R4E.L Regulatory News (R4E)

4 Aug 2009 07:00

First Artist Corporation plc

(the "Group")

Change of Accounting Reference Date and Trading Update

Change of Accounting Reference Date

First Artist Corporation plc (AIM: FAN) notifies the market that it has changed its accounting reference date from 31 August to 30 November with immediate effect. Therefore the next set of consolidated audited accounts will be drawn up for the 15 month period from 1 September 2008 to 30 November 2009. The change is being made in connection with the strategic review of non-core businesses as announced on 29 June 2009.

Trading Update

We are pleased to announce that the Sport division has had a very positive start to the summer football trading window, having been instrumental in, amongst others, the following transfers:

Emmanuel Adebayor from Arsenal to Manchester City

Roger Johnson from Cardiff City to Birmingham City

Samuel Eto'o from Barcelona to Inter Milan

Steven Fletcher from Hibernian to Burnley 

Lars Jacobsen from Everton to Blackburn Rovers

Obafemi Martins from Newcastle United to Wolfsburg

In addition, a significant marketing deal has been put in place between Andrey Arshavin and PepsiCo, to include the run up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

The Group continues to trade in line with management expectations.

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For further information:

Notes to Editors:

First Artist Corporation plc was admitted to AIM in 2002.

First Artist's group companies are among the leading brands in their fields under the following categories: 

Media - entertainment advertising, marketing, design, promotions, digital media, merchandising, signage and front of house displays for the West End, Broadway and Las Vegas via the Dewynters, SpotCo and Newman Displays brands. Sponsorship rights marketing through First Rights Limited.

Events - offers a broad range of events such as conferences, company activity days, parties, venue finding, delegate management and client events for private and public sector clients through The Finishing Touch.

Entertainment/Sport - representation of media personalities and football players/clubs across the UK, Europe and the US by First Artist Management, First Artist Sport, Promosport and First Artist Scandinavia, together with wealth management through the Independent Financial Advisory firm, Optimal Wealth Management.