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Entain

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FY2009 Annual Report · Entain
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GAMING VC HOLDINGS S.A.
(Incorporated in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Registered Number RC Luxembourg B 104348)

FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2009

CONTENTS

FACTSHEET

DIRECTORS

ADVISORS

SECTION A: AS PREPARED UNDER IFRS

REPORTS
–
–
–
–

Chairman’s Statement
Report of the Chief Executive
Report of the Finance Director
Independent Auditor’s report to the Shareholders of Gaming VC Holdings S.A.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
–
–
–
–
–
–

Consolidated Income Statement
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
Consolidated Balance Sheet
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
Consolidated Statement of Cashflows
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

SECTION B: ADDITIONAL UNAUDITED INFORMATION

–
–

Trading history in the period since incorporation
Reconciliation of the Consolidated Balance Sheet of Gaming VC
Holdings S.A. as prepared under IFRS to the Company Balance Sheet of
Gaming VC Holdings S.A. as prepared under Luxembourg GAAP

SECTION C: PREPARED UNDER LUXEMBOURG GAAP

Independent Auditor’s report to the Shareholders of
Gaming VC Holdings S.A.

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5
Page 7
Page 9
Page 14

Page 16
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Pages 20 to 61

Page 63
Page 64

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF GAMING VC HOLDINGS S.A.
as prepared under Luxembourg GAAP

Pages 66 to 74

1

FACTSHEET

The  Company  was  incorporated  in  Luxembourg  on  30  November  2004  and  it  was  listed  on  AIM  on
21 December 2004. The company is therefore bound by the corporate laws of Luxembourg, the Company’s
Articles of Association, and the AIM rules of the London Stock Exchange. It is not bound by the Takeover code.

The principal operating currency of the Group is the Euro. The shares are traded in GBP.

Shares are held in registered, not certificated, form. 

To enable CREST settlement, depository interests, rather than shares, are traded. Capita IRG Trustees Limited
record the depository interests. Under a Deed Poll, depository interest holders have the same economic rights
as other shareholders. Voting is also mirrored as depository interest holders provide Capita with a “form of
direction” – this is akin to a proxy vote.

Key milestones

Q3-07 – Granted a class 4 licence by the LGA in Malta
Q3-07 – Sportsbook operation started
Q1-08 – Winzingo, Bingo site targeting Spanish customers, launched
Q4-08 – Granted a licence by the Italian authorities
Q1-09 – Launch of Slots Club
Q2-09 – Entered long-term contract with Boss Media for supply of casino and poker software
Q3-09 – Acquired the trade and assets of “Betboo” a leading Latin American e-gaming business
Q3-09 – Announced its intention to re-domicile from Luxembourg to Isle of Man
Q4-09 – Announced sale of Gaming VC Corporation S.p.A, the group’s licensed Italian subsidiary
Q1-10 – Announced intention to launch additional sports betting operations

Announcement  of  appointment  of  new  senior  executives  together  with  expression  of  sports  betting
operations,  additional  marketing  spend  on  existing  German  business  and  intention  to  expand  CasinoClub
outside Germany.

Investor relations website

Extensive information on the Group, prior-year financial statements and press releases can be found on the
Group’s website: www.gamingvc.com.

Websites and languages offered

Gaming
VC

CasinoClub brands
CasinoClub PokerKings CasinoClub

Betaland Winzingo

Betboo

Poker

English
German
Italian
Spanish
French
Greek
Russian
Swedish
Turkish
Romanian
Brasilian Portuguese

2

DIRECTORS

Lee Feldman, Chairman, and non-executive director

Lee Feldman (42), holds a law degree from Columbia University and is currently the Managing Partner of Twin
Lakes  Capital,  a  private  equity  firm  based  in  New  York  City.  He  joined  the  board  at  the  time  when  the
Company was admitted to AIM, and serves on both the Audit and Remuneration committees. He currently
serves on a number of boards, including MacKenzie-Childs LLC and LRN Corporation. Prior to Twin Lakes, Mr.
Feldman was a partner at Softbank Capital Partners.

Nigel Blythe-Tinker, Non-Executive Director – Chairman of the Remuneration Committee

Nigel Blyther-Tinker (58), trained as a solicitor and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and
Administrators.  He  has  extensive  City  experience  of  over  30  years  which  covers  being  Group  Corporate
Secretary/Legal  counsel  and  board  member  of  a  number  of  private  and  publicly  quoted  companies  in  the
leisure, gaming and industrial sectors. He joined the board at the time when the Company was admitted to
AIM,  and  serves  on  both  the  Audit  and  Remuneration  committees.  He  is  also  the  Chairman  of  Pentasia
Limited, a recruitment business specialising in the gaming sector.

Karl Diacono, Non-Executive Director – Chairman of the Audit Committee

Karl  Diacono  (46),  holds  a  Master  Degree  in  Management  and  is  currently  CEO  of  the  Fenlex  Group,  a
corporate service provider based in Malta, and Managing Director of Impetus Europe Consulting Group. He
joined  the  board  on  5  December  2008  and  serves  on  both  the  Audit  and  Remuneration  committees.  He
currently  sits  on  a  number  of  boards  in  Malta  and  overseas  and  is  also  actively  involved  in  the  hospitality
industry.

Kenneth J Alexander, Chief Executive Officer 

Kenneth Alexander (39),  is  a  Chartered  Accountant  by  training.  He  was  formerly  the  European  Managing
Director for Sportingbet plc, the pioneering, AIM listed internet gaming and sportsbetting company, where
he worked since 2000. Kenny joined the board in March 2007.

Richard Cooper, Finance Director

Richard  Cooper  (49),  is  a  Chartered  Accountant  by  training.  In  his  early  career  he  worked  in  the  financial
markets, holding the position of UK Finance Director at moneybrokers Tulletts, and CFO at Fidelity Brokerage.
He then undertook a number of restructuring roles in both private and publicly traded companies. In 2005
he became a founder director of Trident Gaming plc, which later went on to sell its Gamebookers asset to
PartyGaming PLC. Richard joined the board on 5 December 2008.

The board aims to meet six times a year and more frequently if required.

Committees of the Board

The board has both Audit and Remuneration Committees.

The Audit Committee, currently chaired by Karl Diacono, is required to give its approval before the release of;
the annual report and accounts, the preliminary year-end statement, the interim financial statements, and any
other release of financial information to the market.

The Remuneration Committee, currently chaired by Nigel Blythe-Tinker, reviews the remuneration packages
of the Executive Directors and, is required by the board to review the bonus arrangements of any employee
or consultant to the group. The committee meets at least twice a year.

3

ADVISORS

Registered Office:

Financial PR Advisers:

Nominated Adviser and Broker:

Lawyers to the Company: 

Auditor:

Depositary:

Registrar

13-15 Avenue de La Liberté
L-1931
Luxembourg

Abchurch Communications Ltd
125 Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1AR

Arbuthnot Securities Limited
Arbuthnot House
20 Ropemaker Street
London
EC2Y 9AR

As to matters of UK law
Nabarro LLP
Lacon House
84 Theobald’s Road
London
WC1X 8RW

As to matters of Luxembourg Law
Loyens & Loeff
14 rue Edward Steichen
L-2540 Luxembourg

Grant Thornton Lux Audit S.A.
83 Parc d’Activité Capellen
L-8308 Luxembourg

Capita IRG Trustees Limited 
The Registry 
34 Beckenham Road 
Beckenham 
KENT
BR3 4TU 

ATC Corporate Services (Luxembourg) S.A.
13-15 Avenue de la Liberté
L-1931 Luxembourg

4

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

In  my  second  year  as  Chairman,  I  am  happy  to  report  that,  despite  2009’s  historically  difficult  economic
operating  conditions,  the  Group  has  had  a  relatively  successful  year,  managerially,  operationally  and
financially.

Results
Financially, the Group has achieved growth in Net Gaming Revenue (“NGR”) to c54.0 million (2008: c50.1
million).  Clean  EBITDA,  at  c17.4  million  (2008:  c19.5  million),  was  lower  than  in  2008  as  a  result  of  our
continued  expansion  into  new  business  lines  with  lower  margins  and  increased  marketing  spend  on  the
mature CasinoClub business.

Betboo acquisition

Gaming VC completed the acquisition of Betboo in July 2009. Betboo is one of the leading online gaming
operators  in  the  still  small  but  rapidly  growing  Latin  American  market,  and  was  recently  named  the  Latin
American Operator of the Year at the eGaming Review Awards. We have been encouraged by its performance
since acquisition. As shareholders will be aware from our previous announcements, the acquisition of Betboo
comprised  initial  consideration  of  US$4  million  (c3  million)  together  wiht  an  earn-out  capped  at  US$26
million.

Operations

The company has now evolved into a mature operating company with industry-leading staff and resources in
Malta and Israel, as well as having third party contracts with service providers in Brazil and Uruguay.

Regulatory and legal

As more fully reported in the Report of the Chief Executive, the Group holds gaming licences in Malta and
the Netherlands Antilles, and believes it has the necessary licences to conduct its current gaming operations.
That  said,  there  remains  a  lack  of  legal  clarity  among  members  of  the  European  Union  on  the  issue  of
European regulation, and this therefore continues to pose an unquantifiable risk to GVC.

Shareholders were made aware on 27 August 2009 of the intended re-domiciliation from Luxembourg to the
Isle  of  Man.  The  AIM  Admission  document,  together  with  a  circular  to  shareholders  and  voting  forms,  is
expected to be dispatched on Monday 19 April and, subject to shareholder approval, we expect the new Isle
of Man based holding company to be admitted to AIM in late May 2010.

Boss Media

Gaming VC is currently in dispute with Boss over an alleged infringement of the Group’s intellectual property.
The Group has made its concerns known to Boss. If the dispute is not resolved, Court proceedings will be
instituted. The dispute is subject to legal, professional privilege. The Group is also in dispute with Boss over
the ability of Boss to terminate a contract for services to the Betaland business.

Strategy

Gaming VC announced in January 2010 three elements to its strategy:

1.

2.

3.

Additional marketing expenditure to protect the core CasinoClub business in Germany;

Marketing investment to expand CasinoClub outside German speaking markets; and

Launch of additional sportsbooks in new territories to replicate the success the Group has had in Italy.

The  Group  announced  the  recruitment  of  Jon  Salmon  and  Jim  Humberstone  to  lead  these  initiatives.  The
financial impact of these three elements was expected to be c7 million in 2010.

The expansion of CasinoClub outside German speaking markets has been delayed by the dispute with Boss
and as a result the Group now expects to invest a total of c5 million during 2010, c2 million lower than earlier
anticipated.

5

Dividend
The Group paid an interim dividend of c0.20 per share in November 2009 and announced in January 2010
that it expected, following the redomiciliation and in the absence of unforeseen circumstances, to declare a
special  dividend  of  not  less  than  c0.50  per  share  in  lieu of  the  normal  final  dividend  for  the  year  ended
31 December 2009. It is expected that any such dividend will be payable in June 2010.

The level of Gaming VC’s future dividends will be affected by the Group’s strategic initiatives and as previously
announced, profits for 2010 are expected to be materially lower than in 2009. However, the Group intends
to continue to pay out approximately 75% of net cash generated by way of dividend, subject, in 2012, to
being  able  to  fund  the  expected  deferred  consideration  due  in  respect  of  the  acquisition  of  Betboo.  More
detail on this is included in the Report of the Finance Director.

Current trading and future prospects
The first three months of 2010 have been broadly in line with budget. Group revenues were c14.8 million,
slightly down on 2009.

Whilst  the  gaming  industry  continues  to  face  challenging  economic  conditions  the  Board  believes  that  we
have  the  right  team  and  strategy  in  place  to  trade  through  this  and  to  continue  to  pay  dividends  to  our
shareholders.

Lee Feldman
Non-Executive Chairman
16 April 2010

6

REPORT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Introduction and financial overviews

In  2009,  though  trading  conditions  were  difficult  for  the  industry  as  a  whole,  the  Gaming  VC  Group
continued  to  grow  revenues  and  perform  well.  Group  revenue  increased  to  c54.0 million, and  7.7%
compared to 2008. 

Like for like sports revenues grew 44% from c6.3 million to c9.1 million from a hold of 17.9% (2008: 13.4%).
Gaming revenues excluding Betboo were 2.5% lower at c42.7 million (2008: c43.8 million). Betboo revenues
amounted to c2.2 million for the six months since acquisition.

As explained more fully in the report of the Finance Director, the profit before tax was affected by two non-
cash items arising from the Betboo acquisition totalling c1.1 million and exceptional charges of c1.5 million.
Clean  EBITDA,  at  c17.4  million (2008:  c19.5  million),  was  c2.1  million  lower  than  2008  as  a  result  of our
continued  expansion  into  new  business  lines  with  lower  margins  and  increased  marketing  spend  on  the
mature CasinoClub business.

Operations

CasinoClub
During  the  year  CasinoClub  revenue  fell  by  18.8%  to  c29.6  million  and  contribution  in  this  area  of  the
business fell by 20.1% to c20.6 million. The contribution margin remained at 70%. The core German casino
business  has  been  affected  by  challenging  economic  conditions which  in  turn effected player  yields,  in
particular at the VIP levels. The board is encouraged that the volumes have stabilised in the latter part of 2009
with H2  revenues  only  dropping  by  3.3%  compared  to H1. Jon  Salmon,  ex-Head  of  Marketing  for  Party
Gaming, joined the Group earlier in 2010 and increased marketing investment is planned for 2010 to support
the CasinoClub brand. The board is confident of the prospects for this business in 2010.

Betaland

Betaland  enjoyed  a  year  of  significant  growth  in  2009  and  moved  into  profitability  with  total  revenues
increasing by 56% to c20.8 million; a sports betting margin of 17.9% was achieved (2008: 13.4%). During
2009, 21,845 new funded accounts were created (2008: 15,153) and 4.2 million bets were taken (2008: 3.5
million). The board is pleased with the continued progress that Betaland has made in the year. Within only
two years, the business has become profitable. The recruitment of Jim Humberstone, ex-Head of Sportsbook
of Sportingbet, who joins the Group on 19 April 2010, further strengthens our sports betting management
team.  The board is confident  that  revenues  and  profits  from  our  European  sports  betting  operations  will
continue to grow and expects to launch additional language versions in H2 2010.

Betboo

Betboo, a Latin American e-gaming portal, was acquired in July 2009. The management team responsible for
the success of the business has all been retained. Betboo to date has had minimal marketing invested into the
brand but marketing will be increased in the second part of 2010. The business is expected to grow materially
thereafter.

Winzingo

Winzingo is a Spanish facing bingo site, focussing on the Spanish market. The business is a small part of the
business and results have been disappointing to date. A review of the business is currently being undertaken.

Regulatory

Unlike the majority of other listed gaming entities, the Gaming VC group has never taken bets or wagers from
residents of the USA. The Group has licences in Malta and Netherlands Antilles. 

The Interstate Treaty regarding gambling in Germany was passed on 1 January 2008. Inter alia, this states that
“Public games of chance may only be organised or arranged with the permission of the competent authority of the
respective Federal State. Organising and arranging them without this permission (unauthorised game of chance) is

7

prohibited”. Similar provisions exist in Italy. It remains unclear from a legal perspective as to whether national
or  EU  law  applies  with  continued  conflicting  messages.  The  board  remains confident  that  a  satisfactory
resolution will be found but believes it is unlikely that will happen during 2010.

