24th Jan 2006 07:01
Next Fifteen Communications Grp PLC24 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 FifteenCommunications Group plc (the "Group"), will make the following comments withregards to trading and the business since the start of the financial year, 1August 2005. "I am pleased to report that the Group is trading in line with marketexpectations. In November we posted our most recent set of full year figureswhich showed record earnings, profit and revenues. Revenue growth has continuedas a result of a much improved new business climate and the outcome is that theGroup's revenue mix has yet again broadened across a wider portfolio of clientsand brands. "Text 100, the largest of our businesses, has continued to add significantclients to its International network, the most notable being PhilipsSemiconductor as a Global client. In addition, Text 100 has added work from USmobile phone operator, Sprint; and software companies Adobe and Ariba. "Bite Communications continues to show impressive growth and has further addedto its US client base with India's largest consultancy and IT services company,Infosys, and Virgin Life Care. In Sweden, Bite has recently won semiconductorgiant 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, withCredo's Managing Director becoming Managing Director of Bite's UK operations. Aspart 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, hascontinued to expand with the addition of US VOIP leader Vonage as a client.Meanwhile, OutCast Communications, based in San Francisco, which the Groupacquired shortly before the year end, has added seven new clients in the currentfinancial year including some impressive new startups that include Navio,Podshow and Ingres. "Following the restructuring of August One, the smallest of our operations, lastyear to focus more actively on non-technology businesses, performance hasimproved. In particular, it has had some notable client wins in the currentfinancial year including Pricerunner and most recently npower. "Lastly, at the start of the current fiscal year, the Group acquired a 25% stakein Lexis, a leading UK consumer PR agency. This business has continued to expandat an impressive rate as a result of the expansion of current client assignmentsand new business from firms including Kerry Foods, Norwich Union and Airmiles. "We are pleased to note the relative strength of the US dollar compared torecent years, particularly as the Group derives over half of its profits fromthis 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 GroupTim Dyson, Chief Executive 001 415 350 2801David Dewhurst, Finance Director 07974 161 183 Merlin 020 7653 6620Vanessa MaydonRebecca Penney Mob. 07795 108 178 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
NFC.L