FY22 Trading Statement
26/05/2022 07:00
For best results when printing this announcement, please click on link below:
http://newsfile.refinitiv.com/getnewsfile/v1/story?guid=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20220526:nRSZ8478Ma&default-theme=true
RNS Number : 8478M DWF Group PLC 26 May 2022
DWF Group plc
("DWF" or the "Company")
LEI: 213800O9QREOHTOGQ266
26 May 2022
FY22 Trading Statement
Continuing trend of profitable growth and working capital improvement
DWF, the global provider of integrated legal and business services, today
issues the following trading update for its financial year ended 30 April 2022
(FY22).
· The Group expects to report:
o net revenue of c£350m (unaudited) reflecting like-for-like(1) growth of
more than 6%, including 9% growth in DWF's biggest market, the UK
o adjusted profit before tax of not less than £41m, in line with market
expectations and 20% higher than the prior year
o lock-up days at circa 180 days (FY21: 186 days)
· Agreement reached with Hauzen, an independent law firm in Hong Kong,
that extends the Group's global network of associations
· Healthy pipeline of M&A opportunities under consideration
· Confident in medium term guidance provided in July 2021
The Group enjoyed strong activity levels in the year, delivering like-for-like
revenue growth of more than 6%. The UK was a particular standout market with
9% revenue growth.
Growth continued in H2, with business activity and utilisation having
normalised from the peak of H1, as colleagues took much-deserved holiday after
almost two years of pandemic restrictions. Despite an increase in Covid
related sickness absence during Q4 (which has now normalised), the rate of
revenue growth during that period was 8% reflecting momentum that gives
confidence in the FY23 outlook.
Adjusted profit before tax is in line with expectations(2) and 20% ahead of a
strong prior year. This represents a 1.6 percentage point increase in
adjusted PBT margin to 11.7%.
Working capital has continued to trend in line with previously stated targets
with lockup days now at circa 180.
Sir Nigel Knowles, Chief Executive Officer, said: "The FY22 results
demonstrate significant progress towards our medium term guidance which we are
confident will continue during FY23. We have enjoyed strong like-for-like
growth and a 20% increase in adjusted profit before tax, underpinned by our
integrated model and our less cyclical businesses, such as insurance,
litigation and regulatory work, where we do not see the sort of volatility
that can occur in more transaction focussed firms.
"We are continuing to build out our international footprint, with the latest
agreement signed with Hauzen in Hong Kong. This is a key global financial
centre and we see a clear opportunity to increase activity focused on areas
where we have sector strength, but without overcommitting operationally.
"As our integrated model matures, we expect strong organic growth to continue
and we are also seeing a number of opportunities for future M&A. Whilst
we are mindful of the ongoing inflationary backdrop and geopolitical
uncertainties, we look forward to making more progress in FY23 and delivering
further value to all of our stakeholders."
DWF will publish its full‐year results on 21 July 2022.
The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute
inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No.
596/2014 as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the
European (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement,
this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.
The person responsible for making this announcement on behalf of the Company
is Chris Stefani, Group Chief Financial Officer.
1 Like-for-like ('LfL') revenue growth removes both the impact of acquisitions
and restructured operations.
2 DWF believes consensus adjusted PBT, prior to this announcement, was £40.8m
For further information:
DWF Group plc
James Igoe +44(0)7971 783533
Head of Communications & IR
Maitland/amo
Sam Turvey +44(0)20 7379 5151
Sam Cartwright
dwf-maitland@maitland.co.uk
About the Company
DWF is a global provider of integrated legal and business services provided
through its three offerings of Legal Advisory, Mindcrest and Connected
Services. It has approximately 4,000 people and offices and associations
located across the globe. The Company became the first Main Market Premium
Listed legal business on the London Stock Exchange in March 2019. DWF recorded
revenue of £338.1 million in the year ended 30 April 2021. For more
information visit: dwfgroup.com
DWF's three divisions represent its single Integrated Legal Management
approach through which the Group can seamlessly combine any number of these
services to deliver bespoke solutions to its clients with greater efficiency,
price certainty and transparency. This approach enables DWF to offer clients
solutions that combine traditional law firm services with new, modern legal
and business services relevant to today's companies and the challenges and
opportunities they face.
Forward looking statements
This announcement contains certain forward‐looking statements with respect
to the Company's current targets, expectations and projections about future
performance, anticipated events or trends and other matters that are not
historical facts. These forward‐looking statements, which sometimes use
words such as "aim", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "plan" "estimate",
"expect" and words of similar meaning, include all matters that are not
historical facts and reflect the directors' beliefs and expectations and
involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause
actual results and performance to differ materially from any expected future
results or performance expressed or implied by the forward‐looking
statement.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact
rns@lseg.com (mailto:rns@lseg.com)
or visit
www.rns.com (http://www.rns.com/)
.
RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our
Privacy Policy (https://www.lseg.com/privacy-and-cookie-policy)
. END TSTFELLLLELLBBD