Adam Berlin

Adam Berlin asked about the strong growth drivers in Financial Crime Compliance within the Risk division, the differentiation and sales strategy for the Protégé product in Legal, and the revenue potential of the next-generation AI-powered researcher solution in STM.

Answer

CEO Erik Engstrom explained that Financial Crime Compliance growth is driven by continuous innovation and long-term structural market growth. For Legal, he clarified that Protégé is built on the Lexis+AI platform and aims for integration across the broader legal tech ecosystem, including partners like Harvey and Microsoft, allowing firms to use multiple tools. In STM, Engstrom described the new AI researcher solution as a next-generation upgrade to ScienceDirect AI, conceptually similar to Lexis+AI and Protégé, expected to have a significant impact over time.

Adam Berlin of UBS Group asked about the potential revenue impact from the NIH's new open access policy, the strategic rationale for partnering with Harvey in the Legal division, and whether improved free cash flow conversion was linked to the new print segmentation.

Answer

CEO Erik Engstrom stated that individual policy changes like the NIH's are unlikely to materially impact STM's overall positive trajectory. He explained the Harvey partnership is a customer-centric move to add value by embedding RELX's trusted content into new use cases. CFO Nick Luff clarified that the strong 100% cash conversion was due to normal timing of payments and receipts around the period end, not a structural change from the print resegmentation.

Adam Berlin of UBS Group asked about the potential revenue impact from the NIH's new open access policy, the strategic rationale for partnering with Harvey in the Legal division, and whether the strong free cash flow conversion was structurally linked to the print resegmentation.

Answer

CEO Erik Engstrom explained that single policy changes like the NIH's are unlikely to materially impact STM's strong growth trajectory. He positioned the Harvey partnership as a customer-centric move to add value by embedding RELX's trusted content into new use cases. CFO Nick Luff clarified that the strong 100% cash conversion was due to normal timing of payments and receipts around the period end, not a structural change from the print business.

Adam Berlin of UBS Group asked about the potential revenue impact from the NIH's new open access policy, the strategic rationale for partnering with Harvey in the legal segment, and whether the improved free cash flow conversion was structurally linked to the print resegmentation.

Answer

CEO Erik Engstrom explained that individual policy changes like the NIH's are unlikely to materially impact STM's overall positive trajectory. He positioned the Harvey partnership as a customer-centric move to add value by embedding RELX's trusted content within new use cases. CFO Nick Luff clarified that the strong 100% cash conversion was due to normal timing of payments around the period end, not a structural change from the print reorganization.

Adam Berlin of UBS Group asked about the revenue impact of the NIH's new open access policy on the STM division, the strategic rationale for partnering with Harvey in the Legal division, and whether improved free cash flow conversion was linked to the print resegmentation.

Answer

CEO Erik Engstrom stated that policy changes from a single body like the NIH are unlikely to materially impact STM's positive trajectory. He explained the Harvey partnership is a customer-centric pilot to add value where Harvey's use cases can benefit from RELX's trusted content. CFO Nick Luff clarified that the print resegmentation had no material impact on working capital and that strong cash conversion was due to normal timing of payments.

Adam Berlin with UBS inquired about the timeline for disclosing pro forma financials and guidance for the combined Omnicom/Interpublic Group of Companies entity post-acquisition, and sought more detail on the deceleration in precision marketing, particularly in Europe, and its outlook.

Answer

CEO John Wren indicated that plans for future operations and portfolio disclosure are expected around CES in early January, with financial modeling and synergy confirmations following between then and year-end earnings. He attributed the precision marketing decline primarily to cutbacks in government consulting work in Europe within the Cordara business, noting the rest of the segment remains strong with a good new business pipeline.

Adam Berlin asked about the expected timeline for Omnicom to provide pro forma financials and updated guidance following the Interpublic Group acquisition, and sought further detail on the significant deceleration in precision marketing, particularly the issues observed in Europe.

Answer

CEO John Wren indicated that disclosure of future operations and portfolio plans is anticipated around CES in early January, with financial modeling and synergy confirmation expected between then and year-end earnings. He attributed the precision marketing decline primarily to cutbacks in government-related consulting work within the Cordara business in Europe, noting the rest of the segment remains robust. CFO Philip Angelastro added that Q4 project work will be a key determinant for year-end results.

Adam Berlin of UBS Group AG asked if H2 growth would improve due to Amazon revenue ramp-up, about the timing of benefits from Q2 repositioning costs, and for an update on Flywheel's Q2 performance.

Answer

Chairman & CEO John Wren avoided projecting based on hypotheticals but reiterated comfort with the existing guidance. Executive VP & CFO Philip Angelastro clarified the repositioning costs were to optimize certain units, are factored into the full-year margin guidance, and are separate from the future $750M IPG synergy target. He stated Flywheel continues to perform well, especially in the U.S., but declined to provide specific figures.

Adam Berlin of BofA Securities inquired about the rationale for lowering the bottom end of the 2025 organic growth guidance, asking if it stemmed from actual client spending cuts or broader macroeconomic caution, and also requested an update on early Q2 trends.

Answer

Chairman and CEO John Wren clarified that lowering the guidance was a conservative measure due to macroeconomic uncertainty, particularly around potential tariffs, rather than specific client actions. He noted potential weakness in the events business due to tough year-over-year comparisons with the prior year's Olympics and elections. CFO Phil Angelastro confirmed no specific client spending cuts have occurred to date.

Adam Berlin asked for the drivers behind Q4 2024 organic growth exceeding guidance and questioned the rationale for the guided slowdown in 2025 despite strong new business wins.

Answer

EVP and CFO Phil Angelastro credited the Q4 outperformance to strong results in Media, Precision Marketing, and Public Relations, which was boosted by U.S. election spending. Chairman and CEO John Wren explained the 2025 guidance reflects early-year caution regarding potential U.S. policy changes, though the company remains optimistic.

