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Connect Group operates a diverse portfolio of businesses leading distribution specialists in carefully chosen markets. With a combined revenue of £1.8bn, we employ 4,500 staff and operate in the UK and worldwide.

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Connect Group has completed the acquisition of The Big Green Parcel Holding Company Limited, whose principal subsidiary trades as Tuffnells Parcels Express, as previously announced on 12 November, for an initial consideration of £113.4 million. The group has partly financed the acquisition through the proceeds of a two-for-seven rights issue at 102.0p per share, being approximately £52.3m, net of expenses, as announced on 17 December.

TRADING UPDATE


Connect Group PLC, a leading specialist distributor operating in four divisions; News & Media, Books, Education & Care and Parcel Freight, is today issuing its Trading Update covering the19 week period to 10 January 2015.


Total Group revenues decreased 1.5% year on year, with overall performance broadly in line with management expectations.

The performance of each division was as follows;

· Connect News & Media;News revenues decreased by 1.8% and like for like revenues decreased by 2.8% with both newspaper and magazine performance continuing in line with recent run rates. Pass my Parcel was launched as planned and continues to be rolled out to new stores. Media revenues increased through new contract wins by 5.2% with like for like revenues up by 0.4%.

· Connect Books; revenues decreased by 1.2% through increased focus on more profitable contracts as part of the recovery plan. Like for like revenues increased by 1.8% due to the continued strong performance of Wordery partly offset by the ongoing market pressures in the UK and internationally. Recent recovery actions continue to reduce costs and increase margins.

· Connect Education & Care;revenues decreased by 2.0% and like for like revenues decreased by 1.2%. Core revenues were up by only 0.6% as a result of a strong early peak trading period in the prior year. Education and Early Years channels continue to outperform the smaller Care channel and non-core revenues were down broadly in line with recent run rates.

· Connect Parcel Freight;on 19 December 2014, the Group completed the acquisition of Tuffnells Parcels Express, establishing the Parcel Freight division. The division has made a positive start with encouraging trading over the festive period and performance to date is in line with management expectations.


There has been no change in the underlying financial condition of the Group since 12 November 2014 following the publication of the Prospectus in relation to the acquisition of Tuffnells.

The Group will announce its interim results for the six months ending 28 February 2015 on 22 April 2015.

Appointment of New Chairman

Connect Group, a leading specialist distributor operating in four divisions; News & Media, Books, Education & Care and Parcel Freight, will be announcing its Interim results for the six months ended 28 February 2015 on Wednesday 22 April 2015.

A meeting for analysts will be held at 9.00am at the offices of Buchanan, 107 Cheapside, London EC2V 6DN on Wednesday 22 April 2015, with an audio webcast of the results presentation available thereafter.

Hopefully the interims will spark a bit of positive action in the share price. It has gone nowhere fast for the last eight months.

Ominous drop before tomorrow's interims!

Interim Results for the 6 months ended 28 Feb 15

Highlights:

· Underlying revenue up 1.2% and underlying operating profit up 3.3%
· Results include the successful acquisition of Tuffnells from 19 December 2014
· Strong free cash flow generating £16.0m, up 34.2%
· Underlying rebased EPS of 8.6p, down 5.5% as a result of the phasing of post-acquisition profits from the Tuffnells acquisition and rights issue shares
· Rebased DPS of 2.9p up 3.6%, reflecting confidence in the Tuffnells acquisition and ongoing Group prospects

· News & Media:
o Continued resilience of newspaper and magazine markets
o Developing the Pass my Parcel offer with Amazon and accelerating investment
· Books:
o Stabilised performance and assessing longer term opportunities
o Wordery continuing impressive growth
· Education & Care:
o Growth in core categories with strength in Primary and Early Years
o Investments being made to enhance customer proposition
· Parcel Freight:
o Continued strong sales and profit growth in post-acquisition period
o Integration and synergies on target

This has been looking very soggy of late. No reason that I can fathom. Nothing adverse has been announced. Another 'buying opportunity' by any chance? Certainly in the bargain basement category at these levels.

It is frustrating - I've also taken out a S/B on Tuesday @139.54.

Hopefully the Interims on 7th July will give some upside.

Trading Update

Total Group revenues for the 44 week period increased 3.1% on the same period last year, with overall performance marginally ahead of management expectations.

The performance of each division has been as follows:

· Connect News & Media:
o News revenues decreased by 3.4% compared with the same period last year with the benefit of new regional business offset by the absence of last year's World Cup sticker sales.
o Like for like revenues decreased by 3.5% for the 44 week period, comfortably within our medium term forecasts with newspaper cover price inflation strengthening and magazine performance continuing to improve.
o Pass my Parcel recruitment continues as planned with over 2,400 parcel shops recruited to date, up from c.700 at the time of interim results in April and keeping us on track to achieve our ambition of c.3,000 by the financial year end. We are continuing dialogue with potential new clients and the launch of further services.
o Media revenues increased by 1.9% as a result of new contract wins with like for like revenues decreasing 2.3%.

· Connect Books:
o Revenues decreased by 1.1% as we continue to focus on profitable sales. Like for like revenues increased by 2.3% for the 44 week period, showing improving momentum since the interim results.
o Performance has been driven by the ongoing recovery in Trade sales as management actions from the stabilisation plan take effect, alongside Wordery's continued impressive growth.

· Connect Education & Care:
o Revenues increased by 1.9% with like for like revenues increasing by 1.8% for the 44 week period, showing a stronger run rate since the interim results.
o Core revenues were up by 2.9% and growth continues to be driven by strength in Primary Education and Early Years.
o Momentum is building for the key peak trading period which has started in line with expectations supported by recent and ongoing investments in our new Warehouse Management System.

· Connect Parcel Freight:
o The division has continued its strong start within the Group and is ahead of management expectations, with total revenues increasing by 20.6% driven by market growth and new customers.
o Planned operational synergies identified at the time of the acquisition remain on track.
o As announced on 28 May 2015, Chris Ward was appointed Managing Director of the division, with effect from 29 June 2015.

There has been no change in the underlying financial condition of the Group since the interim results announcement on 22 April 2015.

The Group will announce its preliminary results for the twelve months ending 31 August 2015 on 14 October 2015.

Interesting buys

09:52:14 145.00 276,000 O 141.50 145.75 Buy 593,347 24,946
09:52:07 145.00 276,429 O 141.25 145.75 Buy 317,347 24,946
09:46:22 145.75 455 AT 142.25 145.75 Buy 40,918 24,946
08:40:41 144.50 1,174 AT 142.25 144.50 Buy 40,463 24,946
08:40:41 144.50 600 AT 142.25 144.50 Buy 39,289 24,946
08:40:41 144.50 726 AT 142.25 144.50 Buy 38,689 24,946
08:34:52 144.50 1,994 AT 142.25 144.75 Buy 37,963 24,946
08:34:46 144.50 1,994 AT 142.25 144.75 Buy 35,969 24,946
08:34:22 144.50 1,994 AT 141.25 144.75 Buy 33,975 24,946
08:34:15 144.75 1,494 AT 141.25 145.25 Buy 31,981 24,946
08:34:15 144.75 1 AT 141.25 144.75 Buy 30,487 24,946
08:34:15 144.75 947 AT 141.25 144.75 Buy 30,486 24,946
08:27:02 145.10 5,000 O 143.25 145.75 Buy 29,539 24,946
08:26:57 145.00 1,362 O 143.25 145.75 Buy 24,539 24,946



Compared with "normal volumes".

An upgrade to buy from N+1 Singer - TP unchanged @150p.

Good volume today, but most of it accounted for by a 'put through' of 2x276,000 shares. Very disappointing price performance even considering the state of the wider market.

7 month high @166.50p - albeit on low volume.

Connect Group PLC, a leading specialist distributor operating in four divisions: News & Media, Books, Education & Care and Parcel Freight, will be announcing its Preliminary results for the year ended 31 August 2015 on Wednesday 14 October 2015.

