JLT GroupNov 8 2016

JLT reports 'challenging' UK market

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JLT reports 'challenging' UK market

Employee benefits adviser Jardine Lloyd Thompson has announced the firm's work in the UK "remained challenging", but revenues are expected to be ahead of those in 2015. 

The update was in a statement covering the period from July to November this year.

Interim results announced in July this year showed the group's profits had taken a hit which the firm attributed to "exceptional costs" and investment in its US operations.

At that time, for the six months ended 30 June reported profit before tax fell by £25.3m to £55.2m, a 46 per cent drop, as net investment in JLT USA hit £17.2m against 2015’s figure of £12.6m.

According to JLT, the business is on track to achieve the remaining £7m of targeted cost savings benefits from the restructuring programme it has implemented.

The group said in its statement that its overall performance continues to be impacted by movements in foreign exchange rates, following the European Union Referendum in June

It has updated its guidance at the interim statement in July of a full year £12m benefit from exchange rates, if sterling and the dollar rates remain at current rates of exchange, and estimate a further £4m benefit, meaning a total of £16m on a full year basis.

The additional £4m benefit is anticipated to be "more than offset" by what the firm described as United States specialty investment, the challenging rating environment, and its "ongoing organic investments in growth markets around the world".

Overall, the business anticipates growth globally, and expects to increase its operating margin to 20 per cent in 2016.

JLT noted the trading environment is anticipated to "remain challenging" for the remainder of the year.

ruth.gillbe@ft.com