RNS Number : 3939B
Smiths News PLC
31 January 2024
 

31 January 2024

A blue and black text Description automatically generated

Smiths News plc

("Smiths News" or the "Group" or the "Company")

 

Trading Update

 

Smiths News (LSE: SNWS), the leading distributor of newspapers, magazines and ancillary services to retailers across the UK, today provides shareholders with an update on trading ahead of its Annual General Meeting taking place this morning.

 

The Board is pleased to confirm trading for the year ended 31 August 2024 ("FY24") remains in line with market expectations*.

 

As previously announced, the Company has secured contract renewals across 74% of our current publisher revenue streams to at least 2029, underpinning revenues in the medium-term, alongside continuing to secure additional national and regional contract awards.  In October 2023, the Group announced it had secured contracts for the distribution of the Midlands News Association regional press titles, and for newspaper distribution of News UK titles in the Group's existing London territories. All new contracts have commenced and are fully integrated into the Group's established UK footprint.

 

The six months to 25 February 2023 ("H1 23") benefitted from a number of one-off events that had a positive impact on sales, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the State Funeral of Her Majesty the Queen. We remain confident that revenues for FY24 will be in line with market expectations, but we do not envisage repeat events of this quantum falling in the six months to 24 February 2024 ("H1 24").

 

In line with the Group's strategy, management continues to explore and progress growth initiatives that are complementary to existing operations and leverage Smiths News' existing capabilities and expertise.

 

Jonathan Bunting, Chief Executive Officer of Smiths News, commented:

 

"I am pleased to confirm that 2024 has started positively, and the Group remains on track to deliver financial results in line with market expectations for the year. Whilst we are cognisant of the ongoing financial pressure on consumers and the broader macro-economic outlook, our focus remains on securing and maximising revenue opportunities in our core newspaper and magazine distribution business, whilst exploring growth initiatives in adjacent areas that leverage on our existing capabilities and market presence."

 

 

*Company compiled analyst consensus can be found on Smiths News' website: Analyst consensus

 

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Smiths News plc

Jonathan Bunting, Chief Executive Officer

Paul Baker, Chief Financial Officer

www.smithsnews.co.uk

 

via Vigo Consulting

 

Vigo Consulting

Jeremy Garcia / Fiona Hetherington / Verity Snow

smithsnews@vigoconsulting.com

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7390 0230

 

 

About Smiths News

 

For over 200 years, Smiths News has been delivering newspapers to retailers across the UK. It distributes newspapers and magazines on behalf of the major national and regional publishers, delivering to approximately 24,000 customers across England and Wales on a daily basis. The speed of turnaround and the density of Smiths News' coverage is critical to one of the world's fastest physical supply chains.

 

For more information, please visit: www.smithsnews.co.uk

 

 

Person responsible for arranging release of this announcement:

Stuart Marriner, General Counsel & Company Secretary

Smiths News plc, Rowan House, Cherry Orchard North, Kembrey Park, Swindon SN2 8UH

Email: cosec@smithsnews.co.uk  

 

 

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
 
END
 
 
TSTQKKBPDBKDPDN