IVE delivers 104% uplift in earnings per share (EPS) driven by strong revenue growth

IVE Group Limited (ASX:IGL) has announced its financial results for the six months to 31 December, 2021.  IVE has delivered a significant uplift in EPS over the previous corresponding period (PCP) as a result of solid revenue growth, stable margins, and leverage of the recalibrated cost base.

Financial Performance:

• Revenue $382.6m +12.2% on PCP

• EBITDA $55.2m +24.7% on PCP

• NPAT $20.9m +99% on PCP

• EPS 14.6cps +104% on PCP

• Net Debt $78.7m

• Cash on Hand $51.6m

• Interim dividend of 8.5 cents per share, fully franked

IVE commented on the integration of both ADG and AFI (acquired on 1 November 2021) in its ASX release saying the integration ‘is progressing well and will be successfully completed by the end of June 2022.  Post integration, we remain confident of achieving $45m of annualised revenue, EBITDA of

$6.5m and NPAT of $4m’.

Commenting on the Company’s 1H FY22 performance, IVE Group’s CEO, Matt Aitken said:

“A clearly defined and well executed strategy over the long term has cemented IVE as the largest integrated marketing communications business in Australia, holding leading market positions across all the sectors in which we operate. This places us in a strong position as we emerge from the significant disruption of the last 2 years.

Pleasingly, heightened operating leverage across the business has contributed to a significant uplift over our H1 FY21 performance, as existing client revenue rebounds and recently secured new business phases in. Revenue momentum continues, and the Company remains optimistic this will continue over the remainder of the FY22 year”

IVE has provided the following guidance for FY22:

• Earnings guidance

  • underlying EBITDA expected to be $98-101m

  • underlying NPAT expected to be $33-35m

• restructure and acquisition costs expected to be approximately $4m capital expenditure expected to be $13m (excluding Lasoo investment of$3.5m)

• net debt at 30 June 2022 expected to be circa $85m