Last checked at 16 Jul 2021 07:00
16 July 2021
RBG Holdings plc
("RBG" or the "Group")
Pre-Close Trading & Dividend Update
RBG Holdings plc (AIM: RBGP), the professional services group, today publishes a pre-close trading update ahead of the publication of its financial results for the six months ending 30 June 2021 on 15 September 2021.
The Board is pleased to announce that the Group continues to trade in line with market expectations. As a result, the Board intends to pay an interim dividend of 2 pence per share in respect of the six months to 30 June 2021 on 27 August 2021 to shareholders on the register as of 30 July 2021.
Legal Services Division
The Group's legal services division, which includes Rosenblatt Limited ("RBL") and Memery Crystal Limited ("Memery Crystal"), has performed well across all practice areas, particularly those areas focused on contentious law such as dispute resolution, and the Group's corporate division which is focused on commercial transactions. The acquisition of the business of Memery Crystal LLP was completed on 28 May 2021.
The integration of Memery Crystal into the legal services division is progressing well. While RBL and Memery Crystal retain their own brand identities, the two firms are highly complementary and are in the process of being combined into one legal services business. Opportunities have been identified to leverage both firms' skills, resources, and reputation to enhance the Group's offering to its combined client base. Looking ahead, the Group plans to integrate all support functions, including technology platforms, and implement other changes to deliver further synergies while retaining the client facing brands of 'Rosenblatt' for contentious legal services and 'Memery Crystal' for non-contentious legal services. Further details on the integration plans will be provided with the Group's interim results in September.
Litigation Finance
The Group has two types of litigation assets - RBG's own client matters, and litigation matters run by third-party solicitors funded by LionFish Litigation Finance (UK) Limited ("LionFish"). Both offer opportunities for high potential returns.
The current litigation assets include three large cases, project named Neptune, Shango, and Mercury. Updates will be provided when appropriate. In the case of Project Neptune, the Court of Appeal recently found that because there was a 19-month delay in the judge providing a judgment, this judgment is not safe. Therefore, a full re-trial has been ordered with the date not yet set.
LionFish is actively invested in 10 cases with a total cash investment of £3.2 million across the cases and a total capital commitment of £8 million if all cases go to trial. In April, LionFish recorded its first successful litigation investment since its launch. While the return is not material to the Group's forecast financial results, the successful investment provided a gross two times money return over and above invested cash. Moreover, the result confirmed that LionFish could deliver significant returns from its portfolio of assets.
Convex Capital Limited ("Convex Capital")
Convex Capital is the Group's specialist sell-side corporate finance boutique. After a challenging 2020, where deals were postponed or delayed due to Covid, the Convex Capital team worked to pivot its sector focus to rebuild its transaction pipeline.
As a result, since 1 January 2021, Convex Capital has completed eight deals generating revenue of £5.0 million. Furthermore, Convex Capital has a strong pipeline of 25 deals with several currently at various stages of completion.
Commenting Group CEO Nicola Foulston, said: "The Group has continued its strong performance in the first six months, after an excellent 2020. We have seen demand for all legal services continue as expected, including a significant increase in corporate and commercial transactions, such as IPOs and real estate deals, as we emerge from the pandemic. I am pleased with the progress in terms of integrating Memery Crystal into the Group. We are identifying many opportunities for both law firms to work together and enhance our client offering.
"We continue to build a portfolio of litigation investments comprising both RBG's own matters and third-party matters through LionFish which offer the potential for high returns for our shareholders. Our M&A business, Convex Capital, has sustained its strong start to the year converting its pipeline. We are confident about the rest of the year as market conditions continue to improve."
Enquiries:
RBG Holdings plc Nicola Foulston, CEO
| Via SEC Newgate
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Singer Capital Markets (Nomad and Broker) Shaun Dobson / Alex Bond (Corporate Finance) Tom Salvesen (Corporate Broking) | Tel: +44 (0)20 7496 3000 |
SEC Newgate (for media enquiries) Robin Tozer/Tom Carnegie | Tel: +44 (0)7540 106366; rbg@secnewgate.co.uk |
About RBG Holdings plc
RBG Holdings plc is a professional services group, which comprises the following divisions:
Rosenblatt Limited ("Rosenblatt")
Rosenblatt is one of the UK's pioneering law firms and a leader in dispute resolution. Rosenblatt provides a range of legal services to its diversified client base, which includes companies, banks, entrepreneurs and individuals. Complementing this is Rosenblatt's increasingly international footprint, advising on complex cross-jurisdictional disputes. Rosenblatt's practice areas include banking & finance, competition & regulatory, corporate, dispute resolution, employment, financial crime, financial services, insolvency & financial restructuring, IP/technology/media, real estate, serious & general crime, tax resolution and white-collar crime.
Memery Crystal Limited ("Memery Crystal")
Specialist international law firm Memery Crystal offers legal services in a range of areas such as corporate (including a market-leading corporate finance offering), real estate, commercial, IP & technology (CIPT), banking & finance, tax & wealth structuring, employment and dispute resolution. Memery Crystal is one of the leading firms in the UK to advise the emerging cannabis sector on a wide range of business issues. Memery Crystal offers a partner-led service to a broad range of clients, from multinational companies, financial institutions and owner-managed businesses to individual entrepreneurs.
Together, Rosenblatt and Memery Crystal form the Group's Legal Services Division - RBGLS.
LionFish Litigation Finance (UK) Limited ("LionFish")
The Group also provides litigation finance in selected cases through a separate arm, LionFish Litigation Finance (UK) Limited. LionFish finances litigation matters being run by other solicitors in return for a significant return on the outcome of those cases. As such, the Group has two types of litigation assets - Rosenblatt's own client matters, and litigation matters run by third-party solicitors. LionFish is positioned to be a unique, alternative provider to the traditional litigation funders.
Convex Capital Limited ("Convex Capital")
Convex Capital is a specialist sell-side corporate finance boutique based in Manchester. Convex Capital is entirely focussed on helping companies, particularly owner-managed and entrepreneurial businesses, realise their value through sales to large corporates. Convex Capital identifies and proactively targets firms that it believes represent attractive acquisition opportunities.