TIDMBOTB
RNS Number : 9245R
Best of the Best PLC
20 June 2018
Best of the Best plc
("Best of the Best", "BOTB", "the Company" or "the Group")
Preliminary results for the twelve months ended 30 April
2018
Best of the Best plc runs competitions online to win cars and
other prizes.
Key Highlights:
-- Total Revenue of GBP12.95 million with like-for-like revenue
up 13.3% to GBP12.25 million (2017: GBP10.81 million)
-- Profit before tax increased by 5.8% to GBP1.60 million (2017: GBP1.51 million)
-- Online revenue of GBP10.87 million with like-for-like online
revenue up 23.0% to GBP10.28 million (2017: GBP8.36 million)
representing 83.9% of like-for-like revenue
-- Net assets of GBP1.55 million, underpinned by cash balances
of GBP2.32 million (following a 6.5p special dividend paid on 30
June 2017, a 1.4p ordinary dividend paid on 22 September 2017, and
a 7.5p special dividend paid on 23 February 2018)
-- Special Dividend of 4.5p per ordinary share to be paid to
shareholders on 20 July 2018, in addition to the proposed 1.5p
ordinary dividend to be paid on 21 September 2018
-- Significant price restructuring of the Dream Car competitions
has aided revenue growth and assisted customer acquisition and
retention
-- Newly launched lower priced "Lifestyle Competition" for
prizes such as watches, motorbikes and other luxury gadgets and
holidays is gaining traction
William Hindmarch, Chief Executive, said:
"I am pleased to report continued progress with a solid set of
preliminary results showing both increased revenues and profits
before tax, which are slightly ahead of management's expectations.
The business is soon to be exclusively online, as the Board has
taken the strategic decision to complete the shift away from the
traditional airport and shopping centre based retail locations.
During the year we made some fundamental changes to our
competitions, introducing new prizes and making them more
accessible by lowering prices significantly. This has helped with
the acquisition of new customers and the retention of existing
players, resulting in improved overall revenues. These changes,
combined with an increasing marketing budget, mean that we are well
placed to make progress in the next financial year, which has had a
positive start.
Enquiries:
Best of the Best plc William Hindmarch, Chief T: 020 7371
Executive 8866
Rupert Garton, Commercial
Director
KTZ Communications Katie Tzouliadis T: 020 3178
6378
finnCap Corporate Finance T: 020 7220
(Nominated Adviser and Carl Holmes 0500
Broker) Anthony Adams
ECM
Alice Lane
The information communicated in this announcement is inside
information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation 596/2014.
Please visit www.botb.com for further information
Chief Executive's Statement
I am pleased to report continued progress with a solid set of
preliminary results showing both increasing revenues and profits
before tax slightly ahead of management's expectations. A new price
structure introduced during the year has repositioned the business
to make online customer acquisition more efficient and effective. I
am pleased to report that this strategy has been successful with
player numbers increasing across multiple competitions.
We have also recently launched a new competition (the 'Lifestyle
Competition') to run alongside our main 'Dream Car' competition.
Tickets start at just 15 pence and prizes include motorbikes,
watches, luxury gadgets, technology, holidays and other items. This
has widened both the appeal of our competitions and the addressable
market, attracting encouraging feedback and participation.
Results
Total revenue for the twelve months ended 30 April 2018 was
GBP12.95 million and like for like revenues increased 13.30% to
GBP12.25 million (2017: GBP10.81 million). Like-for-like revenue
figures are stated to adjust for, and are net of, the different
indirect taxes (VAT/RGD) applicable both during the financial year
under review, and in prior years.
Online revenues were GBP10.87 million and like-for-like online
revenues increased by 22.96% to GBP10.28 million (2017: GBP8.36
million). Profit before tax rose by 5.83% to GBP1.60 million (2017:
GBP1.51 million).
The Company has taken the strategic decision to exit all
permanent physical retail sites, having demonstrated that it can
acquire customers more efficiently though other channels and
different forms of marketing, principally online and through social
media but also through press and other media. During the period
83.9% of revenues were generated online, and over the coming months
sales will migrate almost exclusively online as a phased exit from
the remaining physical locations takes place. The Company is
currently trading from just three remaining physical sites, two at
Gatwick airport and one at Birmingham airport.
