Third quarter trading update

RNS Number : 9287E

Dignity PLC

09 November 2015

 

For immediate release

9 November 2015

Dignity plc

Third quarter trading update

Dignity plc (Dignity or the Group), the UK's only listed provider of funeral related services, announces its trading update for the third quarter of 2015.

	39 week	39 week	Increase
	period ended	period ended	per cent
	25 September	26 September
	2015	2014
Revenue (£million)	227.0	196.4	15.6
Underlying operating profit1 (£million)	78.1	64.0	22.0
Number of deaths	446,000	409,000	9.0

¹ Underlying operating profit is calculated as profit excluding profit (or loss) on sale of fixed assets, external transaction costs and exceptional items.

The number of deaths in the third quarter of the year was flat at 129,000 (2014: 129,000), compared to the 13 per cent increase in deaths in the first six months of the year. As a result, the year to date position is approximately nine per cent higher than the comparable period last year.

Average incomes remain robust and in the year to date total revenues are almost 16 per cent higher than last year. Costs continue to be in line with the Board's expectations, allowing for the higher volumes. Underlying operating profits increased 22 per cent to £78.1 million (2014: £64.0 million) in the year to date.

The Laurel acquisition, completed in July 2015, is performing as expected, with integration of the business well underway. Further details of operational performance will be provided in the Group's 2015 annual report.

In addition to the Laurel acquisition, the Group has acquired a total of 12 funeral locations for consideration of £10.9 million, bringing its total investment in the year to £49.2 million.

The Group is also pleased to confirm that its planning application for a crematorium in Derby has been successful. This location should start operating in 2017.

Given the continued high number of deaths relative to 2014, the Group expects to outperform current market expectations in the full year 2015. However, there remains a strong possibility that the number of deaths in 2016 may in turn be significantly lower and therefore the Group's expectations for 2016 and beyond remain unchanged.

There were no other significant transactions in the period to 8 November 2015.

Mike McCollum, Chief Executive of Dignity, commented:

"2015 continues to be a year of very strong operational performance for the Group. We remain focused on the fundamentals of our business: we have maintained very high levels of customer service, costs are well controlled and corporate development opportunities continue to be pursued."

Dignity (2002) Limited (the holding company of those companies subject to the securitisation) has today issued reports to the Rating Agencies (Fitch and Standard & Poor's), the Security Trustee and the holders of the Secured Notes issued in October 2014 in connection with the securitisation.

Copies of these reports are available at http://www.dignityfuneralsplc.co.uk.

For further information please contact:

Mike McCollum, Chief Executive

Steve Whittern, Finance Director

Dignity plc                                                             [phone]

Richard Oldworth

Sophie McNulty

Robbie Ceiriog-Hughes

Buchanan                                                             [phone]

www.buchanan.uk.com  

 

END

 

 

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