Pre-close statement

4imprint Group PLC
09 July 2004


Press Release                                           9 July 2004



                               4imprint Group plc

                          ('4imprint' or 'the Group')

                  Pre-close period statement and Board changes



4imprint Group plc, the marketing support services and promotional products
group, issues the following pre-close period statement in advance of its Interim
Results for the six months ended 26 June 2004, which are scheduled for
announcement on Tuesday 21 September 2004.


4imprint advises that, on an unaudited basis, it expects to report an operating
profit before goodwill amortisation and exceptional items in the first half of
2004 of at least £1.35 million, compared to a restated loss of £1.9 million in
the first half of 2003.  Additionally, the results for the first half of 2004
will include approximately £1.9 million of exceptional income tax gains as a
result of a favourable settlement with the Inland Revenue.  Net cash at the end
of the period was £8.2 million, compared to £4.8 million at the end of the first
half of 2003.


Each of the Group's business segments was profitable in the first half and each
of them is expected to have produced improved profits compared to the same
period of 2003.  The US based business segments, which in the first half
represented approximately 45 per cent of Group turnover, are anticipated to have
significantly improved their profit performance, despite an unfavourable
exchange rate movement of almost 14 per cent compared to the prior half year.
In the US Direct Marketing segment, turnover is expected to have increased by
approximately 10 per cent in local currency terms while the US Franchising
segment, which experienced a modest decline in sales due to a reduction in the
number of franchisees, is expected to report its first profit after a prolonged
period of losses.


The Marketing Support Services segment, which generates the majority of its
turnover in the United Kingdom, is expected to report a sales increase of
approximately 5 per cent and an operating profit in the first half of 2004,
compared with a loss in the first half of 2003.


The outlook for the year as a whole implies a significant turnaround compared
with 2003.  This is despite industry growth in the UK continuing to be slower
than in the US, and foreign exchange rates somewhat reducing the impact of the
strong turnaround in the Group's US business units.  Order rates in the US
business segments have accelerated compared to those reported at the end of
March, although UK order rates have declined, as expected, from the unusually
high levels experienced late last year.


Edward Bramson, Chairman of 4imprint Group plc, said: 'We are pleased to be able
to report that the management team has now successfully turned around each of
our US business units, all of which were profitable in the first half.  Trading
performance and cash generation for the year as a whole is expected to be
substantially stronger than last year.'


The Company also announces that Ken Minton CBE will take up the role of
Executive Chairman with immediate effect.  Ken, who joined the Company as a
Non-Executive Director in April this year, replaces Edward Bramson who is
remaining on the Board as a Non-Executive Director.


Ken Minton has spent the last 40 years managing change at a number of
significant, well-known British companies, having served as Chairman of several
FTSE250 companies.


Edward Bramson said: 'I was appointed as Chairman as a temporary assignment at
the suggestion of Hanover Investors to facilitate an operating turnaround of the
Group.  With all our business segments now being profitable, this is an
appropriate moment to hand over permanently to a new independent Chairman.'


'The search for a new Chief Executive is being pursued and the timing of Ken
Minton's appointment allows him, as incoming Chairman, to lead the final
selection.'


The Company also announces that Craig Slater has today resigned as Chief
Operating Officer and Group Finance Director to pursue other opportunities.  The
Board would particularly like to thank Craig for his contribution during the
recent period of rapid change as well as over the last few years.  A search has
been initiated for a replacement Group Finance Director.  The new management
structure does not call for a Chief Operating Officer.



                                    - Ends -


For further information, please contact:
4imprint Group plc
Edward Bramson, Non-Executive Director                 Tel: [phone]


Issued by:
Bankside
Peter Curtain / Charlie Jack                           Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]                               www.bankside.com



Notes to editors:



4imprint Group plc (LSE: FOUR) is a leading international company in the highly
fragmented US$30 billion promotional products industry.  Globally, the Company
is the largest direct marketer of imprinted promotional products and the fourth
largest distributor.  In the UK, 4imprint is the leading marketing support
services company in the industry.



4imprint's businesses operate in three areas:



•    Marketing Support Services provides outsourced services and
     promotional products for blue-chip companies in their brand development 
     and marketing activities;

•    Direct Marketing which sells promotional products directly to
     businesses through the internet and catalogues; and

•    AIA, a US and Canada franchise network distributing promotional
     products.



The Company's blue-chip roster of clients includes, amongst others, BT, British
Airways, IBM, JCB and Motorola, Microsoft, and other leading companies which use
promotional products to build their brand and increase customer loyalty.



The Group headquarters is in Whitefield with other UK facilities in Manchester,
London and Bristol.  4imprint's US offices are located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
In addition, 4imprint has operations in France, Germany, and Hong Kong.



Websites:

www.4imprint.com
www.4imprint.co.uk
www.4imprint.ie
www.4imprint.com/canada





                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange