Pre-close trading update

ITE Group PLC
01 October 2007

                                                                              


 

1 October 2007
                                 ITE Group plc                                  
                                                                                                                       

         Pre-close trading update for the year ended 30 September 2007          
                                        

ITE Group plc, the international exhibitions group specialising in emerging and
developing markets, has today issued the following update for the year ended 30
September 2007, prior to entering its close period and ahead of its preliminary
results announcement on 4 December 2007.
                                       
Good demand for exhibitions remains in evidence throughout our principal Russian
and CIS geographies and the Group's strong sales performance reported in May has
continued through the events taking place in the second half of the year. Like
for like revenue growth for the full year is expected to be circa 14%, and as a
result profits for the year ending 30 September 2007 are expected to be slightly
ahead of current market expectations.   

Since the interim announcement in May, the results of ITE's main events to have
taken place include:                    
     
•    In May Astana Build (Kazakhstan) and the Oil and Gas exhibition &
     conference in Uzbekistan both showed good growth over last year's events. 
     In Astana the construction event grew 10% from 3,800m2 to 4,200m2. The Oil 
     and Gas exhibition in Tashkent grew both its exhibition space sales and 
     conference revenues by circa 20%.
     
•    The biennial Moscow International Oil & Gas Exhibition took place in June, 
     and able to use the new pavilion in Expocentr,  performed exceptionally
     well in delivering sales of 22,500m2 - over 40% up on the 2005 equivalent 
     event (2005, 15,600m2). The partnering Russian Petroleum Congress benefited 
     from the activity and also delivered its best ever financial result.
     
•    The Caspian Oil and Gas exhibition and conference, which is currently
     restricted by the venue facilities in Azerbaijan, was similar in size to 
     last year's event.
     
•    Moda Autumn and Moda Footwear took place in August against a cautious UK
     retail environment and performed well to report increased space sales of
     16,400m2 (2006, 16,100m2)
     
•    In September the re-launched Moscow International Motor Show consolidated 
     its position at the Crocus venue and was the same size as the 2006 event. 
     The new pavilion at the Crocus venue will be available for next year's
     event and will facilitate the future expansion of this event.
     
•    World Food Moscow which took place in September, was another beneficiary of 
     the new pavilion opened this year at Expocentr, and in selling 24,500m2 
     delivered sales growth of 10% over last year's event.
     
•    Kazbuild, our principal construction event in the Kazakhstan market, grew 
     by over 20% to 13,400 m2 (2006, 10,800 m2). The recently refurbished
     Pavilion 10B, which was part funded by ITE, was completed ahead of schedule 
     and supported the growth of this year's event.
     
•    Baltic Building Week in St Petersburg produced a good financial
     performance with improved yields and unchanged space sales over last year.
       

Bill Dye, Chief Executive Officer of ITE, said:
     
 'In my first trading update for ITE I am pleased to be able to confirm that
ITE's business is performing as robustly as was outlined to shareholders at the
interim announcement in May. In the second half of the year we have experienced
continued growth in demand for exhibitions across our core markets in Russia and
Central Asia. In particular the exceptional performance of the Moscow Oil & Gas
exhibition in June endorses its reputation as a world class exhibition, and
further demonstrates ITE's international strength in this sector. Our portfolio
of exhibitions in Central Asia continues to deliver high growth where the venue
facilities support the expansion of our events. With like for like revenue
growth expected to be circa 14% we expect to report another good financial
performance.'

 
ENDS
          

Enquiries:

Bill Dye                               Tel: [phone]
Chief Executive, ITE Group plc

Charlie Palmer/Tim Spratt:
Financial Dynamics                     Tel: [phone]



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