28th Jun 2013 07:00
Date: | 28 June 2013 |
On behalf of: | Entertainment One Ltd. ('the Company', or 'the Group') |
Embargoed until: | 0700hrs
|
Entertainment One Ltd.
Update Prior to General and Special Meeting
The Company holds its General and Special Meeting today at 3pm, with business including the approval of resolutions required for the move to the Premium Segment of the Official List, as announced on 23 May 2013.
Two months into the financial year ended 31 March 2014, Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO), the international entertainment group, is pleased to announce the following trading update:
§ Year to date reported group revenues up over 50% on prior year, including doubling of group digital revenues
§ Year to date investment in content double prior year levels
§ Year to date earnings in line with management expectations
Overview
The Company has had a strong start to the financial year and expects results for the financial year, which will incorporate a full year of Alliance Films, to be in line with management expectations.
The Group has plans for over 250 films theatrical releases during the current financial year, including The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, RED 2, Now You See Me, and Ender's Game. Investment in content and programmes is expected to increase to over £250m (2013 proforma with Alliance: £219m).
Film
Reported Film revenues increased by 85% on prior year, driven by 48 box office releases compared to 26 in the prior year and total box office revenues of $37m (up approximately 20% on the prior year on a proforma basis) due to increased numbers of releases. Successful titles included 21 and Over, MUD, The Place Beyond the Pines, Scary Movie 5 and The Big Wedding. Successful DVD releases have included Safe Haven, Seven Psychopaths, Quartet, Django Unchained and The Silver Linings Playbook.
Television
Year to date Television production is in line with management expectations and the production slate for the financial year includes commissioned renewals for season two of Saving Hope, season three of Hell on Wheels and season four of Haven. New shows in production include Klondike, the Discovery Channel's first scripted mini-series.
Peppa Pig continues to perform well internationally. In the US, it is now enjoying two prime time slots on Nick Jr, and has added five new licensees to expand its US licensing and merchandising presence. In addition, the Company is strengthening its licensing and brand management business through the acquisition of Art Impressions (announced on 13 June 2013), an LA-based brand-development and licensing business which includes three key brands, So-So Happy, Skelanimals and Galaxy Girls.
Corporate Development
The Company plans to transfer to a Premium Listing of its common shares on 1 July 2013, following the Company's General and Special Meeting of today's date.
Enquiries:
Redleaf Polhill |
Emma Kane/ Rebecca Sanders-Hewett
|
+44(0)20 7382 4730 |
Entertainment One Ltd. | Giles Willits
| Via Redleaf Polhill
|
Cenkos Securities plc | Stephen Keys/Adrian Hargrave
| +44(0)20 7397 8926 |
N+1 Singer
| James Maxwell/Nick Donovan | +44(0)20 7496 3000 |
Notes to Editors:
About Entertainment One
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a leading international entertainment company that specialises in the acquisition, production and distribution of film and television content. The company's comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the US, the UK, Ireland, Spain, Benelux, France, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South Korea.
The company provides extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production, family programming and merchandising and licensing. Its current rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 35,000 film and television titles, 2,800 hours of television programming and 45,000 music tracks.
Further information is available at www.entertainmentonegroup.com or email Redleaf Polhill at [email protected].
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Entertainment One