5 December 2017
LEI No: 2138003A5Q1M7ANOUD76
IG GROUP HOLDINGS PLC
Pre Close Trading Update
IG Group ("IG", "the Company"), a global leader in online trading, today issues an update ahead of entering its close period following the end of the first half of the financial year ending 31 May 2018 ("FY18").
Following a strong first quarter, IG continued to perform well in the second quarter. Net trading revenue in the first half is expected to be around 9% higher than in the same period a year ago.
Operating costs excluding variable remuneration in the first half of FY18 are expected to be around 7% lower than in the same period a year ago, primarily reflecting a lower level of advertising and marketing spend. IG maintains the guidance given in July that operating costs excluding variable remuneration for the full year are expected to remain at a similar level to FY17.
As previously noted, the nature and timing of potential regulatory changes in the UK and some other key markets for the Group remain uncertain. The Company continues to implement measures to differentiate itself further within the OTC leveraged derivatives industry and to protect the business from regulatory change. It remains difficult, however, to predict what impact regulatory change may have on the Group this financial year and beyond.
There is no conference call scheduled for today, but the Investor Relations team will be available to answer questions.
The financial results for the six months ended 30 November 2017 will be announced on 23 January 2018. There will be a presentation on this date for institutional investors and analysts at 9.30am (UK time) at the Group's offices at Cannon Bridge House, Dowgate Hill, London EC4R 2YA; those wishing to attend the presentation should contact Laura Ewart at laura.ewart@fticonsulting.com or on 020 3727 1160.
For further information, please contact:
IG Group
Liz Scorer 020 7573 0727
FTI Consulting
Neil Doyle / Ed Berry 020 3727 1141 / 1046
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation ("MAR"). Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service ("RIS"), this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.
About IG
IG empowers informed, decisive, adventurous people to access opportunities in over 15,000 financial markets. With a strong focus on innovation and technology, the company puts client needs at the heart of everything it does.
IG's vision is to be a global leader in retail trading and investments. Established in 1974 as the world's first financial spread betting firm, it continued leading the way by launching the world's first online and iPhone trading services.
IG is now an award-winning, multi-platform trading company, the world's No.1 provider of CFDs* and a global leader in forex. It provides leveraged services with the option of limited-risk guarantees, and offers an execution-only share dealing service in the UK, Australia, Germany, France, Ireland, Austria and the Netherlands. IG has recently launched a range of affordable, fully managed investment portfolios, to provide a comprehensive offering to investors and active traders.
It is a member of the FTSE 250, with offices across Europe, including a Swiss bank, Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and the US, where it offers on-exchange limited risk derivatives via the Nadex brand.
*Based on revenue excluding FX (from published financial statements, October 2016)