4Imprint Regulatory News (FOUR)

18 Dec 2007 15:26

4imprint Group PLC18 December 2007 TRADING UPDATE Ahead of its close period, 4imprint Group plc announces a trading update inrespect of the period ending 29 December 2007. Sales in all sections of the Group, with the exception of the Trade Division,have continued the growth shown at the half year, with sustained strong growthin the USA Direct Marketing Division, a particular feature. In the Trade Division, sales of Supreme products have continued to grow duringthe second half, but Product Source sales fell during Q3, as problems with theintegration of the Product Source business onto the Supreme Blackpool sitereduced production and customer service capability. These problems have now beengreatly reduced, and Product Source sales in Q4 were much improved. Furthermore,costs at the Blackpool site, which were running considerably higher than plannedthrough most of the second half, have recently been brought down to plannedlevels. Profits from the USA Direct Marketing Division are expected to be substantiallyahead of the previous year reflecting the sustained and accelerating growth ofmarket share which has been achieved by this business over recent years. Profits from the European End User Division are also expected to be well aheadof last year underpinned by strong growth at the PPI business, and an excellentperformance from the Manchester business now benefiting from substantialreduction of overhead costs arising from the transfer of the Product Sourcebusiness to the Blackpool site. The Group expects that results for the period ending 29 December 2007 will be inline with Market expectations. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange