Kingston Communications is an established UK communications company. The Group's national business-to-business capabilities encompass the provision of fully integrated and managed network solutions, complemented by the delivery of voice, data and call handling services in the towns and cities served by the Kingston Communications network. This infrastructure comprises twenty-five metropolitan fibre networks and a long distance broadband network, which was initiated for service in May 2001. Kingston's new media activities include the DSL-based interactive television service, KIT, and satellite broadband content, storage and distribution arm, Kingston inmedia. The Group's East Yorkshire network operation has served business and residential customers since 1904.

Kingston Comms as part of its broadband update programme are continuing updating their ground infrastructure into villages. Over 3 weeks from 3rd March they will be carrying out such work north of Hull. they have notified current bundle customers that their prices will not increase due to the upgrading and advising all other none bundled customers that they may wish to upgrade.
Whilst this upgrading is welcome as are the price structuring standstill, I know that they have been struggling to get new broadband customers in rural areas due to low download speeds.
If they can succeed in getting their broadband speeds anywhere near as efficient as their excellent customer service then they should gain a fair increase in customers.
Considering they still have a monopoly (sort of) on such services in a huge swath of East Yorkshire Time will obviously tell if this has much impact on their results.

Its weird, but only 2 days ago, I had been considering changing my broadband provider due to cost, although this would have meant a change of phone line and a probable none increase of download speed.

Greek - I don't know if you still hold, but KCOM are promoted to FTSE250 in the next reshuffle.

Hi Skinny,

Only hold a token gesture of 200, so don't have much interest, but thanks for the info.

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i'ld be more interested in looking at C&W as a t/o target

Looking to clear 75p

AGM TRADING UPDATE AND INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT

Since its preliminary results announcement in May, the Group has continued to perform well, making good progress against its longer term objectives and the Board confirms that trading continues to be in line with expectations. Our focus remains on executing our growth strategy and we expect the performance of the Group to reflect this during the current financial year.

As anticipated, the Group's Employee Benefit Trust has completed the acquisition of 7.3 million shares in the first quarter of the year for a cash consideration of £5.1 million. These will be used to satisfy the Group's obligations in respect of certain share incentive plans that will vest as at 24 July 2012.

Subject to shareholder approval at today's AGM, the Group will be paying a final dividend of 2.67p (2011: 2.50p) to shareholders who were on the share register on 29 June. This brings the total dividend for the year to 4.00p per share, an increase of 11 per cent year on year. Payment of the final dividend will be made on 27 July 2012 and we reconfirm our commitment to delivering a minimum ten per cent increase in dividend for the current financial year.

ENDS

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Double top - Any views?

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Trading Statement

KCOM Group PLC ("the Group") issues the following trading update, ahead of its interim results for the half year ending 30 September, due to be announced on 27th November.

Also today, the Group will hold a sell-side analyst update on its Kcom brand.

Current Trading

During the first half year, despite prevailing market conditions, the Group has performed in line with expectations. As anticipated, first half net debt has increased, as a result, among other things, of share scheme purchases and planned increases in capital expenditure.

KC continues to make a strong contribution to Group results. The ability now to offer bundled services is allowing us to deliver more value to our customers and the response continues to be positive.

Kcom, our enterprise business, has delivered year over year growth in its multi-year order backlog, albeit lower than previously anticipated due to the uncertain environment for business investment decision making.

Commenting on trading, Bill Halbert, Executive Chairman stated, "I am pleased to report that, despite challenging market conditions, the Group continues to make progress towards achieving its longer term objectives. The continuing macro-economic uncertainty is resulting in slower new business investment decision making and this is likely to remain the case through the second half of the year. Nevertheless, we remain confident about the underlying strength and continuing cash generative capacity of the Group and are pleased to reconfirm our commitment to delivering a minimum 10% increase in full year dividend."

For further information please visit: www.kcomplc.com

Half Yearly Report

Highlights

· Revenue and EBITDA in line with our expectations, representing a solid
performance in challenging conditions

· Profit before tax of £27.6 million, up 2.2%

· Net debt increased to £94.3 million, comfortably below 1.5x EBITDA

· Successful completion of the initial deployment of super-fast fibre based broadband, passing 15,000 homes and businesses in Hull & East Yorkshire

· Continuation of roll-out of fibre broadband to a further 30,000 customers by 2015 announced today

· Growth in multi-year order backlog

· Increase in interim dividend of 10%, to 1.47p

Interim Management Statement

Despite continued challenging market conditions, the Group maintained its progress during the third quarter.

In those conditions, the public sector remains an important opportunity for growth and Kcom secured a number of key contract renewals, underlining its position and reputation in that market. These renewals contributed to a further increase in Kcom's multi-year order backlog.

Kcom was named also as the preferred bidder by East Sussex County Council, to provide a hosted managed communications service on behalf of a range of public sector organisations as part of the Link Consortium arrangement. This reinforces Kcom's growing presence in the Public Services Network (PSN) market and the cloud-based service demonstrates its ability to provide additional services into existing PSN connectivity frameworks.

Smart421 and Eclipse continue to perform well in their respective markets. Smart has recently won a services and support contract with National Rail Enquiries, a division of the Association of Train Operators (ATOC). NRE provides all information for all passenger rail services on the National Rail network in England, Wales and Scotland.

KC continued to make a strong contribution to the quarter's performance and the next phase of its fibre deployment has begun in business parks and residential areas. KC is on target to start connecting customers in premises passed by this second phase over the coming months.

Commenting on trading, Bill Halbert, Executive Chairman stated, "Market conditions continue to be challenging. The Group has however continued to exploit successfully the opportunities that are there, with positive momentum across all brands. We remain confident about the quality of our business operations and their capacity to generate cash and reconfirm our commitment to a minimum ten per cent growth in the dividend in this financial year."

Appointment of Joint Brokers

KCOM Group PLC announces that Barclays and Oriel Securities have been appointed joint corporate brokers to the Company with immediate effect.

For further information please visit: www.kcomplc.com

RSI picking up.

Uncrossed +4.5% after extended auction.

Pre-close Announcement and Pension Update

KCOM Group ("the Group") announces it has entered a close period, ahead of its preliminary results announcement for the year ended 31 March 2013. The Board confirms that trading has remained in line with market expectations.

The preliminary results will be released on 11 June 2013 and will include, as previously stated, an update on the Group's future dividend policy.

Pension Update

The Group is pleased to announce also that it has reached an agreement with the Trustees of its Defined Benefit Pension Schemes ("the Schemes") to create an asset backed Partnership ("the Partnership"), providing the Group with an efficient mechanism of funding the Schemes' current deficit position.

The Group has transferred into the Partnership its interest in certain freehold properties, entitling the Schemes to an annual income distribution of £1.05 million, rising in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), over a potential period of 15 years. The total value of this income distribution to the Schemes is £10.0 million, which the Company anticipates will attract full corporation tax relief for the year ending 31 March 2013. In recognition of that value and the security provided to the Schemes by the income stream, the Group has agreed with the Trustees that no deficit repair contributions will be due in respect of the financial year ending 31 March 2014. The agreement was reached ahead of the Scheme's 2013 triennial valuation.

The Group continues to work closely with the Trustees on further funding options, including the ability to provide additional efficient income streams through the Partnership and envisages being able to provide an update as to the Schemes' funding position and deficit repair plan at the preliminary results announcement in June.


ends

Barclays Capital Overweight 82.35 82.00 95.00 95.00 Reiterates

Notice of Preliminary Results

KCOM Group announces that preliminary results for the year ended 31 March 2013 will now be released at 7am GMT on Friday 7 June 2013. At 9am that day, there will be an analyst and investor presentation held at the London Stock Exchange, 10 Paternoster Square, London, EC4M 7LS. Simultaneous webcast facilities will also be available.

Espirito Santo Execution Noble Buy 85.15 84.50 100.00 100.00 Retains