BOSS MEDIA CHIEF OUTLINES THE ROAD AHEAD
18 January 2008
End of a turbulent 2007 was stronger than expected
Addressing Swedish analysts at the "SEB Enskilda Nordic
Seminar - Copenhagen 2008" this week, Boss Media's CEO
Michael Hallen outlined the difficulties overcome by the
company last year and his ambitious plans for the online
gambling software provider going forward.
Hallen sumarised his presentation as:
* The end of a turbulent 2007 for Boss was stronger than
expected
* 2008 is a year of new product launches and increased
sales focus
* Given strong market position and balance sheet, Boss
Media has ambitions to make acquisitions in a period of
industry consolidation
* Boss Media aims to double revenue at sustained 15
percent margins by 2010
Coinciding with the presentation, Boss directors
released the firm's half year report, predicting that
net sales in 2007 would end at the same level as 2006
but that the operating margin was expected to be below
15 percent. A strong development within several business
areas during the last quarter has given the Board
confidence in a better result for 2007 than previously
communicated.
The Poker and Interactive Gaming Terminals parts of Boss
Media's business have steadily grown during the second
half of the year and both have exceeded expectations.
Although sales development was weak during the first six
months of 2007 things have improved as problems were
addressed, and customer activity increased.
The company intends to present their view of 2008 in
connection with the publication of the preliminary end
of year result, which will be done earlier and is
intended to become public on Tuesday, January 22, 2008.
Hallén's presentation was well received by the analysts
and featured a broad description of a company with 210
employees in Sweden, Estonia and Ukraine and 2006
revenues of SEK 320 million with a fifteen percent
margin.
Following the predictions of his board of directors,
Hallen indicated that strong growth in online poker and
gaming terminal products would ensure similar sales
revenues for 2007 despite a slow start to the year, when
his predecessor left the company in Quarter 1.
The ten largest Boss customers provide 60 percent of the
firm's sales and include significant organisations like
Svenske Spel, William Hill, Sportingbet, St Minver,
Virgin Poker and Atlantic Lottery.
Sales are split equally, a third each from poker
royalties, casino royalties and licences and services.
The weak start to 2007 was exacerbated by a research and
development backlog and lost markets following adverse
legal developments in the United States and Turkey which
combined to make a negative impact of some SEK 80
million on the company. Changes in net capitalisation
resulted in a further SEK 20 million hit.
However, the company has largely overcome these hurdles
with remedial tactics and is facing 2008 with renewed
confidence in a buoyant market with good potential.
Hallen estimated that online gambling still constitutes
a mere 4 to 7 percent of total global gambling levels,
presenting a low-maturity industry with strong
possibilities - especially in the bingo and poker
sectors.
World online gambling is likely to grow by some 15 to 20
percent annually in the period through 2008 - 2010, he
predicted.
Hallen's plan for Boss Media going foward emphasised 9
key points:
* Increase sales by more aggressive marketing
* Re-energise management
* The opening of more business-convenient offices in
Swedish capital Stockholm
* A heightened global presence
* Building bigger and better online poker and bingo
networks to capitalise on a Q4 trend of strong month on
month growth.
* A target of doubling revenues with a sustained margin
by 2010
* More marketing and more product launches through 2008
* A drive to make appropriate acquisitions in an
industry that is undergoing consolidation.
Online Casino News courtesy of
InfoPowa
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