Stratmin Global Resources Regulatory News (STGR)

27 Apr 2006 07:01

Interactive Prospect TargetingHdgs27 April 2006 INTERACTIVE PROSPECT TARGETING HOLDINGS PLC ("IPT") Acquisitions of Direct Excellence Limited and MPCI Limited IPT (IPH.L), the UK's leading online direct marketing company, is pleased toannounce it has exchanged contracts to acquire the business and assets of DirectExcellence Limited ("DE") and the entire issued voting share capital of MPCILimited ("MPCI"). Both businesses specialise in evaluating customers directexperiences to help organisations develop more effective customer managementstrategies. IPT has agreed to pay an initial cash consideration for bothbusinesses of £0.47m and a further payment based on future profitability. The acquisitions are earnings neutral in 2006 and are expected to be earningsenhancing in 2007, as part of IPT's market research division IMRS, the UK'slargest online consumer panel, with 300,000 unincentivised members, and accessto a database of 10.5 million UK names. DE, based in Twickenham, Surrey, is being acquired from the Moonriver Group andMPCI, based in Pulborough West Sussex, is currently privately owned. Both businesses are being incorporated into IPT's service division and willenhance the groups market research services. Both businesses expect to benefitfrom cost effective access to IPT's online consumer panels to enhance theirexisting telephone interview capabilities. Commenting, Lionel Thain, Chief Executive Officer, IPT, said: "The enhancementof the group's research capabilities is one of our ongoing objectives andbringing DE and MPCI into our services division will allow us to broaden theservices we can offer to our corporate customers. At the same time we canoperate in a very cost effective manner due to the access we have to the onlineconsumer data held within the group. Regarding current trading at IPT, Mr Thain said: "IPT has made a confident startto 2006 trading. Online marketing spend continues to be "the hottest'advertising growth area." IPT IPT Limited was founded in 1999 in Central London by an experienced directmarketing management team. It is owned 41% by its management team and employees. The Company collects consumer data and communicates offers over the Internet. The IPT client base has grown consistently. Between 2002 and 2006, Itsextensive, blue chip list of clients have been drawn primarily from the consumermarketing sector and include both direct clients and their media agencies.IPT's Clients include: Cahoot; FilmFour; BBQ; Britannia; American Express;Guinness; Ocado; BMI; Kodak; Citroen; Dell; Yell.com; Littlewoods; Nestle; TheOpen University; Tesco; Tiscali; Sky; Dixons; Cadbury; Jaguar; Virgin Wines;Abbey; AA; The Cooperative Bank; Scottish Power; Sainsbury's; The Famous Grouse;RAC; Alliance & Leicester; Panasonic; British Gas; lastminute.com; Lloyeds TSB;Norwich Union. IPT also managed client databases for Dial-a-Phone, the RAC,Lloyds TSB, Kuoni Travel, Ebookers, Universal Group Universal and BCA. IPT has created and maintains a range of websites to collect consumer data,primarily via online questionnaires. Since inception, IPT has processedinformation from in excess of 90million such questionnaires. The Company hasformed a number of online marketing partnerships that generate for IPT anaverage of over 200,000 registrations from consumers every month. Data collectedenables IPT and its clients to send targeted offers by email, post, telephoneand SMS. IPT has also developed a range of complementary online marketing servicesincluding email delivery, database and microsite management and market research. Customer acquisition data is collected from online questionnaires (2-3 millionquestionnaires per month). Direct rents out lists for direct communication byemail, post or SMS (over 100 companies per month). Services comprise theexecution of online direct marketing campaigns (over 45 million messages permonth) and market research. Traffic at IPT averages over 200,000 registrations per month, three websites (MyOffers, OK Mail, Pay Finder.com) and databases. IPT currently has over 90million questionnaires on its databases. IPT Financial Performance IPT announced its maiden preliminary results last March. For the year ended 31December 2005, turnover rose 61% to £13.6 million, operating profits increasedby 90% to £1.7 million, and profit before tax was up by 160% to over £2.6million. Diluted EPS increased by 158% to 6.7p from 2.6p in 2004. Shareholderfunds increased by £5.1 million to £11.7 million. Lionel Thain said: "We continue to be delighted with the level of institutionalinvestor support the Company has received. We continue to be excited about thefuture of the digital direct marketing place and the opportunities for growth inboth direct marketing and on-line services. We have a broad customer base withinour market, very good cash generation and a strong, experienced and ambitiousmanagement team." ENDS For further information, please contact: Interactive Prospect Targeting Holdings PlcLionel Thain, Chief Executive Officer Tel: 020 7932 4100 Canaccord Adams LtdClayton Bush Tel: 020 7518 2777 Binns & Co PR LtdPeter Binns Tel: 020 7786 9600 / 07768 392 582Annabel Loveluck Tel: 020 7786 9600 / 07817 729 778 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange