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Aspire Global Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2020 Results
RECORD HIGH REVENUES AND EBITDA IN Q4 AND FULL YEAR 2020
FOURTH QUARTER
- Revenues increased by 37.6% to €44.4 million (32.2).
- EBITDA increased by 89.9% to €8.3 million (4.4).
- The EBITDA margin increased to 18.6% (13.5%).
- EBIT increased by 100.4% to €6.3 million (3.1).
- Earnings after tax increased to €4.2 million (-11.6).
- Earnings per share, basic and diluted, amounted to €0.07 (-0.26).
- First time depositors (FTDs) increased by 0.3% to 105.9 thousand (105.6).
FULL YEAR
- Revenues increased by 23.2% to €161.9 million (131.4).
- EBITDA increased by 24.8% to €27.1 million (21.7).
- The EBITDA margin increased to 16.7% (16.5%).
- EBIT increased by 17.3% to €20.8 million (17.7).
- Earnings after tax increased to €15.0 million (1.9).
- Earnings per share, basic and diluted, amounted to €0.28 (0.01).
- First time depositors (FTDs) increased by 16.9% to 519.9 thousand (444.5).
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE QUARTER AND AFTER THE END OF THE QUARTER
- Revenues increased 37.6% from Q4 2019 driven by strong development in the B2B segment and acquisition of leading sportsbook provider BtoBet in September 2020.
- Organic growth of 30.8% from Q4 2019.
- B2B revenues grew 44.7% from Q4 2019 with an organic growth of 35.1%.
- Record high revenues and EBITDA in Q4 and full year 2020 driven by organic growth and acquisitions.
- In January total trading volumes increased to approximately €15.0 million, which is about 34% higher than the average monthly trading volume in Q1 2020.
- New markets entered – Spain, Russia and West Virginia.
- Pariplay’s games launched by Rush Street Interactive (RSI) in New Jersey.
- Partnerships in Latin America with William Hill and Betfair.
- Pay N Play solution launched and live with five operators.
- Repayment of bond due in April 2021 is secured. As a consequence of the repayment, the Board proposes to the AGM that no dividend is paid out for the financial year 2020. The Board is committed to the long-term dividend policy to distribute dividends annually in an amount of at least 50% of the Company’s net profits after taxes and expects to be able to propose a dividend for the financial year 2021.
KEY FIGURES | ||||
€ million, unless other stated | FOURTH QUARTER | FULL YEAR | ||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | |
Revenues | 44.4 | 32.2 | 161.9 | 131.4 |
EBITDA | 8.3 | 4.4 | 27.1 | 21.7 |
EBITDA margin, % | 18.6 | 13.5 | 16.7 | 16.5 |
EBIT | 6.3 | 3.1 | 20.8 | 17.7 |
EBIT margin, % | 14.2 | 9.8 | 12.9 | 13.5 |
EPS, basic and diluted, € | 0.07 | -0.26 | 0.28 | 0.01 |
Operating cash flow | 11.5 | -11.5 | 27.7 | 2.5 |
Company hold, % | 46.6 | 49.6 | 48.1 | 52.0 |
FTDs, thousand | 105.9 | 105.6 | 519.9 | 444.5 |
CEO COMMENTS
“OUR POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER GROWTH IS HUGE”
We have succeeded in establishing Aspire Global as a powerhouse for iGaming operators and see great opportunities for continued profitable growth. Our recent wins with tier 1 operators, our broad geographic footprint in four continents and outstanding offering provide us with a solid base for further expansion. In 2021, our top priorities are to roll out our sports offering in Europe, Africa and Latin America, and to certify the sports platform for future US deals. This will enable us to continue to grow our customer base with tier 1 operators and to build a strong market presence in the US.
Revenues were record high in the fourth quarter and increased by 37.6% to €44.4 million from Q4 2019 with good growth across all segments. The organic growth in the quarter amounted to 30.8% from Q4 2019. It’s promising to see the strong development for our games and sports offerings. Our subsidiaries for games and sports – Pariplay and BtoBet – both reported all time high revenues in the quarter. The B2C segment also reported a strong quarter with record high revenues, up 29.0% from Q4 2019.
IMPROVED PROFITABILITY
Profitability continued to improve steadily which demonstrates our ability to grow in locally regulated markets while maintaining good margins. EBITDA increased by 89.9% to €8.3 million from Q4 2019 and the EBITDA margin raised from 13.5% to 18.6%. This is a solid performance taking into account that the revenue share from taxed and locally regulated markets increased from 66% in Q4 2019 to 70% in Q4 2020.
BIG POTENTIAL IN SPORTS
The acquisition of the leading B2B sportsbook provider BtoBet in September has already turned out to be a strategic strength to us. Prior to the acquisition sports represented a minor part of Aspire Global’s revenues. With our new proprietary sportsbook we see fantastic growth opportunities in European markets such as Germany and the UK along with the US and Latin America. We have license application processes going on and we aim to introduce our proprietary sports offering in time for the European Championship in key markets.
During the quarter BtoBet has shown great success in signing tier 1 operators such as Betfair in Colombia and William Hill, also in Colombia. These partnerships in Latin America significantly strengthen our position in this big continent.
BREAKTHROUGHS IN THE US
The US market represents another important growth potential for Aspire Global. Pariplay – our leading game studio and games aggregator – recently announced its partnership for games with Rush Street Interactive (RSI), a market leader in online casino and sports betting in the US. RSI has already launched a selection of Pariplay’s high-quality online casino games in New Jersey which is a breakthrough for us into the regulated US market. In January, Pariplay received an interim iGaming supplier license for West Virginia, which marks another significant progress in the US.
We have high expectations for the US market and are building an organisation in the US to support Aspire Global’s expansion in this big market. As a first step, we are recruiting a managing director and a sales director for Aspire US. Aspire Global has also filed applications in Pennsylvania and Michigan with the objective to file in all accessible states. It’s an important advantage when we now address US operators that our complete iGaming offering includes the new sports platform.
ENTERING NEW MARKETS
In the quarter, Pariplay also made significant progress in Europe by entering new regulated markets. I’m happy to see Pariplay’s new partnership with 888casino in Portugal and Spain and how Pariplay further cemented its leading position in Switzerland by a deal with the market leader Swiss Casinos.
LEADING TECHNOLOGY
The Aspire Global technology has been developed throughout the years and we have gained deep knowledge of the complexities in the iGaming industry. We are not only technology experts; we are mastering the whole iGaming value chain. At Aspire Global, we combine broad industry experience with leading technology and knowledge in marketing as well as gaming behaviour and player protection.
In the quarter we launched our first Pay N Play operators in Finland which became an immediate success. We are already live with five operators and with the Pay N Play solution they now provide quicker registration, login and instant deposits and withdrawals.
We have also introduced Aspire Engage, the most advanced CRM tool in the market. In addition, our organisation has secured the needed adjustments in Germany, following the new regulations.
TIER 1 OPERATOR WINS
When summarizing the quarter, I would like to single out the tier 1 global operator wins as the most significant from a growth perspective. These deals prove that Aspire Global’s offering is competitive and best-in-class. I’m convinced that the significant partnerships with Rush Street Interactive (RSI), Betfair, William Hill and 888casino among all will open up for new opportunities on many other playing fields.
I’m also happy to see the energy and focus in the management team. In the quarter we have strengthened the team with top talents from the iGaming industry, namely Antoine Bonello from William Hill as COO and Paul Myatt as Chief Business Development Officer. Paul joined us from QuickSpin and has previous experience from among all NetEnt. Aspire Global’s previous COO Dima Reiderman has been appointed COO at BtoBet.
OUTLOOK
Over the past twelve months we have created a new Aspire Global and established the company as a powerhouse for iGaming operators. I dare to be bold and say that Aspire Global has unique assets that give the company a strong position with huge growth potential.
Prior to the acquisitions of BtoBet and Pariplay, Aspire Global was a European focused company with revenues mainly from casino. Today Aspire Global is present in four continents and we provide a complete, leading iGaming offering with proprietary games and games aggregation along with a sportsbook, gaming platform and managed services. This is key to our partners when they develop their expansion plans and provides us with competitive advantages.
The year 2021 has started in a good way and in January total trading volumes increased to approximately €15.0 million, which is about 34% higher than the average monthly trading volume in Q1 2020.
Finally, I would like to thank all my co-workers for the energy, passion and professionalism you have demonstrated during the challenging year with the pandemic. I look forward to continuing our inspiring work in realizing our vision to become the world’s leading iGaming supplier.
Tsachi Maimon
CEO
Blockchain
Kore Digital Mining Ltd Announces Additional 14 PH/s Bitcoin Mining Capacity
Kore Digital Mining Ltd, a UK based Bitcoin mining company, announces that effective 1st May 2024, an additional 14 PH/s mining capacity will be added to its existing infrastructure.
This additional capacity will be provided by a major Bitcoin mining corporation and will be operational until 30th June 2024.
Derek Nisbet, Kore’s Founder & CEO, said – “We are pleased to work with a leading Bitcoin Miner in securing a large amount of mining capacity, for a 2 month trial period. We look forward to hopefully extending this period and engaging more with major mining corporations offering Bitcoin hashing opportunities, in the future.”
This additional 14PH/s Bitcoin mining capacity adds to the existing 2 PH/s currently operational with Kore’s own infrastructure and an additional 4 PH/s is due to be added over the next quarter, totalling 20 PH/s.
Latest News
The Benefits of Playing at EU Casinos
There are many EU casinos that not only attract players from Europe itself but also from countries around the world, including the US, UK, and even those from countries where online gambling isn’t permitted. So why is it that EU casinos are so popular? What drives the online gambling community to these casinos?
Well, that’s what we’re going to be looking at today. What’s so attractive about EU casinos to people who are looking for an immersive and entertaining online casino experience? Why do people in the USA, the home of Las Vegas, go outside of the USA to play at online casinos?
Benefits of EU casinos
Online gambling is by far one of the most popular methods of gambling online. Throughout Europe, specific laws in each country can vary, so access to land-based casinos can sometimes be few and far between. Thus, going online to enjoy a casino experience has become a more preferable option. And so why EU casinos? Well, for those who are joining EU casinos from outside Europe and not from the UK or the US, the English-based support and customer service are very attractive. A lot of people who play at EU casinos access it using a VPN or from a country where they don’t have any domestic online casinos, and most of the time English is their first language or one that they can understand.
The next attractive factor regarding EU online casinos is safety and security. Each online casino in the EU is strictly regulated and licensed. It’s this reassurance that a lot of players look for when choosing an online casino to go to and play at. They are held to the same strict and high standards as those of their British counterparts in the UK, which are upheld and monitored by the UK Gambling Commission. In the EU, a lot of the casinos are also regulated by either the Malta Gaming Authority or the Curacao Gaming Licence Authority. All of which share the same standards and expectations as other authorities across theglobe,e which ensures that all players playing online at EU casino websites.
The casinos that are available online in the EU are also very open to a lot of different payment methods. There are even some crypto casinos where you can play casino games online with cryptocurrency. This openness to accepting a lot of different payment methods means a lot to people who like to play at online casinos. The vast majority of them also pride themselves on providing very quick withdrawals, which are measured in hours rather than days. After all, there is nothing more frustrating than having a big win and then having to wait days to get your hard-fought winnings.
And lastly, bonuses and promotions. The vast majority of EU online casinos will have a wide range of different bonuses and promotions that you can sign up for and take advantage of. There are certain countries, such as Sweden, where the online casinos are strictly limited to one bonus or one promotion; however, the vast majority of EU casinos are not subject to such restrictions and offer a great online casino experience.
When it comes to the popularity of EU online casinos, it is growing year on year. There is plenty going in their favour and more people than ever before are shifting to online casinos rather than having to go down to the casino themselves. The fact that they can access these EU casinos from their smartphones, wherever they are, means it’s easier than ever before to win big at a casino online and have a good time.
Latest News
William Hill Announced as Official Betting Partner of Qipco Guineas Festival
Leading bookmaker becomes official betting partner of first UK Classic meeting of 2024
William Hill has been announced as the new official betting partner of the Qipco Guineas Festival, the first UK Classic meeting of the season.
It’s the latest addition to William Hill’s spring racing roster, following sponsorship of The Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster, the Punchestown Champion Chase and its status as official betting partner of the Randox Grand National Festival.
The 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas headline the three-day meeting and the leading bookmaker will sponsor 15 races across the weekend with the Jockey Club Stakes, Palace House and Dahlia Stakes among the races now featuring the William Hill title.
Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten superstar City of Troy is still all the rage for the 2,000 Guineas at 4/6 whereas Karl Burke’s Fallen Angel heads a competitive looking 1,000 Guineas market at 7/2.
“We’re delighted to become the official betting partner of the Qipco Guineas Festival, strengthening our relationship with The Jockey Club on the back of a fantastic Grand National Festival,” a spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said. “It’s brilliant for William Hill to be associated directly with such a prestigious event at Newmarket, the home of the thoroughbred, for this season’s first two Classics. The company has a close connection with the history of the 2,000 Guineas as William Hill himself bred the 1949 winner, Nimbus, who then went on to win the Derby.
“We’re excited to be involved at racing’s key meetings and see the Qipco Guineas Festival as the perfect sponsorship as the British flat season kicks into gear.”
Newmarket – 2,000 Guineas: May 4, 2024
City Of Troy | 4/6 |
Rosallion | 4/1 |
Notable Speech | 12/1 |
Henry Longfellow | 12/1 |
Night Raider | 16/1 |
Alyanaabi | 16/1 |
Ancient Wisdom | 16/1 |
Task Force | 16/1 |
Ghostwriter | 16/1 |
Iberian | 20/1 |
BAR | 25/1 |
Newmarket – 1,000 Guineas: May 5, 2024
Fallen Angel | 7/2 |
Ylang Ylang | 4/1 |
Dance Sequence | 5/1 |
Ramatuelle | 10/1 |
See The Fire | 12/1 |
Content | 12/1 |
One Look | 14/1 |
Pretty Crystal | 14/1 |
Buttons | 20/1 |
Purple Lily | 20/1 |
Porta Fortuna | 20/1 |
Star Style | 20/1 |
BAR | 25/1 |
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