AGM Statement: Trading Update

25 January 2006 - At this morning's Annual General Meeting of Future plc, the international special-interest media group, Chairman Roger Parry will make the following statement:

"The current market conditions are challenging and we continue to take a cautious view on the near term outlook. Trading in the first quarter (October to December) of the new financial year was broadly on track.

As previously highlighted, the changing magazine portfolio and the phasing of new product development (NPD) spend means that the previous bias of profits towards the first half (October to March) will not apply in the financial year to September 2006.

The December quarter is considerably less significant in the current financial year than last. However, at this early stage in the financial year, the Board expects a satisfactory outcome for the financial year as a whole.

Prior to the end of the group's half year to 31 March 2006, a pre-close trading update will be announced."

Enquiries:

Future plc
Greg Ingham, Chief Executive Tel: 01225 442244
John Bowman, Finance Director Tel: 01225 732281

Hogarth Partnership
James Longfield/Georgina Briscoe Tel: 0207 357 9477