Bigben Interactive
Press release
26 October 2015, 18:00
Strong sales growth in 2015/16 first half: EUR 88.6 million
up by 19.9 % year on year
Prospects confirmed for a Profit recovery
| IFRS - € Millions Sales | 2015/2016 | 2014/2015 | Change |
| 1st Quarter | 34.7 | 35.4 | - 1.8% |
| 2nd Quarter | 53.9 | 38.5 | + 39.9% |
| Of which : Gaming Mobile Audio | 18.4 26.7 8.8 | 7.5 24.1 6.8 | + 145.3% + 10.6% + 27.9% |
| 1st Half year | 88.6 | 73.9 | + 19.9% |
| Of which : Gaming Mobile Audio | 27.2 47.8 13.6 | 17.3 46.2 10.4 | + 57.4% + 3.6% + 30.3% |
Unaudited data
A vigorous 2nd quarter 2015/16
After a 1st quarter virtually on par with Q1 2014/2015, Bigben Interactive achieved sales of EUR 53.9 million in the 2nd quarter of current FY 2015/2016 showing a strong growth (+ 39.9%) when compared to the same period of previous financial year. All the business segments of the Group showed a sales growth, especially the Gaming segment boosted by Publishing sales.
GAMING
Sales of Gaming products amounted to EUR 18.4 million i.e. a tremendous growth of 145.3% and represented 34.2% of total Group sales during the period under review.
This achievement was mainly generated by the Publishing segment with the release of two key games published by Bigben Interactive, Rugby World Cup 2015 and WRC5, this last game meeting with a large success.
Pursuant to the strategy of migration to digitalization, digital sales of video games reached EUR 0.5 million i.e. a 53.9 % growth when compared to the 2nd quarter of FY2014/15.
Likewise, Video game Accessories showed a sales growth, benefiting from both a strong demand for products launched under the new Nacon brand dedicated to PC core gamers and the growing sales of controllers for Set Top Box operators.
MOBILE
In the 2nd quarter of current FY 2015/16, the Mobile business segment achieved EUR 26.7 million sales, growing by 10.6% and representing 49.6 % of Group total sales.
Sales growth was pulled by the favourable reception given to an innovative and competitive range which enabled BBI to increase its market share. Certain accessories in both the protection area (tempered-glass screens for smartphones and a new range of "Universal" cases with an innovative fastening system) and the energy area (induction chargers) were especially in demand.
AUDIO
Sales of Audio products further showed a strong growth (+ 27.9%) during the 2nd quarter of current FY with a EUR 8.8 million turnover i.e. 16,2% of Group total sales, as a result of the ongoing success of Audio products marketed under the Bigben Sound brand and further listings for the Thomson range.
A first half showing a 19.9% growth
Over the 1st half of current FY 2015/2016 (from April 1 until September 30, 2015), consolidated sales of the Bigben Interactive Group amounted to EUR 88.6 million, a 19.9 % growth when compared to the 1st half of previous FY. The Gaming and Audio business segments made the largest contributions to sales growth with respective growth rates of 57.4% and 30.3%.
Breakdown of activities by area, combining domestic and export sales from these areas
| Sales in € Millions | First Half 2015/2016 | First Half 2014/2015 | Change |
| France | 73.3 | 60.9 | + 20.3% |
| Germany | 4.1 | 4.9 | - 16.8% |
| Benelux | 5.4 | 5.2 | + 4.6% |
| Other territories | 5.8 | 2.8 | + 103.8% |
| Total | 88.6 | 73.9 | + 19.9% |
Breakdown of activities by business segments (previous format)
| Sales in € Millions | First Half 2015/2016 | Relative share | First Half 2014/2015 | Relative share | Change | ||||||
| Core Business | 85.5 | 96.5% | 69.0 | 93.5 % | + 23.8% | ||||||
| Accessories (Gaming+Smartphones+IT) | 60.6 | 68.4% | 57.1 | 77.3% | + 6.2% | ||||||
| Audio | 13.6 | 15.4% | 10.4 | 14.1% | + 30.% | ||||||
| Publishing | 11.3 | 12.7% | 1.5 | 2.1% | X 7.5 | ||||||
| Distribution | 3.1 | 3.5% | 4.8 | 6.5% | - 35.5% | ||||||
| Total | 88.6 | 100.0% | 73.9 | 100,0 % | + 19.9% | ||||||
Outlook
Steady level of sales expected in 3rd quarter
Bigben anticipates a steady level of activity for its 3rd quarter with Christmas sales when compared with the same period of previous financial year, due to the following prospects in:
- Gaming: the further commercial deployment of the WRC5 rallying game, the release of the Handball 16 gaming software and the commercial launch of PlayStation 3 accessories which the Group developed under a Sony license;
- Mobile: the favourable environment for mobile phone accessories provided by the success of the new Iphone 6S by Apple as well as of Galaxy S6 Edge et Edge+ smartphones by Samsung ;
- Audio: the growing popularity of sound towers and sound bars with consumers.
Significant recovery of operating profitability expected as from the First Half of current FY
Bigben Interactive anticipates a return to a positive Operating Profit for the 1st half of FY 2015/16.
The 2nd half of FY 2015/16 should confirm the recovery in profitability due to a more favourable product mix and to the process of passing on the unfavourable EUR/USD exchange rate to sale prices.
Bigben will disclose the prospects for its full financial year together with the publication of its half year results on November 23rd.
Upcoming publication:
Half year results 2015 / 2016: Monday 23 November 2015
Press release after close of the stock market
| ABOUT BIGBEN INTERACTIVE | |
| SALES 2014-2015 184,9M€ HEADCOUNT 350 employees INTERNATIONAL 9 subsidiaries and a distribution network in 50 countries www.bigben-group.com | Bigben Interactive is a leading player specialized in the design and distribution of accessories for video games, smartphones and tablets, as well as audio products and video game publishing, Buoyed by the rapid expansion of the market for mobile devices and changes in the video game market, the Group, which is recognized for its capacities in terms of innovation and creation, seeks to become one of Europe's leaders in multimedia accessories. Company listed on Euronext Paris, compartment C - Index : CAC SMALL - Éligible SRD long ISN : FR0000074072 ; Reuters : BIGPA ; Bloomberg : BIGFP PRESS CONTACTS CapValue - Edouard Miffre emiffre@capvalue.fr - +33 1 80 81 50 02 CapValue - Gilles Broquelet gbroquelet@capvalue.fr - +33 1 80 81 50 01 |
