REG-Media Corporation PLC Half-yearly Report

* Reuters is not responsible for the content in this press release.

Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:00am EDT

LONDON--(Business Wire)--


Media Corporation plc
("Media Corp" or "the Group")
(AIM:MDC) 

Interim results for the six months ended 31 March 2009

The Board of Media Corporation plc, a leading advertising network and internet
publisher, is pleased to announce interim results for the period ended 31 March
2009. 

Financial Highlights

* Revenues increased 18% to £2 million (2008: £1.7 million) 
* Consolidated Group net assets of £7.2 million (2008: £18.9 million) 
* Cash balances at period end of £2.5 million (2008: £4.9 million)

Other Highlights

* Contract with Express Newspapers 
* Completion of authorised 10% share buyback for consideration of £718,000.

Justin Drummond, CEO of Media Corporation plc commented: 

This has been another challenging period for the Group; the US anti-gaming
legislation has continued to impact revenues in Gambling.com and the difficult
economic environment has reduced growth in the Group`s advertising network
Eyeconomy. 

The Group`s revenue growth reflects the investment the group has made in the
Eyeconomy publishes and sales teams despite the hard market conditions. However,
since the financial year-end the Board has implemented a wide-ranging review of
its businesses and approved a plan to reduce costs in-line with current
revenues. The benefits of these significant cost reductions will largely benefit
the Group in the second half of the 2009 financial year due to contractual
obligations. The Group remains to be well funded and is positioned well to take
advantage of the economic downturn. 

Trading update

Whilst a challenging period there were early signs of a recovery in trading in
the Group`s the advertising network division, Eyeconomy, towards the end of the
financial period and it is anticipated that this trend will continue in the
second half of the financial year. In addition, following the change in
political leadership in the US, there is now a strong chance of a change in the
US gaming laws and a new legislative framework for online gaming in the US.
These changes would be hugely beneficial for Gambling.com, the Group`s principal
publishing asset, and would significantly increase the profitability and value
of this asset. 

Offer period

On 20 March 2009 the Company announced that it was in early stage discussions
which may or may not lead to an offer being made for the Company. All such
discussions have now ceased. Accordingly, the Company is no longer in an offer
period for the purposes of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers. 

Contacts:

 Media Corporation plc               Justin Drummond, Chief Executive Officer  
 Tel :+44 (0) 20 7618 9000           Nilesh Jagatia, Group Finance Director    
                                                                                   
 Daniel Stewart & Company plc        Simon Leathers / Charlotte Stranner       
 Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7776 6550                                                    
                                                                                   
 Bishopsgate Communications          Robyn Samuelson / Gemma O`Hara            
 Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7562 3350                                                    


 Consolidated Unaudited Income Statement                                                                                                                  
 
for the six months ended 31 March 2009                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                             Six Months ended    Six Months ended    Year Ended           
                                                                                             31st March 2009     31st March 2008     30th September 2008  
                                                                                             (unaudited)         (unaudited)         (audited)            
 Revenue                                                                                     £'000               £'000               £'000                
 Total revenue                                                                               2,002               1,696               3,912                
 Cost of sales                                                                               (1,418)             (814)               (2,507)              
 Gross profit                                                                                584                 882                 1,405                
                                                                                                                                                          
 Administrative expenses                                                                     (1,496)             (1,213)             (12,869)             
                                                                                                                                                          
 Analysis of administrative expenses:                                                                                                                     
 Distribution costs                                                                          (193)               (243)               (638)                
 Administrative expenses                                                                     (1,303)             (1,234)             (3,318)              
 Exceptional (loss)/gain                                                                                         264                 (8,913)              
                                                                                             (1,496)             (1,213)             (12,869)             
                                                                                                                                                          
 Operating (loss)/profit                                                                     (912)               (331)               (11,464)             
                                                                                                                                                          
 Finance income                                                                              14                  141                 242                  
                                                                                                                                                          
 (Loss)/profit before income tax                                                             (898)               (190)               (11,222)             
                                                                                                                                                          
 Income tax expense                                                                          -                   -                   (57)                 
                                                                                                                                                          
 (Loss)/profit from continuing activities attributable to equity holder of the company.       (898)               (190)               (11,279)             
                                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                          
 (Loss)/earnings per share attributable to equity holders of the company                      Pence per share     Pence per share     Pence per share      
 Basic                                                                                       (0.31p)             (0.07p)             (3.87p)              
 Diluted                                                                                     (0.31p)             (0.07p)             (3.87p)              


 Consolidated unaudited statement of recognised Income and expenses                                     
 
for the six months ended 31 March 2009                                                                
                                                                                                  
                                                         (unaudited)    (unaudited)    (audited)  
                                                         £'000          £'000          £'000      
                                                                                                  
 Currency translation differences                        95             (511)          166        
 Total income/(expense) recognised directly in equity    95             (511)          166        
 (Loss)/profit for the year                              (898)          (191)          (11,279)   
 Total recognised (expense)/income for the year          (803)          (702)          (11,113)   


 Consolidated unaudited balance sheet                                                                            
 
as at 31 March 2009                                                                                            
                                                                                                          
                                               31st March 2009    31st March 2008    30th September 2008  
                                               (unaudited)        (unaudited)        (audited)            
                                               £'000              £'000              £'000                
 Assets                                                                                                   
 Non current assets                                                                                       
 Property, plant and equipment                  458                964                158                  
 Intangibles                                   4,566              12,620             4,566                
 Deferred tax asset                            -                  58                 -                    
                                               5,024              13,642             4,724                
 Current assets                                                                                           
 Trade and other receivables                    985                2,049              753                  
 Cash at bank and in hand                      2,511              4,873              3,809                
                                               3,496              6,922              4,562                
 Total assets                                  8,520              20,564             9,286                
                                                                                                          
 Liabilities                                                                                              
 Current liabilities                                                                                      
 Trade and other payables                       (1,312)            (1,630)            (1,369)              
 Current tax liabilities                       (25)               (25)               (24)                 
                                               (1,337)            (1,655)            (1,393)              
 Total liabilities                             (1,337)            (1,655)            (1,393)              
 Total assets less liabilities                  7,183              18,909             7,893                
 Equity                                                                                                   
 Share capital                                 4,773              4,764              4,773                
 Share premium                                 12,927             12,917             12,927               
 Other Reserves                                1,422              1,422              1,422                
 Ordinary shares in treasury                    (719)              (384)              (497)                
 Translation reserve                           (112)              -                  (305)                
 Retained Earnings                             (11,108)           190                (10,427)             
 Total shareholders equity                     7,183              18,909             7,893                


 Consolidated unaudited cash flow statements                                                                                     
 
for the six months ended 31 March 2009                                                                                         
                                                                                                                           
                                                              Six Months ended    Six Months ended    Year Ended           
                                                              31st March 2009     31st March 2008     30th September 2008  
                                                              (unaudited)         (unaudited)         (audited)            
                                                              £'000               £'000               £'000                
 Operating activities                                                                                                      
 Operating (loss)/profit                                      (912)               (331)               (11,464)             
 Depreciation and amortisation                                109                 162                 168                  
 Impairment of intangibles                                    -                   -                   9,111                
 Decrease/(increase) in receivables                           (232)               (1,095)             172                  
 Increase/(decrease) in payables                              57                  705                 376                  
 (Profit) on disposal of non-current asset                    -                   (264)               -                    
 Taxes paid                                                   -                   -                   (29)                 
 Net cash (used in)/generated by operating activities         (978)               (823)               (1,666)              
                                                                                                                           
 Investing activities                                                                                                      
 Interest received                                            14                  141                 242                  
 Purchase of property, plant and equipment                    (8)                 (322)               (101)                
 Purchase of intangibles                                      -                   (135)               (513)                
 Acquisition of subsidiary undertaking (net cash acquired)    -                   (154)               (166)                
 Net cash (used in)/generated by investing activities         6                   (470)               (538)                
                                                                                                                           
 Financing activities                                                                                                      
 Issue of share capital                                       -                   -                   19                   
 Purchase of treasury shares                                  (221)               (49)                (497)                
 Net cash used in financing activities                        (221)               (49)                (478)                
                                                                                                                           
 Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents         (1,193)             (1,342)             (2,682)              
 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period             3,809               6,253               6,253                
 Effects on exchange movements                                (105)               (38)                238                  
 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                   2,511               4,873               3,809                


Notes to the accounts

1.Basis of preparation

The interim financial information for the six months ended 31 March 2009 has
been prepared on an historical cost basis and in accordance with the accounting
policies that will apply for the year ended 30 September 2009, which will follow
the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the interpretations
as endorsed by the European Union. 

The comparatives for full year ended 30 September 2008 are based on the latest
published audited accounts. 

Basis of consolidation 

The consolidated financial statements include the results of the Company and all
of its subsidiary undertakings. A subsidiary is an entity controlled, directly
or indirectly, by the Group. Control is the power to govern the financial and
operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. 

The financial statements of subsidiary undertakings are included in the
consolidated financial statements from the date that control commences until the
date that control ceases. The results of subsidiary undertakings have been
included from the date of acquisition using the merger method of accounting or
the purchase method of accounting as appropriate. 

The consolidated financial statements present the results of the Company and its
subsidiaries ("the Group") as if they formed a single entity. Inter-company
transactions and balances between Group companies are therefore eliminated in
full. 

Revenue 

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or
receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods and services provided in
the normal course of business, net of discounts, VAT and other sales related
taxes. Sales of goods are recognised when goods are delivered and title has
passed. Sales of services are recognised when the service has been completed and
invoiced to the customer. 

Goodwill 

The directors undertake an impairment review of goodwill at the end of each
annual reporting period. 

2.Segmental analyses

 The group's primary segment information is based on its operating divisions:    Six Months ended    Six Months ended    Year Ended           
                                                                                 31st March 2009     31st March 2008     30th September 2008  
                                                                                 £'000               £'000               £'000                
 Turnover analysis by business segment:                                                                                                       
 Advertising Network                                                             1,418               1,192               2,529                
 Internet Publishing                                                             584                 504                 1,383                
 Total continuing operations                                                     2,002               1,696               3,912                
                                                                                                                                              
 Trading profit                                                                                                                               
 Advertising Network                                                             (228)               (45)                (413)                
 Internet Publishing                                                             (684)               (550)               (2,157)              
                                                                                                                                              
 Impairment of intangibles: Internet Publishing                                  -                   -                   (9,170)              
 Net Gain on sale of non current assets: Internet Publishing                     -                   264                 276                  
 Operating (loss)/profit                                                         (912)               (331)               (11,464)             
                                                                                                                                              
 Net finance income                                                              14                  141                 242                  
                                                                                                                                              
 Loss before income tax expense                                                  (898)               (190)               (11,222)             
                                                                                                                                              
 Income tax expense                                                              -                   -                   (57)                 
                                                                                                                                              
 Loss from continuing activities                                                 (898)               (190)               (11,279)             


3.Taxation

There is no provision for UK Corporation tax due to tax losses. Taxation £nil
(2008 £nil) 

Deferred tax is provided in full in respect of taxation deferred by timing
differences between the treatment of certain items for taxation and accounting
purposes. Recognition of the deferred tax asset is limited to the extent that
the company anticipates making sufficient taxable profits in the future to
absorb the reversal of the underlying timing differences. The deferred tax
balance has not been discounted. The Group has a deferred tax asset of £Nil
(2008: £57,693). 

4.Earnings per ordinary share

                                                                                             Six Months ended    Six Months ended    Year Ended           
                                                                                             31st March 2009     31st March 2008     30th September 2008  
                                                                                             (unaudited)         (unaudited)         (audited)            
                                                                                             £000                £000                £000                 
 Earnings                                                                                                                                                 
 Earnings for the purpose of basic and diluted earnings per share                            (898)               (190)               (11,279)             
                                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                          
 Numbers                                                                                                                                                  
 Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purpose of basic earnings per share      291,927             281,727             291,927              
 Effective of dilutive potential ordinary shares:                                                                                                         
 Share warrants *                                                                            -                   -                   -                    
                                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                          
 Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purpose of diluted earnings per share    291,927             281,727             291,927              
                                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                          
 EPS                                                                                         (0.31)              (0.07)              (3.86)               
 Diluted EPS *                                                                               (0.31)              (0.07)              (3.86)               
                                                                                                                                                          
 Basic (loss)/earnings per share have been calculated by dividing (loss)/profit for the year by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year. 
                                                                                                                                                          
 Diluted (loss)/earnings per share have been calculated by dividing (loss)/profit for the year by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year adjusted to assume conversion of all dilutive potential options/warrants. 
 *Losses are not subject to dilution.                                                                                                                     


5.Dividends

The Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend. 

6.Copies of interim results

Copies are available at the Group´s web site at www.mediacorpplc.com. Copies may
also be obtained from the Group´s registered office: Media Corporation plc,
Ground Floor, 77 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4AY. 



Media Corporation PLC 

Copyright Business Wire 2009

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