Outlook
The first three months of 2010 have been broadly in line with budget. Group Revenues were c14.8 million
compared to c14.9 million in Q1 2009. The following table illustrates revenues per business unit compared
to the previous four quarters and the relevant sports margin % for comparison:

d000’s
Betaland
– number of bets (in 000’s)

– average bet size
– value of bets
– betting margin %
– sports revenues net of taxes and duties
– gaming revenues

– total revenues
CasinoClub
Betboo
Winzingo

Q1-09

Q2-09

Q3-09

Q4-09

Q1-10

1,289
–––––––
c12.6
16,299
23.40%
3,645
2,968
–––––––
6,613
8,021
–
242
–––––––
14,876
–––––––

1,017
––––––––
c15.2
15,475
8.80%
1,220
3,061
––––––––
4,281
7,038
–
314
––––––––
11,633
––––––––

722
––––––––
c13.9
10,006
14.38%
1,355
2,279
––––––––
3,634
7,124
1,126
378
––––––––
12,262
––––––––

1,167
––––––––
c10.5
12,271
23.69%
2,837
3.461
––––––––
6,298
7,443
1,054
392
––––––––
15,187
––––––––

1,621
––––––––
c9.9
16,018
15.03%
2,392
3,932
––––––––
6,324
7,093
1,027
325
––––––––
14,769
––––––––

CasinoClub is running in line with management’s expectations with NGR around 5% lower than in Q4 2009.

Betaland’s sports margin percentage for Q1 2009 was favourably affected by a large number of shock results
in Serie A in Italy. In Q1 2010, the margin of 15% is closer to the long-term running margin. The board is
encouraged  that  the  number  of  bets  has  increased  by  around  one  third  since  Q1  2009.  Gaming  revenues
from Betaland have also increased by just under c1million since Q1 2009.

Betboo  is  trading  in  line  with  our  expectations,  which  are  broadly  to  increase  the  customer  base  whilst
remaining  at  break-even  level.  The  number  of  new  funded  customer  accounts  grew  by  66%  to  2,462
compared with 1,480 in Q1 2009. The number of active players was 5,440 compared to 3,622 in Q1 2009.

Kenneth Alexander
Chief Executive
16 April 2010

8

REPORT OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR

Introduction

The results of the group reflect for the first time the impact of the acquisition of Betboo completed on 2 July
2009. There are four areas of impact:

Cash balances

$4 million (c3 million) was paid to the founders in July 2009

NGR & EBITDA

c2.2 million of revenues were earned and c103k of EBITDA was generated

Non-cash items

Amortisation of c607k, together with c467k of the unwinding of the discount on deferred
consideration (re: accounting treatment prescribed under IFRS3) were taken to the Income
Statement

Balance sheet

Reflects the assessment of the total consideration, of which the total amount expected to
be paid (c12 million), the discounted value (c8 million), and the discounted value of the
deferred consideration at 31 December 2009 (c5.4 million).

Financial highlights

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Net Gaming Revenue (“NGR”) increased 7.7% to c54.0 million (2008: c50.1 million)

Clean EBITDA c17.4 million (2008: c19.5 million)

Like-for-like costs c8.1 million (2008: c8.4 million)

Profit before tax c13.8 million (2008: c16.9 million)

Own  funds  at bank c17.6  million  despite  c3.0 million  initial  consideration  for  Betboo  and  c12.4
million paid in dividends during the year

Non-CasinoClub  business  now  generating  45%  of  NGR  (2008:  27%)  and  25%  of  contribution 
(2008: 7.5%)

Basic earnings per share of c0.432 (2008: c0.531)

Intended special dividend of c0.50 per share

The group’s activities now consist of four distinct brands serving different market places:

CasinoClub

Betaland

Betboo

High-roller casino targeting German speaking customers
Licensed in Malta
Employs staff and has office in Tel Aviv
Uses software from Boss Media
Clean EBITDA margins > 60% in 2009

Retail sports betting and gaming site targeting Italian customers
Licensed in Malta
Employs staff and has office in Malta
Uses software from Boss Media Gamologist, Net Entertainment and others
Clean EBITDA margins of 8% in 2009

Retail gaming portal targeting Brazilians/other South American customers
Licensed in Netherlands Antilles
Operations outsourced to a third party
Uses in-house and Playtech software
Break-even in 2009

9

Winzingo

Retail bingo operation targeting Spanish players
Licensed in Netherlands Antilles
Operation outsourced to a third party agency
Loss making in 2009

