CLL.L Regulatory News (CLL)

3 Jul 2006 07:01

Cello Group plc03 July 2006 3 July 2006 CELLO TO TAKE CONTROL OF DIGITAL AND ONLINE MARKETING CONSULTANCY OOMPH Cello Group plc ("Cello") (AIM: CLL), the research and data led marketingservices group, is exercising its option, announced on 3 October 2005, to take acontrolling stake in OMP Services Ltd (trading as "Oomph" -www.oomphagency.com), the digital and on-line marketing consultancy. Cello willacquire 50.1% of Oomph for a total consideration of £150,000 in loan notes andthe issue of 123,254 new ordinary shares. The remaining 49.9% of Oomph is subject to a put option by the vendors. Thetotal maximum payable for this 49.9% is £1.5 million, payable up to 75% in newordinary shares. Oomph works closely with Cello's data analytics subsidiary, Talking Numberswithin Cello's response operating platform. Clients include CPP Group,Co-operative Financial Services, Cox & Kings Group, Cotswold Outdoor and Bristol& West. At 31 December 2005 net assets stood at £34,000. Mark Scott, Cello Chief Executive, commented "We are delighted that Oomph has proved such a success in the short period oftime since inception. The ability of Cello to incubate outstanding newbusinesses will stand us in good stead as we seek to continually innovate in thesolutions we offer clients." Enquiries: Cello GroupMark Scott, Chief Executive 020 7812 8460 College HillAdrian Duffield/Ben Way 020 7457 2020 Notes to Editors (www.cellogroup.co.uk) Cello Group plc is a research and data led marketing services group that listedon AIM in November 2004. The Group's strategy is to create value for shareholders by building a portfolioof companies around three specialist platforms, each operating within adifferent niche of the marketing services sector: market research and planning,brand strategy and consultancy, and direct marketing, digital and databasemanagement. Cello has annualised turnover of approx. £65 million, annualised gross profit ofsome £35 million and employs approx, 500 people. Each of Cello's three platforms has significant organic and acquisitive growthpotential; blue chip client relationships with a history of client loyalty;experienced, high quality management teams; and a track record of profitability. Cello Planning and Research * Insight Research Group - London, New York and Basel Insight is a specialist healthcare market research business that offers a broadrange of quantitative and qualitative research based solutions. Its clientsinclude GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, AstraZeneca, Shire Pharmaceuticals,NovoNordisk, Boehringer Ingleheim, Lundbeck, Pfizer, Roche and Merck, Sharp andDohme. Insight recently acquired FML, a leading field force company. * Leapfrog Research and Planning - Windsor Leapfrog is a leading consumer market research and planning consultancy offeringqualitative and quantitative research in the UK and internationally. It actsfor a number of blue chip clients including Tesco, GSK, BBC, Scottish Courage,Toyota, AA, RHM and Wyeth. * RS Consulting - London RS Consulting is a quantitative market research and business consultancy. Basedin London, the company employs approx 80 people across its three subsidiaries.Major clients include hp, Xerox, Sony, FedEx, Department of Work & Pensions,Cisco Systems, AXA, Yell, RBS, AON and BUPA. Cello Brand Consulting * Leith - Edinburgh and London Leith is the largest and most successful branding agency in Scotland. Theagency has been voted Scottish Agency of the Year for the last five years. Leith opened a London office in 2000 which has recently been integrated withFarm. Leith's major clients include Irn Bru, Scottish Executive, Standard LifeBank, Standard Life, Smile, ICI, FT and Goodfellas Pizza. * The Value Engineers - Beaconsfield TVE is a leading strategic brand consultancy focused on four core disciplines;branding, strategy, insight and innovation. Clients include Unilever,Carlsberg, Diageo, Sony Ericsson, ICI, Visa, BP, T-Mobile and Britvic. * TMI - Redditch Formed in 1978 TMI UK employs some 60 staff and is a leading provider oforganisational development and consultancy solutions to a range of blue chipclients including Toyota, hp, Metronet, Marks and Spencer, the Foreign andCommonwealth Office, National Express Group and Serco Solutions. Cello Response * Target Group - Cheltenham and Cirencester Target is the leading direct and database marketing consultancy specialising inthe "not-for-profit" and charity sector. The agency works for five of the top20 charities in the UK. Target is expanding into the "grey sector" of productsand services for older people for clients such as National Trust, Saga andWhich? Limited. Target has a leading database subsidiary, Talking Numbers and asuccessful print management operation, Target Direct Print. * Navigator Responsive Advertising - Edinburgh Navigator Responsive Advertising, Scotland's leading direct marketing agency,provides responsive communication solutions for a wide range of clientsincluding HBOS Group, De Vere Resort Ownership, ScottishPower, Scottish Widows,Abbey and Remy Martin. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange