Communisis PLC Regulatory News (CMS)

11 Apr 2006 07:00

Communisis plc11 April 2006Trading Update and Succession PlanningTrading profit in the first quarter was ahead of management's expectations andthe comparable period last year.Print Management Services has started positively reflecting the benefit of newcontracts won in 2005 and growth in our European business which has respondedto the investment made in the past 18 months.Transactional Print Services has made a strong start to the year, partly as aresult of the acquired HSBC Statementing business where we took operationalcontrol on 16th January.Print & direct mail markets remain challenging. Within this segment ouroperational print business is trading in line with expectations but thecontinued industry over-capacity and deflationary pricing within the directmail market, in particular, means that results for this business are behindlast year. We are currently conducting a review of capacity and the underlyingcost base. It is anticipated that any exceptional costs this year will beoffset by exceptional property profits, some of which have already beenannounced.David Jones has decided to stand down as Chief Executive once a successor hasbeen appointed. David has been Chief Executive for 8 years over which time hehas seen through the major transformation of John Mansfield Group plc intotoday's Communisis plc. The Nominations Committee will now commence a formalsearch for a new Chief Executive.For further information, please contact:David Jones, Chief ExecutiveCommunisis plc Tel: 020 7426 4690Mark Whiteling, Finance DirectorCommunisis plc Tel: 020 7426 4690William ClutterbuckThe Maitland Consultancy Tel: 020 7379 5151ENDCOMMUNISIS PLC