Anite Group PLC
28 September 2004
For immediate release Tuesday, 28 September 2004
Anite Group plc
AGM Trading Update
At its Annual General Meeting to be held later today, and ahead of an analyst
presentation this evening, Alec Daly, the Chairman of Anite Group plc ('Anite'
or 'the Group'), the worldwide IT solutions and services company, will make the
following comments on current trading for the financial year commencing 1 May
2004:
Current trading
'For the first four months of the current financial year, commenced 1 May 2004,
the Group's current trading is in line with our expectations and ahead of the
same period last year. Overall, the Group has seen a satisfactory order intake.
As in prior years our first half performance will be weighted to the final weeks
of the half year.
As expected there has been a modest cash outflow in the year to date,
accentuated by the c.£5m costs of a freehold property enabling Telecoms'
operations to be consolidated into one site (as announced on 10 August), and
prior to receipt of the £7.5m cash proceeds of the Space disposal which was
completed on 3 September 2004. The consideration proceeds have been used to
benefit the Group's cash position and provide greater financial flexibility.
Space's results will be shown as a discontinued activity in the Group's future
accounts.
Strategic update
As previously stated, our aim is to be number one or two in each of the markets
we serve. The strategic review of the Group undertaken over the Summer,
identified that the long term prospects for our three core vertical markets of
public sector, telecoms and travel are excellent and that within these we are
already market leaders in many of our chosen areas of focus.
Within our Public Sector, Travel and Telecoms divisions, in businesses where our
position is less strong, our objective is to review their potential and either
identify and pursue growth opportunities or other strategic options as
appropriate. Over time we therefore aim only to operate where we can establish
such market leading positions.
In line with the above, the recent disposal of Anite Space, a non-core,
peripheral business thus enables us to better focus on our three core vertical
markets.
Board succession planning
At the Group's 2003 AGM it was stated that following the new Chief Executive's
appointment, and assuming that continuing progress was made by the Group in
2004, that I would stand down and my successor would be identified in due
course. To that end the Board would be further strengthened during the Group's
current financial year and succession plans announced around the time of today's
2004 AGM.
I am pleased to say that we have made considerable progress in line with these
plans. As previously announced we have appointed two new non-executive directors
during the period, Peter Bertram and David Hurst-Brown, respectively replacing
David Thorpe who stepped down in August and Graham Caleb, who retires today. We
thank both for their significant contribution and commitment and welcome Peter
and David. I am confident that their combined experience will benefit Anite.
Secondly, as far as my own position is concerned, the Group has engaged
headhunters to identify my successor and once this appointment is confirmed,
which is targeted to be by the end of the calendar year, I will step down.
Conclusion
A further update on current trading, for the six months ended 31 October 2004,
will be announced following the half year end in line with our normal practice.'
- Ends -
For further information, please contact: www.anite.com
Anite Group plc 01753 804000
Steve Rowley, Chief Executive
Christopher Humphrey, Group Finance Director
Smithfield 020 7360 4900
Reg Hoare/Sara Musgrave 07736 979 302
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This information is provided by RNS
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