REG - GVC Holdings PLC - Trading Update & Quarterly Dividend Declaration <Origin Href="QuoteRef">GVC.L</Origin>

EntainAnnouncement

08/10/2015 07:00

RNS Number : 6041B
GVC Holdings PLC
08 October 2015
GVC Holdings PLC
("GVC" or the "Group")
Trading Update
Quarterly Dividend Declaration
GVC Holdings PLC (AIM:GVC), the multinational sports betting and gaming group, is pleased to announce a trading update for the nine months to 30 September 2015 and declares its second interim dividend of 14cents per share. 
The dividend will be payable on Monday 2 November 2015 to shareholders on the register on Friday 16 October 2015, and the shares will go ex-dividend on Thursday 15 October 2015.
The dividends declared so far this year amount to 56cents per share, an increase over the 55cents paid in the comparable period in 2014.
Trading overview
Strong trading has continued during the period:
Net Gaming Revenue ("NGR") for the nine months to 30 September 2015 was 11 per cent. higher than the same period in 2014 averaging 670k per day;
Wagers in the nine months to 30 September 2015 have grown to an average of 4.5 million per day representing an increase of 15 per cent. on the comparable period of 2014 (3.9 million per day);
A gross win margin of 9.2% was achieved in sports during the period which compares to 10.1% achieved in 2014; 
Net Revenue from gaming grew by 18 per cent. to an average of 356k per day (2014: 302k per day); and
Customer deposits rose by 14 per cent. compared with the same period in 2014 standing at 1.70 million per day (2014: 1.48 million).
Given the strong trading in the year to-date, the Board is highly confident of the outlook for the remainder of 2015.
The key highlights for nine months to 30 September 2015 are as follows:
Q1-Q3
2015
Q1-Q3
2014
% change*
Sports margin
9.2%
10.1%
Averages per day
Days in period
273
273
Sports wagers (000's)
4,486
3,890
15%
Sports NGR (000's)
314
306
3%
Gaming NGR (000's)
356
300
18%
Total NGR (000's)
670
606
11%
* based on underlying figures
Offer for bwin.party digital entertainment plc ("bwin.party")
On 4 September 2015, it was announced that GVC and bwin.party had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended offer by GVC to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of bwin.party.
The first draft of the prospectus has been submitted to the UK Listing Authority and GVC expects that the final document will be posted in November 2015 enabling the transaction to complete in early 2016. This indicative timeframe is subject to receipt of outstanding regulatory consents.
Kenneth Alexander, Chief Executive of GVC Holdings plc, said: "I am delighted to announce another record revenue performance for the period. Wagers, NGR and customer deposits all continue to grow strongly. The Board is highly confident about the outlook for the remainder of the year and into 2016. As we continue to deliver value through organic growth and acquisitions we are determined that the enlarged group will play an important role in the consolidating online gaming sector."
- ends -
For further information:
GVC Holdings PLC
Tel: +44 (0) 1624 652 559
Kenneth Alexander, Chief Executive
www.gvc-plc.com
Richard Cooper, Group Finance Director
Cenkos Securities plc (Nomad & Broker)
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7397 8900
Mark Connelly, Stephen Keys, Camilla Hume
Media enquiries:
Bell Pottinger
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3772 2500
David Rydell, James Newman, Anna Legge, Laura Jaques
About GVC Holdings PLC
GVC Holdings PLC is a leading e-gaming operator in both B2C and B2B markets. Its core brands are CasinoClub, Betboo and Sportingbet. The Group has over 700 employees/consultants and is headquartered in the Isle of Man with licenses (or interim licenses) in Malta, Denmark, Greece, UK, Romania, South Africa, and the Dutch Caribbean.
Further information on the Group is available at www.gvc-plc.com

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
  END
TSTFSWESWFISELS