A meeting for analysts will be held at 9.30am at the offices of Buchanan, 107 Cheapside, London EC2V 6DN on Wednesday 14 October 2015, with an audio webcast of the results presentation available thereafter.

This has gone nowhere all year. I'm hoping that the upcoming results will spark a bit of positive action. A return to 180 should be achievable if there are no nasties.

Preliminary Results year ended 31 August 2015

HIGHLIGHTS:

Strong performance with Adjusted profit ahead of expectations
· Revenue of £1,875.1m up 3.7% and Adjusted profit before tax up 13.0% to £56.5m, benefitting from the post-acquisition contribution from Tuffnells
· Adjusted earnings per share of 19.7p up 0.5%, reflecting post-acquisition profits from Tuffnells and impact of rights issue shares
· Free cash flow of £39.8m, up 7.0%; Net debt £153.4m; Net debt/Adjusted EBITDA (3) 1.9x, starting paydown from peak post acquisition debt level
· Final dividend of 6.3p up 5.0%, making a full year dividend of 9.2p, up 4.5%

Transformational year for the Group
· Scale acquisition of Tuffnells completed in December 2014
o Excellent early performance under Connect Group ownership
o Integration and synergies on track and creating new growth opportunities
· Launch of Click & Collect delivery service: Pass My Parcel
o Successfully accelerated rollout to over 3,000 stores
o Agreement in principle to launch new mobile enabled returns service with new client

Foundations in place for continuing growth
· Strategy on track with clear opportunities across the Group

Liberum Capital Buy 158.63 180.00 180.00 Reiterates

TRADING UPDATE & ASOS RETURN SERVICE LAUNCH

Connect Group PLC, a leading specialist distributor operating in four divisions; News & Media, Books, Education & Care and Parcel Freight, is today issuing its Trading Update covering the 19 week period to 9 January 2016. It is also pleased to announce ASOS, a leading online fashion retailer, as the second customer for Pass My Parcel, the Group's Click & Collect service.

Overall performance continues in line with management expectations with total Group revenues increasing 6.4% compared to the same period last year, including the benefit of a full period's strong contribution from the Parcel Freight division following the acquisition of Tuffnells in December 2014. Total Group like for like revenues decreased 2.3%.

The Group continues to make good progress with its growth initiatives. Pass My Parcel delivered an excellent operational performance over the peak Christmas period remaining on track with its current expansion plans. The launch of a mobile enabled returns collection service, with a QR (Quick Response) code sent to customers' mobile phones, is the next step in the Group's strategy to grow Pass My Parcel, having originally launched the Click & Collect service in October 2014 with Amazon as its first client. The Group today names ASOS as its second customer with an initial trial in 20 retail outlets to be rolled out across the remaining 3,000 outlets over the coming months.

The performance of each division was as follows:
· Connect News & Media: News total revenues decreased by 2.7% and like for like revenues decreased by 3.7%, with newspaper performance in line with recent run rates and magazine run rates continuing to improve. Media total revenues increased by 2.5% while like for like revenues increased by 1.8%.

· Connect Books: total revenues declined by 0.8%, while like for like revenues increased by 1.2%, through a sustained focus on more profitable contracts as part of the efforts to reduce costs and increase margins. Ongoing significant growth in Wordery and a good performance in Wholesale were offset by continuing tough conditions in UK Libraries and International markets.

· Connect Education & Care: total and like for like revenues both increased by 0.1%. Core revenues increased by 1.7% underpinned by strong growth in Early Years partly offset by performance in Secondary Education, with the division remaining focused on maintaining a strong gross margin.

· Connect Parcel Freight: total and like for like revenues both increased by 12.1% with continued positive market growth and new customer wins. The division's performance remains in line with management expectations, with strong growth under the Group's ownership.

There has been no change in the underlying financial condition of the Group since the preliminary financial results announcement on 14 October 2015.

The Group will announce its interim results for the six months ending 29 February 2016 on 19 April 2016.