Annual and Interim Reports

Universe Group PLC (AIM: UNG.L) the AIM listed retail and loyalty systems group today announces its audited preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2010.

Highlights

- Revenue down 10.1% to £11.29 million (2009: £12.56 million)
- Gross margin percentage increased to 40.5% (2009: 37.4%) driven by improved sales mix and cost reductions
- Profit before tax from continuing operations of £0.27 million (2009: profit of £0.15 million)*
- Operating profit from continuing operations up 8% to £0.58 million (2009: £0.54 million)*
- EBITDA from continuing operations down 1.7% to £1.86 million (2009: £1.89 million)*
- Statutory retained loss of £0.90 million (2009: loss of £0.50 million) after loss on discontinued operations

* After exceptional costs of £0.23 million, mainly comprising restructuring costs (2009: After exceptional costs of £0.46 million mainly comprising restructuring costs).
** After exceptional costs of £0.23 million, mainly comprising restructuring costs (2009: After exceptional costs of £0.56 million mainly comprising restructuring costs).

Unless specified otherwise, all references to adjusted operating profit and adjusted profit before tax throughout this announcement exclude the exceptional costs disclosed in * above.

John Scholes, Chairman of Universe, commented:

“Profitability from the continuing businesses has held up despite the fall in turnover, as cost control measures have enabled us to grow our profit before taxation by 73% year on year. Investment in business and product development has continued throughout 2010 in order to position Universe for success as business confidence recovers.

There are signs that the current year will benefit from an improved market environment. This year will also see the launch of our new payments and loyalty terminal, providing an upgrade path for our existing customers and the potential to attract business from the wider retail market.

Considerable interest in the new product range has already been received from a number of potential customers. Conversion of this interest into firm orders is the critical factor in enabling Universe to return to turnover growth and, consequently, to benefit from its reduced cost base.”

2011:

Notice of AGM Meeting 2011

Universe Group Interim Report 2011

2010:

Universe Group Interim Report 2010

Universe Annual Report 2010

2009:

Universe Group Half Year 2009 Announcement

Universe Group Interim Report 2009

2008:

Universe Group Interim Results 2008

Universe Group Annual Report 2008