CLL.L Regulatory News (CLL)

11 Jan 2006 07:00

Cello Group plc11 January 2006 Cello Group plc Pre Close Trading Statement - year to 31 December 2005 Cello Group plc ("Cello"), the marketing services group, today provides thefollowing pre-close trading update ahead of its preliminary results for the yearto 31 December 2005. As projected, trading in the second half of the year wassignificantly stronger than the first half and the Board anticipates that theGroup's results for the year to 31 December 2005 will be in line with itsexpectations. Since its listing in November 2004, and in line with its stated strategy, Cellohas more than doubled in size through a combination of good organic growth andselected acquisitions. Cello is a highly focused marketing advisory groupcompeting in three sub-sectors of the marketing services industry; marketresearch and planning, brand strategy and consultancy, and direct marketing anddata base management. Cello's mission is to reach leadership in its three chosenareas of client service in terms of professional reputation, client penetration,size and international service capability. The outlook for 2006 remains positive with all three platforms showing goodrevenue growth and forward visibility. This, together with increasingcross-group opportunities which are emerging, gives the Group confidence for thefuture. Cello expects to announce its preliminary results for the year to 31 December2005 on Tuesday 14 March 2006. 11 January 2006 Enquiries Cello GroupKevin Steeds, Chairman 020 7457 2020 College HillAdrian Duffield/Clare Warren 020 7457 2020 Notes to Editors (www.cellogroup.co.uk) Cello Group plc is a marketing services group that listed on AIM in November2004. 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 UK marketing services sector: market research andplanning, brand consultancy, and direct marketing/database management. Following the completion of the acquisition of TMI UK, Cello has annualisedturnover of approx. £65 million, annualised gross profit of some £35 million andemploys 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 and New York 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,AA, RHM and Wyeth. * RS Consulting - London RS Consulting is a quantitative market research and business consultancy. Basedin London, the company employs approx 70 people across its three subsidiaries.Major clients include hp, Xerox, Sony, FedEx, Department of Work & Pensions,AXA, Yell, RBS, AON and BUPA. Cello Brand Consultancy * 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. Leith's major clients include Irn Bru,Scottish Executive, Carling, Standard Life Bank, Hotpoint, Standard Life,Silentnight 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. More recently,Target helped start a digital business, Oomph. * 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