Wilmington Regulatory News (WIL)

14 Dec 2006 07:00

Wilmington Group Plc14 December 2006 Embargoed until 0700 14 December 2006 WILMINGTON GROUP PLC TRADING STATEMENT Wilmington Group plc ("Wilmington" or the "Group"), the professional information and training group, today issues a trading statement in respect of the six months to 31 December 2006. Trading performance for the six months to 31 December 2006 is anticipated to be in line with our expectations and ahead of the corresponding period ended 31 December 2005. The Group's Legal and Regulatory division has made excellent progress, with strong organic growth and the successful integration of recent acquisitions. As previously announced, in October 2006 we acquired Mercia Group Ltd which provides training and practice support for the accountancy profession. We anticipate that Mercia will strengthen our training business in this important market. The Healthcare division is making good progress with the launch of APM Health Europe. Elsewhere in the Group we continue to invest in the launch of new online products and events which complement our publishing and information products. In December 2006 we acquired the UK Press Gazette. We anticipate that it will require investment this financial year to restore its position as the leading magazine for journalists. As in previous years, we expect that the Group's performance will be weighted to the second half of the financial year. Outlook Our strategy of focusing on key professional markets continues to deliver results and the Board is confident of making further good progress in this financial year. It is anticipated that Wilmington will announce its interim results for the six months ending 31 December 2006 during the week commencing 26 February 2007. - Ends - For further information, please contact: Wilmington Group Plc 020 7422 6800Charles Brady, Chief ExecutiveBasil Brookes, Finance Director Weber Shandwick Square Mile 020 7067 0700Nick Oborne/Helen Thomas/Kirsty Raper Notes to editors: Wilmington plcWilmington Group plc is one of the UK's leading providers of information and training for professional business markets. The Group provides training, arranges industry events and publishes magazines, directories, databases, and special reports focused primarily on its principal sectors of Legal & Regulatory, Healthcare, Media & Entertainment and Design & Construction. Capitalised at approximately £200 million, Wilmington floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1995 (www.wilmington.co.uk). UK Press GazetteEstablished in 1965, Press Gazette is the only weekly paper for those in the business and practice of journalism. Every issue brings together vital news and developments from the world of newspapers, magazines, TV, radio and the internet. The organisation hosts a number of events and awards ceremonies including The British Press Awards, The Regional Press Awards, The Student Journalism Awards and Magazine Design Awards (www.pressgazette.co.uk). This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange