Trading Update

12 November 2004 Parity Group plc Trading update In the interim announcement of 15 September 2004 Parity Group plc ('Parity' or 'the Group') emphasised that the second half for the Training Business Unit would be reliant on the seasonal uplift in trading and the successful closure of several large opportunities in the sales pipeline. Autumn bookings in the public market have since fallen short of expectations and several large expected sales for in-house training have been delayed into 2005. As a consequence of the revenue shortfall and the fixed cost structure of a training business, the performance of Training will not meet expectations for the full year. All the other Business Units are profitable, with operating profits for each of these at or ahead of last year's levels. In aggregate, though, the Group could produce a pre-tax loss before goodwill amortisation of approximately £2 million for the year to 31 December 2004, including the £300,000 incremental pensions charge announced in September, with the bulk of the shortfall relating to the Training Business Unit. Parity Training has been the leading player over the last three years in the developing market for outsourced training management. In that period the Training Business Unit has succeeded in its objective of taking market share to move from seventh to first place in the UK in a market affected by overcapacity and pricing pressure. Bookings for public training most recently are showing an improving trend and are running ahead of the same period last year. In addition the sales pipeline for large contracts in the Government and commercial sectors is at its highest ever. The Group is successfully winning larger, longer-term contracts for all of its Business Units and is using its combination of skills to grow into Business Process Management in Human Resources. Recent contract award announcements such as with ICI have demonstrated the Group's ability to compete and succeed in this area. Announcement today of a new Chairman Separately today, Parity has announced that Philip Swinstead OBE has rejoined the Board as non-executive Chairman with immediate effect. Mr Swinstead's first undertaking as Parity's Chairman will be to commence immediately a strategic review of the Group and he will report back to shareholders in the Group's preliminary results announcement in March 2005. Commenting, Philip Swinstead said: 'We have excellent businesses with the highest calibre of people, well regarded in all of our markets. We must build a predictable business on this platform which performs consistently.' - Ends - Enquiries: Financial Dynamics Telephone: 020 7831 3113 Giles Sanderson Harriet Keen
UK 100

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