London Stock Exchange Group plc: H1 2021 Interim Results
This release contains revenues, costs, earnings and key performance indicators (KPIs) for the six months ended 30 June 2021 (H1). All figures quoted in this release are on an underlying basis. Figures are stated on both a statutory and pro-forma basis for H1 2021 and H1 2020. Pro-forma figures assume that the acquisition of Refinitiv took place on 1 January 2021 and the prior year comparator assumes that the acquisition of Refinitiv occurred on 1 January 2020. All pro-forma and statutory figures exclude the financial contribution from Borsa Italiana which was divested within the period and classed as a discontinued business in both periods. Constant currency variance is calculated on the basis of consistent FX rates applied across the current and prior year period, the conversions have been made from the transactional values, which will eliminate any transactional and translational movements along with any related accounting adjustments. For more information please refer to “Accounting and modelling notes” section below. Organic variances have been removed from our disclosure due to the large variances associated with the acquisition of Refinitiv.
Highlights
Note: Unless otherwise stated, variances refer to growth rates on a pro-forma constant currency basis, excluding the impact of a deferred revenue accounting adjustment1, to provide the best view of underlying performance
· Good performance across all divisions driving 4.6% growth in total income1
· Adjusted operating expense growth of 1.1% due to lower phasing of costs in H1; on track for mid-single digit cost growth for FY 2021 at constant currency (expected to be c.5%), reducing to low-single digit cost growth in 2022 and 2023
· Adjusted EBITDA margin of 49.4%2; margin will be lower for the full year as a result of cost phasing in H2, improving thereafter to achieve the 50% target and increasing beyond 2023
· Good financial performance driving 18.6% increase in AEPS to 146.1p3
· Good progress on the integration of Refinitiv with £77 million of run-rate cost synergies realised at H1; full year guidance for run-rate cost synergy delivery increased from £88 million to £125 million; and 27 new products launched as part of revenue synergy programme
· Group in a strong financial position; leverage reduced to 2.2x net debt/EBITDA following successful divestment of Borsa Italiana
· Favourable outlook supports increase in interim dividend (up 7%) to 25.0 pence per share
1 Excluding recoveries and the deferred revenue accounting impact. The deferred revenue impact is a one-time, non-cash, negative revenue impact resulting from the accounting treatment of deferred revenue within Refinitiv's accounts which have been re-evaluated upon acquisition by LSEG under purchase price accounting rules. The result of this accounting treatment is a £23m adjustment reducing revenue for H1 2021. The vast majority impacts the Data & Analytics business with a smaller impact applied to the FX venues business within Capital Markets. There will be further immaterial impacts in subsequent periods within 2021. Further information is available in the “Accounting and modelling notes” section. Constant currency variance shows underlying financial performance, excluding currency impacts, by comparing the current and prior year period at consistent exchange rates.
2 Adjusted EBITDA margin is Adjusted EBITDA divided by Total Income (excl. Recoveries)
3 Adjusted basic earnings per share (AEPS) variance is on a reported pro-forma basis, not constant currency
David Schwimmer, CEO said:
“LSEG has delivered a good financial performance in the first half of the year, reflecting revenue growth across all divisions.
“We are executing well on our integration plans to deliver the strategic and financial benefits of the Refinitiv transaction. Our cost synergy programme is ahead of plan with £77 million of run-rate savings achieved at H1 and our revenue synergy programme is on track.
“We continue to invest in projects that enhance our customer offering and deliver a more scalable and efficient business, particularly in Data & Analytics. This will support our revenue growth ambitions and lead to further operating margin improvement. The reduction of leverage during the period reinforces our strong financial position and, with our mix of world-class assets and unique positioning in growing markets, we look forward to further progress during the rest of the year.”
Financial Summary
Unless otherwise stated, all figures refer to continuing operations for the six months ended 30 June 2021 (H1 2021). Comparative figures are for continuing operations for the six months ended 30 June 2020 (H1 2020). Numbers are presented on both a statutory and pro-forma basis where indicated.