Overall Trends

Group  NGR  has  been  increasing  through  the Group’s  launch  into  the  Italian  and  South  America  markets.
These generate significantly lower margins than the highly profitable, but mature, CasinoClub business.

d000’s
CasinoClub
Betaland
Winzingo
Betboo

Gaming
Sports

H1-06

H2-06

H1-07

H2-07

H1-08

H2-08

H1-09

H2-09

21,208
–
–
–
–––––––

–––––––
21,208
–
–––––––
21,208
–––––––

19,365
–
–
–
–––––––

–––––––
19,365
–
–––––––
19,365
–––––––

22,001
–
–
–
–––––––
22,001
–––––––
22,001
–
–––––––
22,001
–––––––

18,638
2,000
–
–
–––––––
20,638
–––––––
19,563
1,075
–––––––
20,638
–––––––

19,710
6,374
42
–
–––––––
26,126
–––––––
22,939
3,187
–––––––
26,126
–––––––

16,765
6,982
212
–
–––––––
23,959
–––––––
20,863
3,096
–––––––
23,959
–––––––

15,059
10,894
556
–
–––––––
26,509
–––––––
21,644
4,865
–––––––
26,509
–––––––

14,567
9,932
770
2,180
–––––––
27,449
–––––––
23,069
4,380
–––––––
27,449
–––––––

The group’s CasinoClub business has been able to increase its contribution margins from 61% in H1-2007 to
69% in H2-2009 to help stem what would have been a faster decline in profitability from CasinoClub. Group
gross profit rose 9% to c44.5 million (2008: c40.9 million) maintaining the gross profit ratio.

d000’s
Clean Ebitda
CasinoClub
Betaland
Winzingo
Betboo

Central costs

H1-06

H2-06

H1-07

H2-07

H1-08

H2-08

H1-09

H2-09

10,973
–
–
–
–––––––
10,973
(2,095)
–––––––
8,878
–––––––

9,746
–
–
–
–––––––
9,746
(2,195)
–––––––
7,551
–––––––

12,351
–
–
–
–––––––
12,351
(2,073)
–––––––
10,278
–––––––

12,494
(327)
–
–
–––––––
12,167
(2,462)
–––––––
9,705
–––––––

13,051
(134)
(33)
–
–––––––
12,884
(2,024)
–––––––
10,860
–––––––

10,805
(1,097)
(28)
–
–––––––
9,680

(992)*

–––––––
8,688
–––––––

9,507
1,059
(120)
–
–––––––
10,446
(1,566)
–––––––
8,880
–––––––

8,892
682
(102)
103
–––––––
9,575
(1,027)
–––––––
8,548
–––––––

* after a credit of 2384k relating to the extant “Fort Knox” dispute

Review of Expenditure*
d000’s
2006

2007

2008

2009

Total CasinoClub

Betaland Winzingo

6,210
–––––––
7,294
–––––––
8,386
–––––––
10,106
–––––––

1,920
–––––––
2,096
–––––––
1,986
–––––––
2,241
–––––––

–
–––––––
663
–––––––
3,384
–––––––
3,272
–––––––

–
–––––––
–
–––––––
–
–––––––
730
–––––––

Betboo

–
–––––––
–
–––––––
–
–––––––
1,270
–––––––

Central

4,290
–––––––
4,535
–––––––
3,016
–––––––
2,593
–––––––

* Based on other operating costs and excluding share option charges, depreciation, amortisation and exceptional

items.

Other  operating  costs  rose  in  the  year  due  to  incorporation  of  Winzingo  and  Betboo.  Excluding  these
businesses, operating costs at c8.1 million were 3% lower than 2008 (c8.4 million). Included in these costs
were foreign exchange differences of c170k (2008: c36k). 

There has been a significant reduction in central costs from c1.6 million in H1-09 to c1 million in H2-09. The
costs are unlikely to shrink further. 

10

Review of CasinoClub

The high margin CasinoClub business has been shrinking due to the combination of a maturing customer
base,  challenges of the  economic  crisis, severe  restrictions  on  our  ability  to  advertise  and  hence  grow  the
business, increasing competition, and limitations in software used. 

