UNG.L Regulatory News (UNG)

AIM: UNG

Universe Group plc

("Universe" or "the Group")

Acquisition in Key Market Vertical

Universe (AIM: UNG.L), a leading developer and supplier of point of sale, payment and on-line loyalty systems is pleased to announce the acquisition of Spedinorcon Limited ("Spedi"), the developer and supplier of retail software for point of sale, back office and head office management. 

Based in Surrey, Spedi has particular expertise in providing specialist systems and services to the convenience store market. In addition to its own advanced suite of software products, it also co-owns the rights to industry-leading software that enables retailers to control the distribution of newspapers and magazines and manage stock levels, returns and automated pricing updates. Spedi currently supplies systems to more than 1,500 retail stores throughout the UK, many within the Londis and Costcutter chains. 

The acquisition of Spedi is a further strategic move to extend the Group's product offering and widen its customer base and end markets as well as enhance its technical expertise. It follows the acquisition of Indigo in May 2013, which gave Universe access to the fast growing convenience store and general retail markets, and the purchase of Retail Service Team in November 2013 which complemented Universe's installation and maintenance services.

Universe's CEO, Jeremy Lewis commented:

"I am delighted to announce the acquisition of Spedi. Spedi's products, brands and market position within the retail sector are highly complementary to ours and its addition is strategically important to us. We have made good progress in extending Universe's presence within the sizable and growing convenience store market and Spedi further strengthens our position here."

For further information:

About Universe Group plc:

Universe provides some of the world's leading retailers with point of sale, payment and loyalty solutions. The Group's solutions are based on its own proprietary software and are offered out of the Cloud on a software as a service model with its data centres processing in excess of 3 billion transactions every year. For further information, please see www.universeplc.com.