LONDON — Marketing and communications group Next 15 has said in a trading update ahead of its full-year results that it has seen organic revenue growth in the second half of the financial year “continue to outrun sector averages.”

In its statement, Next 15 said it was continuing to invest in its transition to digital marketing products and services, referencing the September 2018 merger of its Text100 and Bite PR agencies.

It said growth had been supplemented by deals including the $9 million acquisition in November 2018 of B2B demand generation consultancy Activate, based in San Francisco and New York, and this month’s £6.3 million purchase of UK data and analytics business Planning-Inc.

The group added that its data businesses under the MIG brand will be reorganized in the coming months to create “one consistent brand” to offer customers a more integrated set of services in Europe and the US.

Richard Eyre (pictured), chairman of Next 15, said: "The group continues to deliver above industry average organic growth. This is large part due to its focus on data and technology to re-enforce its creative capabilities. With the geo-political landscape remaining in flux, clients are looking for greater certainty from their marketing programs which our agencies and data businesses are proving able to provide.”

According to the group, its balance sheet remains strong with net debt anticipated to be around £5 million by the end of the full year on 31 January. Results will be announced in early April.