Financial results for the year ended 31 July 2006 (Unaudited)

17/10/2006
Next Fifteen Communications Group plc ('Next Fifteen' or 'the Group'), the international public relations consultancy group, today reports record profitability and revenues for the year ended 31 July 2006.

Financial highlights:

• Net Revenue up by 30% to £56.0m (2005: £43.2m)
  
• Turnover growth of 44% in the US and 30% in the Asia Pacific region
  
• Group like-for-like organic turnover growth of 13.3%
  
• Headline pre-tax profit increased by 35% to £4.4m (2005: £3.3m)
  
• EBITDA grew 24% to £5.44m (2005: £4.38m)
• Adjusted earnings per share up by 17% to 5.25p (2005: 4.50p)
  
• Final dividend of 1.0p (2005: 0.9p), making a total dividend for the year of 1.365p (2005: 1.23p), up 11%
  

Corporate progress:

• Strong performance by the Group's technology and non-technology focused businesses; further growth of existing client mandates and significant new client wins
  
• Successful integration of Credo Communications in the UK and Parachute Marketing in the US into Bite Communications
  
• Strong first year contribution from OutCast and significant revenue growth at Bite
• Stake in Lexis Public Relations increased to 51%; further 25% to be acquired in November 2006

Commenting on the results, Will Whitehorn, Chairman of Next Fifteen, said:

'Next Fifteen is pleased to announce record full-year results for the year achieving its highest ever revenues, profitability and earnings; with net revenue for the year increasing 30% to £56.0m and profit before tax growing 35% to £4.4m. Much of the Group's growth continues to come from the expansion of our North American and Asian businesses with a strong flow of new business from companies such as eBay, Sprint Nextel, Sun Microsystems and Philips, and through the expansion of relationships with existing clients such as AMD, Adobe and Openwave. The Asia Pacific region also had another excellent year, with turnover growth of 30% where China, India and Singapore showed strong increases. The Group also continues to make significant progress in markets outside technology.'

'The Group's strategy remains focused on driving organic growth from its existing PR brands and is therefore pleased to report strong year on year organic growth of 13.3% from its businesses. The Group will also continue to make targeted acquisitions of specialist communications businesses that offer growth potential and complement the existing PR businesses.'

- Ends -

For further information:

Next Fifteen Communications Group
Tim Dyson, Chief Executive
001 415 350 2801
David Dewhurst, Finance Director
07974 161183

Merlin
020 7653 6620
Vanessa Maydon                                
07802 961 902
Rebecca Penney                                  
07795 108 178


Please click here to download the announcement in PDF format. This PDF contains all the tables with the financial data for the financial results for the year ended 31 July 2006.