Financial Results
Preliminary Results
11 March 2003
Results for the year ended 31 December 2002
Highlights 2002
Aegis Group plc is a media and market research group employing approximately 7,500 staff in 62 countries. The Group comprises two main businesses: Carat, which is the world’s largest independent media services group, and Synovate, a leading international market research network.
Profit and revenue growth despite challenging conditions
- Group revenue up 11.9% to £591.9 m (2001: £529.0 m)
- 3.4% organic revenue growth
- Carat billings up 10% to $16.2 billion
- Carat net new business wins $1,487 m
- New independent media network announced – Vizeum
- Network benefits drive Synovate revenues up 14.2% to £211.4 m (2001: £185.1 m)
- Underlying PBT* up 12.8% to £71.4 m (2001: £63.3 m) before exceptional items of £13.5m (2001: £18.6m)
- Strong operating cash flow reduces net debt to £120.3 m (2001: £126.0 m) after £58.0 m of acquisition payments
- Underlying* diluted EPS 4.3 p (2001: 3.8p) before exceptional items, 3.3p (2001: 2.3p) after exceptional items