R4E.L Regulatory News (R4E)

26 Feb 2009 08:03

Date: 26th February 2009

On behalf of: First Artist Corporation plc ("First Artist" or "the Group")

Embargoed for: 0700hrs

FIRST ARTIST CORPORATION PLC

Trading Update

First Artist Corporation plc (AIM: FAN), the media, entertainment/sport and events group, today provides an update on current trading prior to entering the close period before reporting its interim results for the six months ended 28th February 2009.

Highlights for the period include:

SpotCo, the newly acquired US-based live entertainment advertising agency, has defied the downturn on Broadway by performing ahead of budget since its acquisition in October 2008, and is already making a valuable contribution to the Group. Its innovative campaigns currently include such major Broadway hits as Billy Elliott, Shrek, and In the Heights.

The West End continues to attract strong theatre audiences, with Dewynters, our UK-based  full-service agency, supporting numerous productions including Wicked, The Lion King, We Will Rock You, and the current major hit Oliver!, which opened in December 2008. Evidencing the strategic fit between the two companies, Dewynters is also collaborating with SpotCo on the campaign for Priscilla Queen of the Desert, which opens in the West End next month and in the US later this year.

First Artist Sport was responsible for the successful negotiation of the high profile transfer of footballer Andrey Arshavin from Zenit St. Petersburg to Arsenal during the January 2009 transfer window, and for the move of manager Harry Redknapp to Tottenham Hotspur in November 2008.

The Group continues to trade in line with management expectations.

It is expected that the Group will report its interim results for the six months ending 28th February 2009 in May 2009.

- ends -

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.