Interim Results
Sportech PLC
15 September 2004
Sportech PLC
Unaudited Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2004
Highlights
•Turnover of £254.5m (2003: £157.8m) reflecting significant growth in
internet casino products. Casino stakes are now accounted for on a gross
cash basis to ensure consistency with the rest of our Betting business, and
comparatives have been restated accordingly.
•Operating profit* increased by 3% to £9.2m (2003: £8.9m).
•Profit before tax* increased by 7% to £5.9m (2003: £5.5m).
•Resilient Football Pools performance, generating operating profit* of
£12.9m (2003: £13.0m).
•Improved Betting business performance, with overall operating loss* of
£1.0m (2003: loss of £1.6m), reflecting strong growth in gross gaming win
(up 74%) across sports betting and casino products.
•Major relaunch of Football Pools with £4m advertising campaign to
coincide with start of football season.
•Raft of interactive gaming launched on ITV, major new games including 'X
Factor' and major ITV launch planned for October 2004.
•Earnings per share* of 0.71p (2003: 0.67p).
•Net debt at £114.8m reduced by £4.2m (2003: £119.0m).
*Before amortisation of goodwill and exceptional items.
George Rushton, Managing Director, Sportech said:
'I am pleased with the progress made in the first six months of the year.
Importantly, we have now established a comprehensive betting and gaming service
across the new direct channels, including ITV, providing future growth
opportunities for both Soft Gaming and Betting. We look forward to the full
launch and marketing of the ITV interactive service, in conjunction with ITV,
next month.'
- Ends -
Enquiries:
Sportech PLC
Suzanne Judge 0151 288 3059
Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial
David Rydell / Charlotte Kirkham 020 7861 3232
OPERATING & FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial Overview
I am pleased to report that operating profit, before amortisation of goodwill,
moved 3% ahead to £9.2m (2003: £8.9m). This profit was achieved after an
investment of £2.8m in interactive development, £0.9m higher than last year.
In prior periods, the Company's internet casino products have been reported in
Soft Gaming. Recognising the link with internet sports betting, and in common
with many others in the industry, it has been decided to report it within the
Betting business. As a result of this decision, it is consistent to report all
Betting turnover on the basis of gross stakes and comparatives have been
restated accordingly. The strong growth of casino products has increased Betting
turnover to £206.0m (2003: £106.4m) and total Group turnover to £254.5m (2003:
£157.8m).
Total operating profit before restructuring costs and amortisation of goodwill
was £9.5m (2003: £9.3m). Restructuring costs incurred relate to the ongoing
realisation of efficiencies in merging all football pools, lotto and spot the
ball operations. We continue to focus on removing cost from the business and
have started to rationalise costs relating to the interactive operations
following completion of the initial development stage. Further rationalisation
of interactive operations is currently taking place, ahead of the full ITV
launch in Q4 2004.
A breakdown of the operating performance of the constituent businesses within
the Group follows:
Turnover Operating Profit
2003
2004 re-stated 2004 2003
£m £m £m £m
Soft Gaming
Football Pools 40.2 45.7 12.9 13.0
Games & Lotteries 3.7 4.5 0.4 (0.2)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Established Soft Gaming 43.9 50.2 13.3 12.8
Interactive Development 4.6 1.2 (2.8) (1.9)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total Soft Gaming 48.5 51.4 10.5 10.9
Betting (including Casino)
Telephone 38.6 41.4 (1.3) (1.6)
Interactive 167.4 65.0 0.3 0.0
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total Betting 206.0 106.4 (1.0) (1.6)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total pre-restructuring & goodwill 254.5 157.8 9.5 9.3
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Restructuring (0.3) (0.4)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total before amortisation of goodwill 254.5 157.8 9.2 8.9
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Interest payable was marginally lower at £3.3m (2003: £3.4m), following a
reduction in net debt, down £4.2m at £114.8m (2003: £119.0m). Profit before
taxation, goodwill amortisation and exceptionals was £5.9m, £0.4m ahead of last
year (2003: £5.5m). The effective rate of taxation was 30% giving rise to a
charge of £1.7m in line with the prior year.
Net cashflow from operating activities was reduced to £6.3m (2003: £9.5m) mainly
due to further payments to ITV of £2.7m in the period making £6m in total to
date, which can be offset against future net profit share. Pre-financing, there
was a net cash inflow of £0.2m (2003: £2.9m).
Soft Gaming Operations
The Littlewoods Gaming Soft Gaming portfolio comprises entertainment led
products with mass market appeal. It includes Littlewoods and Zetters Football
Pools, Lotteries and Instant Win Games, distributed via internet, telephone,
direct mail, collector and retail networks, and ITVi. Soft Gaming turnover for
the first half of 2004 was £48.5m, £2.9m lower than 2003. Operating profit from
Soft Gaming, excluding the investment in interactive developments, was up 4% to
£13.3m (2003: £12.8m). This reflected resilient Football Pools profits and
improved profits from off line games such as Spot the Ball and Lotto.
The rate of decline in Football Pools turnover was reduced further to 12% (2003:
14% like for like), whilst net profit margins improved by 3.5% to 32%. A £4m
marketing campaign commenced in August to coincide with the start of the new
football season, leading with the Littlewoods Football Pools product and the
sub-brand 'Be Lucky'. The campaign includes an interactive call to action, which
directs viewers from the live television advert to the ITVi service.
We are hopeful that forthcoming industry deregulation will assist us to
complement our existing range of established distribution channels with the
introduction of electronic scanners in retail outlets throughout the UK.
Customer research indicates a strong propensity towards this method of playing
Football Pool products. Accordingly we are in talks with potential distribution
partners and development of a new easy play football based product, linked to
the Premiership and suited to an expanded range of distribution channels, is
already underway.
Growth in interactive games turnover was principally driven by our Littlewoods
Game On internet site and increased by nearly 300% to £4.6m.
We have continued to invest heavily in interactive television in order to extend
our Soft Gaming offer and there has been regular delivery of new content to the
ITVi service during this year. In May we introduced the This Morning Daily
Lottery game, closely followed by the introduction of two football themed games,
Three Lions Quiz and Million £ Hot Shot, together with the launch of the
Littlewoods Bet Direct sportsbook, in conjunction with ITV's Euro 2004 coverage
in June. These were followed by the launch of three additional games, Champions
Reels, Barnets United and Five Line Fever. August then saw the introduction of
Littlewoods Football Pools on ITVi, ahead of the start of the new football
season.
As ITVi is not yet fully launched, promotion of the service and thus its use has
been limited. Therefore we are looking forward to ITV's full consumer launch of
the interactive service next month and plan to roll-out further themed games
throughout the Autumn, as well as developing Rapid Application Development
templates which will enable the re-theming of games swiftly and at low cost. In
addition we plan to link up with a third party shortly, in a royalty based non
exclusive deal to supply additional product for our service.
The link up with ITV represents an exciting medium-term opportunity over a
potential seven year term. In the first two years of the contract to March 2006,
when we have a break option under certain circumstances, we are committed to
payments to ITV totalling a further £5m (£11m in total). This £11m investment
and additional allowable co-operation costs would require an aggregate gross win
of c.£50m to achieve pay back within two years, although it is important to note
that the payments to ITV can be off set against profit share throughout the term
of the deal (up to seven years). The ITVi consumer launch commences 20 October,
and will include national TV advertising, supported by a major PR campaign.
Betting Operations
Our Betting portfolio comprises sports betting, fixed odds games, casino and
poker products available via the direct channels of telephone, internet and
television. All major distribution channels are now active, following the
introduction of Littlewoods Bet Direct on ITVi, in conjunction with ITV's
coverage of Euro 2004 in June. Littlewoods Bet Direct remains the principal
brand but is now complemented by Littlewoodscasino.com and Littlewoodspoker.com.
Telephone turnover was 7% lower than H1 03, reflecting the lack of televised UK
racing in April and May during the temporary shutdown of the attheraces (ATR)
television channel. The channel re-launched on 11 June 2004 and volumes have now
been augmented by our recent acquisition of the Bet ATR customer base. Gross
gaming win from Betting (including casino), in the first half of the year was up
74% on prior year with sports betting margins averaging 10% across all channels.
We were particularly pleased with the performance of our internet casino
products where the gross gaming win was £4.3m, 170% higher than prior year
(2003: £1.6m). This contributed significantly to interactive betting which
generated a £0.3m operating profit (2003: nil) whilst telephone betting reduced
its operating loss to £1.3m (2003: £1.6m loss). Overall, Betting reduced its
operating loss by 38% to £1.0m (2003: £1.6m loss).
During the second half of 2004, we are extending the Littlewoods Bet Direct
brand appeal to football followers, building on the 17% increase in football
gross win in the first half of the year. The Bet Direct brand has increased
football marketing activity from the start of the 2004/05 season and this will
be further complemented by the availability of our Littlewoods Bet Direct
betting service on ITVi. Littlewoods Bet Direct will also be extended into
popular television programming related betting, such as 'X Factor', through the
exclusive ITV arrangement. Along with the new interactive betting opportunities,
we continue to focus on operational efficiencies and our telephone betting cost
base will be reduced significantly following the scheduled move to our own call
centre during Q4 2004.
Outlook / Current Trading
The Soft Gaming business, which accounts for the majority of Sportech's profits
and cashflow, continues to trade in line with market expectations. Maximising
the potential of the football pools marketing campaign and the ITVi launch
present key challenges for the remainder of the year.
Margins from horse racing have been weaker over the first eight weeks of H2 '04
which together with new channel costs has reduced materially the H1 year on year
profit gains from our Betting business.
We remain excited by the opportunities across the breadth of the business,
particularly Soft Gaming, and while future returns from the interactive
investment remain difficult to quantify, implementation of our strategy is on
track. We continue to invest to establish a broad-based interactive gaming
platform.
David Mathewson
Chairman
15 September 2004
Consolidated Profit & Loss Account
6 months to 6 months to Year to
30 June 30 June 31 December
2004 2003 2003
(Unaudited) (Unaudited, (Audited,
restated) restated)
Notes £m £m £m
Group
turnover 5 254.5 157.8 330.4
Cost of
sales (225.5) (129.2) (275.5)
--------- --------- ---------
Gross
profit 29.0 28.6 54.9
Net operating
expenses 6 (24.4) (24.3) (45.4)
--------- --------- ---------
Operating
profit before
restructuring
costs and
amortisation
of
goodwill 5 9.5 9.3 19.9
Restructuring
costs (0.3) (0.4) (1.3)
--------- --------- ---------
Operating
profit before
amortisation
of
goodwill 9.2 8.9 18.6
Amortisation
of
goodwill (4.6) (4.6) (9.1)
--------- --------- ---------
Operating
profit 5 4.6 4.3 9.5
Profit on
sale
of Technology
Patents 3 - 0.6 0.6
Net interest
payable 7 (3.3) (3.4) (6.6)
--------- --------- ---------
Profit on
ordinary
activities
before
taxation 1.3 1.5 3.5
Tax on profit
on ordinary
activities 8 (1.7) (1.7) (3.7)
--------- --------- ---------
Loss for the
financial
period (0.4) (0.2) (0.2)
========= ========= =========
Earnings per
share 9
Basic and
diluted (0.06)p (0.04)p (0.04)p
========= ========= =========
Pre
amortisation
of
goodwill 0.71p 0.73p 1.49p
========= ========= =========
The Group has no recognised gains or losses other than the loss for the period
stated above.
The results for the previous period have been re-stated for the change of
accounting policy detailed in Note 4.
6 months to 6 months to Year to
30 June 30 June 31 December
2004 2003 2003
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)
£m £m £m
Profit on ordinary activities before
goodwill and
exceptional items 5.9 5.5 12.0
Goodwill (4.6) (4.6) (9.1)
Profit on sale of
Technology Patents - 0.6 0.6
-
--------- --------- ---------
Profit on ordinary
activities before
taxation 1.3 1.5 3.5
========= ========= =========
Reconciliation of Movement in Group Shareholders' Funds
6 months to 6 months to Year to
30 June 30 June 31 December
2004 2003 2003
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)
£m £m £m
Shareholders' funds at
start of period 31.3 31.5 31.5
Loss for the financial
period (0.4) (0.2) (0.2)
--------- --------- ---------
Shareholders' funds at
end of period 30.9 31.3 31.3
========= ========= =========
Consolidated Balance Sheet
30 June 30 June 31 December
Note 2004 2003 2003
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)
£m £m £m
FIXED ASSETS
Intangible assets - goodwill 140.6 149.7 145.2
Intangible assets - other 1.5 1.0 1.2
Tangible assets 8.9 8.8 9.1
--------- --------- ---------
151.0 159.5 155.5
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
- due within one year 11.2 7.5 9.5
- due after more than one year 0.7 1.0 0.7
Cash at bank and in hand 10 2.9 5.9 4.1
--------- --------- ---------
14.8 14.4 14.3
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one
year (27.7) (42.4) (44.3)
--------- --------- ---------
NET CURRENT LIABILITIES (12.9) (28.0) (30.0)
--------- --------- ---------
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES 138.1 131.5 125.5
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due after more
than
one year (107.2) (100.2) (94.2)
--------- --------- ---------
NET ASSETS 30.9 31.3 31.3
========= ========= =========
CAPITAL AND RESERVES
Called up share capital 29.6 29.6 29.6
Profit and loss account 1.3 1.7 1.7
--------- --------- ---------
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 30.9 31.3 31.3
========= ========= =========
The interim accounts on pages 6 to 14 were approved by the Board of Directors on
14 September 2004 and were signed on its behalf by
Gary Speakman
Director
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
6 months to 6 months to Year to
30 June 30 June 31 December
2004 2003 2003
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)
Notes £m £m £m
Net cash
inflow from
operating
activities 11 6.3 9.5 18.6
Returns on investments and
servicing of finance:
Interest
received 0.2 0.1 0.2
Interest paid (3.4) (3.5) (6.5)
Net cash
outflow from
returns on
investments
and servicing
of finance (3.2) (3.4) (6.3)
Taxation (1.6) (1.5) (3.1)
Capital expenditure and
financial investment:
Purchase of
tangible fixed
assets (1.0) (1.5) (2.6)
Purchase of
intangible
fixed assets (0.3) (0.2) (0.4)
Sale of
tangible fixed
assets - - 0.1
Net proceeds
from sale of
Technology
Patents - - 0.6
Net cash
outflow from
capital
expenditure
and financial
investment (1.3) (1.7) (2.3)
--------- --------- ---------
Cash inflow
before
management of
liquid
resources and
financing 0.2 2.9 6.9
Financing:
Net loans
drawn/(repaid) 2.0 (4.0) (10.0)
Net cash
inflow/(outflow)
from financing
2.0 (4.0) (10.0)
--------- --------- ---------
Increase/(decr
ease) in net
cash 12 2.2 (1.1) (3.1)
========= ========= =========
Notes to the interim report
1. Accounting policies
The results for the half year ended 30 June 2004 have been prepared on the basis
of the accounting policies set out in the Report and accounts for the year ended
31 December 2003, with the exception of the changes set out in note 4 below.
a) Basis of consolidation
The results include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries drawn up
for the 26 week period from 3 January 2004 to 2 July 2004 (2003: 26 week
period).
2. Non-statutory accounts
The results for the half year to 30 June 2004 are neither audited nor reviewed
by the auditors.
The financial information on pages 6 to 14 does not amount to full accounts
within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985 (as amended).
The comparative figures for the year ended 31 December 2003 do not constitute
statutory accounts. Apart from the re-statement of turnover (see note 4), these
figures have been extracted from the audited accounts for that period which have
been delivered to the registrar of companies and on which the auditors issued an
unqualified report which did not contain a statement under either section 237
(2) or (3) of the Companies act 1985.
3. Profit on sale of Technology Patents
During the six months ended 30 June 2003 the Company sold its portfolio of
Technology Patents for $1.5m (£0.9m). Disposal costs of £0.3m resulted in a
profit on sale of £0.6m.
4. Changes in accounting policy
During the six months ended 30 June 2004, the Company has made changes to its
accounting policies with respect to segmental reporting and to turnover.
a) In prior periods, the Company's online casino has been reported within Soft
Gaming. The Company has reviewed the playing patterns on its online casino and
concluded that it would be more appropriate to report it within Betting. This
change will only affect the segmental reporting note, and will not change the
profit and loss account in aggregate. In respect of the prior half year, the
impact is to move £1.6m of turnover and £0.2m of operating profit from Soft
Gaming to Betting. In respect of the prior full year, the impact is to move
£3.7m of turnover and £0.6m of operating profit from Soft Gaming to Betting.
b) At the same time, the basis of turnover disclosure for the online casino
business has been reviewed. Previously turnover for this business was defined as
the gross win achieved; following a review of the rationale underlying this
basis and to bring on-line casino turnover into line with other similar internet
based games that the Company offers, as well as that for non-internet based
products, the basis of reporting turnover is now believed to be best defined as
the amounts customers spend with the business, rather than the amount of
customer spend net of winnings returned to them. In respect of the prior half
year, the impact is to add £51.5m to both turnover and cost of sales; the impact
for the prior full year is to add £122.5m to both turnover and cost of sales.
There is no impact on profit for either the prior half year or the prior full
year. The impact for the current half year is to add £150.4m to turnover and
cost of sales.
The effect of these changes in accounting policy on the comparatives for the six
months ended 30 June 2003 is as follows:
As originally Adjustment As restated
stated
£m £m £m
Turnover
Soft Gaming 53.0 (1.6) 51.4
Betting 53.3 53.1 106.4
--------- --------- ---------
106.3 51.5 157.8
========= ========= =========
Cost of sales 77.7 51.5 129.2
========= ========= =========
Operating profit before restructuring
costs and amortisation of goodwill
Soft Gaming 11.1 (0.2) 10.9
Betting (1.8) 0.2 (1.6)
--------- --------- ---------
9.3 - 9.3
========= ========= =========
The effect of this change in accounting policy on the comparatives for the year
ended 31 December 2003 is as follows:
As originally AdjustmentAs restated
stated
£m £m £m
Turnover
Soft Gaming 106.2 (3.7) 102.5
Betting 101.7 126.2 227.9
--------- --------- ---------
207.9 122.5 330.4
========= ========= =========
Cost of sales 153.0 122.5 275.5
========= ========= =========
Operating profit before restructuring
costs and amortisation of goodwill
Soft Gaming 23.0 (0.6) 22.4
Betting (3.1) 0.6 (2.5)
--------- --------- ---------
19.9 - 19.9
========= ========= =========
5. Segmental reporting
6 months to 6 months to Year to
30 June 30 June 31 December
2004 2003 2003
(Unaudited) (Unaudited, (Audited,
restated) restated)
£m £m £m
Turnover
Soft Gaming 48.5 51.4 102.5
Betting 206.0 106.4 227.9
--------- --------- ---------
Total Littlewoods
Gaming 254.5 157.8 330.4
========= ========= =========
Profit before tax
Soft Gaming 10.5 10.9 22.4
Betting (1.0) (1.6) (2.5)
--------- --------- ---------
Operating profit before restructuring
costs
and amortisation of
goodwill 9.5 9.3 19.9
Restructuring costs
(principally Soft
Gaming) (0.3) (0.4) (1.3)
--------- --------- ---------
Operating profit before amortisation
of
goodwill 9.2 8.9 18.6
Amortisation of goodwill
(principally Soft
Gaming) (4.6) (4.6) (9.1)
--------- --------- ---------
Operating profit 4.6 4.3 9.5
Profit on sale of
Technology Patents - 0.6 0.6
Net interest payable (3.3) (3.4) (6.6)
--------- --------- ---------
Profit on ordinary
activities before
taxation 1.3 1.5 3.5
========= ========= =========
All turnover and profits arise in the United Kingdom
6. Net operating expenses
6 months to 30 June 6 months to 30 June Year to 31 December
2004 2003 2003
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)
£m £m £m
Distribution
costs 0.1 0.1 0.1
--------- --------- ---------
Other
administrative
expenses 19.4 19.2 34.9
Restructuring
costs 0.3 0.4 1.3
Amortisation
of goodwill 4.6 4.6 9.1
--------- --------- ---------
Administration
expenses 24.3 24.2 45.3
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
Net operating
expenses 24.4 24.3 45.4
========= ========= =========
7. Net interest payable and similar items
6 months to 30 June 6 months to 30 June Year to 31 December
2004 2003 2003
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)
£m £m £m
Interest
receivable 0.2 0.1 0.2
Interest
payable on
bank loans and
overdrafts (3.4) (3.4) (6.5)
Amortisation
of interest
rate cap
premium (0.1) (0.1) (0.3)
--------- --------- ---------
Net interest
payable and
similar items (3.3) (3.4) (6.6)
========= ========= =========
8. Taxation
Taxation is provided on taxable profits at 30.0% being the anticipated rate of
taxation for the Group's current financial year.
9. Earnings per share
The calculation of earnings per share is based on the net loss attributable to
ordinary shareholders of £0.4 m (2003: £0.2m) divided by the weighted average
number of shares in issue during the period - 592.1 m (six months to 30 June
2003 - 592.1 m; year to 31 December 2003 - 592.1 m). Basic and diluted EPS are
identical.
10. Cash
£0.8m of the cash and bank balances are committed security against deferred
payments due under a contractual obligation of a subsidiary company.
11. Reconciliation of operating profit to operating cash flows
6 months to 30 June 6 months to 30 June Year to 31 December
2004 2003 2003
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)
£m £m £m
Operating
profit 4.6 4.3 9.5
Depreciation
on tangible
fixed assets 1.2 1.4 2.1
Amortisation
of goodwill 4.6 4.6 9.1
Decrease in
stocks - 0.1 0.1
(Increase)/
decrease in trade
debtors (0.8) 0.8 0.4
Decrease in
other debtors 0.8 0.4 -
(Increase)/
decrease in
prepayments (1.8) 0.3 (1.9)
Increase/
(decrease) in trade
creditors 0.4 (0.3) (1.0)
(Decrease) in
other taxes (0.8) (0.8) (0.2)
(Decrease)/
increase in
accruals and
deferred
income (1.9) (1.3) 0.5
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash
inflow from
operating
activities 6.3 9.5 18.6
========= ========= =========
12. Analysis and reconciliation of net debt
At 31 December Cash Non-cash At 30 June
2003 flow changes 2004
£m £m £m £m
Cash at bank
and in hand
excluding
charity cash
balances 2.3 (0.5) - 1.8
Bank
overdrafts (6.9) 2.4 - (4.5)
--------- ------- ------- ---------
(4.6) 1.9 - (2.7)
--------- ------- ------- ---------
Debt due
within one
year (15.9) 1.0 10.0 (4.9)
Debt due
after
one year (94.0) (3.0) (10.0) (107.0)
Lease
agreement (0.2) - - (0.2)
--------- ------- ------- ---------
(110.1) (2.0) - (112.1)
--------- ------- ------- ---------
(114.7) (0.1) - (114.8)
========= ======= ======= =========
6 months to 6 months to Year to
30 June 30 June 31 December
2004 2003 2003
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)
£m £m £m
Increase/(decrease) in
cash in period 2.2 (1.1) (3.1)
Movement in charity
cash (0.3) (0.4) (0.1)
--------- --------- ---------
Change in net debt
resulting from cash
flows 1.9 (1.5) (3.2)
New hire purchase
contracts - (0.2) (0.2)
Cash inflow from
increase in loans (3.0) (4.0) (6.0)
Cash outflow from
repayment of loans 1.0 8.0 16.0
--------- --------- ---------
Movement in net debt
for the period (0.1) 2.3 6.6
At start of period (114.7) (121.3) (121.3)
--------- --------- ---------
At end of period (114.8) (119.0) (114.7)
========= ========= =========
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