GBP1.81 million of cash flow was generated from operations
during the year. Net assets at 30 April 2018 stood at GBP1.55
million (2017: GBP1.87 million) underpinned by cash of GBP2.32
million, our cars on display at physical locations which are held
at a net realisable value of GBP0.13 million, and our 967 year
leasehold head office properties carried at GBP0.95 million.
Dividends
As previously announced, a 1.4p ordinary dividend was paid to
shareholders on 22 September 2017 as well as a 6.5p special
dividend paid on 30 June 2017 and a 7.5p special dividend paid on
23 February 2018. The Board is recommending a final dividend of
1.5p per share (2017: 1.4p) for the full year ending 30 April 2018
subject to shareholder approval at the Annual General Meeting on 6
September 2018. The final dividend will be paid on 21 September
2018 to shareholders on the register on 7 September 2018.
As the Company continues to be profitable, cash generative and
benefits from a robust balance sheet, the Company is also pleased
to declare the return of approximately GBP0.45m to shareholders by
way of a special dividend (the "Special Dividend") of 4.5p per
ordinary share. Following the payment of the Special Dividend the
Company will retain working capital cash balances in excess of
GBP1.8 million, which the Directors consider to be sufficient
working capital to fund its activities over the next 12 month
period. The Special Dividend will be paid on 20 July 2018 to
shareholders on the register at the close of business on 06 July
2018. The Ex-dividend date is 05 July 2018.
Physical Locations
Since inception, the Company has used physical locations such as
airports and shopping centres to acquire new players, service
existing players and encourage customers to play online. However,
all our costs and in particular rent and staff expenditure in these
retail locations have continued to increase significantly
year-on-year, resulting in reduced efficiency when compared to
other available customer acquisition channels. With continued
trials, the Company has shown that it can now execute its marketing
plan more effectively through other media.
As a result, the Company has over the last few years gradually
been reducing the number of physical locations and is in the
process of finalising this strategy, with the expectation that in
the near future the business will be almost entirely online.
Further details around the timing of this shift will be provided in
due course, but we are currently trading from only three physical
sites. We will, however, continue to undertake targeted physical
marketing at motoring related events such as the Goodwood Festival
of Speed.
Car Competition Pricing
During the course of the year the business has made significant
changes to its pricing model to aid with the acquisition of new
players, to assist with the retention of existing customers, and to
make the product more suitable for repeating online customers as
opposed to the 'traditional' airport customer.
As a result, prices have been reduced by almost 70% over the
past 12 months. This has made the core Dream Car Competition more
appealing and broader based, as luxury cars can now be won for as
little as 90 pence per ticket. The changes have been well received
by new and existing customers and as a consequence, revenues
overall have increased. Our cost of sales and prizes has risen as a
result of more expensive cars being played for and won, but the net
effect on business profitability has been positive.
New 'Lifestyle Competition'
During the course of the year the new Lifestyle Competition was
launched, and this has recently been enhanced to offer a choice of
over 50 luxury watches and 90 motorbikes, as well as cash and other
technology, gadgets, holidays and luxury prizes. Tickets start from
15 pence and the competition has proven to be a positive extension
to the online offering, with growing revenues week-on-week. This
new competition, with such a large range of potential prizes at low
price points, both opens up a new audience to target online and
gives us interesting content with which to retain existing
customers.
Marketing Strategy and New Player Acquisition
We continue to invest confidently in our marketing to attract
new customers as well as retain existing ones. Our efforts have
resulted in like-for-like online sales growth of 22.96%
year-on-year. This has been achieved through a wide range of online
and digital marketing channels, as well as investment in new TV
creative and content that has been performing well and has
delivered growth in player acquisition. This has been combined with
ongoing investment in radio, print and public relations.
Social media activity continues to deliver some of our best
online marketing results, with our Facebook page now attracting
over 215,000 followers and BOTB's YouTube channel which now has
over 23,000 subscribers. Instagram followers have now exceeded
50,000 and we now work with an increasing range of social media
influencers and vloggers to improve the visibility of the BOTB
brand and products.
All our online marketing investment is carefully tracked and
constantly fine-tuned to ensure we are optimising the returns. As
confidence in the returns on investment improves, we anticipate
increasing our marketing budget by approximately 40% in the next
financial year, across the full range of previously tested
channels.
VAT Claim
As previously announced, BOTB noted the VAT decision given by
the Supreme Court in favour of Sportech PLC on 8 December 2016,
where the Supreme Court refused Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs
("HMRC") permission to appeal the Court of Appeal's decision
regarding the VAT repayment claim on Sportech's "Spot the Ball"
game. This resulted in a successful VAT reclaim by Sportech.
BOTB had submitted a protective claim in 2013 to recover
overpaid VAT. Following the Supreme Court decision in December
2016, and after taking further specialist legal and tax advice,
BOTB submitted a top-up claim, which, combined with the original
claim totaled GBP4.5m (exclusive of professional fees, expenses and
tax) to HMRC to recover overpaid VAT covering an eight year period
on its own "Spot the Ball" game, as announced on 13 December 2017.
As previously announced, post period end on the 23 May 2018, HMRC
paid BOTB the GBP4.5m claim in full. However, the Board still needs
to determine the net positive contribution to the Company as, in
addition to the points made below, certain professional fees,
expenses and unquantified taxes remain outstanding and will be
deducted from this figure.
HMRC has informed BOTB that it considers the Company liable to
pay retrospective Remote Gaming Duty("RGD") for a period of four
years. The Company has sought legal and tax advice on this issue
and, in line with that advice, the Company is contesting HMRC's
claim. RGD is the duty regime that the Company registered for in
December 2017. While the question of retrospective RGD remains
unresolved with HMRC, the Company is unable to announce the full
extent of the net positive contribution to the Company. The Board
will inform shareholders about material developments and any
resolution of this outstanding issue at the relevant time.
Outlook
BOTB has delivered increased revenues and profits slightly ahead
of management's expectations and remains strongly cash generative.
We believe the business is well positioned for the new financial
year, which has started encouragingly, and I look forward to
updating shareholders on further progress in due course.
William Hindmarch
Chief Executive
20 June 2018
BEST OF THE BEST PLC
Consolidated Income Statement
For The Year Ended 30(th) April 2018
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
2018 2017
Notes GBP'000 GBP'000
CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Revenue 12,948 10,812
Cost of sales (5,505) (3,865)
------------ -----------
GROSS PROFIT 7,443 6,947
Administrative expenses (5,844) (5,436)
------------ -----------
OPERATING PROFIT 1,599 1,511
Finance income 1 1
------------ -----------
PROFIT BEFORE TAX 1,600 1,512
Tax 5 (253) (118)
------------ -----------
PROFIT FOR THE YEAR 1,347 1,394
============ ===========
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
Items that may be reclassified to profit
or loss
Exchange differences on translating
foreign operations 1 25
------------ -----------
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE
YEAR 1,348 1,419
============ ===========
Profit on earnings per share expressed
in pence per share:
Basic 6 13.32 13.78
Diluted 6 13.29 13.74
BEST OF THE BEST PLC
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
30(th) April 2018
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
2018 2017
Notes GBP'000 GBP'000
ASSETS
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Intangible assets 127 178
Property, plant and equipment 1,145 1,357
Investments - 70
Deferred tax 40 37
------- -------
1,312 1,642
CURRENT ASSETS
Trade and other receivables 150 245
Cash and cash equivalents 2,322 2,106
------- -------
2,472 2,351
TOTAL ASSETS 3,784 3,993
======= =======
EQUITY
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Called up share capital 7 505 506
Share premium 199 179
Capital redemption reserve 201 198
Foreign exchange reserve 26 25
Retained earnings 615 962
------- -------
TOTAL EQUITY 1,546 1,870
------- -------
LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITES
Trade and other payables 1,929 1,717
Tax payable 103 276
Provisions 206 130
TOTAL LIABILITIES 2,238 2,123
======= =======
TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 3,784 3,993
======= =======
BEST OF THE BEST PLC
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
For The Year Ended 30(th) April 2018
Capital
Called Share redemption
up premium reserve
share
capital
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
Balance at 1 May 2016 506 176 198
---------- ---------- ------------
Issue of share capital - 3 -
Dividends paid - - -
Transactions with owners - 3 -
---------- ---------- ------------
Profit for the year - - -
Other comprehensive income
Exchange differences
arising on translating
foreign operations - - -
---------- ---------- ------------
Total comprehensive income - - -
---------- ---------- ------------
Balance at 30 April 2017 506 179 198
---------- ---------- ------------
Issue of share capital 2 20 -
Dividends paid - - -
Effect of share buy back (3) - 3
---------- ---------- ------------
Transactions with owners (1) 20 3
---------- ---------- ------------
Profit for the year - - -
Other comprehensive income
Exchange differences
on translating - - -
foreign operations
Total comprehensive income - - -
---------- ---------- ------------
Balance at 30 April 2018 505 199 201
---------- ---------- ------------
Foreign
exchange Retained
reserve earnings Total
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
Balance at 1 May 2016 - 711 1,591
---------- ----------- --------
Issue of share capital - - 3
Dividends paid - (1,143) (1,143)
Transactions with owners - (1,143) (1,140)
---------- ----------- --------
Profit for the year - 1,394 1,394
Other comprehensive income
Exchange differences
on translating foreign
operations 25 - 25
---------- ----------- --------
Total comprehensive income 25 1,394 1,419
---------- ----------- --------
Balance at 30 April 2017 25 962 1,870
---------- ----------- --------
Issue of share capital - - 22
Dividends paid - (1,557) (1,557)
Effect of share buy back - (137) (137)
---------- ----------- --------
Transactions with owners - (1,694) (1,672)
---------- ----------- --------
Profit for the year - 1,347 1,347
Other comprehensive income
Exchange differences
on translating
foreign operations 1 - 1
Total comprehensive income 1 1,347 1,348
---------- ----------- --------
Balance at 30 April 2018 26 615 1,546
---------- ----------- --------
BEST OF THE BEST PLC
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
For The Year Ended 30(th) April 2018
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
2018 2017
Cash flows from operating activities Notes GBP'000 GBP'000
Cash generated from operations 8 2,237 2,177
Tax paid (430) (45)
------------------------ ------------------------
Net cash from operating activities 1,807 2,132
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of intangible fixed assets (38) -
Purchase of tangible fixed assets (14) (132)
Sale of tangible fixed assets 132 43
Interest received 1 1
------------------------ ------------------------
Net cash from investing activities 81 (88)
Cash flows from financing activities
Equity dividends paid (1,557) (1,143)
Share buy back (137) -
Share issue 22 3
------------------------ ------------------------
Net cash from financing activities (1,672) (1,140)
------------------------ ------------------------
Increase in cash and cash equivalents 216 904
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
of year 2,106 1,202
------------------------ ------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of
year 2,322 2,106
======================== ========================
BEST OF THE BEST PLC
Notes to the Preliminary Announcement
For The Year Ended 30(th) April 2018
1. BASIS OF PREPARATION
The financial information has been prepared in accordance with
the recognition and measurement requirements of International
Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the EU (Adopted IFRS)
and with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to
companies reporting under IFRS. The financial statements have been
recorded under the historical cost convention. The financial
information set out above does not constitute the Group's statutory
accounts for the year ended 30(th) April 2018. The statutory
accounts for 2018 will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies
in due course.
2. BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial
statements of the Company and entities controlled by the Company
(its subsidiary undertakings). Where necessary, adjustments are
made to the financial statements of the subsidiaries to bring their
accounting policies in line with the Group. All intra-group
transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on
consolidation.
3. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The preliminary financial information has been prepared using
accounting policies set out in the Group's statutory accounts for
the year ended 30(th) April 2017.
Revenue recognition
Revenue represents the value of tickets sold in respect of
weekly competitions, stated net of VAT, where applicable, and
returns, rebates and discounts. Revenue in respect of weekly
competitions is recognised on the date the result of those
individual competitions is determined.
4. CRITICAL JUDGEMENTS AND ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The Company and Group make certain estimates and assumptions
regarding the future. Estimates and judgements are continually
evaluated based on historical experience and other factors,
including expectations of future events that are believed to be
reasonable under the circumstances. In the future, actual
expenditure may differ from these estimates and assumptions. The
estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a
material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and
liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below.
Uncertain tax position on "Spot the Ball" game
Following the VAT decision given by the Supreme Court in favour
of Sportech PLC on 8 December 2016, and after taking further
specialist legal and tax advice, the Company submitted a top-up
claim to HMRC to recover VAT paid on its own "Spot the ball" game.
A protective claim was submitted in 2013. The Company received a
retrospective VAT refund in May 2018 of approximately GBP4.5m.
As a result of the case, HMRC issued VAT Notice 701/29
confirming acceptance of the judgement and stating its assessment
that "Spot the Ball" games are subject to Remote Gaming Duty (RGD)
instead. The Company has received a retrospective claim for RGD.
The Directors have assessed that the two taxes are so closely
related that they should not recognise the financial consequences
separately. As the overall consequences of these transactions
cannot currently be reliably measured, it has been judged
appropriate not to recognise any amounts in these financial
statements at this time.
BEST OF THE BEST PLC
Notes to the Preliminary Announcement (continued)
For The Year Ended 30(th) April 2018
5. TAX
Analysis of the tax charge
2018 2017
GBP'000 GBP'000
Current tax:
Tax 257 220
Overprovision in prior year - (106)
Deferred tax (4) 4
-------- --------
Total tax charge in income statement 253 118
======== ========
6. EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the earnings
attributable to the ordinary shareholders by the weighted average
number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.
Diluted earnings per share is calculated using the weighted
average number of shares outstanding during the year, adjusted to
assume the conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares
under the Group's share option plans.
2018 2017
Profit for the year and basic and diluted earnings
attributable to the owners of the parent -
GBP'000 1,347 1,394
----------- -----------
Weighted average number of ordinary shares
- number 10,112,997 10,121,247
Basic earnings per share - pence 13.32 13.78
----------- -----------
Adjusted weighted average number of ordinary
shares - number 10,137,887 10,151,247
Diluted earnings per share - pence 13.29 13.74
=========== ===========
7. CALLED UP SHARE CAPITAL
Allotted, issued and fully 2018 2017 2018 2017
paid
Ordinary shares of 5pence Number Number GBP GBP
each
At the start of the year 10,124,580 10,114,580 506,226 505,726
Shares allotted during the
year 30,000 10,000 1,500 500
Purchased for cancellation
in the year (56,000) - (2,800) -
----------- ----------- -------- --------
At the end of the year 10,098,580 10,124,580 504,926 506,226
=========== =========== ======== ========
BEST OF THE BEST PLC
Notes to the Preliminary Announcement (continued)
For The Year Ended 30(th) April 2018
8. RECONCILIATION OF PROFIT BEFORE TAX TO CASH GENERATED FROM OPERATIONS
2018 2017
GBP'000 GBP'000
Profit before tax 1,600 1,512
Depreciation charges 126 228
Amortisation charges 89 89
Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment (31) -
Investment impairment charge 70 -
Exchange differences 1 25
Finance income (1) (1)
-------- --------
1,854 1,853
Increase in provisions 76 130
Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables 95 (76)
Increase in trade and other payables 212 270
-------- --------
Cash generated from operations 2,237 2,177
======== ========
9. The annual report and accounts will be posted to shareholders
shortly and will be available for members of the public at the
Company's registered office, 2 Plato Place, 72-74 St Dionis Road,
London, SW6 4TU and will be available on the Company's website:
www.botb.com.
10. The Annual General Meeting will be held on 6 September 2018
at the offices of Best of the Best Plc, 2 Plato Place, 72-74 St
Dionis Road, London SW6 4TU.
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END
FR SFEESUFASEIM
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June 20, 2018 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)
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