IG Group Holdings plc
05 December 2007
5 December 2007
IG GROUP HOLDINGS PLC
Pre-close Trading Update
IG Group Holdings plc ('IG' or 'the Group') issues the following trading update
relating to the six-month period ended 30 November 2007.
Trading throughout the period has been very strong, benefiting from high levels
of market volatility and increased client recruitment across the Group's
financial business. The Board expects to report revenue of around £85m for the
six-month period ended 30 November 2007 (2006: £55.7m), representing an increase
of approximately 53%.
The Group's financials business is expected to show growth in excess of 58% and
has experienced record levels of transactions and new account openings
throughout the period. Both the Group's spread betting operation, which deals
primarily with UK-based clients and the Group's CFD operation, which deals with
clients worldwide, continue to contribute to this growth.
The Group's client education programme, TradeSense, which was launched in the UK
earlier this year has been rolled out across the Group's Australian and European
offices. PureDeal, the Group's new browser-based dealing platform, is now
available on all of the Group's regulated English-language financial websites
worldwide, and is in the process of being rolled out across the Group's European
websites this month. The Group continues to enhance the functionality of all of
its dealing platforms.
The Group's Australian operation has achieved good levels of growth with revenue
expected to be more than double that of the corresponding period in the prior
year. The Group's more recently established Singapore and German offices and its
Italian desk based in London are all demonstrating good levels of client
recruitment and income growth, albeit from a low base: these operations
accounted for 22% of new CFD accounts in the second quarter.
The Group continues to invest significantly in future growth opportunities. This
includes pursuing its strategy of geographic expansion, with offices being
opened in Madrid and Paris during November. In addition, the Group recently
announced plans to access retail customers in the US through the acquisition of
HedgeStreet Inc, which is licensed to operate an exchange for binary options
trading, and the activation of IG Markets Inc, its existing regulated US
subsidiary which is licensed to offer forex. While these initiatives are at a
very early stage, they present exciting opportunities in new markets. The Group
continues to research additional markets in order to further extend its
geographic reach.
While EBITDA* margin for the period will exceed that recorded in the
corresponding period last year, demonstrating the operational leverage of the
business, the positive impact is limited by the higher level of betting duty
flowing from volatile market conditions.
As noted at the time of the Group's first Interim Management Statement in
September, the Group's financial business has benefited from high levels of
market volatility which is a key driver of client activity. While it remains
difficult to predict future trends in volatility or customer reaction to any
change in market conditions, IG is well positioned for further growth. Current
trading remains strong and the Board remains confident of the Group's prospects
for the full year.
* EBITDA represents earnings before exceptional administrative costs,
depreciation, amortisation charges, taxation, interest payable on debt and
interest receivable on corporate cash balances and includes interest receivable
on clients' money net of interest payable to clients.
For further information please contact:
IG Group 020 7896 0011
Tim Howkins, Chief Executive
Steve Clutton, Finance Director
Financial Dynamics 020 7269 7114
Robert Bailhache
Nick Henderson
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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