Pre Year End Statement

CSS Stellar PLC 18 December 2002 18 December 2002 CSS STELLAR PLC Pre Year End Statement, Board Change and Intention to Pay Inaugural Dividend At the time of the Interim Results announcement in mid-September, CSS Stellar, the AIM listed sports and entertainment management and marketing group, said that the majority of the businesses were performing well in challenging market conditions, both in the UK and North America. This continues to be the case. The Board also reiterated that the deterioration in the motorsport sponsorship division, highlighted in July, would have an adverse effect on profits in this division, reducing expectations for 2002 and 2003. Since the Group is now well into the final trading month of the financial year, the Board now feels it appropriate to identify the specific areas which will make the outcome for 2002 more disappointing than the Directors had hoped. Notwithstanding these specific matters, the Board is confident that EBITDA for the second half of 2002 will be not less than that for the first half and it remains cautiously optimistic for 2003 and beyond. In motorsport sponsorship the problems of Arrows have been well publicised. The market is also aware that Arrows is a client. Legal proceedings have commenced to try to recover the £400,000 debt which remains outstanding to the Group. The talent management business has also suffered from a small number of doubtful debts, which the Board is hopeful of recovering in 2003. In North America GEM, our marketing consultancy, has performed below expectation. In particular, additional costs were incurred in anticipation of new business, however, this improvement has not arisen in 2002. The shortfall in client business has been exacerbated by adverse sterling-dollar currency exchange rates. As a result of the increased importance of North America to the Group, Sean Kelly, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, relocated to New York on 1st. October 2002, specifically to oversee the integration of the North American operations. Rick Jones, former Chief Executive Officer of GEM, has left the company and has also relinquished his position as a non-executive Director on the plc board. Sean Kelly has been appointed Chairman of GEM following Rick Jones's departure. The reduced cost base for the North American operations has been budgeted to broadly reflect the anticipated level of business for 2003. A significant contribution to next year's Group profits is now expected. The purchase of the equity interest in Target Distribution's TV business announced shortly after the Interim Results, largely completed the acquisition strategy outlined at flotation. The Group now has a credible and far broader-based international business in the areas of sports and entertainment management and marketing. The acquisitions, excepting GEM above, have all performed in line with or above expectations. Specifically, Craigie Taylor (now GEM Europe) has retained the TXU sponsorship-related business following its sale to Powergen; PFD has had recent success with three of its young talented actors starring in Die Another Day, Daniel Deronda and Dr Zhivago and Icon has recently signed a new 4 year deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board for all domestic and international fixtures. In addition, Echo has been appointed to launch the promotional marketing of the second of The Lord of The Rings' trilogy,'Two Towers', in Canada and Target Distribution has had a recent major success with Popstars The Rivals. The talent management division has also successfully retained existing clients with the England Football Team, having re-appointed CSS until July 2006 and many of the key motor racing clients are contracted through to the end of 2003. At flotation, the Board stated that it intended to adopt a progressive dividend policy from 2002. In keeping with this policy, it is the Directors' intention to recommend payment of an inaugural final dividend when the Group announces its results for the year. This announcement is expected to be in the week ending 21 March 2003. - Ends - Enquiries: CSS Stellar plc 020 7078 1400 Julian Jakobi, Chief Executive Sean Kelly, Finance Director and Deputy Chief Executive Weber Shandwick Square Mile 020 7067 0700 Ben Padovan or Sally Lewis This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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