Earnings Release • May 13, 2020
Earnings Release
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| RESULTS FOR THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF FINANCIAL YEAR 2019–2020 (AT 31.03.2020) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Euro thousand | 31.03.20 | 31.03.19 | Change | Change % | ||||
| Gross revenues | 99,143 | 42,601 | 56,542 | 132.7% | ||||
| Gross operating margin (EBITDA) | 20,565 | (1,640) | 22,205 | n.m. | ||||
| Operating margin (EBIT) | 10,207 | (7,612) | 17,819 | n.m. | ||||
| Profit/(loss) before tax | 9,932 | (7,502) | 17,434 | n.m. | ||||
| Net profit/(loss) | 6,381 | (5,882) | 12,271 | n.m. | ||||
| Net recurrent profit | 7,779 | (5,882) | 13,661 | n.m. |
Milan, 13 May 2020 - The Board of Directors of Digital Bros Group (DIB:MI), which is listed on the STAR segment of Borsa Italiana and operates in the videogames market, today approved the quarterly report for the period ended 31 March, 2020 (first nine months of the fiscal year from July 1st, 2019 to June 30th, 2020).
Digital Bros Group's key consolidated results for the first nine months of financial year 2019-2020, together with prior period comparatives, are as follows:
The videogames Control, Indivisible and Journey to the Savage Planet were launched on all platforms during the period. The Nintendo Switch console versions of Indivisible and Journey to the Savage Planet are expected to be released in the last quarter of the fiscal year. The launches are part of the investment plan of new videogames started during the last quarter of the past fiscal year with the launch of Bloodstained. The release plan enabled a significant increase of revenues and of all financial margins.
During the third quarter of the fiscal year, the world has been materially affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The precautionary measures adopted by governments around the world, to contain the spread of the contagion, locked people in their houses and caused the shutdown of numerous retail stores and chains. The free time from work and school significantly impacted the demand for home entertainment and increased the revenue stream coming from digital distribution improving the operating margins of the Group.
Consolidated gross revenues more than doubled in the first half to €99.1 million from €42.6 million A breakdown by operating segment for the period ended 31 March 2020 compared to the period ended 31 March 2019 is provided below:
| Euro thousand | Gross revenue | Net revenue | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2019 | Change | 2020 | 2019 | Change | |||
| Premium Games | 86,764 | 25,743 | 61,021 | 237.0% | 81,275 | 24,304 | 56,971 | 234.4% |
| Italian Distribution | 6,811 | 11,692 | (4,881) | -41.7% | 6,298 | 10,273 | (3,975) | -38.7% |
| Free to Play | 5,117 | 4,758 | 359 | 7.6% | 5,117 | 4,758 | 359 | 7.6% |
| Other Projects | 451 | 408 | 43 | 10.5% | 451 | 408 | 43 | 10.5% |
| Total gross revenues | 99,143 | 42,601 | 56,542 | 132.7% | 93,141 | 39,743 | 53,398 | 134.4% |
The Premium Games operating segment gross revenues amounted for 87% of the consolidated revenues and significantly increased (up by €61 million) as a result of the sales of Control, released on August 27th, 2019, Bloodstained, launched in June 2019 and Journey to the Savage Planet, launched in January 2020. Revenue from Control amounted to €30 million in the period while Bloodstained and Journey to the Savage Planet sales amounted to €9.9 million and €10.8 million respectively.
The Italian Distribution operating segment revenues decreased by €4.9 million, down by 41.7% compared to the same period of previous year as an effect of retail business activities closure during Covid-19 emergency.
The Free to Play operating segment revenue showed a 7.6% increase, following the positive performance of the videogame Gems of War, launched more five years ago.
Digital Bros Group's revenues and earnings by operating segments for the period are as follows:
| Euro thousand | Premium Games |
Italian Distribution |
Free to Play |
Other Projects |
Holding | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross revenues | 86,764 | 6,811 | 5,117 | 451 | 0 | 99,143 |
| EBITDA | 24,835 | (1,160) | 1,157 | 30 | (4,297) | 20,565 |
| EBIT | 16,571 | (1,333) | (82) | (51) | (4,898) | 10,207 |
Operating costs increased by €7.4 million due to higher marketing and advertising costs to support new videogames launches and payroll costs. The increase in operating costs has been proportionally lower than the increase in revenues.
Non-monetary costs increased by €4.4 million mainly because of higher depreciation of the Group's intellectual properties, €4.1 million, and the application of the new IFRS 16 for €897 thousand. Write-offs, mainly consisting of early cancelation of contracts, amounted for €1.2 million compared to €0.7 million on March 31, 2019
The profit before tax for the period ended 31 March 2020 amounted to €9.9, million, up by €17.4 million compared to the loss before tax of €7.5 million at March 31 st , 2019. Recurrent profit before tax was €11.1 million, up by €18.6 million compared to same period of previous year.
Net profit for the period amounted to €6.4 million compared to net loss of €5.9 million for the period ended 31 March 2019. Recurrent profit for the period was €7.8 million.
Net profit attributable to the shareholders of the Group was €6.4 million.
Basic profit per share and diluted profit per share were €0.45 compared to the net loss per share of €0.41 for the first nine months of last fiscal year.
Better than expected, profitability and free cashflow generation meant that net debt remained stable at €5.9 million compared to December 31st, 2019 including the investments made by the Group during the third quarter.
Net debt decreased by €10.4 million compared to June 30th, 2019 including the application of the IFRS 16 (which resulted in a €5.5 million increase). Net financial debts, excluding the application of the IFRS 16, decreased by €15.8 million.
Pursuant to Art. 2428 paragraph 2.3 of the Italian Civil Code, it is hereby disclosed that at 31 st March 2020 Digital Bros S.p.A. did not hold any treasury shares, as no transactions have been performed in the period.
The most significant events during the period were as follows:
The health and wellbeing of its employees have been Digital Bros' priority during Covid-19 pandemic. The Group has monitored the emergency since the beginning and anticipated precautionary measures, following the government authority's guidance, to guarantee employees' safety and ensure business continuity.
Among the measures undertaken, Digital Bros:
On April 21st, 2020, Digital Bros S.p.A., announced that the PC version of the videogame Death Stranding will be launched worldwide on July 14th, 2020 instead of June 2nd, 2020. The change came after the precautionary measures related to Coronavirus with the studio Kojima Productions, developer of the videogame, temporarily closing its Tokyo offices. The Group confirmed expected revenues in excess of Euro 50 million from the PC version of the videogame.
The investment plan in new videogames started last June with Bloodstained and continued with the releases of Control in August, Indivisible in October, and Journey to the Savage Planet in January 2020. It will be completed in the last quarter of the fiscal year with the launch of the console versions of the videogame Assetto Corsa Competizione and the Nintendo Switch versions of Indivisible and Journey to the Savage Planet. The launch of the videogame Death Stranding on PC was moved to next fiscal year, during July 2020. The revenue stream coming from the videogame Control is expected to continue also in the coming quarters due to the new contents' releases and the availability of the Steam version in August 2020.
According to this scenario, the Group expects to maintain significant revenues growth at the end of the fiscal year together with a significant improvement in all financial margins. The increased portion of revenues coming from digital distribution in the last quarter would improve the operating margins even if revenue will remain stable.
Considering the better than expected trend of net financial debts during the third quarter, which remained stable despite the significant investments made by the Group during the period, the Group forecasts a positive net financial position, gross of the IFRS 16 effect, at the end of the fiscal year.
As required by paragraph 2, Art. 154-bis of the Consolidated Finance Act, Digital Bros Group's financial reporting manager, Stefano Salbe, declares that the information contained in this press release corresponds to the Group's underlying documents, books and accounting records.
This press release is available on the websites www.digitalbros.com and
Listed on the Star segment of Borsa Italiana, Digital Bros Group is a global company that has been operating since 1989 as a developer, publisher and distributor of game entertainment content – video games - in a global market through various channels: retail and digital – web, social, mobile. Digital Bros Group is active around the world through its own direct operations in Italy, the United States, the UK, France, Spain, Germany, China, Hong Kong and Japan, with approximately 210 employees. The Group's head office is located in Milan, from where all activities are coordinated. Digital Bros operates in three markets, namely, development, publishing and distribution, under its own brands 505 Games and Halifax.
For further information:
Digital Bros S.p.A. Stefano Salbe CFO Tel. + 39 02 413031 [email protected]
DIGITAL BROS GROUP
| Euro Thousand | 31 March 2020 |
30 June 2019 |
Change | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-current assets | |||||
| 1 | Property, plant and equipment | 9,117 | 3,584 | 5,533 | n.m. |
| 2 | Investment property | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Intangible assets | 30,778 | 18,341 | 12,437 | 67.8% |
| 4 | Equity investments | 4,492 | 1,706 | 2,786 | n.m. |
| 5 | Non-current receivables and other assets | 5,702 | 9,322 | (3,620) | -38.8% |
| 6 | Deferred tax assets | 2,688 | 2,745 | (57) | -2.1% |
| Total non-current assets | 52,777 | 35,698 | 17,079 | 47.8% | |
| Non-current liabilities | |||||
| 7 | Employee benefits | (646) | (573) | (73) | 12.7% |
| 8 | Non-current provisions | (81) | (81) | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Other non-current payables and liabilities | (479) | (923) | 444 | -48.1% |
| Total non-current liabilities | (1,206) | (1,577) | 371 | -23.5% | |
| Net working capital | |||||
| 10 | Inventories | 14,423 | 13,909 | 514 | 3.7% |
| 11 | Trade receivables | 50,877 | 55,070 | (4,193) | -7.6% |
| 12 | Tax credits | 5,479 | 6,076 | (597) | -9.8% |
| 13 | Other current assets | 6,178 | 1,668 | 4,510 | n.s. |
| 14 | Trade payables | (36,854) | (24,631) | (12,223) | 49.6% |
| 15 | Taxes payable | (5,332) | (1,138) | (4,194) | n.s. |
| 16 | Current provisions | 0 | (856) | 856 | n.s. |
| 17 | Other current liabilities | (9,525) | (3,761) | (5,764) | n.s. |
| Total net working capital | 25,246 | 46,337 | (21,091) | -45.5% | |
| Capital and reserves | |||||
| 18 | Share capital | (5,704) | (5,704) | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Reserves | (20,871) | (21,223) | 352 | -1.7% |
| 20 | Treasury shares | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Retained earnings (accumulated losses) | (43,707) | (37,298) | (6,409) | 17.2% |
| Total equity Equity attributable to minority shareholders |
(70,282) (656) |
(64,225) 0 |
(6,057) (656) |
9.4% n.m. |
|
| Total net assets | 5,879 | 16,233 | (10,354) | -63.8% | |
| 22 | Cash and cash equivalents | 9,131 | 4,767 | 4,364 | 91.5% |
| 23 | Short-term payables to banks | (14,822) | (20,795) | 5,973 | -28.7% |
| 24 | Other current financial assets and liabilities | (11,336) | 2,155 | (13,491) | n.m. |
| Current net cash/debt | (17,027) | (13,873) | (3,156) | 22.7% | |
