Final Results-Replacement
betinternet.com PLC
2 October 2000
The issuer has made the following amendment to the Final Results announcement
released today at 09:02 under RNS Number 8348R.
Column headings in the profit and loss account, consolidated cash flow
statement and Note 1 Operating Loss have been amended to show the year under
the correct column.
All other details remain unchanged.
The full corrected version appears below.
betinternet.com plc
PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR 12 MONTHS TO 31st MAY 2000
betinternet.com plc ('betinternet') is an Isle of Man-based
international on-line and telephone betting service provider.
The Company floated on AIM in May 2000
HIGHLIGHTS
* Sevenfold rise in turnover to £11.7 million compared to only £1.54
million for previous period
* Successful reduction in reliance on horse racing which now accounts
for only 40% of turnover against 90% a year ago
* Rise in soccer betting which now accounts for 40% of turnover
* Betting facilities available to customers from 85 countries on wide
range of sports including golf, rugby, American Football, ice hockey,
basketball, gaelic football, Formula 1, and international greyhound
and horse racing
* Since year end turnover already reached £14 million and currently
running at £1.3 million a week
* Joint venture formed with Greyhound Channel Inc enabling non-US
customers to bet directly into US Totes through provision of live
US racing from 30 tracks - service to be available next month
* 'I believe that betinternet is well placed to achieve its objective
of creating and providing a borderless platform for fixed odds and
totalisator wagering accessible to both private and corporate clients
via both the Internet and telephone,' Vincent Caldwell, Chairman.
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
It gives me pleasure to report on betinternet.com's first set of annual
results since the Company's flotation on the Alternative Investment Market in
May 2000. These results cover the 12 months to 31st May 2000. The first nine
months of the year were incorporated in the flotation prospectus.
For the period under review turnover rose more than sevenfold to almost £11.7
million, compared with only £1.54 million for the 17 months to 31st May 1999.
As we anticipated at the time of the flotation the Company has produced
pre-tax losses of £1.04 million, (against £303,682, for the period to 31st May
1999), reflecting our commitment to substantial investment in technological
infrastructure and marketing. As a result there was a loss per share of 3.01p
compared with a loss of 1.69p per share for the previous period. The Directors
do not recommend payment of a dividend.
Since the flotation substantial progress has been made on a number of fronts.
As we stated in the prospectus we have continued our strategy of reducing our
reliance on horse racing. This sport now accounts for less than 40% of our
turnover compared with approximately 90% a year ago.
Betting on soccer now represents approximately 40% of turnover. The European
Soccer Championships during the summer enabled the Company to combine with
Eurosport TV to provide Eurosport viewers with the ability to bet 'in running'
(ie during the match) on those matches given live coverage by the Eurosport
channel. The Company now offers betting facilities on a much wider range of
sports including golf, rugby, American Football, Ice Hockey, Basketball,
Gaelic Football, Formula 1, and international greyhound and horse racing to
Internet customers in 85 countries. Customers have the choice of telephone and
Internet betting.
Turnover has risen dramatically since flotation. For the first four months of
the current financial year turnover totalled over £14 million, a figure in
excess of the whole of the previous financial year, and is currently running
at a rate of approximately £1.3 million per week, compared with £340,000 at
the time of the flotation. The proportion of turnover attributable to Internet
betting is in line with our expectations and is expected to continue to grow
considerably.
We have now launched our own Far East website, www.fadainternet.com, which is
a sports information portal and supported by a dedicated team of Cantonese and
Mandarin speakers, as part of our drive into this large and exciting market.
We have successfully negotiated an agreement with a major international bank
which will enable the provision of fully automated e-commerce transactability
from our website in eight major currencies. This will enhance further the
attractiveness and usability of our site and is expected to be operational by
the end of November 2000.
Today we announced a further expansion of our service through the formation of
Euro Off-Track Limited Partnership, a 50-50 partnership with Greyhound
Channel, Inc. of America to enable, for the first time, non-United States
customers to bet directly into US Totes through the provision of live
broadcasts of US greyhound and thoroughbred horse racing from more than 30
tracks. It is anticipated that the service will be available from the end of
this year.
In the US GCI provides live greyhound racing content for 'direct to home'
broadcasting via The Racing Network and an internet tote wagering service.
GCI's racing content will be made available to Euro Off-Track, enabling it to
provide live racing, initially via satellite, to a variety of users including
betting shops, casinos and other forms of licensed premises. It is intended
that this service will be available, in due course, generally via the
Internet. It is also proposed that Euro Off-Track will provide live non-US
greyhound racing content for transmission in the US.
The partnership will also create a European hub and wagering communications
centre, through the installation of an Amtote Spectrum System and replication
of GCI's existing US system, enabling real time links directly into US Totes.
In addition it creates the opportunity for links
with European Totes.
Euro Off-Track will be the first organisation to make US Tote betting via the
Internet and the telephone a reality for both individuals and corporate
customers alike. Euro Off-Track will provide a unique gateway to betinternet's
customers and those of other betting service providers to participate in
global Tote opportunities at no wagering risk to either the partnership or
betinternet.
Euro Off-Track will retain a proportion of turnover generated through the hub.
In the US GCI comprises a number of partners with a combined Tote betting
turnover of approximately $500m.
On behalf of the Board I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of
our employees for their hard work and their continuing commitment during what
has been a very exciting and demanding period in the Company's development.
During the year a significant number of new employees with a broad range of
technical and language skills joined the Company and I am delighted to
announce that our operations officers, Pat Flanagan and Sean Graham will join
the Board with effect from 1st November, 2000.
Since the flotation the Company has made considerable progress. We intend to
pursue expansion both by way of organic growth and through new partnerships as
well as, possibly, through mergers and acquisitions. Further funds will be
necessary in due course in order to maximise the Euro Off-Track potential and
for further expansion.
I believe that betinternet.com is well placed to achieve its objective of
creating and providing a borderless platform for fixed odds and totalisator
wagering accessible to both private and corporate clients via both the
Internet and telephone.
Vincent Caldwell 2nd October 2000
Chairman
CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
Year ended 31 May 2000
Period from
incorporation
on 13 January
Year ended 1998 to
31 May 2000 31 May 1999
£ £
Turnover
Betting stakes received 11,695,342 1,543,800
Cost of sales
Winnings paid and bets laid off (11,285,097) (1,559,351)
---------- ----------
Betting duty paid (35,294) (4,682)
---------- ----------
Gross profit/(loss) 374,951 (20,233)
Administration expenses (1,428,546) (283,934)
---------- ----------
Operating loss (1,053,595) (304,167)
Interest receivable and similar income 27,303 6,219
Interest payable and similar charges (9,324) (5,734)
---------- ----------
Loss on ordinary activities before taxation
and retained loss for the period (1,035,616) (303,682)
========== ==========
Basic Loss Per Share (pence) (3.01) (1.69)
========== ==========
The directors consider that all results derive from continuing operations for
both the current year and prior period. A statement of total recognised gains
and losses is not required as there were no recognised gains and losses other
than the loss for the current year. This was also the case for the prior
period.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
31 May 2000
2000 1999
£ £
FIXED ASSETS
Intangible assets 257,028 4,457
Tangible assets 198,705 31,945
Long leasehold property 120,282 -
---------- ----------
576,015 36,402
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 203,806 13,746
Cash at bank and in hand 3,421,795 24,873
---------- ----------
3,625,601 38,619
CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year (1,142,534) (128,703)
---------- ----------
NET CURRENT ASSETS/(LIABILITIES) 2,483,067 (90,084)
---------- ----------
TOTAL ASSETS/(LIABILITIES) 3,059,082 (53,682)
========== ==========
CAPITAL AND RESERVES
Called up share capital 781,840 250,000
Share premium 3,616,540 -
Profit and loss account (1,339,298) (303,682)
---------- ----------
EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS/(DEFICIT) 3,059,082 (53,682)
========== ==========
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
Year ended 31 May 2000
Period from
incorporation
on 13 January
Year ended 1998 to
31 May 2000 31 May 1999
£ £
Net cash outflow from operating activities (267,471) (183,026)
Returns on investments and servicing of finance 17,979 485
Taxation - -
Capital expenditure and financial investment (629,682) (53,713)
---------- ----------
Cash outflow before use of liquid
resources and financing (879,174) (236,254)
Financing 4,148,380 250,000
---------- ----------
Increase in cash in the year/period 3,269,206 13,746
========== ==========
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
Year ended 31 May 2000
BETTING STAKES RECEIVED / BETTING DUTY PAID
Turnover represents the stakes received from customers less any void bets
recorded. Betting duty is payable at the rate of 0.3% of gross stakes
received, and is payable to Customs and Excise.
The company operates an international telephone & internet betting
business based in the Isle of Man. The directors are of the opinion that
the markets to which its product is supplied do not differ substantially
and accordingly may be treated as one.
1. OPERATING LOSS
Operating loss is stated after charging:
Period from
incorporation
on 13 January
Year ended 1998 to
31 May 2000 31 May 1999
£ £
Depreciation on tangible fixed assets 49,531 15,083
Amortisation of intangible assets 40,538 2,228
Auditors' remuneration - audit fees 37,050 7,050
- other fees - -
Directors' remuneration 58,750 54,989
Operating lease rentals
- other than plant and machinery 17,232 6,529
========== ==========
Directors' remuneration above excludes any employer National Insurance
costs borne by the group. Under the provisions of the Isle of Man
Companies Acts 1931 to 1993 there are no requirements to disclose any
additional information regarding staff costs, staff numbers, or
information regarding the remuneration of directors.
Fees of £85,775, which have been written off against the share premium
account (see note 12), were paid to the company's auditors in their
capacity as Reporting Accountants in connection with the flotation of the
company on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.
2. TAX ON LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES
No provision for tax is required for either the current year, or previous
period, due to the level of losses incurred.
3. LOSS PER SHARE
The basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the losses
attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number
of ordinary shares during the period.
Movements in the issued share capital is disclosed in note 12. During the
year to 31 May 2000 there has been a sub-division of share capital from
£1 to 10p, and then to 1p ordinary shares. In order to provide meaningful
comparison the weighted average number of ordinary shares during
both periods has been adjusted to reflect the position had the shares
in issue been 1p ordinary shares.
Calculation of earnings per share is based on losses of £1,035,616
(period from incorporation on 13 January 1998 to 31 May 1999: £303,682
loss) and the weighted average number of ordinary shares being the
equivalent of 34,403,724 1p ordinary shares (period from incorporation
on 13 January 1998 to 31 May 1999: 17,956,406 1p ordinary shares
equivalent).
Diluted earnings per share information has not been provided as the
effect of any dilution would not result in diluted earnings per share
being more than 5% different from the basic earnings per share.
ENDS
Contact: Vincent Caldwell, Chairman, betinternet. Tel: 01624 620000
Baron Phillips, Bankside Consultants. Tel: 020 7220 7477