Pre close trading update

RNS Number : 9030M

National World PLC

17 January 2023

 

National World plc

("the Company" or the Group")

Pre close trading update for the year ended 31 December 2022

FY22 Adjusted EBITDA ahead of market expectation with a high single digit increase

Digital revenues up 25%

Board to propose maiden dividend

Highlights

§	FY22 revenue expected to be not less than £84.0 million
§	FY22 Adjusted EBITDA* expected to be not less than £9.4 million
§	Strong balance sheet with a cash balance of £27.0 million held as at 31 December 2022

National World's Chairman, David Montgomery, said:

"W e have accelerated the Group's transformation into a premium content and sales business across all platforms in 2022 . We continue to launch new products, invest in organic growth, enhance heritage assets and streamline our infrastructure to create further efficiencies.

"Management is pursuing opportunities to build scale and enhance shareholder value through targeted investments and acquisitions. Two online content acquisitions completed at the end of 2022, Scoopdragon and Newschain, have immediately increased National World's online audience by over 10 per cent.

"We look ahead into 2023 with confidence given our rapidly evolving operating model to restore revenue growth and we maintain our expectations for the Group's performance."

Trading

Revenue for full year 2022 is expected to be not less than £84.0 million, underpinned by robust digital revenue growth of 25% with print revenue declining 7% compared with the previous year.

Digital revenue growth was lower in the second half of the year at 12% as a consequence of market and audience volatility, combined with the impact of changes to Google's search algorithm. However, t he impact on revenues was mitigated by stronger yields and increased video advertising.

Print advertising revenue declined by 6% and circulation revenue by 9% reflecting subdued consumer confidence in the UK economy because of rising inflation and interest rates.

The Group has managed costs carefully throughout the year enabling it to support digital investments and mitigate the impact of increased newsprint prices and other inflationary cost pressures.

Financial position

The Group maintains a strong financial position with the cash balance increasing by £4.0 million to £27.0 million as at the year end, after investment and repayment of the first tranche of the £2.5 million deferred consideration payable as a result of acquiring JPIMedia Publishing Limited and its subsidiaries ("JPI Group"). In 2023 the Company will pay the second and final tranche of £2.5m deferred consideration for JPIGroup, and repay £1.0m of loan notes, making the Company debt free.

The strength of Group performance, current outlook and prospects has enabled the Board to consider the Company's dividend policy and the Board expects to propose and recommend a maiden dividend in conjunction with the release of its audited results for the year ended 31 December 2022 on 16 March 2023.

Operational progress

Management has accelerated the digitisation of its operations and in 2023 will introduce further technological enhancements to deepen engagement with customers across a wider content agenda. This will be accompanied by the launch of new products for advertisers to attract sustainable , long-term revenues.

Operational highlights:

§	Launch of the Peopleworld and 3addedminutes websites, and a US version of nationalworld.com creating a global footprint for the business
§	Investment of USD $1.25 million in social-first media company, The News Movement, in October 2022 to provide National World's audiences with high-quality, fact-based, engaging news and useful information on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Snap
§	Two acquisitions completed in December 2022 of independent digital football publisher ScoopDragon and video-first content innovator, NewsChain as part of its strategy to develop new formats and increase the size of its customer base
§	Delivered targeted annualised cost savings in excess of £4.0 million, with restructuring costs of approximately £3.0 million expensed in the period.

Outlook

The Group is currently accelerating the implementation of its new operating model, focused on building a fully digitised customer-driven business creating sustainable premium content and sales whilst maintaining performance in the near term.

Management continues to pursue acquisition opportunities, primarily targeting businesses that will enhance the Group's digital capability.

National World will release its audited results for the year ended 31 December 2022 on 16 March 2023.

*Adjusted EBITDA is earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation, implementation of IFRS16 and non-recurring items.

- Ends -

Enquiries:

National World plc David Montgomery c/o Montfort Communications
Dowgate Capital Limited David Poutney James Serjeant	[phone]
Montfort Communications Nick Miles Olly Scott	[phone] [phone]

Forward-looking statements

This announcement may include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "estimates", "plans", "projects", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include matters that are not historical facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this announcement and include statements regarding the directors' current intentions, beliefs or expectations concerning, among other things, the Company's results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the Company's markets. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances. Actual results and developments could differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may and often do differ materially from actual results. Any forward-looking statements in this announcement are based on certain factors and assumptions, including the directors' current view with respect to future events and are subject to risks relating to future events and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Company's operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. Whilst the directors consider these assumptions to be reasonable based upon information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Save as required by applicable law or regulation, the Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to any forward-looking statements in this announcement that may occur due to any change in the directors' expectations or to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this announcement.

 

END

 

 

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