....Jan06..ummmm

On a 12mth view & without positive core business news i see this drifting down & continuing the trend.I've considered selling out since 16.5 but fundies kept me in but enoughs enough..selling at 15 or 13.5....whichever comes first!!??

Cheers
jaypea

[papalpower] 08/6/2006 10:10

Its the waiting game, just wait for the news of Master Change being sold off, we got rid of First Remit, now its just Master Change to go, then the debt will be clear totally and UNG becomes a tech play with HTEC.

EPS 2.1p current year forecast..........SP 15p offer.........thats undervalued somewhat.

[rcktmn] 08/6/2006 10:04

if you look at the charts the summer high/spike gets lowere every year..In the current climate the high looks to be about 17p/18p about the same as where I bought in... overall.. not looking particularly promising !