The LSE Board is proposing a final dividend of 49.9 pence per share, which together with the interim dividend of 20.1 pence per share paid to shareholders in September 2019, results in a 16% increase in the total dividend to 70.0 pence per share. The final dividend will be paid on 27 May 2020 to shareholders on the register as at 1 May 2020.
Other financial highlights include:
Total revenue and total income both up 8% to £2,056 million (2018: £1,911 million) and £2,314 million (2018: £2,135 million) respectively
FTSE Russell delivered 10% revenue growth (up 6% on a constant currency basis)
LCH OTC revenues up 15% (up 13% on a constant currency basis) driven by record SwapClear volumes with over $1.2 quadrillion of notional cleared
Cost of sales decreased 8%, in part driven by an updated SwapClear agreement with partner banks delivering a more than £30 million reduction in the year
Continued cost discipline, operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortisation) up only 1%, helped by achievement of cost savings; total costs up 7% reflecting higher depreciation and amortisation mainly arising from increased capital investment
Adjusted operating profit up 14% to £1,065 million (2018: £931 million); operating profit down 2% to £738 million (2018: £751 million); adjusted EBITDA up 19% to £1,265 million (2018: £1,066 million) and EBITDA margin of 54.7%
Adjusted EPS up 15% to 200.3 pence (2018: 173.8 pence); basic EPS down 14% to 119.5 pence (2018: 138.3 pence)
