DWF Group PLC FY22 Trading Statement (8478M)

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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 cGBP350m (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 GBP41m, 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 GBP40.8m

For further information:

DWF Group plc

James Igoe [phone]

Head of Communications & IR

Maitland/amo

Sam Turvey [phone]

Sam Cartwright

[e-mail]

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 GBP338.1 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.

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May 26, 2022 02:01 ET (06:01 GMT)