Knights Group upbeat on strong year

(Sharecast News) - Knights Group reported a 28% rise in underlying full-year revenue to £207.7m on Monday, as stronger organic growth and acquisitions lifted earnings, although reported pre-tax profit fell due to higher acquisition-related costs.

Underlying EBITDA rose 20% to £51.5m in the year ended 30 April, while underlying pre-tax profit increased 19% to £33.2m and underlying basic earnings per share rose 17% to 28.14p.

Reported pre-tax profit declined to £10.2m from £12.3m.

Organic growth improved to 7%, including 12% in the second half, while net debt was broadly steady at £65.4m after about £17m of acquisition-related payments.

The AIM-traded company proposed a final dividend of 3.69p, taking the total dividend up 17% to 5.63p, and said trading had started positively, supported by a renewed and extended £159m revolving credit facility.

Chief executive David Beech said Knights had delivered "a strong performance in the year, with double digit organic growth in the second half, contributions from recent acquisitions, and good cash generation assisting the self-funding of acquisition costs in the year."

At 1118 BST, shares in Knights Group Holdings were up 3.72% at 195p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

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