Avesco Group PLC Disposal of Presteigne Limited (3718L)

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RNS Number : 3718L

Avesco Group PLC

30 September 2016

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014.

Avesco Group plc

Sale of the Business and Assets of Presteigne Limited

Avesco Group plc (together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"), the provider of services to the corporate presentation, entertainment and exhibition markets, is pleased to announce the sale of the business and assets of its broadcast hire subsidiary, Presteigne Limited ("Presteigne") to Presteign Broadcast (2016) Limited, a company which will be led by Presteigne's long serving CEO, Mike Ransome, and supported by funding from NVM Private Equity LLP.

The transaction, which exchanged and completed today, is for a consideration of GBP5m, which was paid in cash at completion, but is subject to adjustment for the trading performance of the business in the period commencing on 1 August 2016 and ending today. The net sale proceeds will be used to reduce the Group's debt.

Presteigne specialises in the hire of video, audio and wireless technology for professional broadcast productions. In the financial year ended 30 September 2015, Presteigne made trading losses of GBP1.9m, but is expected to make a small profit in the financial year ending today, due in part to revenue derived from the supply of equipment and services in connection with the 2016 Rio Olympics and the Formula 1 GP. As at 31 July 2016, the net book value of the business and assets sold was GBP6.4m. The net effect on the post tax profits of the Group is broadly neutral.

This transaction leaves the Group focused on its audio visual services division, centred around its highly profitable Creative Technology business, backed by a strong balance sheet with minimal debt.

For further information please contact:

Avesco Group plc 01293 583400

Richard Murray, Executive Chairman

John Christmas, Finance Director

finnCap 020 7220 0500

Julian Blunt/Scott Mathieson, Corporate Finance

Malar Velaigam, Corporate Broking

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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