Next Fifteen Communications Grp PLC
24 January 2006
24 January 2006
Next Fifteen Communications Group plc
AGM and trading update
At the AGM to be held today at 2.30pm, Will Whitehorn, Chairman of Next Fifteen
Communications Group plc (the "Group"), will make the following comments with
regards to trading and the business since the start of the financial year, 1
August 2005.
"I am pleased to report that the Group is trading in line with market
expectations. In November we posted our most recent set of full year figures
which showed record earnings, profit and revenues. Revenue growth has continued
as a result of a much improved new business climate and the outcome is that the
Group's revenue mix has yet again broadened across a wider portfolio of clients
and brands.
"Text 100, the largest of our businesses, has continued to add significant
clients to its International network, the most notable being Philips
Semiconductor as a Global client. In addition, Text 100 has added work from US
mobile phone operator, Sprint; and software companies Adobe and Ariba.
"Bite Communications continues to show impressive growth and has further added
to its US client base with India's largest consultancy and IT services company,
Infosys, and Virgin Life Care. In Sweden, Bite has recently won semiconductor
giant AMD and, in the UK, it has added Symantec to the client list. In addition,
Bite recently completed the acquisition of Credo Communications in the UK, with
Credo's Managing Director becoming Managing Director of Bite's UK operations. As
part of this acquisition, Bite added Sage and Hummingbird to its UK client list.
"Inferno, which houses the Group's relationship with Microsoft in the UK, has
continued to expand with the addition of US VOIP leader Vonage as a client.
Meanwhile, OutCast Communications, based in San Francisco, which the Group
acquired shortly before the year end, has added seven new clients in the current
financial year including some impressive new startups that include Navio,
Podshow and Ingres.
"Following the restructuring of August One, the smallest of our operations, last
year to focus more actively on non-technology businesses, performance has
improved. In particular, it has had some notable client wins in the current
financial year including Pricerunner and most recently npower.
"Lastly, at the start of the current fiscal year, the Group acquired a 25% stake
in Lexis, a leading UK consumer PR agency. This business has continued to expand
at an impressive rate as a result of the expansion of current client assignments
and new business from firms including Kerry Foods, Norwich Union and Airmiles.
"We are pleased to note the relative strength of the US dollar compared to
recent years, particularly as the Group derives over half of its profits from
this market. The Board remains confident about the Group's prospects.
"The Group will report its Interim Results on 4 April 2006."
For further information:
Next Fifteen Communications Group
Tim Dyson, Chief Executive 001 415 350 2801
David Dewhurst, Finance Director 07974 161 183
Merlin 020 7653 6620
Vanessa Maydon
Rebecca Penney Mob. 07795 108 178
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange