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Marketing and advertising group Adventis is eyeing new financial service sector acquisitions after a 52 per cent interim profits increase.

AIM-quoted Adventis lifted pre-tax profits from £527,000 to £799,000 in the six months to June on turnover 53 per cent ahead to £16.4 million. Earnings at the acquisitive group rose 45 per cent to 1.6p a share and the interim dividend is increased 5 per cent to 0.22p a share.

The company, which claims to be among the top six marketing groups in the property sector, with new clients including Howard Holdings, St. Martins Property and Slough Estates, and among the top six in healthcare, now wants to carve out a leading role in financial services. Adventis recently bought veteran City-focused firm Binns & Co and chief executive officer Charles Philpot says it has others in its sights.

Philpot says Adventis has been wise in its takeover strategy. 'We raised £2.7 million when we floated in 2004, we have bought seven companies since then and we still have £2 million in the bank', he declares.

Not unduly concerned about potential cyclicality in the company's markets, Philpot says Adventis keeps all is component parts together with a bonus pool of 20 per cent of pre-tax profits and earn-in deals for the company's principals.

At 37p, up 1p today and valuing the company at £12.9 million, Adventis shares should have some more life in them. Its fortunes make a welcome contrast to fellow AIM counter Media Square, the internet marketing service group, whose shares have plunged to 15.25p, less than half their 2005 high, on a shock profits warning today.

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