Design Group Regulatory News (IGR)

17 Oct 2005 07:00

International Greetings PLC17 October 2005 17 October 2005 International Greetings plc International Greetings Launches "Little Britain" Ranges -Group wins Decade of Excellence Award at the AIM Awards- International Greetings plc ("International Greetings" or "the Group") (AIM:IGR), the leading designer and manufacturer of private label greetings products,wrapping paper and film and television character based licensed stationery,announces today that it has launched a range of greetings and stationeryproducts based on characters from the award winning comedy series LittleBritain. The Little Britain range reflects the Group's continued diversification intoproducts which appeal to teenage and student markets (in addition to itsextensive range of children's licences). International Greetings has signed an initial two year licence for the UKmarketplace with Granada Ventures Limited, and Little Britain designed productswill be in shops for the busy Christmas season. Commenting, Nick Fisher, joint chief executive of International Greetings said:"Most of our licensed products are focussed at younger children, so it isexciting for us to launch a new range which is geared towards the student andteenage segments of the market. Little Britain is an extremely popularprogramme, and has developed an enormous following. We believe there will bestrong demand for our products this Christmas and beyond." AIM Decade of Excellence Award International Greetings is also pleased to announce that it won the Decade ofExcellence Award at the 10th Annual AIM Awards Dinner. Nick Fisher, joint chiefexecutive of the Group, collected the award on behalf of International Greetingswho received the award in recognition of an outstanding contribution to thesuccess of AIM since its launch in 1995. For further information:Nick Fisher, International Greetings plc: 01707 630630Richard Sunderland, Tavistock Communications: 020 7920 3150 Notes to Editors: International Greetings PLC is a leading designer and manufacturer of privatelabel wrapping paper, greetings products and film and television character basedlicensed stationery. It currently has over 1,000 employees and produces giftwrapping paper, gift tags, ribbons, Christmas crackers, greeting cards and otherdecorative accessories. The Group provides wrapping paper and gift products to most of the major highstreet retailers and holds the licences to produce merchandise for most of thewell-known family blockbusters, including the Harry Potter series, Robots, andthe recently released Batman Begins. International Greetings was founded by Anders Hedlund in 1979 and has successfuloperations in the United States, Hong Kong and, as part of its continuedworldwide expansion, has recently opened facilities in China and Latvia. TheCompany has a strong platform for growth in Europe, through its Dutch basedHoomark subsidiary and, in May 2005, it acquired Anker International, aninternational design, import and distribution business with interests in the UK,Holland and Hong Kong for a consideration of £35.5 million. Anker Internationalsupplies a wide assortment of greetings, festive, stationery and photographicgift products which both complement and add to the Group's existing ranges. International Greetings listed on AIM in 1995 and is currently capitalised atabout £215 million. Further information is available at www.internationalgreetings.co.uk This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange