Communisis delivering the goods as Lloyds deal kicks in

In an interim management statement for the third quarter to September 30, the group said it expects to hit its full-year targets.

The group, which has operations in Leeds, said it made good strategic progress over the three-month period.

A landmark contract with Lloyds to produce all of the bank’s customer communications in the UK went live last month. Communisis said this was the largest contract of its kind in Britain.

The group’s chief executive, Andy Blundell, said the deal will also boost its Leeds office as it takes on work for Lloyds’ Scottish Widows division.

Communisis said its annual production volumes will double on an annualised basis, confirming the group as the clear UK market leader in the outsourced production of transactional communications.

It added that substantial revenues will be generated over the ten-year term of the contract.

“This is a huge win for Communisis and we are delighted that Lloyds has entrusted us with an outsourcing contract of such strategic significance,” said Mr Blundell.

In September, Communisis bought Editions Publishing for £7m in a move that boosted its market leading position in the financial services sector.

Editions Publishing is the UK’s leading content marketing agency in the sector.

Communisis spent £5.4m in cash on the deal and raised a further £1.7m through a share issue. Editions Publishing, which trades as Editions Financial, has carried out over 2,000 projects for more than 33 financial brands over the last 14 years.

It said this is more than any other content marketing agency in the UK.

Editions Financial works directly with financial brands to develop their content strategies, including benchmarking, proposition development and campaign planning.

It then provides a co-ordinated content marketing delivery service including copywriting, video production, digital content, print and digital magazines, ezines, social media, event content and front line sales collateral.

The acquisition is expected to be earnings enhancing in its first full year of ownership by the group.