Cello seeks more strings for bow

Marketing group Cello, owner of the Leith advertising agency, is on the look-out for more acquisitions after reporting a 9 per cent rise in first-half profits.

The firm, which counts pensions company Aegon and utility group SSE among its clients, posted an operating profit of £2.1 million for the six months to 30 June, up from £1.9m a year earlier, on revenues 14 per cent higher at £71.5m.

Cello bought Edinburgh-based Newhaven Communications for an undisclosed sum in June and chairman Allan Rich said: “Opportunities for further investment in the form of start-up ventures and acquisitions are being actively appraised.”

Rich said the “robust” trading seen in the first half had continued into recent months and the interim dividend, to be paid on 6 January, was raised to 0.64p a share, from 0.58p last year.