Equals reports continued growth in revenues
Fintech payments group Equals Group plc (LON:EQLS) today posted a statement to be delivered by Alan Hughes, Chairman, at today’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). The statement includes a trading update for the 91 business days to 15 May 2022.
Equals reports that the significant growth in revenue across the Group, as reported in its FY-2021 in March, has continued. Total Group revenue in the 91 business days to 15 May 2022 was £22.0 million, an average of £241k per working day. This was an increase of 86% in the daily average in the same period in FY-2021, £129k per day (£11.9 million).
Total Group revenue was split as follows, core International Payments representing 33%, the Solutions Platform 18%, Equals Connect 23%; Cards (including, personal and business) 16%, and Banking 10%. Given this current business mix, the gross profit margin for the Group is trending in line with management expectations at just under 50%.
As announced in the FY-2021 results, the Group has increased its on-payroll headcount to around 265 at the end of the Period from 255 in December 2021. This has allowed an acceleration of customer-facing systems development which is expected to drive further revenue growth.
Equals announces the appointment of Tom Kiddle, who will join its executive committee as Chief Commercial Officer. Tom Kiddle, who previously worked as UK General Manager for the international payments group, WorldFirst, will start on 1 July 2022 and will be responsible for sales, marketing, and growth teams within the Group.
Also, as announced at the time of the FY-2021 results on 30 March 2022, the Group continues to invest in its customer on-boarding processes to make it easier to become a customer of Equals whilst not compromising on compliance. This will add modest costs going forward but the Board believes that such tools are critical to support further revenue growth for the Group.
Mr Hughes concluded:
“We continue to monitor global macro-economic issues which increase uncertainty, but we have confidence that our revenue performance, offset with our investments in revenue-facing functions, will lead to Adjusted EBITDA being ahead of market expectations for FY-2022.”