Group Press Releases
Aegis Pre-Close Trading Update
22 December 2004
Aegis Group plc (Aegis) - the media communications and market research group – has today issued its regular trading update ahead of entering its close period. With eleven months concluded, trading in 2004 has remained good for Aegis’ media and research operations against a background of modest recovery in the markets in which they operate. The Board is confident that Aegis’ results for the full year will be in line with its previous expectations and that it is well placed to deliver further growth in 2005. The Group will be announcing its 2004 preliminary results on 8 March 2005.
Aegis Media
Aegis’ media operations performed well with turnover ahead of the same period last year. Carat continued to perform well and increase its market share. In America, Carat had a good new business year largely as a result of its strength in communications planning. In Asia-Pacific, Carat’s operations continued to show strong growth. In Europe, the improving market environment helped trading although Carat France experienced a number of client defections towards the end of the year. Vizeum achieved good business growth in Europe with a number of significant international client wins. Isobar continued to grow strongly and, consistent with the strategy announced at the time of its launch, has made a number of key acquisitions. Posterscope has further expanded its network in the year, and is making a good contribution to Group results.
Synovate
Synovate has made sound progress, with particularly good growth in Europe and Asia -Pacific as well as in its specialist healthcare and automotive research businesses. There has also been excellent progress in developing the practice areas of product testing, consumer motivation and customer satisfaction. Synovate is now one of only a handful of survey-based research companies capable of providing global solutions to marketers and the business continued to make good progress in the period.
For further information contact:
Richard Walters
Aegis Group plc
+44 (0) 20 7070 7700
Charles Palmer
Financial Dynamics
+44 (0) 20 7831 3113