Adam Berlin from UBS Group AG asked if the strong 6.5% organic growth in Q3, which benefited from the Olympics and U.S. election, is sustainable or a one-off. He also inquired how Omnicom's outperformance relative to peers is impacting its ability to attract and retain talent.

Answer

CEO John Wren acknowledged the contributions from the Olympics and election cycle but noted these are recurring events. CFO Philip Angelastro added that while they don't expect the same growth rate from Experiential every quarter, they strive to continue the strong overall performance seen in 2023 and 2024. On talent, Wren stated they have a strong bench and are actively recruiting for new business wins, adding that new technologies like AI are making the company more attractive to top knowledge workers.

Adam Berlin asked for an explanation of the high double-digit decline in international higher education, whether it's expected to continue, and if Q4 guidance implies an improvement for the overall higher education segment. He also sought comments on Pearson's adoption share in the recent selling season.

Answer

CFO Sally Johnson explained that challenging conditions in mature international markets led to the decline, with a strategic shift to emerging markets and digital products taking longer than anticipated. She confirmed a slight improvement is expected for the higher education segment in Q4, driven by the U.S. core business growth and reduced impact from the K-12 transition. Sally noted that adoption share and enrollment data for the selling season are not yet available.

Inquired about Higher Education market share performance, details of the newly acquired eDynamic Learning business, and whether the strong H2 growth drivers are expected to continue into 2026.

Answer

The company reported a slight increase in Higher Ed adoption share in the spring and feels good about the fall cycle. They described eDynamic Learning as a high-growth, high-margin provider of career and technical education content for high schools, which will be part of the Higher Ed division. While declining to give 2026 guidance, they confirmed that new contracts driving H2 growth will continue to contribute next year.

Adam Berlin asked about adoption share performance in Higher Education, sought details on the newly acquired eDynamic Learning business, and questioned if the strong H2 growth drivers would persist into 2026.

Answer

Tom ap Simon, President of Higher Education, reported a slight increase in adoption share and described eDynamic Learning as a key strategic asset in career and technical education for high schools, which will be part of the Higher Ed division. CEO Omar Abbosh emphasized the strategic fit. CFO Sally Johnson provided financial context for the deal and, while not giving 2026 guidance, acknowledged that the drivers for H2, like new contracts, would have a continuing benefit.

Adam Berlin of UBS Group inquired about adoption share trends in Higher Education, sought details on the newly acquired eDynamic Learning business, and asked if the strong H2 2025 growth momentum is expected to continue into 2026.

Answer

President Tom ap Simon reported a slight increase in Higher Ed adoption share and described eDynamic Learning as a key strategic asset in high school career education. CEO Omar Abbosh reinforced the strategic fit. CFO Sally Johnson provided financial context for the acquisition, noting its high growth and margin profile, and confirmed it will be reported within the Higher Ed segment.

Adam Berlin from UBS Group AG asked for clarification on why the Hogarth production unit was flat, questioned WPP Media's claim of having 'more data' than competitors, and inquired about the significant cut in staff incentives and the plan for H2.

Answer

CEO Mark Read attributed Hogarth's flat performance to client project timing issues, not AI, which he views as a future growth driver. WPP Media CEO Brian Lesser explained their data advantage stems from a federated learning model via Infosum, which accesses partner data (e.g., Google, Amazon) without centralizing it. CFO Joanne Wilson noted that H1 incentive cuts reflected performance and that full-year incentives, while expected to be down, will be reviewed to retain talent.

Adam Berlin from UBS Group AG asked for clarification on the flat performance of the Hogarth production unit, the basis for WPP Media's claim of having 'more data' than competitors, and the rationale behind the significant cut in staff incentives.

Answer

CEO Mark Read attributed Hogarth's flat performance to client project timing issues, not AI, which he views as a future growth driver. WPP Media CEO Brian Lesser explained their data advantage comes from a federated learning model via Infosum, which accesses partner data without centralizing it. CFO Joanne Wilson stated the H1 incentive reduction was a mechanical result of performance but will be reviewed discretionarily for the full year to retain talent.

Adam Berlin of UBS Group AG asked for clarity on the organic growth cadence between Q3 and Q4, the current run-rate of cost savings versus targets, and the potential size of new business tailwinds expected for 2026.

Answer

CEO Philippe Krakowsky stated it was too early to quantify the 2026 new business tailwinds but noted the pipeline remains active. He confirmed in-year savings from restructuring are approximately $300 million, with an ongoing run-rate savings of over $300 million. Regarding the second half, he indicated that Q3 and Q4 organic growth would likely be "more or less at the same level" and around flat, consistent with achieving the full-year guidance.

Questioned why ad-supported streaming revenue is flat despite growth at major partners and new deals, and asked for the main reason behind the slight sequential improvement in subscription streaming growth.

Answer

The company attributed the flat ad-supported revenue to a volatile ad market and a monetization gap in short-form video, though they noted sequential improvement due to the new Meta deal. They advised looking at long-term trends for subscription growth rather than small quarterly fluctuations, framing the current environment as a transition to 'Streaming 2.0'.

Adam Berlin from UBS inquired about the 2024 outlook, asking what factors could accelerate group growth to 7% and whether the company expects to return to a pattern of 20-30 basis points of annual margin improvement now that the cost base has stabilized post-pandemic.

Answer

CEO Nancy McKinstry declined to give specific 2024 guidance but highlighted positive underlying trends, such as the 7% growth in both recurring revenues and Expert Solutions, which support future progress. CFO Kevin Entricken confirmed the company's 2023 guidance already incorporates margin improvement and that the more normalized cost base in the second half provides confidence in achieving this.