| 25 | Non-current financial assets | 16,900 | 1,942 | 14,958 | n.m. |
| 26 | Non-current bank debt | (1,349) | (4,293) | 2,944 | -68.6% |
| 27 | Other non-current financial liabilities | (4,403) | (9) | (4,394) | n.m. |
| Non-current net financial assets/(debt) | 11,148 | (2,360) | 13,508 | n.m. | |
| Total net cash/debt | (5,879) | (16,233) | 10,354 | -63.8% |
| 31 March | 31 March | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Euro thousand | 2020 | 2019 | Change | ||||
| 1 | Gross revenue | 99,143 | 106.4% | 42,601 | 107.2% | 56,542 | 132.7% |
| 2 | Revenue adjustments | (6,002) | -6.4% | (2,858) | -7.2% | (3,146) | n.m. |
| 3 | Net revenue | 93,141 | 100.0% | 39,743 | 100.0% | 53,398 | 134.4% |
| 4 | Purchase of products for resale | (14,160) | -15.2% | (10,777) | -27.1% | (3,383) | 31.4% |
| 5 | Purchase of services for resale | (6,421) | -6.9% | (4,337) | -10.9% | (2,084) | 48.1% |
| 6 | Royalties | (26,883) | -28.9% | (7,898) | -19.9% | (18,985) | n.m. |
| 7 | Changes in inventories of finished products | 514 | 0.6% | (172) | -0.4% | 686 | n.m. |
| 8 | Total cost of sales | (46,950) | -50.4% | (23,184) | -58.3% | (23,766) | 102.5% |
| 9 | Gross profit (3+8) | 46,191 | 49.6% | 16,559 | 41.7% | 29,632 | n.m. |
| 10 | Other income | 2,375 | 2.6% | 2,426 | 6.1% | (51) | -2.1% |
| 11 | Costs for services | (11,536) | -12.4% | (5,613) | -14.1% | (5,923) | n.m. |
| 12 | Rent and Leasing | (183) | -0.2% | (1,069) | -2.7% | 886 | -82.8% |
| 13 | Payroll costs | (15,358) | -16.5% | (13,118) | -33.0% | (2,240) | 17.1% |
| 14 | Other operating costs | (924) | -1.0% | (825) | -2.1% | (99) | 11.9% |
| 15 | Total operating costs | (28,001) | -30.1% | (20,625) | -51.9% | (7,376) | 35.8% |
| 16 | Gross operating margin (EBITDA) (9+10+15) |
20,565 | 22.1% | (1,640) | -4.1% | 22,205 | n.m. |
| 17 | Depreciation and amortisation | (9,405) | -10.1% | (5,307) | -13.4% | (4,098) | 77.2% |
| 18 | Provisions | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | n.m. |
| 19 | Asset impairment charge | (1,189) | -1.3% | (665) | -1.7% | (524) | 78.7% |
| 20 | Impairment reversal | 236 | 0.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 236 | n.m. |
| Total depreciation, amortization and | |||||||
| 21 | impairment | (10,358) | -11.1% | (5,972) | -15.0% | (4,386) | 73.4% |
| 22 | Operating margin (EBIT) (16+21) | 10,207 | 11.0% | (7,612) | -19.2% | 17,819 | n.m. |
| 23 | Interest and finance income | 2,521 | 2.7% | 1,066 | 2.7% | 1,455 | n.m. |
| 24 | Interest expense and finance costs | (2,796) | -3.0% | (956) | -2.4% | (1,840) | n.m. |
| 25 | Net interest income/(expense) | (275) | -0.3% | 110 | 0.3% | (385) | n.m. |
| 26 | Profit/ (loss) before tax (22+25) | 9,932 | 10.7% | (7,502) | -18.9% | 17,434 | n.m. |
| 27 | Current tax | (3,114) | -3.3% | 1,433 | 3.6% | (4,547) | n.m. |
| 28 | Deferred tax | (437) | -0.5% | 187 | 0.5% | (624) | n.m. |
| 29 | Total taxes | (3,551) | -3.8% | 1,620 | 4.1% | (5,171) | n.m. |
| 30 | Net profit/loss | 6,381 | 6.9% | (5,882) | -14.8% | 12,263 | n.m. |
| attributable to the shareholders of the Group | 6,389 | 6.9% | (5,882) | -14.8% | 12,271 | n.m. | |
| attributable to minority shareholders | (8) | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | (8) | n.m. | |
| Earnings per share | |||||||
| 33 | Total basic earnings per share (in Euro) | 0,45 | (0,41) | 0,86 | n.m. | ||
| 34 | Diluted earnings per share (in Euro) | 0,45 | (0,41) | 0,86 | n.m. |
| A. Opening net cash/debt (16,233) (1,083) B. Cash flows from operating activities Profit (loss) for the period attributable to the Group 6,381 (5,882) Depreciation, amortisation and non-monetary costs: Provisions and impairment losses 1,189 601 Amortisation of intangible assets 7,993 4,778 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 1,412 528 Net change in other provisions 0 0 Net change in employee benefit provisions 73 10 Net change in other non-current liabilities (444) 34 SUBTOTAL B. 16,604 69 C. Change in net working capital Inventories (514) 172 Trade receivables 4,125 (7,124) Current tax assets 597 (2,493) Other current assets (5,112) 1,374 Trade payables 12,223 (3,052) Current tax liabilities 4,194 (249) Current provisions (856) 2 Other current liabilities 5,764 1,388 SUBTOTAL C. 20,421 (9,982) D. Cash flows from investing activities Net payments for intangible assets (20,949) (6,390) Net payments for property, plant and equipment (6,945) 1,737 Net payments for non-current financial assets 891 (1,122) SUBTOTAL D. (27,003) (5,775) E. Cash flows from financing activities Capital increases 0 0 Share premium accounts 0 0 SUBTOTAL E. 0 0 F. Changes in consolidated equity Dividends distributed 0 0 Changes in treasury shares held 0 0 Increases (decreases) in other equity components 332 (852) SUBTOTAL F. 332 (852) G. Cash flow for the period (B+C+D+E+F+G) 10,354 (16,540) H. Closing net cash/debt (A+H) (5,879) (17,623) |
Euro thousand | 31 March 2020 | 31 March 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euro Thousand | Premium Games | Italian Distribution | Free to Play | Other projects | Holding | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gross revenue | 86,764 | 6,811 | 5,117 | 451 | 0 | 99,143 |
| 2 | Revenue adjustments | (5,489) | (513) | 0 | 0 | 0 | (6,002) |
| 3 | Net revenue | 81,275 | 6,298 | 5,117 | 451 | 0 | 93,141 |
| 4 | Purchase of products for resale | (9,842) | (4,318) | 0 | 0 | 0 | (14,160) |
| 5 | Purchase of services for resale | (4,648) | (128) | (1,636) | (9) | 0 | (6,421) |
| 6 | Royalties | (26,618) | 0 | (244) | (21) | 0 | (26,883) |
| 7 | Changes in inventories of finished products |
1,287 | (773) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 514 |
| 8 | Total cost of sales | (39,821) | (5,219) | (1,880) | (30) | 0 | (46,950) |
| 9 | Gross profit (3+8) | 41,454 | 1,079 | 3,237 | 421 | 0 | 46,191 |
| 10 | Other income | 749 | 0 | 1,555 | 0 | 71 | 2,375 |
| 11 | Cost of services | (8,940) | (1,026) | (232) | (122) | (1,216) | (11,536) |
| 12 | Rent and leasing | (56) | (22) | (13) | (1) | (91) | (183) |
| 13 | Payroll costs | (8,051) | (1,041) | (3,324) | (239) | (2,703) | (15,358) |
| 14 | Other operating costs | (321) | (150) | (66) | (29) | (358) | (924) |
| 15 | Total operating costs | (17,368) | (2,239) | (3,635) | (391) | (4,368) | (28,001) |
| 16 | Gross operating margin (EBITDA) (9+10+15) | 24,835 | (1,160) | 1,157 | 30 | (4,297) | 20,565 |
| 17 | Depreciation and amortisation | (7,684) | (129) | (893) | (81) | (618) | (9,405) |
| 18 | Provisions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Asset impairment charge | (767) | (44) | (346) | 0 | (32) | (1,189) |
| 20 | Impairment reversal | 187 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 236 |
| 21 | Total depreciation, amortization and impairment | (8,264) | (173) | (1,239) | (81) | (601) | (10,358) |
| 22 | Operating margin (EBIT) (16+21) | 16,571 | (1,333) | (82) | (51) | (4,898) | 10,207 |
Consolidated Income Statement for the third quarter
| Q3 | Q3 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Euro thousand | 2019/2020 | 2018/2019 | Change | ||||
| 1 2 |
Gross revenue Revenue adjustments |
31,293 (637) |
102.1% -2.1% |
12,385 (816) |
107.0% -7.0% |
18,908 179 |
152.7% n.m. |
| 3 | Net revenue | 30,656 | 100 | 11,569 | 100.0% | 19,087 | 165.0% |
| 4 | Purchase of products for resale | (1,323) | -4.3% | (3,429) | -29.6% | 2,106 | -61.4% |
| 5 | Purchase of services for resale | (2,375) | -7.7% | (967) | -8.4% | (1,408) | n.m. |
| 6 | Royalties | (8,188) | -26.7% | (2,384) | -20.6% | (5,804) | n.m. |
| 7 | Changes in inventories of finished products | (878) | -2.9% | (433) | -3.7% | (445) | n.m. |
| 8 | Total cost of sales | (12,764) | -41.6% | (7,213) | -62.3% | (5,551) | 77.0% |
| 9 | Gross profit (3+8) | 17,892 | 58.4% | 4,356 | 37.6% | 13,536 | n.m. |
| 10 | Other income | 989 | 3.2% | 880 | 7.6% | 109 | n.m. |
| 11 | Costs for services | (2,781) | -9.1% | (1,701) | -14.7% | (1,080) | 63.5% |
| 12 | Rent and Leasing | (42) | -0.1% | (358) | -3.1% | 316 | -88.4% |
| 13 | Payroll costs | (5,345) | -17.4% | (4,667) | -40.3% | (678) | 14.5% |
| 14 | Other operating costs | (301) | -1.0% | (286) | -2.5% | (15) | 5.3% |
| 15 | Total operating costs | (8,469) | -27.6% | (7,012) | -60.6% | (1,457) | 20.8% |
| 16 | Gross operating margin (EBITDA) (9+10+15) |
10,412 | 34.0% | (1,776) | -15.3% | 12,188 | n.m. |
| 17 | Depreciation and amortisation | (4,266) | -13.9% | (1,714) | -14.8% | (2,552) | n.m. |
| 18 | Provisions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | n.m. |
| 19 | Asset impairment charge | (20) | -0.1% | 0 | 0.0% | (20) | n.m. |
| 20 | Impairment reversal | 32 | 0.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 32 | n.m. |
| Total depreciation, amortization and | |||||||
| 21 | impairment | (4,254) | -13.9% | (1,714) | -14.8% | (2,540) | n.m. |
| 22 | Operating margin (EBIT) (16+21) | 6,158 | 20.1% | (3,490) | -30.2% | 9,648 | n.m. |
| 23 | Interest and finance income | 981 | 3.2% | 396 | 3.4% | 585 | n.m. |
| 24 | Interest expense and finance costs | (856) | -2.8% | (465) | -4.0% | (391) | n.m. |
| 25 | Net interest income/(expense) | 125 | 0.4% | (69) | -0.6% | 194 | n.m. |
| 26 | Profit/ (loss) before tax (22+25) | 6,283 | 20.5% | (3,559) | -30.8% | 9,842 | n.m. |
| 27 | Current tax | (2,028) | -6.6% | 745 | 6.4% | (2,773) | n.m. |
| 28 | Deferred tax | 188 | 0.6% | 92 | 0.8% | 96 | n.m. |
| 29 | Total taxes | (1,840) | -6.0% | 837 | 7.2% | (2,677) | n.m. |
| 30 | Recurrent net profit/loss | 4,443 | 14.5% | (2,722) | -23.5% | 7,165 | n.m. |
| attributable to the shareholders of the Parent Company |
4,451 | 14.5% | (2,722) | -23.5% | 7,173 | n.m. | |
| attributable to minority shareholders | (8) | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | (8) | n.m. |
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