Takeover bid: Why listed funeral firm Dignity appears set for new private ownership BID ACCEPTED A consortium led by Sir Peter Wood, the founder of Direct Line, and City fund management bigwig Gary Channon appears set to take the reins of Dignity, the London-listed funeral firm. In an announcement to markets this evening, Dignity said it would be “minded to recommend” a fourth offer by Wood and Channon’s consortium to [...]
Operating profits soar 35 per cent at funeral services firm Dignity Funeral services firm Dignity saw underlying operating profits soar 35 per cent to £26.1m in the first quarter of this year, as there were 43,000 more deaths than in the same weeks last year. The group’s underlying revenue also grew 14 per cent to £94.7m in the 13 week period ending 26 March as the [...]
The gloves are off: Dignity chairman set for showdown with biggest shareholder amid battle for control Dignity set for showdown with biggest shareholder amid battle for control Funeral firm Dignity is set for a showdown with its biggest shareholder next month amid a battle for control of the group. The firm, the UK’s only listed funeral provider, said it will hold a meeting on 22 April for investors to vote on a proposal by Phoenix Asset Management Partners to oust Dignity’s executive [...]
Funeral firm Dignity swings to annual loss despite UK deaths rising 14 per cent March 17, 2021 Funeral providers Dignity today posted an annual loss of £19.6m as a sharp rise in yearly deaths were met by Covid funeral restrictions. The firm saw underlying profit plummet 12 per cent to £55.7m, while pre-tax profit dropped by more than a quarter to £30.7m. Dignity made a yearly loss before tax of £19.6m compared [...]
Funeral firm Dignity posts rise in revenue amid Covid-19 crisis November 9, 2020 Funeral provider Dignity has posted higher revenue in the first nine months of the year following a sharp spike in deaths caused by the outbreak of coronavirus. The London-listed firm booked underlying revenue of £234.5m to 25 September, up four per cent on the same period last year. The figures reflected a higher number of [...]
Funeral provider Dignity reports profit increase due to coronavirus deaths July 29, 2020 Funeral services provider Dignity reported an increase in profits in the first half of the year due to a surge in deaths during the coronavirus pandemic. Dignity’s share price jumped more than seven per cent this morning. The figures Dignity said the number of deaths rose 23 per cent and its underlying pretax profit grew [...]
Dignity shares plunge as it suspends dividend March 11, 2020 Funeral company Dignity’s shares plummeted today as it continued the suspension of its dividend following a 31 per cent drop in underlying pre-tax profit to £37.7m for 2019. That fell short of an expected £38.7m to send Dignity’s shares crashing 23 per cent to 385.8p. The UK’s only listed funeral provider said fewer people dying [...]
Grave danger: Dignity posts falling profit as death rate dip takes bite out of results May 13, 2019 A dip in the number of Brits dying in the first three months of the year buried profits at Dignity, the funeral provider reported today. It comes as pressure has been growing on the funeral industry, which is facing a competition probe into its practices and prices. Read more: Hymns fall out of funeral charts as [...]
Dignity welcomes watchdog’s probe into high funeral prices March 28, 2019 Dignity has welcomed a competition probe into the funeral sector announced today. Read more: Dignity shares slide after regulator proposes funeral competition probe The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it will carry out a full market investigation into the industry after voicing concerns over high prices and a lack of competition. Dignity, the UK’s [...]
The magic of finance can help make the world a better place March 1, 2019 When Hollywood created a sequel to the original Mary Poppins film, the producers introduced a new character: a villainous banker who could give everybody a good scare. But why exactly is the banker the villain? After all, a healthy economy requires a healthy financial sector that is at the service of people as they pursue [...]