Anexo Group plc (LON:ANX), the specialist integrated credit hire and legal services provider, has provided today the following Trading Update in respect of the year ended 31 December 2021 (‘FY 2021’).
The Board is pleased to announce that revenue growth has exceeded the Group’s forecasts and that profit before tax will be significantly ahead of market expectations.
The Group’s growth strategy has been supported by a sustained recovery in its core business following the easing of the second national lockdown in March 2021. The number of vehicles on the road in Anexo Group’s credit hire division, EDGE, reached record numbers in the second half of 2021 (‘H2 2021’), peaking at around 2,500 in December 2021. The number of vehicles on the road currently stands at 2,300.
The strong performance has been underpinned by a number of factors, including strong growth in the motorcycle courier market, the withdrawal of competitors due to Covid and the implementation of the Civil Liability Act in May 2021 as well as the deal with MCE previously announced on 25 November 2021.
The gradual re-opening of the courts has been beneficial to the Group’s legal division, Bond Turner, enabling litigators to increase case settlements and cash collection, supporting further investment in new cases. This trend is expected to continue as more courts return to normal working.
On 7 December 2021 the Group announced the formation of a new Housing Disrepair team within Bond Turner. The team has made a strong start, with both new case and settlement numbers ahead of internal forecasts. The Group looks forward to considerable growth in this area in 2022.
Anexo Group continues to monitor developments in the legal action against Volkswagen AG (the ‘VW Emissions’ case). The Group is actively engaged with approximately 15,000 claims. As previously announced, all costs associated with marketing and the processing of claims have been expensed as incurred; investment in case acquisition and development in 2021 totalled £800,000.
Notice of Final Results
The Group will be announcing its Final Results for the year ended 31 December 2021 on Wednesday, 11 May 2022.
There will be a conference call for sell-side analysts at 09:30am on the day of results, which will be hosted by Alan Sellers (Executive Chairman) and Mark Bringloe (CFO). Retail investors will also be able to listen to the call but will not be eligible to ask questions. A copy of the Final Results presentation will be available at the Group’s website on the day: https://www.anexo-group.com/. Please contact Nick Dashwood Brown, Head of Investor Relations, at nick@anexo-group.com if you would like to receive the dial in details.
An audio webcast of the conference call with analysts will be made available on the Group’s investor relations website (www.anexo-group.com) after 12pm on the day of results. A link will be provided in the Final Results statement.
