TIDMRNK
RNS Number : 4305U
Rank Group PLC
16 October 2014
16 October 2014
The Rank Group Plc ("Rank" or the "Group")
Interim management statement for the 15 weeks to 12 October
2014
(all comparisons are with the equivalent periods in 2013)
Today Rank announces a 3% increase in like-for-like revenues for
the 15 week period to 12 October 2014 driven by the performance of
the Grosvenor Casinos brand. Total revenue increased by 2%.
Group and brand revenue to 12 October 2014
------------------------------------------------
Like-for-like Total
---------------------- ---------------- ------
Grosvenor Casinos 5% 5%
---------------------- ---------------- ------
Mecca 1% 0%
---------------------- ---------------- ------
Group 3% 2%
---------------------- ---------------- ------
-- Figures not adjusted for free bets, promotions and customer bonuses.
-- Like-for-like excludes the effects of clubs openings, closures and relocations.
-- Enracha's performance has been included within the Group numbers above.
Henry Birch, chief executive of The Rank Group Plc,
commented:
"The Group has had a good start to the financial year and I am
pleased with the improvements seen in our Grosvenor Casinos brand,
particularly in its digital channel, and the actions to strengthen
the performance of our Mecca brand are showing some positive
signs."
"We continue to work on our strategic priorities outlined in our
2014 preliminary results announcement and expect to provide a more
detailed update at our forthcoming interims in January 2015."
Grosvenor Casinos
Brand revenue to 12 October 2014
--------------------------------------------
Like-for-like Total
-------------------- -------------- ------
Venues - Customer
visits 2% 2%
-------------------- -------------- ------
Venues - Spend per
visit 1% 1%
-------------------- -------------- ------
Venues revenue 3% 3%
-------------------- -------------- ------
Digital revenue 71% 71%
-------------------- -------------- ------
Total revenue 5% 5%
-------------------- -------------- ------
Like-for-like and total brand revenue grew by 5% in the 15-week
period.
An increase in customer visits and higher staking levels
contributed to a 3% increase in venues revenue.
Both London and provinces grew visits and revenues in the
period; however London showed stronger like-for-like revenue
growth, up 5%, compared to 2% in the provinces.
The performance of the London venues resulted in total venues
spend per visit growing by 1% in the 15-week period, despite a
slightly lower win margin.
On 25 September 2014 a new casino was opened in Southend and
management is pleased with its performance to date.
On the digital side, improvements in VIP management, a growing
customer base driven by cross-sell from our venues and the impact
of the Grosvenor Casinos branded live casino (launched November
2013) drove revenues up 71% in the period.
Mecca
Brand revenue to 12 October 2014
--------------------------------------------
Like-for-like Total
-------------------- -------------- ------
Venues - Customer
visits (2)% (3)%
-------------------- -------------- ------
Venues - Spend per
visit 2% 2%
-------------------- -------------- ------
Venues revenue 0% (1)%
-------------------- -------------- ------
Digital revenue 4% 4%
-------------------- -------------- ------
Total revenue 1% 0%
-------------------- -------------- ------
In the 15-week period like-for-like revenue grew by 1%, with
total brand revenue flat year-on-year.
Venues like-for-like revenue was in line with the same period
last year with an increase in spend per visit offset by a reduction
in customer visits. All venue income streams grew in the period
apart from main stage bingo where participation fees were reduced
to improve the value for money proposition.
Two further venues were closed (Burnt Oak and South Shields),
and the leases surrendered, during the period.
Digital revenues in the 15-week period rose by 4% driven by the
recent TV marketing campaign and a more competitive sign up
bonus.
Management team changes
Following six years leading the Group's casino business Phil
Urban has decided to leave the Group. Mark Jones, currently
Managing Director of Mecca, will succeed Phil as Managing Director
of Grosvenor Casinos and will work closely with Phil over the
coming weeks to ensure there is a smooth handover prior to Phil's
departure.
The Group is carrying out an external search for Mark's
successor as Managing Director of Mecca and, in the intervening
period until an appointment is made, the Group's Chief Executive,
Henry Birch, will act as interim Mecca Managing Director.
Listing Rules
On 16 May 2014, new Listing Rules ('LR') came into force for all
premium listed companies. The Financial Conduct Authority ('FCA')
confirmed that the minimum free float requirement remains at 25%,
however they stated that they will take into account certain
factors when making any decision to modify the 25% requirement.
Following the release of the new Listing Rules Rank made a formal
submission to the FCA requesting it to modify LR 6.1.19 R so that
Rank can continue to be a premium listed company with a slightly
lower free float percentage than 25%. The FCA has since agreed to
modify the Listing Rule to accept The Rank Group Plc's current free
float of 23%. The FCA has the right to revoke or alter this
modification at any time.
Outlook
The Group's performance in the period has been in line with
management's expectations and the Board remains confident in the
Group's prospects for the year.
Ends
Contacts:
Rank Tel: +44 1628
Sarah Powell - investor relations 504 303
Media enquiries:
FTI Consulting (PR adviser to Rank)
Edward Bridges Tel: +44 20
Alex Beagley 3727 1067
Tel: +44 20
3727 1045
Notes to editors:
1. About The Rank Group Plc
The Rank Group Plc is a leading European gaming and betting
business, based in the UK and listed on the London Stock Exchange
(RNK.L). Its principal activities are the operation of casinos and
bingo clubs with complementary digital gaming.
Rank's operations comprise:
-- Grosvenor Casinos - 57 casinos in Great Britain; two casinos
in Belgium; online and mobile offering via grosvenorcasinos.com
-- Mecca - 94 bingo clubs in Great Britain; online and mobile offering via meccabingo.com
-- Enracha - 9 bingo clubs in Spain; online offering via enracha.es
For more information about The Rank Group, visit
www.rank.com.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
IMSQKPDPPBDDNKD
Rank (LSE:RNK)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Rank (LSE:RNK)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024
