Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC
22 April 2008
Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC Interim Management Statement
22 April 2008
In advance of its AGM to be held at 10.30am today, Moneysupermarket.com Group
PLC ('Moneysupermarket.com' or the 'Group'), the UK's leading price comparison
site, announces its Interim Management Statement relating to the period from 1
January 2008 to the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this
statement, being 21 April 2008. The financial and operational data set out below
is in respect of the Group's first quarter (1 January 2008 to 31 March 2008)
unless otherwise stated.
The financial results for the Group for the first quarter, and the performance
of the Group in the year to date, are in line with the Board's expectations. We
have made a solid start to the year with Group revenues having grown by more
than 30% over the same period last year.
The Money vertical has enjoyed revenue growth in excess of 10% in the first
quarter compared to the same period last year. Visitor growth has also continued
to remain strong with growth rates in excess of 15% over the same period last
year. Trading within loans and mortgages has been challenging. However, revenues
in these channels have been broadly flat in the first quarter compared to the
same period last year in what for the financial services industry as a whole has
been a declining market. The credit cards and savings channels have continued to
see significant growth driven both by improved commercial terms with providers
together with a significant increase in visitors. With mortgage approvals
reported to be 40% down, the performance of our business shows the benefit of a
difficult market to the price comparison channels.
The Insurance vertical has maintained the momentum seen in the second half of
2007. Revenue has grown in excess of 50% over the first quarter last year with
each of the major channels performing well. Visitors have grown in excess of 30%
(1). We have also seen improvements in Revenue per Visitor from improved
commercial terms with providers and continued improvements in conversion rates
on provider sites.
The Travel vertical has also delivered strong results with revenues and visitors
in excess of 50% ahead of the same period last year.
Revenues in Home Services are more than 100% ahead of the first quarter last
year primarily from increased revenues in the Utilities channel. Visitors to the
Home Services vertical have grown by more than 30%.
The intermediary business has performed in line with expectations with revenues
marginally down on the same period last year, impacted in part by the turbulent
credit markets.
As indicated at the time of the preliminary results we have seen a stepped
increase in our cost base. Costs have increased, in line with plan, as a result
of the introduction of a dual data centre to provide business continuity and
investment using temporary resource to further increase the scalability and
resilience of the Group's technology offering together with costs of the German
operation. The Board does not anticipate a further step up in the cost base
during the remainder of 2008.
The underlying UK business continues to generate EBITDA margins in excess of
30%, which is broadly in line with the second half of last year.
As the Group enters the second quarter, growth rates continue to remain strong
and the current financial year continues to progress in line with the Board's
expectations. The Group is well positioned in each of its chosen markets and
remains confident in its growth prospects.
Simon Nixon, Chief Executive Officer said 'We have made a solid start to the
year with over 30% revenue growth year on year. This highlights the resilience
of our business model, the strength of our market position and the benefits of
our diversification into a number or verticals.'
Contact details
Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC
Paul Doughty Chief Financial Officer 020 7353 4200
Alexander Cowen-Wright Public Relations Manager 07802 455893
Tulchan Communications
David Trenchard 020 7353 4200
Celia Gordon Shute 020 7353 4200
(1) As noted in the prospectus in connection with its listing, the Group's
visitor numbers during the period between June 2006 and May 2007 were
understated due to certain visitors not being assigned a unique global user ID.
The issue was resolved in May 2007 and has not impacted visitor numbers in the
Insurance vertical after May 2007. The Group has been unable to quantify the
exact extent of the understatement.
Notes:
•This announcement includes statements that are forward looking in nature.
Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, assumptions,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the Group to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward looking statements. Except as required by the Listing Rules and
applicable law, the Group undertakes no obligation to update or change any
forward looking statements to reflect events occurring after the date such
statements are published.
•The information in this release is based on management information.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
*A Private Investor is a recipient of the information who meets all of the conditions set out below, the recipient:
Obtains access to the information in a personal capacity;
Is not required to be regulated or supervised by a body concerned with the regulation or supervision of investment or financial services;
Is not currently registered or qualified as a professional securities trader or investment adviser with any national or state exchange, regulatory authority, professional association or recognised professional body;
Does not currently act in any capacity as an investment adviser, whether or not they have at some time been qualified to do so;
Uses the information solely in relation to the management of their personal funds and not as a trader to the public or for the investment of corporate funds;
Does not distribute, republish or otherwise provide any information or derived works to any third party in any manner or use or process information or derived works for any commercial purposes.
Please note, this site uses cookies. Some of the cookies are essential for parts of the site to operate and have already been set. You may delete and block all cookies from this site, but if you do, parts of the site may not work. To find out more about the cookies used on Investegate and how you can manage them, see our Privacy and Cookie Policy
To continue using Investegate, please confirm that you are a private investor as well as agreeing to our Privacy and Cookie Policy & Terms.