RELX PLC RELX 2022 RESULTS (0792Q)

TIDMREL

RNS Number : 0792Q

RELX PLC

16 February 2023

16 February 2023

RESULTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2022

RELX, the global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools, reports results for 2022.

 
 2022 highlights 
  Ø Revenue GBP8,553m (GBP7,244m), underlying growth +9% 
  Ø Adjusted operating profit GBP2,683m (GBP2,210m), underlying 
  growth +15% 
  Ø Adjusted profit before tax GBP2,489m (GBP2,077m), constant currency 
  growth +13% 
  Ø Reported operating profit GBP2,323m (GBP1,884m) 
  Ø Reported profit before tax GBP2,113m (GBP1,797m) 
  Ø Adjusted EPS 102.2p (87.6p), constant currency growth +10% 
  Ø Reported EPS 85.2p (76.3p) 
  Ø Proposed full year dividend 54.6p (49.8p) +10% 
  Ø Net debt/EBITDA 2.1x; adjusted cash flow conversion 101% 
  Ø Completed nine acquisitions for a total consideration of GBP443m 
  Ø Completed GBP500m share buyback 
  2023 outlook 
  Ø Momentum remains strong across the group, and we expect underlying 
  growth rates in revenue and adjusted operating profit to remain above 
  historical trends, driving another year of strong growth in adjusted 
  earnings per share on a constant currency basis. 
 

Chief Executive Officer, Erik Engstrom, commented:

"RELX delivered strong revenue and profit growth in 2022. The improving long-term growth trajectory is being driven by the ongoing shift in our business mix towards higher growth analytics and decision tools that deliver enhanced value to our customers across market segments."

"We also performed well on our corporate responsibility priorities during the year, making good progress with our unique contributions to society, further improving our key performance metrics, and again being recognised by a number of external agencies through high ESG ratings."

"In recognition of our strong cash flow and financial position we are proposing a 10% increase in the full year dividend to 54.6p (49.8p), and we intend to deploy a total of GBP800m on share buybacks in 2023."

Operating and financial review

Revenue GBP8,553m (GBP7,244m); underlying growth +9%: Electronic revenue, representing 83% of the total, grew +6%, with a further recovery in face-to-face activity and a reducing print drag bringing the overall group underlying revenue growth rate to +9%.

Adjusted operating profit GBP2,683m (GBP2,210m); underlying growth +15%: Our strategy of driving continuous process innovation to manage cost growth below revenue growth, together with the recovery in face-to-face activity, resulted in an improvement in the group adjusted operating margin to 31.4% (30.5%).

Reported operating profit GBP2,323m (GBP1,884m): Improvement driven by higher adjusted operating profit.

Adjusted profit before tax GBP2,489m (GBP2,077m); constant currency growth +13%: the adjusted net interest expense increased to GBP194m (GBP133m). The average interest rate on gross debt was 2.9% (2.0%).

Reported profit before tax GBP2,113m (GBP1,797m): Improvement driven by higher adjusted profit before tax.

Tax: The adjusted tax charge was GBP530m (GBP384m). The adjusted effective tax rate was 21.3% (18.5%), with the prior year benefitting from non-recurring tax credits. The reported tax charge was GBP481m (GBP326m).

Adjusted EPS 102.2p (87.6p) +17%; constant currency growth +10% .

Reported EPS 85.2p (76.3p) +12% .

Dividend: We are proposing a full year dividend of 54.6p (49.8p), an increase of +10%. Dividend cover, based on adjusted earnings per share, is 1.9x (1.8x).

Net debt/EBITDA 2.1x (2.4x): Net debt at 31 December 2022 was GBP6.6bn (GBP6.0bn), with the increase due to currency movements. Adjusted cash flow conversion was 101% (101%).

Portfolio development: In 2022 we completed nine small acquisitions for a total consideration of GBP443m.

Share buybacks : We deployed GBP500m on share buybacks in 2022. In 2023 we intend to deploy a total of GBP800m, of which GBP150m has already been completed.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) recognition : In 2022, RELX achieved a AAA MSCI ESG rating for a seventh consecutive year; maintained its first place sector ranking on ESG by Sustainalytics; remained fourth in the Responsibility100 Index, which measures FTSE 100 companies against the UN Sustainable Development Goals; and was a constituent of the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index for a fourth consecutive year.

RELX FINANCIAL SUMMARY

 
                                                       Year ended 31 December 
----------------------------------------  ------------------------------------------------ 
Adjusted figures                                                       Change 
                                           2021    2022           at constant       Change 
                                           GBPm    GBPm  Change    currencies   underlying 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------  ----------- 
Revenue                                   7,244   8,553    +18%          +11%          +9% 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------  ----------- 
Operating profit                          2,210   2,683   +21 %          +14%         +15% 
Operating margin                          30.5%   31.4% 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------  ----------- 
Net interest expense                      (133)   (194) 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------  ----------- 
Profit before tax                         2,077   2,489   +20 %         +13 % 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------  ----------- 
Tax charge                                (384)   (530) 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------  ----------- 
Net profit attributable to shareholders   1,689   1,961   +16 %          +10% 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------  ----------- 
Cash flow                                 2,230   2,709    +21%          +13% 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------  ----------- 
Cash flow conversion                       101%    101% 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------  ----------- 
Return on invested capital                11.9%   12.5% 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------  ----------- 
Earnings per share                        87.6p  102.2p    +17%          +10% 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------  ----------- 
Dividend 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------  ----------- 
Ordinary dividend per share               49.8p   54.6p    +10% 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------  ----------- 
 
Reported figures                           2021    2022 
                                           GBPm    GBPm  Change 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------------------- 
Revenue                                   7,244   8,553    +18% 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------------------- 
Operating profit                          1,884   2,323    +23% 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------------------- 
Profit before tax                         1,797   2,113    +18% 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------------------- 
Net profit attributable to shareholders   1,471   1,634    +11% 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------------------- 
Net margin                                20.3%   19.1% 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------------------- 
Net debt                                  6,017   6,604 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------------------- 
Earnings per share                        76.3p   85.2p    +12% 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ------------------------- 
 
 

RELX uses adjusted figures as additional performance measures. Adjusted figures primarily exclude the amortisation of acquired intangible assets and other items related to acquisitions and disposals, and the associated deferred tax movements. Underlying growth rates are calculated at constant currencies, excluding the results of acquisitions until twelve months after purchase, and excluding the results of disposals and assets held for sale. Underlying revenue growth rates also exclude exhibition cycling. Constant currency growth rates are based on 2021 full-year average and hedge exchange rates.

 
ENQUIRIES:  Colin Tennant (Investors)  Paul Abrahams (Media) 
             [phone]        [phone] 
 

Disclaimer regarding forward-looking statements

This announcement contains forward--looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes of RELX PLC (together with its subsidiaries, "RELX", "we" or "our") to differ materially from those expressed in any forward--looking statement. We consider any statements that are not historical facts to be "forward--looking statements". The terms "outlook", "estimate", "forecast", "project", "plan", "intend", "expect", "should", "could", "will", "believe", "trends" and similar expressions may indicate a forward--looking statement. Important factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from estimates or forecasts contained in the forward--looking statements include, among others: compromises of RELX cyber security systems or other unauthorised access to our databases; regulatory and other changes regarding the collection, transfer or use of third--party content and data; changes

in law and legal interpretations affecting RELX intellectual property rights and internet communications; current and future geopolitical, economic and market conditions; changes in economic cycles, communicable disease epidemics or pandemics, severe weather events, natural disasters and terrorism; changes in tax laws and uncertainty in their application; changes in the payment model for RELX products; competitive factors in the industries in which RELX operates and demand for RELX products and services; failure of third parties to whom RELX has outsourced business activities; breaches of generally accepted ethical business standards or applicable laws; significant failure or interruption of RELX systems; inability to realise the future anticipated benefits of acquisitions; inability to retain high-quality employees and management; exchange rate fluctuations and other risks referenced from time to time in the filings of RELX PLC with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on these forward--looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this announcement. Except as may be required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or release any revisions to these forward--looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this announcement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Notes for Editors

About RELX

RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 33,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America.

The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. The market capitalisation is approximately GBP47bn/EUR53bn/$56bn.

The Annual Report 2022 is expected to be available on the RELX website at www.relx.com from 23 February 2023. Copies of the Annual Report 2022 are expected to be posted to shareholders of RELX PLC on 10 March 2023. Copies of the 2022 Results Announcement are available to the public on the RELX website and from:

RELX PLC

1-3 Strand

London WC2N 5JR

United Kingdom

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February 16, 2023 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)