Knights Group celebrates "strong" year as underlying profit grows

Knights Group Holdings PLC on Monday reported increased revenue, although acquisition costs cut into statutory profit in its latest financial year.

The Newcastle-under-Lyme, England-based legal and professional services company highlighted its expansion into the South East region and Cardiff, Wales, through the acquisitions of Birkett Long, Rix & Kay, and Le Gros Solicitors.

Knights said underlying revenue, which excludes the Crime business sold in July, 2025, increased 28% to £207.7 million for the 12 months ended April 30, £162.0 million the year before. It also reported 7% organic growth, against the prior year's 0.3% decline.

Underlying pretax profit, which excludes various measures including amortisation of acquired intangibles, increased 19% to £33.2 million from £28.0 million. Reported pretax profit decreased 17% to £10.2 million from £12.3 million, which the company said reflects an increase in primarily acquisition-related non-underlying costs.

Knights proposed a 3.69 pence per share final dividend, up 21% from 3.05p for the previous year. This brings the total dividend to 5.63p, up 17% from 4.81p.

"We delivered a strong performance in the year, with double-digit organic growth in the second half, contributions from recent acquisitions, and good cash generation assisting the self-funding of acquisition costs in the year," commented Chief Executive Officer David Beech. "Our continued investment in the business has strengthened our ability to take advantage of opportunities in our growing and structurally changing regional segment of the UK legal sector."

Knights said its current year has started well, and that it expects to deliver "continued organic growth, complemented by value-enhancing acquisitions". It also noted that it has renewed and extended our revolving credit facility to £159 million, which is committed until July, 2029.

"Having made a positive start to the current financial year, we look forward to delivering continued organic growth, complemented by our value-enhancing acquisition strategy, in the current year and beyond," Beech said.

Knights Group shares were up 4.3% at 196.04 pence in London early on Monday afternoon.

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