Madano News - ANALYZE THAT - MADANO PARTNERSHIP UPDATE

While I am sure that we all have our own personal adjective to describe 2009, I think it would be fair to say that it is likely to become one of the most analysed years in history - economically, socially and politically - for many years to come.

In the UK base rates hit 300-year lows: Queen Elizabeth gave way to Quantitative Easing: the Government bought (OK, unwillingly) vast chunks of the banking sector, followed by vast rights issues: government debt ballooned: and the reputation of Westminster was left in tatters by the expenses scandal. Elsewhere, the US Government bailed out their banking and auto sectors, Dubai went bust (it wasn't alone), swine flu added to global panic and the Climate Change talks at Copenhagen proved to be a very damp squib.

With the bear market in UK equities finally ended, the FT All Share Index up 30% and shoppers delivering the busiest online sales day ever on Boxing Day, 2009 may have concluded with the whiff of recovery in the air, despite the UK remaining technically in recession - the deepest for several generations.

'Testing' as an adjective for the year is something I am sure we can all agree on. A year of striving for revenue? Certainly a year requiring a close control of costs. While Madano was no different financially from the vast majority of businesses, I am pleased to say that our ability to deliver cost effective integrated communications once again led to some very pleasing outcomes :

• With the world undergoing great change, more and more of our clients used our research and analysis services to understand their business world more effectively. We completed major projects across a range of areas from housing associations and developments in drinks & packaging to the private finance market; risk management attitudes in major banks and developments in the nuclear energy market.
• As an Election looms, Madano established its credentials in the government and regulatory market beyond doubt. Through our market leading research report, "The Class of 2010 – a definitive guide to the next generation of MPs", we have become one of the leading commentators on the future shape of Westminster and how that change will affect business. Coverage of our work has been extensive across national, broadcast and trade media – all of which is available at www.madano.com
• We successfully launched further strategic advisory services through the year focused on Environmental Business Intelligence, Community Relations Support, and Brand Management – all of which have been widely used by a range of clients.
• Our sector expertise and focus has provided us with real advantages consolidating our position as a leading business communications consultancy in fields such as building & infrastructure; financial & professional services (where we have developed a niche in Islamic Finance); energy & the environment; and in the food & drinks markets, with strong growth particularly around issues management.
• We were delighted to have hosted a series of high-level networking events throughout the year with leading business and political figures including: Ian Katz, Executive Editor of the Guardian; Andrew Porter, the Political Editor of the Telegraph; Sir Brian Bender, Permanent Secretary, BIS and Professor Chris Rapley, Director of the Science Museum.

2010 will I am sure present another challenge. While there is evidence of growth resuming in a number of economies around the world, the UK is likely to be hampered by its huge public sector deficit and there is the additional complicating factor of a general election – where the outcome may not be decisive.

Our goals at Madano will be that we continue to be innovative, thoughtful, creative, responsive, friendly, hard-working, efficient and perhaps most importantly, offer value for money. We think this will help our business grow alongside yours.

If you have reached this point, if you are a client, thank you for your business; if you are not, then please become one and find out what makes our clients happy!

May I wish you a successful 2010.

With kind regards

Neville Harris
Chairman
Madano Partnership