TIDMAFX

RNS Number : 0594Z

Alpha FX Group PLC

08 January 2020

8 January 2020

Alpha FX Group plc

("Alpha" or the "Group")

Trading update

Alpha FX Group plc (AIM: AFX), a foreign exchange and payments specialist working for corporates and institutions internationally, today announces a trading update for the year ended 31 December 2019.

Following the last trading update on 17 October 2019, trading has continued to be strong, with revenues for the FY expected to exceed GBP35m and pre-tax profit margin also slightly ahead of expectations despite continued investments made throughout the year.

These results come off the back of another strong performance from our core corporate and institutional divisions, across both UK and European markets (serviced from our London office). Client numbers[1] subsequently increased during the year by 34% from 482 to 648, whilst the number of countries in which Alpha services clients also grew, further extending the Group's runway for growth and validating the investment in recruiting bi-lingual speakers over the past two years.

Heightened levels of uncertainty around the 2019 General Election and Brexit have naturally made foreign exchange an increased topic of conversation, however we do not believe this has had a material impact on our performance. Fundamentally, this is because we remain focused on promoting a structured and formalised approach to currency risk management - one where clients buy currency in line with a pre-agreed strategy, rather than in response to isolated macro conditions.

Pleasingly, both Alpha FX Canada (launched in October 2018) and Alpha Payment Solutions (launched in December 2018) also continue to build momentum. Alpha FX Canada grew revenues consecutively in each quarter during the year and is well placed to contribute to the Group's profit in 2020. Alpha Payment Solutions performed in line with expectations and, whilst it still remains in the early stages of growth, with a clear strategy and strong leadership team established, we are confident it is on track to become a meaningful contributor of earnings in the medium-term.

As previously highlighted, the Group has maintained strong profitability despite ongoing investments, both in the core business and its more recently established divisions. Investment in 2019 included our move to new permanent headquarters in Paddington, which as expected, has enabled us to accelerate recruitment in the latter half of the year by providing us the space to attract more high-calibre individuals who share our cultural values. Consequently, Front Office headcount grew from 51 to 74, whilst Back Office grew from 31 to 50.

Whilst the increase in Front Office headcount will support further client acquisition in the medium to long-term, as expected, the contributions from new hires has been minimal as they remain in the early stages of their learning curve[2]. The results in 2019 are therefore testament to the quality of our more mature hires and their ability to develop further along the learning curve. Equally, with further strong hires during the year, we are excited about the growth potential this cohort can bring to the business in 2020 and beyond, as they also mature.

In Back Office, the acceleration in hires (versus prior years) was coordinated to support the development of Alpha Payment Solutions and further enhance the Group's overall technology stack. Importantly, the technology being built by Alpha Payment Solutions provides benefits to the wider group as a whole, in the form of greater automation, resilience and scalability, all of which should support the Group in retaining its highly efficient operating model long into the future.

Ultimately, Alpha's growth and investments to date are once again the by-product of our desire to build a company with a sustainable and long-term growth story - one that our investors, employees and clients will benefit from long into the future. We thank all of our stakeholders for their continued support and now look forward to publishing final results for the year ended 31 December 2019, in March 2020.

Enquiries:

Alpha FX Group plc via Alma PR

Morgan Tillbrook, Founder and CEO

Tim Kidd, CFO

Henry Lisney, COO

Liberum Capital Limited (Nominated Adviser and Sole Broker) Tel: +44 (0) 20 3100 2000

Neil Patel

Richard Bootle

Kane Collings

Alma PR (Financial Public Relations) Tel: 07780 901979

Josh Royston

Helena Bogle

Rebecca Sanders - Hewett

Market Abuse Regulation

This announcement is released by Alpha FX Group plc and contains inside information for the purposes of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 ("MAR") and is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of MAR. The person who arranged for the release of this announcement on behalf of Alpha FX Group plc was Tim Kidd, Chief Financial Officer.

Notes to Editors

Alpha is a foreign exchange and payments specialist focused on helping organisations manage their currency exposures more effectively. The Group's primary client base consists of corporates and institutions that have a requirement to convert currency for a commercial purpose, such as buying or selling goods and services overseas, repatriating profits, or expatriating payroll. Since it was incorporated in 2010, Alpha FX has been able to build and retain a high-quality client base that includes a number of highly respected household brands.

[1] The Group exclude Training Accounts (those that have generated less than GBP10,000 in revenue since being onboarded) in order to provide a clearer picture of client numbers for the purpose of these figures.

[2] Since Admission, the Company has used the term "learning curve" to define the trend by which employee performance naturally increases (in revenue terms) in line with tenure.

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.

END

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January 08, 2020 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)

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