REG - Midwich Group PLC - Pre-close Trading Statement

MidwichAnnouncement

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RNS Number : 7568R  Midwich Group PLC  21 July 2025

21 July 2025

Midwich Group plc

("Midwich" or the "Group")

Pre-close Trading Statement

Year-end outlook unchanged despite challenging market conditions continuing

 

Midwich Group plc (AIM: MIDW), a global specialist audio visual distributor to
the trade market, is today providing a trading update for the six months ended
30 June 2025 ("H1 2025"). Outlook for the full year remains in line with the
Board's previously revised expectations.

Revenue for H1 2025 is expected to be approximately £620 million,
representing a decrease of approximately £28 million (4.3%) versus H1 2024*.
Revenue on a constant currency basis reduced by 2.7% (excluding approximately
£11m of currency translation headwinds) whilst organic revenue on a constant
currency basis was approximately 3.5% below H1 2024.

Whilst global market conditions remain challenging, we were pleased to see a
return to growth in the UK & Ireland ("UK&I") which grew approximately
5% versus H1 2024, as a result of new vendor launches and market share gains.
UK&I represents approximately 40% of Group revenue.

Revenue in EMEA, which reduced by approximately 7.3% vs H1 2024 on a constant
currency basis, was impacted by significant softness in the German corporate
end user market and, particularly, major delays to purchase decisions in
education ahead of new federal funding being made available later in 2025.
Outside of Germany (which represents around one third contribution for the
EMEA region), the Group saw revenue growth of approximately 3% in the rest of
EMEA, reflecting stronger demand for more technical, higher margin, product
categories.

Midwich's North American business saw revenues decline approximately 8.5% on a
constant currency basis, resulting from tariff uncertainty and the planned
transition to new technical vendors.  As trade negotiations are finalised,
and new vendors come on stream, we expect to see this region return to growth
and deliver strong profitability over the medium term.

Overall, the Group delivered a robust gross margin of approximately 17.7% (H1
2024: 18.0%*), which reflected the continued added value delivered by the
Group and the focus on higher margin technical product categories.

Adjusted EBIT was approximately £15.4 million in the period, a reduction of
29% versus H1 2024 on constant currency basis. The Adjusted EBIT margin was
approximately 2.5% of sales (H1 2024: 3.4%), reflecting the decline in revenue
and the Group's operational leverage. Adjusted profit before tax for H1 2025
is expected to be around £9.5 million (H1 2024: £17.2 million).

Cash generation in H1 2025 was in line with the Board's expectations. Adjusted
net debt** increased by approximately £17 million from the prior year end to
£148 million, as a result of deferred acquisition payments and normal working
capital seasonality. Cost reduction actions taken in the period will result in
a one-off cash cost of approximately £2m. At 2.6x adjusted net debt compared
to adjusted EBITDA*** at the period end, leverage is expected to reduce to
approximately 2.2x by the year end and remains comfortably within the Group's
covenants.

Outlook

The Board continues to assume general macroeconomic conditions will remain
challenging for the remainder of 2025. Despite this general backdrop, the
Group has a strong pipeline of opportunities and productivity initiatives
which, when combined with a continued focus on driving further overheads
efficiencies and maintaining prudent cash management, the Board's full year
expectations remain in line with its previously revised expectations.

As previously disclosed, the Board continues to expect trading for the current
year to have a higher weighting to the second half than prior years.

Stephen Fenby, Group Managing Director, commented:

"The first half of 2025 has been challenging for our industry, with education
and corporate spend suppressed due to several factors such as high government
debt, low or negative GDP growth and tariff uncertainty.  As a result, we
have seen reduced demand and price erosion of mainstream products which has
contributed to compressed net margins, however our higher margin technical
product categories, which represent approximately two thirds of H1 sales,
continue to be more resilient.

Despite the challenging macro backdrop, the Group has been proactive with its
initiatives to drive improved future performance including developing new
vendor and customer relationships, building new revenue streams and pursuing
operating and cost saving efficiencies. These include exploring opportunities
around implementing AI solutions designed to improve the efficiency of the
business.

Midwich remains a leading player in a large industry, and we continue to
maintain or grow market share in key profitable regions, with a focus on
delivering the best service to our customers and vendors. There is no doubt
that the first half of 2025 has been tough, and I recognise that the
additional workload on my colleagues is significant. I, along with the Board,
would like to thank them for their continued efforts. The initiatives and
actions taken to expand our reach and improve performance means we continue to
look forward with confidence."

Notice of Results

Midwich will announce its half year results for the six months ended 30 June
2025 on 9 September 2025.

 *    Prior year restated throughout this statement to reflect reclassifications
      following to the adoption of new accounting standards. These include
      amendments to IAS 1 presentation of financial statements, IFRS 16 leases, IAS
      7 statement of cash flows, and IFRS 7 financial instruments: disclosures.
      Comparative financial results have been restated as if these changes had
      always been adopted. The changes are reclassifications that do not alter the
      net financial performance or position previously reported.

 **   Adjusted net debt is borrowings less cash and cash equivalents and excludes
      lease liabilities
 ***  Adjusted EBITDA operating profit before acquisition costs, exceptional items,
      share based payments and associated employer taxes, depreciation,
      amortisation, and impairments and, for leverage purposes, includes a proforma
      twelve-month contribution from acquisitions

 

For further information:

 

 Midwich Group plc                                       +44 (0) 1379 649200

Stephen Fenby, Managing Director

Stephen Lamb, Finance Director
 Investec Bank plc (NOMAD and Joint Broker to Midwich)   +44 (0) 20 7597 5970

 Carlton Nelson / Ben Griffiths
 Berenberg (Joint Broker to Midwich)                     +44 (0) 20 3207 7800

Ben Wright / Richard Andrews
 FTI Consulting                                          +44 (0) 20 3727 1000

Alex Beagley / Tom Hufton / Matthew Young

 

About Midwich Group

Specialisation at scale.

Midwich Group is a network of businesses which partner with the world's
leading technology companies to accelerate their growth. Selling into over 50
countries from 23 global locations, the Group specialises in audiovisual
technology - whether in state-of-the-art meeting rooms or on a festival main
stage, our solutions help the world connect, communicate, or experience wow
moments.

Taking technology further.

With services ranging from product distribution to complex system design,
focused marketing campaigns to flexible financing solutions, and showcase
events to seed funding for startups, the Group's ever-expanding offering is
designed to add value and solve its partners' biggest challenges.

This has enabled the Group to maintain strong relationships with global
manufacturers and a diverse customer base of over 21,000, including
professional integrators, event production companies and IT resellers in
sectors such as education, corporate, retail and live events.

Enabling tomorrow.

With over 1,800 employees across the UK and Ireland, EMEA, Asia Pacific and
North America, the company is committed to being a responsible employer.

The Group wants to do the right thing and actively works to limit its impact
on the environment and communities, and recognises the importance of giving
back - find out more about our sustainability activities here
(https://midwichgroupplc.com/sustainability/) .

For further information, please visit www.midwichgroupplc.com
(http://www.midwichgroupplc.com/)

 

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