R4E.L Regulatory News (R4E)

26 Apr 2006 07:00

For immediate release: 26th April 2006 First Artist Corporation PLC Trading Update: Finishing Touch First Artist Corporation PLC (AIM: FAN), the acquisitive sports andentertainment group, today confirmed that Christmas bookings for its eventmanagement business - Finishing Touch - are ahead of expectations.Jon Smith, Chief Executive for First Artist Corporation PLC, commented:"The optimism in the City off the back of the current wave of major M&Aactivity is already appearing to have a direct impact on our business. For thelast two years the Christmas season has been dominated by headlines of firmscutting back. All the early indications this year are the opposite."Already Finishing Touch has received instructions on twelve events for December06 with enquiries received on a further forty-eight.The Company also confirms that Finishing Touch is trading in line withexpectations for its summer `06 events season and that its wealth managementdivision, ABG FM, is ahead of budget for the current year following "A Day".With regards to its player representation business, the Company is lookingforward to a positive second half of year post World Cup.-ENDS-Notes to EditorsFirst Artist Corporation PLC (AIM: FAN) is a leading sport and entertainmentrepresentation and event management group. With offices in London, Milan, theUSA and Middle East, it provides four distinct services: sports playerrepresentation, celebrity representation, wealth management, and eventmanagement. Its player representation division, First Artist Management, isrecognised as one of the world's leading football management groups.For further information:First Artist Corporation plc Tel. + 44 (0) 20 8900 1818Jon Smith, Chief ExecutiveRichard Hughes, Finance DirectorArbuthnot Securities Limited Tel:+ 44 (0) 20 7012 2000Tom Griffithsgth media relationsToby Hall/Jade Mamarbachi Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7153 8039 / 8035ENDFIRST ARTIST CORPORATION PLC