Company Announcements

Dignity plc

Statement re: CMA's Final Decision Report

Dignity plc (Dignity or the Group), the UK's only listed provider of funeral related services, acknowledges the release today of the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) Final Decision Report (FDR).

As previously stated, Dignity has engaged constructively with the CMA since the market investigation into the supply of services by funeral directors at the point of need and the supply of crematoria services was announced in June 2018. Dignity strongly supports the opportunity to improve standards within the sector and educate the expectations of consumers.

We support the FDR conclusions, which focus on measures to support consumer choice and transparency. We also welcome the CMA's recommendation to Government for quality and standards regulation in the UK.

Clive Whiley, Executive Chairman of Dignity commented:

"We welcome the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Final Decision Report for the funeral and crematoria market investigation. Dignity has engaged openly and collaboratively with CMA throughout the investigation. In fact Dignity has been working to raise awareness regarding issues of transparency and consistency in the quality of care across the funerals sector for a number of years. In the months ahead, we look forward to working with the regulator and the Government to ensure the package of remedies work for consumers, and that they are implemented effectively across the market.

Finally, we also note the acknowledgement from the CMA that there is evidence, even before COVID-19, that perceived excess returns have declined since the review period (2014 to 2018) expired two years ago."

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