R4E.L Regulatory News (R4E)

22 Dec 2006 07:01

First Artist Corporation PLC22 December 2006 For release at 7.00am. 22 December 2006 First Artist Corporation Plc EGM Statement and Trading Update An Extraordinary General Meeting of First Artist Corporation Plc ("First Artist"or the "Group"), the media and entertainment group, will be held at 10.00amtoday at 10 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0DH to conduct the business as setout in the Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting included in the circular toshareholders dated 30 November 2006. At the meeting, Jon Smith, the Chief Executive, will make the followingcomments: "With regard to trading across the Group in this financial year to date, all ofour businesses are performing in line with or ahead of expectations, with inparticular: - the Sports division, which represented Alan Curbishley in hisappointment as manager of West Ham United, looking forward to the Januaryfootball transfer window with confidence; - the Wealth division's joint venture with HW Fisher proving to be veryproductive; and - the successful integration of recently acquired NCI Management into FirstArtist Entertainment. Overall, we have had a most promising start to this current year. Included in the business of today's meeting is a resolution to approve theacquisition of Dewynters Plc ("Dewynters"), the UK entertainment industry'sleading marketing services agency. Dewynters has natural synergies andcross-referral opportunities with the rest of the Group, especially Events, andwill spearhead First Artist's Media division, working with the highly-respectedSponsorship Consulting Limited. Its addition to the First Artist family will bea significant milestone in our growth and development, as we continue to seekfurther opportunities for expansion". For further information: First Artist Corporation plcJon Smith, Chief Executive Tel. 020 8900 1818Richard Hughes, Group Managing Director Hudson Sandler Nick Lyon /James White Tel. 020 7796 4133 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange