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Sporting boost for Chime

Dividend raised 9 per cent as Chime looks forward to Olympics boost
March 7, 2012

Full-year operating income at marketing and public relations (PR) specialist Chime Communications rose 10 per cent to £163.6m, and operating profits rose 15 per cent to £25.5m. Growth has been propelled by the fast-growing sports marketing division, which should continue to thrive with the Olympics and European Football Championships this summer, and Football World Cup in 2014.

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Sales from sports marketing grew 36 per cent to £40m, which helped to offset weakness in the PR business, where sales fell 5 per cent to £69.2m. This division has struggled to recoup the loss of a key US government contract but the burgeoning healthcare PR business helped to mitigate some of the impact.