Character Regulatory News (CCT)

31 Jan 2007 07:01

Character Group PLC31 January 2007 Issued by Citigate Dewe Rogerson Limited, BirminghamDate: Wednesday, 31 January 2007 Embargoed: 7.00am The Character Group plc ("Group" or "Character Group" or the "Company") Update on The London Toy Fair, New Master Licence with BBC Worldwide and Current Trading Further to our recent Trading update read at our Annual General Meeting on 17January 2007, the Board is now able to comment on the Group's performance andsuccesses at The London Toy Fair, which closed on Saturday 27 January 2007, andprovide further guidance on the Group's current trading. Toy Fair 2007 update:During this important Trade Show, we were delighted to have been awarded theoverall "Toy of the Year" award for our Doctor Who Cyberman helmet together withthe "Toy of the Year" award in the boys category for our Doctor Who actionfigures. The Board is especially pleased to have been acknowledged in this way by the toyindustry and considers that these awards clearly recognise the Group's growingcapacity to develop its own product lines, which are both innovative andexciting for the consumer and our customers alike. Following the conclusion of this event and other recent international tradeshows, we are very pleased with the responses to our new and existing rangesfrom the trade in general and specifically from all our major customers.Indications are that we are now expecting to achieve further substantial growththrough the 2007 calendar year. Examples of the Group's new ranges that have been especially well received bythe industry and the retailers include: Bindeez; Movin & Groovin Flowers; ThisIs Me (a new range of soft body dolls); Dragonfly and Roboquad (our new Roboticintroductions); and, not to be understated, the great reaction the Companyreceived for our new Doctor Who products. The Sarah Jane Adventures - Master Licence awarded by BBC WorldwideWe are also delighted to announce a further project with BBC Worldwide relatingto the television programme The Sarah Jane Adventures, which has developed as aspin-off from the Doctor Who series and which we believe will be very successfulin its own right. Richard Hollis, BBC Worldwide Head of UK licensing commented: "We look forward to strengthening our relationship with Character Group stillfurther and enjoying continued success with their toy ranges." Richard King, Chairman, the Character Group added: "We are delighted to be awarded this second master licence by BBC Worldwide. Itclearly underpins the strength of our working partnership. It also reflects theenormous amount of vision and talent that we have in the business anddemonstrates our ability to develop award winning ranges that appeal to both thelicensor, and perhaps even more importantly, the consumer." Current TradingDespite the very mixed trading results at retail for last Christmas which haverecently been announced by retailers, the Board anticipates growth in sales withall of its major trading partners and for each of its major product categories. To date, Group sales in the continuing business are up by an estimated 35% forthe first five months of the current financial year. As a result, and takingaccount of the strong reception we enjoyed to our new introductions, theDirectors now expect that the Group will exceed current market expectations. Enquiries:Richard King, Chairman Fiona Tooley, Director Richard ThompsonKiran Shah, Group Finance Director & Joint MD Katie Dale, Senior Account Manager Philip DaviesThe Character Group plc Citigate Dewe Rogerson Charles Stanley SecuritiesTel: +44 (0) 20 8949 5898 Mobile: +44 (0) 7785 703523 Tel: +44 (0) 20 7149 6000Mobile: +44 (0) 7836 250150 (RK) Tel: +44 (0) 121 455 8370Mobile: +44 (0) 7956 278522 (KS)www.thecharacter.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange