Moneysupermarket.com Group (MONY) Says U.K. Has “Caught The Money-Saving Bug”

LONDON — Despite a strong start to the year for the FTSE 100, Britain is not yet out of the doldrums following rating agency Moody’s decision to deprive the U.K. of its top-notch AAA credit rating. Consumers continue to be canny, therefore, and that has only helped Moneysupermarket.com Group (LON:MONY) .

Moneysupermarket.com Group (LON:MONY) reported a 15% increase in adjusted revenue, up from 2011’s figure of 181 million pounds to 204.8 million pounds, while statutory profit after tax leaped 48% to reach 24.8 million pounds. Adjusted EBITDA rose by 26% to 66.5 million pounds, which led to an excellent cash conversion — 97% of EBITDA was converted to cash.

The company credited the success to its market-leading position and share maintained in a competitive marketplace, while “continued structural growth in our online markets and targeted investment in technology and brand building [is] helping to improve conversion rates.”

CEO Plumb went on to say:

We helped customers save over [1 billion pounds] in 2012 as households, faced with the uncertain outlook, sought savings on their bills.

The 15% rise in revenues, 26% increase in profits and 30% higher dividend to shareholders were only possible because of our continuing investment in the Moneysupermarket.com Group (LON:MONY) brand, in digital marketing and technology, and in making sure customers find us the best shop for comparing prices.

While the Government’s Funding For Lending scheme has affected demand for comparing savings products, we remain in a structurally growing market.  We’ll continue to succeed by carrying on giving customers and product providers a better and broader service than others. That way we can save more people more money and continue to build our business.

The company also completed the acquisition for MoneySavingExpert on 21 September 2012 for up to 92.5 million pounds: an initial payment of 65.5 million pounds, and a deferred consideration up to 27 million pounds. Since the buyout, it continues to show strong trading, as Plumb continued: