Tarsus Regulatory News (TRS)

30 Jun 2005 07:00

Tarsus Group PLC30 June 2005 30 June 2005 TARSUS GROUP PLC Pre-close update Tarsus Group plc, the international media group with interests in exhibitions,conferences and publishing will be announcing its interim results covering thesix-month period to 30 June 2005 on Thursday 1 September 2005. Prior to enteringits close period, the company is today providing an update on trading. Trading performance in the first half has been very encouraging both in ourestablished operations and in our new launches during the period. As we previously reported, the February 2005 Off-Price clothing show in the USwas another record event with revenues 10% higher than the equivalent show in2004. The August 2005 Off-Price clothing show is over 90% booked and we expectit to be another record event. Our European business is performing well, with the improving trend in Francecontinuing in the first half. This was aided by our two exhibition acquisitionsin July 2004, Solutions Linux and SECA, where we bought out the 65% interest wedid not already own. Our biggest show in 2005 - Labelexpo Europe (to be held inSeptember in Brussels) - has bookings and space revenues 12% and 20% aheadrespectively of the same event in 2003. In the period, we launched a number of new products. Of particular note were twonew packaging shows launched into the US market. The first of these, thePackaging Services Expo, took place in Chicago in May and was immediatelyprofitable at an operating level. The second, a Smart Label event covering RadioFrequency Identification, is taking place in Baltimore this week and will beprofitable. The success of these two events has resulted in us creating twofurther packaging events for 2006. The Packaging Containers & Materials Expowill run alongside the second Packaging Services Expo in the US and will besupported by no less than nine major trade associations. Consistent with ourreplication strategy we will be holding a Packaging Services event in Amsterdamin June 2006. In addition, BITTM, the first exclusively b2b outbound travel show for theChinese market was held in Beijing in April. Interest from the trade was strongand the next event, which we expect to be significantly larger, is scheduled totake place in the new exhibition hall in Beijing in 2006. On this basis, theBoard anticipates that BITTM is likely to move into profitability in 2007. Douglas Emslie, Group MD of Tarsus said: "The strength of our core business is enabling us both to launch new events intonew markets as well as extend the business through carefully selectedacquisitions, such as the Heavent and Mobile Office exhibitions in France whichwe announced at the end of May. All divisions have performed well in the firsthalf and, with bookings for the year as a whole now standing at over 90%,revenue visibility is high. We remain confident of the outturn for the year andexpect to show substantial growth over 2004." For further information please contact: Tarsus Group plc:Douglas EmslieGroup Managing Director : Tel. 020 8846 2700 Media:Matthew Moth:Madano Partnership Tel 020 7378 7033 Investors:Neville HarrisIRFocus: Tel 020 7378 7057 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange