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La Française des Jeux (FDJ) announces its results for the first half of 2020
The good momentum in stakes seen in the early part of the year (increase of 5% until mid-March) was halted by the consequences of the Covid-19 epidemic (decline of nearly 60% over the two months of lockdown). The gradual recovery since the lifting of lockdown in mid-May has accelerated with the gradual resumption of sporting competitions, including most of the national football championships in Europe, and the return of Amigo on 8 June. As such, the decline in stakes was limited to 18% over the half-year compared with the first half of 2019. They totalled €6.9 billion, breaking down as:
- Lottery stakes down 13% at €5.8 billion:
- Of which -15% for draw games to €2.2 billion and -11% for instant games to €3.6 billion;
- A 50% increase in online stakes to €0.5 billion.
- Sports betting stakes down 39% at €1.1 billion.
- Half-year revenue totalled €849 million, down 15% on an adjusted basis,1 and EBITDA amounted to €174 million, a margin of 20.5%.
- For EBITDA, the mechanical impact of the decline in activity was partially offset by the implementation of a large part of the savings plan of more than €80 million for 2020.
- From mid-June the Group has returned to an overall level of activity comparable with that of 2019. However, in view of the many uncertainties that remain, the Group does not communicate any business or earnings forecasts for the financial year 2020 as a whole. However, it should be borne in mind that the EBITDA margin for the second half of 2019 benefited from exceptional long lottery cycles, as well as unexpected sporting results, which reduced the player payout ratio in the sports betting segment.
Stéphane Pallez, Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of FDJ, said: “The Group’s strong mobilisation from the onset of the health crisis and a swiftly implemented cost-cutting plan have limited the impact on the first-half results. For several weeks, we have been recording stakes at a level comparable with that of 2019. Our strategic orientations and the strength of the FDJ model have been confirmed, and we continue to invest to support the development of all our activities.”
The 2019 data used for the following analyses have been adjusted to reflect the new tax regime that came into force on 1st January 2020 and to consolidate Sporting Group over a full year (but without adjustment for long lottery cycles)
Key figures (in millions of euros)
|
30 June |
30 June 2019 adjusted |
Chg. vs |
30 June 2019 |
Chg. vs |
|
|
Stakes |
6,898 |
8,454 |
(18%) |
8,420 |
(18%) |
|
Revenue* |
849 |
995 |
(15%) |
944 |
(10%) |
|
Recurring operating profit |
124 |
165 |
(25%) |
136 |
(9%) |
|
Net profit |
50 |
|
|
96 |
(48%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA** |
174 |
208 |
(16%) |
177 |
(2%) |
|
EBITDA/revenue |
20.5% |
20.9% |
|
18.8% |
|
* Revenue: net gaming revenue and revenue from other activities
** EBITDA: recurring operating profit adjusted for depreciation and amortisation
Activity and results for H1 2020
- Stakes of €6.9 billion, down 18.4%
- Lottery stakes of €5.8 billion (-12.6%)
Lottery staked amounted to €5.8 billion, with a drop of 11.3% to €3.6 billion for instant games and a drop of 14.6% to €2.2 billion for draw games:
- For instant games, the decline can be attributed in large part to the steep decline in footfall in points of sale during lockdown and the lack of activity in the product portfolio during the second quarter;
- For draw games, the decrease can be ascribed chiefly to the suspension of Amigo, an express draw game in points of sales from 19 March to 8 June. Adjusted for Amigo, draw games stakes were down only slightly (-1.7%);
- Online lottery stakes enjoyed good momentum, with an increase of 50% to €0.5 billion, and a marked acceleration in the second quarter, driven mainly by growth in the number of active players and the almost doubling of new registrations on fdj.fr.
- Sports betting stakes of €1.1 billion (-38.8%)
Sports betting stakes totalled €1.1 billion. After a performance in line with objectives at the start of the year, sports betting stakes were impacted by the gradual cancellation of virtually all sporting competitions from mid-March 2020. No major sporting competitions took place during lockdown, which considerably reduced the betting offer. Since mid-May, sporting competitions, particularly football, have gradually resumed, resulting in a very significant resumption in stakes.
- Revenue down 14.7% at €849 million
On half-yearly stakes of €6.9 billion (-18.4%), player winnings totalled €4.6 billion (-19.9%), representing a player payout (PPO) ratio of 67.3%, compared with 68.4% in the first half of 2019. The decline in the PPO reflects the change in the betting mix, with a higher share of lottery games. In addition, the sports betting PPO was reduced by unexpected results.
FDJ recorded gross gaming revenue (GGR: stakes less prizes won) down 15.1% at €2.3 billion. Net gaming revenue (NGR: GGR less contribution to the public finances) amounted to €829 million, i.e. 12.0% of stakes, with stability in the rate of public levies on games compared with that of the first half of 2019 at 63.5% of GGR, or €1.4 billion.
The FDJ Group’s revenue amounted to €849 million (-14.7%), compared with €995 million in the six months to end-June 2019.
- EBITDA of €174 million, representing a margin of 20.5% on revenue (vs 20.9% in H1 2019)
- Contribution margin by activity:
- Lottery: contribution margin steady at 32.2%
The contribution margin of the Lottery BU was €219 million, i.e. a decline of €37 million (‑14.4%), for a margin on revenue of 32.2%, vs 33.2% in H1 2019 on the basis of revenue down 12.2% at €679 million.
Cost of sales, mainly the remuneration of distributors, was down 13.6% due to the drop in stakes in points of sale, while the slight increase of 6.6% in marketing and communication expenses to €65 million reflects the continued development of the product offering, partly offset by the reduction in advertising and promotional expenses.
- Sports betting: contribution margin of 31.3%, an increase of 7 points due to the low PPO ratio
The Sports Betting BU’s contribution margin was €45 million in H1 2020, almost stable compared with the same period in 2019 (€48 million), i.e. a margin on revenue of 31.3%, up more than 7 points compared with the first half of 2019 (24.3%). Based on a drop of 38.8% in stakes, the lower half-yearly PPO ratio than in the first half of 2019 (73.1% vs 77.7%) helped limit to €50 million the decline in revenue (-25.7%) to €145 million.
The 39.3% reduction in cost of sales reflects trends in stakes, while the 15.8% decline in marketing and communication expenses to €34 million is related to the reduction in advertising and promotional initiatives against the backdrop of a reduced product offering.
- Adjacent activities and holding company
Adjacent activities (International, Payments & Services and Entertainment) and the holding company recorded revenue of €24 million, with a contribution margin close to breakeven. Holding company costs amounted to €89 million, down €9 million compared with H1 2019.
- EBITDA margin of 20.5%, virtually stable thanks in large part to the implementation of a savings plan of more than €80 million
From the onset of the health crisis and its first effects, the Group implemented a savings plan of more than €80 million for 2020. Two-thirds of the plan, more than half of which covered A&P expenditure, was implemented in H1, helping offset more than half of the decline in activity and thereby helping keep FDJ’s EBITDA margin above 20%.
The Group’s operating expenses were down 12.5% at €725 million, of which:
– Cost of sales of €482 million, down 17.6%, which notably includes the remuneration of €336 million for distributors, down €88 million (-21%), in line with the decline in stakes in the point-of-sale network;
– Marketing and communication expenses of €147 million, down nearly 2%;
– General and administrative expenses of €87 million, down 7%.
Depreciation and amortisation amounted to €50 million, compared with €43 million in H1 2019. Their growth was driven mainly by the amortisation of exclusive operating rights over a full half-year in 2020, compared with a single month in H1 2019.
On those bases, the FDJ Group recorded a recurring operating profit of €124 million (-24.9%) and EBITDA of €174 million (-16.4%), i.e. a margin on revenue of 20.5%, compared with 20.9% in June 2019.
- Net income of €50 million including non-recurring items
In the first half of 2020, FDJ recorded other non-recurring operating expenses of €30 million, compared with €7 million in the first half of 2019. They related to Sporting Group, on which FDJ recorded impairment due to its sports betting activity in the United Kingdom.
The financial result for the first half of 2020 (expense of €5 million) reflects the change in the value of part of FDJ’s financial assets in a context of bearish financial markets.
After taking into account a net tax expense of €39 million, down €5 million, the Group’s net profit for the first half of 2020 was €50 million.
- Available cash exceeding €800 million and net cash surplus of €298 million at end-June 2020
At the end of June 2020, the Group had more than €800 million in available cash.
The net cash surplus is one of the indicators of the level of net cash generated by the Group. It corresponds mainly to financial investments and gross cash (€1,154 million), less borrowings (€733 million).
As of 30 June 2020, it amounted to €298 million, an increase of €218 million compared with 31 December 2019. The change was mainly attributable to:
– The EBITDA generated over the half-year, plus a dual positive effect on working capital surplus linked on the one hand to the change in the payment schedule for public levies (monthly in 2020 but weekly in 2019) and on the other hand to unclaimed prizes only returned to the State at the end of the year;
– Against which are charged dividends in respect of 2019 and investments for the first half of the year.
For information, the net cash surplus at the end of June cannot be extrapolated to the end of December because there are significant calendar effects on the payments of public levies, including an advance on public levies in December.
A financial presentation is available on the FDJ group’s website
https://www.groupefdj.com/en/investors/financial-publications.html.
FDJ’s Board of Directors met on 29 July 2020 and reviewed the interim consolidated financial statements at 30 June 2020, which were prepared under its responsibility. The limited review procedures on the interim consolidated financial statements have been carried out. The review report of the statutory auditors is being issued.
The Group’s next financial communication
Given the changing nature of the situation, the estimates and forward-looking statement presented by FDJ cannot constitute either a forecast or a target. The Group will announce its stakes and revenue for the September quarter after trading on 14 October and will issue its new 2020 outlook as soon as possible.
About La Française des Jeux (FDJ Group):
France’s national lottery and leading gaming operator, the #2 lottery in Europe and #4 worldwide, FDJ offers secure, enjoyable and responsible gaming to the general public in the form of lottery games (draws and instant games) and sports betting (ParionsSport), available from physical outlets and online. FDJ’s performance is driven by a portfolio of iconic and recent brands, the #1 local sales network in France, a growing market, recurring investment and a strategy of innovation to make its offering and distribution more attractive with an enhanced gaming experience.
FDJ Group is listed on the Euronext Paris regulated market (Compartment A – FDJ.PA) and is included in the SBF 120, Euronext Vigeo France 20, STOXX Europe 600, MSCI Europe and FTSE Euro indices.
For further information, www.groupefdj.com
Appendices
Adjusted 2019 data, with the full-year application of the new tax regime that came into force on 1 January 2020 and the consolidation of Sporting Group over 12 months.
|
In € million |
30 June 2020 |
30 June 2019 |
Chg. 30 June 2020 vs |
30 June 2019 |
Chg. 30 June 2020 vs |
|
Stakes* |
6,898 |
8,420 |
(18.1%) |
8,454 |
(18.4%) |
|
Attributable to Lottery |
5,777 |
6,609 |
(12.6%) |
6,609 |
(12.6%) |
|
Instant lottery games** |
3,558 |
4,012 |
(11.3%) |
4,012 |
(11.3%) |
|
Draw games |
2,219 |
2,598 |
(14.6%) |
2,598 |
(14.6%) |
|
Attributable to Sports betting |
1,108 |
1,810 |
(38.8%) |
1,810 |
(38.8%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Digitalised stakes*** |
1,391 |
1,652 |
(15.8%) |
1,652 |
(15.8%) |
|
Offline stakes |
6,269 |
7,917 |
(20.8%) |
7,917 |
(20.8%) |
* Stakes reflect wagers by players, and do not constitute the revenue of the FDJ Group
** Mainly scratch games (point of sale and online)
*** Digitalised stakes include online and digitalised stakes at the point of sale, i.e. using a digital service/application for their preparation, prior to registration by the distributor
|
In € million |
30 June 2020 |
30 June 2019 |
Chg. 30 June 2020 vs |
30 June 2019 |
Chg. 30 June 2020 vs |
|
Stakes |
6,898 |
8,420 |
(18.1%) |
8,454 |
(18.4%) |
|
Player winnings |
4,646 |
5,757 |
(19.3%) |
5,799 |
(19.9%) |
|
Player payout ratio |
67.3% |
68.4% |
|
68.6% |
|
|
Gross gaming revenue (GGR) |
2,253 |
2,663 |
(15.4%) |
2,654 |
(15.0%) |
|
GGR as a % of stakes |
32.7% |
31.6% |
3.3% |
31.4% |
4.0% |
|
Net gaming revenue (NGR) |
829 |
933 |
(11.2%) |
976 |
(15.0%) |
|
NGR as a % of stakes |
12.0% |
11.1% |
8.5% |
11.5% |
4.1% |
|
Revenue |
849 |
944 |
(10.1%) |
995 |
(14.7%) |
Segment reporting
| 30 June 2020 | |||||||
| In € millions | Lottery BU | Sport Betting BU |
Other segments |
Holding company |
Total before depreciation and amortisation |
Depreciation and amortisation |
Total Group |
| Stakes |
5,777 |
1,108 |
14 |
– |
6,898 |
6,898 |
|
| Gross gaming revenue |
1,954 |
298 |
1 |
– |
2,253 |
2,253 |
|
| Net gaming revenue |
677 |
145 |
6 |
– |
829 |
829 |
|
| Revenue |
679 |
145 |
24 |
1 |
849 |
849 |
|
| Cost of sales |
(395) |
(65) |
(3) |
– |
(464) |
(18) |
(482) |
| Marketing and communication expenses |
(65) |
(34) |
(21) |
(12) |
(133) |
(14) |
(147) |
| Contribution margin |
219 |
45 |
(1) |
(12) |
251 |
(32) |
219 |
| General and administration expenses |
(78) |
(78) |
(18) |
(95) |
|||
| EBITDA |
174 |
||||||
| Depreciation and amortisation |
(50) |
||||||
| Recurring operating profit |
124 |
||||||
| BU Loterie | BU Paris sportifs |
ABU | Holding | Total avant amort. |
Amort. | Total Groupe | |
| Mises |
6,610 |
1,810 |
34 |
0 |
8,454 |
8,454 |
|
| Produit Brut des Jeux (PBJ) |
2,251 |
403 |
0 |
0 |
2,654 |
2,654 |
|
| Produit Net des Jeux (PNJ) |
771 |
195 |
9 |
0 |
976 |
976 |
|
| Chiffre d’affaires |
773 |
195 |
27 |
0 |
995 |
995 |
|
| Coût des ventes |
-456 |
-107 |
-3 |
0 |
-566 |
-19 |
-585 |
| Coûts marketing et communication |
-61 |
-41 |
-22 |
-14 |
-138 |
-12 |
-150 |
| Marge contributive |
256 |
48 |
2 |
-14 |
291 |
-31 |
260 |
| Coûts administratifs et généraux |
-83 |
-83 |
-12 |
-95 |
|||
| EBITDA |
208 |
||||||
| Dotations aux amortissements |
-43 |
||||||
| Résultat Opérationnel Courant |
165 |
| 30 June 2019 published | |||||||
| In € millions | Lottery BU |
Sport Betting BU |
Other segments |
Holding company |
Total before depreciation and amortisation |
Depreciation and amortisation |
Total Group |
| Stakes |
6,610 |
1,810 |
– |
– |
8,420 |
8,420 |
|
| Gross gaming revenue |
2,257 |
406 |
– |
– |
2,663 |
2,663 |
|
| Net gaming revenue |
759 |
173 |
2 |
– |
933 |
933 |
|
| Revenue |
761 |
173 |
11 |
– |
944 |
944 |
|
| Cost of sales |
(456) |
(107) |
(1) |
– |
(564) |
(19) |
(583) |
| Marketing and communication expenses |
(62) |
(40) |
(11) |
(14) |
(127) |
(11) |
(138) |
| Contribution margin |
243 |
26 |
(2) |
(14) |
253 |
(30) |
223 |
| General and administration expenses |
(76) |
(76) |
(11) |
(87) |
|||
| EBITDA |
177 |
||||||
| Depreciation and amortisation |
(41) |
||||||
| Recurring operating profit |
136 |
||||||
Consolidated income statement
| In € millions | 30 June 2020 | 30 June 2019 published |
| Stakes |
6,898.4 |
8,420.0 |
| Player payout |
(4,645.5) |
(5,756.9) |
| Gross gaming revenue |
2,252.8 |
2,663.0 |
| Public levies |
(1,429.8) |
(1,692.4) |
| Structural allocations to counterparty funds |
0.0 |
(39.1) |
| Other revenue from sports betting |
6.0 |
1.9 |
| Net gaming revenue |
829.0 |
933.4 |
| Revenue from other activities |
19.7 |
10.5 |
| Revenue |
848.6 |
944.0 |
| Cost of sales |
(481.9) |
(582.9) |
| Marketing and communication expenses |
(147.5) |
(138.1) |
| General and administrative expenses |
(87.0) |
(85.6) |
| Other recurring operating income |
0.5 |
0.4 |
| Other recurring operating expenses |
(9.0) |
(1.8) |
| Recurring operating profit |
123.8 |
135.9 |
| Other non recurring operating income |
0.2 |
0.1 |
| Other non recurring operating expenses |
(30.3) |
(7.3) |
| Operating profit |
93.7 |
128.7 |
| Cost of debt |
(2.1) |
(0.8) |
| Other financial income |
5.7 |
12.2 |
| Other financial expenses |
(8.9) |
(0.5) |
| Net financial income/(expense) |
(5.2) |
10.9 |
| Share of net income for joint ventures |
0.5 |
0.6 |
| Profit before tax |
89.0 |
140.2 |
| Income tax expense |
(38.8) |
(44.4) |
| Net profit for the period |
50.2 |
95.9 |
| Attributable to : | ||
| Owners of the parent |
50.2 |
95.9 |
| Non -controlling interests |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Basic earnings per share (in €) |
0.26 |
0.50 |
| Diluted earnings per share (in €) |
0.26 |
0.50 |
| In € millions |
30 June 2020 |
30 June 2019 |
June 2020 vs |
30 June 2019 |
June 2020 vs |
| Recurring operating profit |
124 |
136 |
(8.8%) |
165 |
(24.8%) |
| Depreciation and amortisation |
(50) |
(41) |
22.0% |
(43) |
16.3% |
| EBITDA |
174 |
177 |
(1.8%) |
208 |
(16.4%) |
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
| In € millions | 30 June 2020 | 30 June 2019 published |
| Net profit for the period |
50.2 |
95.9 |
| Cash flow hedging, before tax |
0.1 |
0.2 |
| Net investment hedge on foreign activities, before tax |
6.6 |
0.6 |
| Net currency translation difference, before tax |
(2.4) |
0.3 |
| Tax related to items that may subsequently be recycled |
(2.1) |
(0.2) |
| Items recycled or that may subsequently be recycled to profit |
2.2 |
0.9 |
| Actuarial gains and losses |
0.3 |
(3.3) |
| Others |
(0.0) |
(0.0) |
| Tax related to actuarial gains and losses through equity |
(0.1) |
1.0 |
| Items that may not subsequently be recycled to profit |
0.2 |
(2.3) |
| Other comprehensive income/(expense) |
2.4 |
(1.4) |
| Total comprehensive income for the period |
52.7 |
94.5 |
| Attributable to : | ||
| Owners of the parent |
52.7 |
94.5 |
| Non-controlling interests |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Consolidated statement of financial position
| In € millions | ||
| ASSETS | 30 June 2020 | 31 December 2019 published |
| Goodwill |
28.1 |
56.4 |
| Exclusive operating rights |
363.1 |
370.7 |
| Intangible assets |
162.2 |
148.3 |
| Property, plant and equipment |
385.7 |
394.0 |
| Non-current financial assets |
378.1 |
584.3 |
| Investments in associates |
14.9 |
14.5 |
| Non-current assets |
1,332.1 |
1,568.2 |
| Inventories |
16.3 |
10.5 |
| Trade and distribution network receivables |
385.8 |
469.8 |
| Other current assets |
302.0 |
314.8 |
| Tax payable assets |
6.0 |
18.9 |
| Current financial assets |
354.9 |
272.2 |
| Cash and cash equivalents |
475.6 |
201.5 |
| Current assets |
1,540.6 |
1,287.8 |
| TOTAL ASSETS |
2,872.7 |
2,856.0 |
| In € millions | ||
| EQUITY AND LIABILITIES | 30 June 2020 | 31 December 2019 published |
| Share capital |
76.4 |
76.4 |
| Statutory reserves |
91.7 |
87.5 |
| Retained earnings (incl. Net profit for the period) |
366.2 |
406.7 |
| Reserves for other comprehensive income/(expense) |
1.2 |
(1.3) |
| Equity attributable to owners of the parent |
535.4 |
569.2 |
| Non-controlling interests |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Equity |
535.4 |
569.2 |
| Provisions for pensions and other employee benefits |
56.3 |
56.9 |
| Non-current provisions |
48.1 |
49.3 |
| Deferred tax liabilities |
26.1 |
24.9 |
| Non-current player funds |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Non-current financial liabilities |
568.6 |
229.7 |
| Non-current liabilities |
699.1 |
360.9 |
| Current provisions |
15.9 |
16.7 |
| trade and distribution network payables |
314.1 |
411.6 |
| Tax payable liabilities |
1.0 |
0.7 |
| Current player funds |
176.4 |
156.6 |
| Public levies |
540.6 |
414.8 |
| Winnings payable and distributable |
244.4 |
189.3 |
| Other current liabilities |
180.6 |
169.6 |
| Payable to the French State with respect to the exclusive operating rights |
0.0 |
380.0 |
| Current financial liabilities |
165.1 |
186.5 |
| Current liabilities |
1,638.2 |
1,925.9 |
| TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES |
2,872.7 |
2,856.0 |
Consolidated statement of cash flows
| In € millions | 30 June 2020 | 30 June 2019 published |
| OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||
| Net consolidated profit for the period |
50.2 |
95.9 |
| Change in depreciation, amortisation and impairment of non-current assets |
75.9 |
43.1 |
| Change in provisions |
4.1 |
6.1 |
| Disposal gains or losses |
0.2 |
0.1 |
| Income tax expense |
38.8 |
44.4 |
| Other non-cash items from P&L |
(0.2) |
0.0 |
| Net financial (income)/expense |
5.2 |
(10.9) |
| Share of net income from joint ventures |
(0.5) |
(0.6) |
| Non-cash items |
123.5 |
82.2 |
| Use of provisions – payments |
(6.5) |
(4.5) |
| Interest received |
2.5 |
2.3 |
| Income taxes paid |
(25.2) |
(31.9) |
| Change in trade receivables and other current assets |
(19.6) |
124.2 |
| Change in inventories |
(5.7) |
(1.9) |
| Change in trade receivables and other current liabilities |
222.9 |
(56.5) |
| Change in other components of working capital |
(1.6) |
(1.5) |
| Change in operating working capital |
196.0 |
64.3 |
| Net cash flow from/(used in) operating activities |
340.6 |
208.3 |
| INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||
| Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets |
(423.2) |
(32.4) |
| Acquisitions of investments |
0.0 |
(111.8) |
| Disposals of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets |
0.1 |
0.0 |
| Change in current and non-current financial assets |
145.3 |
(50.1) |
| Disposals of other financial assets |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Change in loan and advances granted |
(26.9) |
2.8 |
| Dividends received from associates and non-consolidated share |
0.0 |
0.4 |
| Other |
0.5 |
0.0 |
| Net cash flow from/(used in) investing activities |
(304.3) |
(191.0) |
| FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||
| Issue of long-term debt |
380.0 |
113.3 |
| Repayment of the current portion of long-term debt |
(8.8) |
(4.0) |
| Repayment of lease liabilities |
(4.0) |
(2.9) |
| Dividends paid to ordinary shareholder of the parent company |
(83.4) |
(118.3) |
| Interest paid |
(4.8) |
(0.8) |
| Other |
(0.6) |
0.0 |
| Net cash flow from/(used in) financing activities |
278.5 |
(12.7) |
| Impact of exchange rates change |
(0.4) |
0.9 |
| Net increase/(decrease) in net cash |
314.3 |
5.5 |
| Cash and cash equivalent as at 1 January |
201.5 |
167.2 |
| Cash and cash equivalent as at 31 December |
475.6 |
179.0 |
| Current bank overdrafts as at 1 January |
(40.2) |
(7.2) |
| Current bank overdrafts as at 31 December |
0.0 |
(13.6) |
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
|
In € millions |
Share capital |
Statutory reserves |
Retained earnings (incl. Net profit for the period) |
Cash flow hedging |
Net investment hedge on foreign activities |
Net currency translation difference |
Actuarial gains and losses |
Reserves for other comprehensive income/ |
Equity attributable to owners of the parent |
Non-controlling interests |
Total equity |
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Equity as at 31 December 2018 |
76.4 |
85.3 |
401.1 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
2.1 |
(1.2) |
1.1 |
563.9 |
0.0 |
563.9 |
|
Net profit for the period |
95.9 |
95.9 |
0.0 |
95.9 |
|||||||
|
Other comprehensive income/(expense) |
0.2 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
(2.3) |
(1.4) |
(1.4) |
(1.4) |
||||
|
Total comprehensive income/(expense) for the period |
0.0 |
0.0 |
95.9 |
0.2 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
(2.3) |
(1.4) |
94.5 |
(0.0) |
94.5 |
|
Appropriation of 2018 profit/(loss) |
2.0 |
(2.0) |
|||||||||
|
2018 dividends paid |
(122.0) |
(122.0) |
(122.0) |
||||||||
|
Equity as at 30 June 2019 |
76.4 |
87.4 |
372.8 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
2.4 |
(3.5) |
(0.3) |
536.2 |
(0.0) |
536.2 |
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Equity as at 31 December 2019 |
76.4 |
87.5 |
406.7 |
(0.1) |
(1.4) |
4.1 |
(3.9) |
(1.3) |
569.2 |
0.0 |
569.2 |
|
Net profit for the period |
50.2 |
50.2 |
50.2 |
||||||||
|
Other comprehensive income/(expense) |
0.1 |
4.5 |
(2.4) |
0.2 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
||||
|
Total comprehensive income/(expense) for the period |
0.0 |
0.0 |
50.2 |
0.1 |
4.5 |
(2.4) |
0.2 |
2.5 |
52.7 |
0.0 |
52.7 |
|
Appropriation of 2019 profit/(loss) |
4.2 |
(4.2) |
|||||||||
|
2019 dividends paid |
(86.0) |
(86.0) |
(86.0) |
||||||||
|
Other |
(0.6) |
(0.6) |
(0.6) |
||||||||
|
Equity as at 30 June 2020 |
76.4 |
91.7 |
366.1 |
0.0 |
3.1 |
1.7 |
(3.7) |
1.2 |
535.4 |
0.0 |
535.4 |
Net cash surplus
| In € millions | 30 June 2020 | 31 December 2019 published |
| Non-current financial assets at amortised cost |
160.0 |
440.0 |
| Non-current assets fair value through profit or loss |
131.3 |
90.4 |
| Other non-current financial assets excluding deposits |
32.4 |
29.3 |
| Total non-current investments (a) |
323.7 |
559.8 |
| Current financial assets at amortised cost |
349.0 |
253.0 |
| Current financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
5.0 |
16.1 |
| Current derivatives |
0.8 |
0.9 |
| Total current investments (b) |
354.8 |
270.0 |
| Total current and non-current investments |
678.5 |
829.8 |
| Investments, cash equivalents |
185.0 |
121.2 |
| Cash at bank and in hand |
290.7 |
80.3 |
| Total cash and cash equivalents |
475.7 |
201.5 |
| Total gross investments and cash |
1,154.2 |
1,031.3 |
| Long-term financial debt |
546.1 |
205.0 |
| Non-current lease liabilities |
22.0 |
24.4 |
| Total non-current financial debt (c) |
568.1 |
229.4 |
| Short-term financial debt |
27.2 |
8.2 |
| Current lease liabilities |
7.2 |
7.0 |
| Current derivatives |
0.2 |
0.7 |
| Other |
130.5 |
170.5 |
| Total current financial debt excluding deposits (d) |
165.1 |
186.4 |
| Total financial debt |
733.2 |
415.8 |
| INVESTMENTS AND NET CASH |
421.0 |
615.5 |
| Payable to the French State with respect to the exclusive operating rights |
0.0 |
(380.0) |
| Reclassification of online players wallets not yet covered by trust |
0.0 |
(26.9) |
| Restricted cash |
(4.5) |
(5.3) |
| Sums allocated exclusively to Euromillions winners |
(72.6) |
(77.2) |
| Net liability associated with the permanent fund surplus |
(46.1) |
(46.1) |
| NET CASH SURPLUS |
297.8 |
79.9 |
(a) Non-current investments correspond to non-current financial assets (as set out in the notes to the consolidated financial statements – statement of financial position), excluding Euromillions deposits and guarantee deposits
(b) Current investments correspond to current financial assets (as set out in the notes to the consolidated financial statements – statement of financial position), excluding given deposits and guarantees
(c) Long-term financial debt corresponds to non-current financial liabilities (as set out in the notes to the consolidated financial statements – statement of financial position), excluding received deposits and guarantees
(d) Short-term financial debt corresponds to non-current financial liabilities (as set out in the notes consolidated financial statements – statement of financial position)
———————————————
1 Restated to reflect the new tax regime that came into force on 1 January 2020 and consolidating Sporting Group on a full-year basis. Based on 2019 reported figures, half-year revenue would have been down 10%.
Latest News
Signing Day Sports Signs Binding Term Sheet to Acquire Majority Equity Interest in High Growth Sports Gaming Technology Company Swifty Global
Acquisition Expected to Mark New Growth Strategy
Signing Day Sports, Inc. (“Signing Day Sports” or the “Company”) (NYSE American: SGN), the developer of the Signing Day Sports app and platform to aid high school athletes in the recruitment process, today announced the signing of a binding term sheet to acquire 95-99% of the issued and outstanding shares of Dear Cashmere Group Holding Company, doing business as Swifty Global (“Swifty”), a global sports and casino technologies company, and that this acquisition is expected to be the first transaction of its newly initiated growth strategy to buy and build companies in the sports and casino technology industry and other synergistic companies. The transaction is structured as an all equity deal meaning that Signing Day Sports will acquire such percentage of Swifty through the issuance of its securities to the controlling stockholders of Swifty. Signing Day Sports is not required to make any cash payment to Swifty in connection with the acquisition of the Swifty equity securities.
Swifty is led by British CEO and technology entrepreneur James Gibbons. Swifty’s technology is scalable and GLI-certified and it holds gaming licenses in the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Curacao, and is expected to obtain a gaming license in Malta in the near future. Swifty’s in-house development team has developed GLI-certified software for the sports gaming sector. This acquisition will enable Signing Day Sports to reduce development costs while accelerating its product development and rollout plans.
In addition to its SaaS-based gaming software, which Swifty offers to online gambling operators under a revenue-sharing model, Swifty also serves its own licensed clients in online sports betting and casino gaming in a limited number of jurisdictions. Swifty, which is debt free, achieved revenue of over $128 million and net profit of approximately $2.44 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, despite significant investments of nearly $3.1 million in software development and licensing.
Swifty’s growth strategy is built on three key pillars: (i) consumer-focused online sportsbook and casino operations (B2C), (ii) SaaS gaming software licensing, and (iii) the acquisition of smaller operators, which will be migrated onto Swifty’s proprietary platform.
Swifty CEO James Gibbons has over 20 years of experience in building and creating robust, secure and easy to use software solutions. James is a serial entrepreneur who created his first company at age 23, a mobile voucher app across Apple, Android and Blackberry devices, eventually selling it to a company based in the US. Prior to joining Swifty as CEO, James led the Digital Visitor Experience team at Expo 2020 Dubai. James is supported by a team of more than 30 staff including a strong in-house development, trading and operational team. Swifty Chairman Nicolas Link is also a serial entrepreneur and seasoned in global mergers, acquisitions and capital markets.
Swifty’s common stock trades on the Pink market tier of OTC Markets Group under the ticker DRCR, and had been preparing to uplist to a national securities exchange in order to unlock its true value. The acquisition of Swifty by Signing Day Sports is intended to result in the combined company being traded on NYSE American. Swifty will continue to operate under the Swifty management team led by James Gibbons, while Signing Day Sports will become a subsidiary of the publicly listed company. This acquisition is expected to provide Swifty with the necessary capital to fuel accelerated growth.
Signing Day Sports, a software company that went public less than a year ago on the NYSE American, has launched a sports SAAS model application designed to help aspiring athletes gain exposure to college and professional organizations, increasing their chances of securing athletic scholarships, roster opportunities, contracts, and NIL endorsements. Since relaunching in December 2022, the platform had more than 10,000 registered users as of August 15, 2024, with most registered for football recruitment and a significant number for men’s and women’s soccer. Signing Day Sports plans to continue to add new proprietary features to its app. The company is now planning to expand into other sports while developing integrated revenue streams to monetize its growing user base. Signing Day Sports expects that the acquisition of Swifty will allow it to leverage Swifty’s in-house development team to reduce costs and accelerate product development and rollout plans.
Swifty CEO James Gibbons commented, “We are delighted to have signed a binding term sheet with Signing Day Sports, following months of close collaboration. The term sheet establishes the deal framework and valuation. Our team has worked tirelessly over the past four years to develop and grow the business organically in a profitable and cash positive manner with no debt and minimal dilution, in a highly regulated sector, obtaining numerous licenses and regulatory approvals globally which we believe demonstrates our ability to successfully execute a dynamic business plan in multiple jurisdictions. After three years of software development and millions of dollars of investment, the company is now perfectly positioned for rapid growth and our acquisition by Signing Day Sports provides Swifty the platform to execute its growth plans.”
Signing Day Sports CEO, Daniel Nelson, commented, “It is with great excitement that we can announce the signing of a binding term sheet with Swifty Global to be the start of our new growth strategy of buying and building sports technology and casino gaming companies and other companies that are synergistic with our business. I want to thank Nick, James and their team for their vision and insights that led to this agreement. It was clear from the beginning that both Signing Day Sports and Swifty had great alignment and synergy and I believe we can build an exciting global sports technology platform together. We both recognize there is a lot of hard work and important decisions still to be made, but we are confident that together, we will make powerful decisions that will build Signing Day Sports into a leading global sports technology company.”
Terms of the Transaction
At the closing of the expected acquisition, Signing Day Sports will acquire from James Gibbons and Nicolas Link, being the sellers, the common stock and preferred stock of Swifty held by them constituting at least 95% of the voting power of Swifty and at least 95% of the economic value of Swifty. Additional sellers holding Swifty common stock or preferred stock may enter into substantially identical agreements with Signing Day Sports and also sell their Swifty capital stock to Signing Day Sports, which would increase the aggregate percentage of Swifty acquired.
The sellers will receive a number of shares of Signing Day Sports common stock that is equal to 19.99% of the issued and outstanding common stock of Signing Day Sports. The balance of the shares that Signing Day Sports must issue to the sellers will be in the form of convertible preferred stock that has no voting or dividend rights. The preferred stock will convert into common stock following shareholder approval and the clearance of a new initial listing application with NYSE American, ensuring compliance with NYSE American regulations. Signing Day Sports legacy shareholders are expected to retain 8.24% of the post-transaction company’s shares, with the remaining 91.76% being issued to the sellers and the other stockholders of DRCR.
The transaction is based on an assumed equity value of $14 million for Signing Day Sports and $156 million for Swifty. To support the transaction, both companies will collectively seek to raise at least $2 million in financing, with the proceeds split equally. These funds will be used for working capital, including the payment of outstanding liabilities of Signing Day Sports. Any additional financing required for the transaction will be mutually agreed upon.
At the closing, James Gibbons will become the Chief Executive Officer of Signing Day Sports and remain the Chief Executive Officer of Swifty. Signing Day Sports management will remain the management of the Signing Day Sports subsidiary that will be established in connection with the acquisition.
The post-Closing board of Signing Day Sports will consist of five members, including at least three directors that qualify as independent under NYSE American rules. At the closing, two Signing Day Sports board members will resign, and Swifty will appoint two directors to fill the vacancies. Swifty’s appointees will be independent or executive directors, depending on the type of director who resigns.
Signing Day Sports will hold a shareholder meeting post-closing to, among other things, approve the conversion of the preferred stock issued to the sellers into common stock and elect a new board of directors of Signing Day Sports. The Signing Day Sports board will continue to have five members. Signing Day Sports’ pre-closing board will nominate one board member. Swifty’s pre-closing board will nominate two independent directors. Swifty’s pre-closing board will also nominate one additional executive director. One independent director will be jointly nominated by both Signing Day Sports and Swifty jointly.
After the transaction, Signing Day Sports will consolidate Swifty’s financial statements and operate Swifty as a subsidiary. Signing Day Sports’ existing assets will be contributed into a newly formed subsidiary, allowing the combined company to focus on the integrated business.
Both Signing Day Sports and Swifty will complete due diligence before the transaction closes. The closing is anticipated by October 31, 2024. The closing is subject to the entry into definitive stock purchase agreement(s) and customary closing conditions and no assurance can be given that the closing will occur.
The sellers and the officers and directors of Signing Day Sports will be subject to a three-month lock-up period following the closing.
If the term sheet is terminated due to a material breach, the defaulting party will be liable for a $500,000 break-up fee. Additionally, if the binding term sheet is terminated by Signing Day Sports for any reason other than an undisputable uncured material breach by Swifty or a seller, then one-half of all net funds (after expenses) raised in any capital raising transaction by Signing Day Sports will be paid to Swifty (to the extent not already loaned to Swifty) as an additional break-up fee and any loans by Signing Day Sports of amounts raised to Swifty will be forgiven.
Advisors to the transaction include Maxim Group LLC, which is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Swifty. Lucosky Brookman LLP is serving as counsel to Swifty. Bevilacqua PLLC is serving as counsel to Signing Day Sports.
A copy of the Term Sheet will be filed as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K to be filed by Signing Day Sports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on or about the date of this press release. All parties desiring details regarding the terms and conditions of the proposed business combination are urged to review that Form 8-K and the exhibits attached thereto, which will be available at the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
For further information about Signing Day Sports and Swifty, please see their communication channels listed below:
Website: https://swifty.global
X: @swiftyglobal
Telegram: @swiftyglobal
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://signingdaysports.com
Ecommerce Website: https://signingdayshop.com
Investor Relations Website: https://ir.signingdaysports.com
X: @sdsports
Email: [email protected]
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “project” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including without limitation, the Company’s ability to complete the acquisition of Swifty and integrate its business, the ability of the Company, the sellers and Swifty to enter into definitive stock purchase agreement(s), obtain all necessary consents and approvals in connection with the acquisition, obtain NYSE American clearance of a new initial listing application in connection with the acquisition, obtain shareholder approval of the matters to be voted on at the shareholders’ meeting described in the press release, obtain sufficient funding to maintain operations and develop additional services and offerings, market acceptance of the Company’s current products and services and planned offerings, competition from existing online and retail offerings or new offerings that may emerge, impacts from strategic changes to the Company’s business on its net sales, revenues, income from continuing operations, or other results of operations, the Company’s ability to attract new users and customers, increase the rate of subscription renewals, and slow the rate of user attrition, the Company’s ability to retain or obtain intellectual property rights, the Company’s ability to adequately support future growth, the Company’s ability to comply with user data privacy laws and other current or anticipated legal requirements, and the Company’s ability to attract and retain key personnel to manage its business effectively. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s periodic reports which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are, in some cases, beyond our control and could materially affect results. If one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors become applicable, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual events or results may vary significantly from those implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.
SOFTSWISS, a leading software supplier in the iGaming industry, has announced the launch of its private Bug Bounty Program to boost cybersecurity. The program invites white hat hackers and independent security researchers to identify vulnerabilities, offering rewards for their findings and ensuring the highest level of security for SOFTSWISS clients.
To ensure that only significant cases that meet specific requirements are reported, SOFTSWISS launched a private program with invitation-only access. Invitation-only programs encourage white hat hackers to pay close attention to their terms and requirements, resulting in higher-quality reports. While public programs can offer broader perspectives but tend to generate more irrelevant reports, the private launch ensures that the focus remains on critical security issues.
The Bug Bounty Program offers financial incentives of up to 3,500 euro, depending on the severity and complexity of the discovered vulnerabilities. This program serves as an additional layer of defence, providing external, unbiased assessments from highly skilled security experts.
“We care about the security of our clients and their players, which is why it is important for us not only to pay close attention to protecting the products we develop but also to constantly recheck our applications with the help of skilled external experts and enthusiasts. In collaboration with the expert community, we can ensure a reliable level of data protection and uninterrupted operations for all our clients,” said Evgeny Zaretskov, Group Chief Information Security Officer at SOFTSWISS. “SOFTSWISS is proud to set a new standard for cybersecurity by leveraging crowdsourced expertise. In this ever-evolving landscape, even a minor bug can lead to significant losses for operators. The Bug Bounty Program is an extra measure to protect our existing and future clients.”
The program has started with two products: the SOFTSWISS Casino Platform and the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook. It is conducted in a dedicated test environment, which operates independently of live casino systems, ensuring no disruption to player experience or platform performance.
“Cybersecurity is an ongoing battle,” adds Artyom Buchkov, Deputy CSO. “No company can discover all vulnerabilities on its own. This program enables talented hackers to legally hack an online casino, helping us anticipate and defend against potential threats. It strengthens our commitment to providing the most secure software and platforms in the iGaming industry.”
Moving forward, the SOFTSWISS cybersecurity team plans to broaden the frames, adding more products and refining requirements to maintain the highest standards of security across all platforms.
Cybersecurity in iGaming, along with other key topics in the industry, can be discussed with our specialists and product teams at the SBC Summit Lisbon at stand B-160 from 24 to 26 September.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 23,500 casino games, the Affilka affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post SOFTSWISS Launches Bug Bounty Program to “Hack the System” appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Cutting-edge game studio Peter & Sons is about to unleash hell. The Barcelona-based outfit’s diabolical new slot, Evil Devil, will be released globally on 19th September, and it comes packed with wickedly innovative mechanics, such as sticky respins, power splits, increasing multipliers, and a thrilling Free Spins Game with a possible buy option.
This 6×7 high-volatility video slot with up to 117,649 ways to win immerses players in a cartoonish hellscape presided over by the fiery lord Satan Sama. With a devilish surf guitar soundtrack and chaotic but gripping gameplay, there’s nothing else quite like it on the market.
Winning combinations in the base game trigger the sticky respin feature, causing winning symbols to stick in place while the non-winning symbols respin. Wild symbols can appear on reels 2 to 6, increasing the chances of forming winning combinations.
But all hell breaks loose when 4 to 6 scatter symbols land on the reels, awarding 15 to 20 Free Spins. Here, winning symbols stick to their positions, triggering a respin of the non-winning symbols.
Collecting three or more skull symbols during Free Spins triggers a random multiplier. Meanwhile, power splits can randomly occur during the first respin, converting winning symbols into wilds, enhancing the chances for some big payouts.
Can’t wait to hit the bonus feature? The good news is you can buy straight into the Free Spins game for 100x the bet, instantly accessing 15 to 20 random free spins and the game’s most thrilling features.
Yann Bautista, Commercial Director and Founder at Peter & Sons said: “We’re always looking to push boundaries in everything we do, and we like to let our artists’ imaginations run wild. Too often with online slots you see the same tired themes and clichés. We think Evil Devil is an avant garde masterpiece – but it’s underpinned by solid mechanics and brilliant features.”
The post Peter & Sons’ Unleashes ‘Evil Devil’ Slot appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Signing Day Sports Signs Binding Term Sheet to Acquire Majority Equity Interest in High Growth Sports Gaming Technology Company Swifty Global
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