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|
Statutory underlying 1 |
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|
Continuing operations |
H1 2021 |
H1 2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data & Analytics |
1,959 |
409 |
|
|
Capital Markets |
542 |
147 |
|
|
Post Trade |
450 |
468 |
|
|
Other |
14 |
4 |
|
|
Total Income (excl. recoveries) |
2,965 |
1,028 |
|
|
Recoveries |
148 |
– |
|
|
Total Income (incl. recoveries) |
3,113 |
1,028 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of sales |
(394) |
(114) |
|
|
Gross profit |
2,719 |
914 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted operating expenses before depreciation, amortisation and impairment |
(1,247) |
(369) |
|
|
Income from equity investments |
11 |
– |
|
|
Share of loss after tax of associates |
(2) |
(2) |
|
|
Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and impairment |
1,481 |
543 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment |
(311) |
(86) |
|
|
Adjusted operating profit |
1,170 |
457 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net finance expense |
(87) |
(22) |
|
|
Adjusted profit before tax |
1,083 |
435 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taxation |
(228) |
(89) |
|
|
Adjusted profit after tax |
855 |
346 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-controlling interest |
(97) |
(34) |
|
|
Profit for the period |
758 |
312 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted basic earnings per share (p) 2 |
146.0 |
89.2 |
|
|
Basic earnings per share (p) 2 |
34.3 |
45.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interim dividend per share (p) |
25.0 |
23.3 |
|
1 Statutory underlying figures for H1 2021 incorporate figures from Refinitiv for February to June 2021. Figures associated with the Borsa Italiana Group divestment are excluded from both periods
2 Weighted average number of shares used to calculate Adjusted basic earnings per share and Basic earnings per share on a statutory underlying basis is 519 million
For the pro-forma table, variances are provided on a reported and constant currency basis. Commentary is provided on the constant currency variance (excluding deferred revenue adjustment) to provide the best insight into underlying performance. Please refer to the Accounting and Modelling notes section for more information on relevant accounting adjustments.
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Pro-forma underlying1 |
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Continuing operations |
H1 2021 |
H1 2020 2 |
Reported Variance 3 |
|
Constant Currency Variance 4 |
Constant Currency Variance (excl. deferred revenue adjustment) 4,5 |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data & Analytics |
2,272 |
2,335 |
(2.7%) |
|
3.9% |
4.8% |
|
Capital Markets |
619 |
600 |
3.2% |
|
9.6% |
9.6% |
|
Post Trade |
450 |
468 |
(3.8%) |
|
(2.1%) |
(2.1%) |
|
Other |
15 |
17 |
(11.8%) |
|
(5.9%) |
(5.9%) |
|
Total Income (excl. recoveries) |
3,356 |
3,420 |
(1.9%) |
|
4.0% |
4.6% |
|
Recoveries |
178 |
164 |
8.5% |
|
(1.1%) |
(0.6%) |
|
Total Income (incl. recoveries) |
3,534 |
3,584 |
(1.4%) |
|
3.7% |
4.4% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of sales |
(454) |
(486) |
(6.6%) |
|
0.2% |
0.2% |
|
Gross profit |
3,080 |
3,098 |
(0.6%) |
|
4.3% |
5.1% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted operating expenses before depreciation, amortisation and impairment |
(1,432) |
(1,507) |
(5.0%) |
|
1.1% |
1.1% |
|
Income from equity investments |
11 |
– |
– |
|
– |
– |
|
Share of loss after tax of associates |
(2) |
(1) |
– |
|
– |
– |
|
Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and impairment |
1,657 |
1,590 |
4.2% |
|
7.9% |
9.4% |
|
Adjusted EBITDA Margin 6 |
49.4% |
46.5% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment |
(363) |
(346) |
4.9% |
|
7.7% |
7.7% |
|
Adjusted operating profit |
1,294 |
1,244 |
4.0% |
|
8.0% |
9.9% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net finance expense |
(125) |
(193) |
(35.2%) |
|
|
|
|
Adjusted profit before tax |
1,169 |
1,051 |
11.2% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taxation |
(250) |
(279) |
(10.4%) |
|
|
|
|
Adjusted profit after tax |
919 |
772 |
19.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-controlling interest |
(107) |
(88) |
21.6% |
|
|
|
|
Profit for the period |
812 |
684 |
18.7% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Adjusted basic earnings per share (p) 7 |
146.1 |
123.2 |
18.6% |
|
|
|
1 Pro-forma underlying assumes that the acquisition of Refinitiv took place on 1 January 2021 for the current financial year and 1 January 2020 for the prior financial year comparator figure. Both figures exclude the financial contribution from the businesses contained within the Borsa Italiana divestment
2 H1 2020 comparator figure differs to the previous disclosure due to the treatment of FX and other adjustments. For more information please refer to the “Accounting and modelling notes” section
3 Reported variance is the difference between current and prior year periods on a pro-forma underlying basis, using year-to-date FX rates prevalent at each time, therefore any changes in the FX rates are also reflected in the variance percentage alongside business performance
4 Constant currency variance shows underlying financial performance, excluding currency impacts, by comparing the current and prior period at consistent exchange rates
5 The deferred revenue adjustment is explained in the “Accounting and modelling notes” section
6 Adjusted EBITDA margin is Adjusted EBITDA divided by Total Income (excl. Recoveries)
7 Weighted average number of shares used to calculate Adjusted basic earnings per share on a pro-forma underlying basis is 556 million.
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