The economic crisis hit hard in the second half of 2008, seeing a 17% decrease in clean EBITDA compared
with the first half of 2008. Clean EBITDA have continued to decrease, albeit at a significantly slower rate (H2-
2009 v H2-2008 18%; H2-2009 v H1-2009 6%)

d000’s
NGR

Gross profits

Contribution 

Direct costs

Clean Ebitda

Q1

Q2

Q3

2009

2008

2007

2006

29,626
–––––––
23,885
–––––––
20,640
–––––––
(2,241)
–––––––
18,399
–––––––

5,073

4,434

4,396

36,475
–––––––
29,036
–––––––
25,841
–––––––
(1,985)
–––––––
23,856
–––––––

6,800

6,251

5,870

40,639
–––––––
31,625
–––––––
26,943
–––––––
(2,098)
–––––––
24,845
–––––––

5,692

6,659

6,607

38,365
–––––––
30,199
–––––––
22,639
–––––––
(1,920)
–––––––
20,719
–––––––

H1

10,973

H2

Q4

9,746
–––––––
20,719
–––––––
The average daily revenues for 2009 were c81k per day – the same as for Q4-2008, albeit lower than the nine
months before the economic crisis which saw average daily revenues of c106k per day.

5,887
–––––––
24,845
–––––––

4,935
–––––––
23,856
–––––––

4,496
–––––––
18,399
–––––––

CasinoClub has, under difficult trading conditions, been able to increase its contribution margin at 70% of
NGR but on lower levels of revenue.

The cost base for CasinoClub increased to c2.24 million from c1.98 million reflecting a full year of costs of
the Tel Aviv office.

Review of Betaland

Betaland  moved  into  profit  during  2009  generating  c20.8  million  in  NGR  (2008:  c13.4  million)  with  c9.1
million  from  sports  (2008:  c6.3  million)  and  c11.7  million  from  gaming  (2008:  c7.1  million).  Sports  hold
averaged 17.9% (2008: 13.4%).

Gaming  VC has  revenue  sharing  arrangements  with  introducers  of  business.  The  consequent  contribution
amounted to c5.0 million in 2009 (2008: c2.2 million) representing a contribution margin of 24% (2008:
16%).

Operating expenses are largely fixed and consist principally of staff, technology and office costs. Expenses fell
to c3.27 million from c3.38 million, giving rise to a divisional clean EBITDA of c1.74 million (2008: loss, c1.23
million), representing an operating margin of 8.4%.

Review of Winzingo
Despite a significant increase in NGR (2009: c1.33 million, 2008: c0.25 million), this business has struggled
to break even. It generated a contribution margin of c507k but incurred c729k of costs, resulting in a loss of
c222k (2008: c61K).

11

Review of Betboo
Betboo generated NGR of c2.2 million in the six months since acquisition; c2 million from gaming (primarily
bingo) and c0.2 million from sports from a 6.6% hold. It generated a contribution margin of c1.4 million
(63%)  and  maintained  break  even.  There  is  greater  foreign  exchange  risk  in  the  Betboo  division  due  to  a
combination of currency use in Brazilian Real (BRL) and US$.

Review of Central Costs
d000’s
Fort Knox

2009

–

2008

(384)

2007

692

2006

–

Other

4,290
–––––––
4,290
–––––––
Costs have continued to reduce over the last three years, with over c800k of savings being made during 2009.
A rise in costs for 2010 is expected, however, due to the strategy to expand the business.

2,593
–––––––
2,593
–––––––

3,843
–––––––
4,535
–––––––

3,400
–––––––
3,016
–––––––

Exceptional Items

On  17  December  2009,  the  group  announced  the  sale  of  GVC  Corporation  S.p.A.,  the  owner  of  the  loss
making Betpro brand, for a nominal sum, to its management. The costs of this disposal, together with the
write-off of various loans and balances, amounted to c1 million.

Further group restructuring lead to the departure of certain long term contractors resulted in a one-off charge
of c283k.

The Group’s CasinoClub division operates without a jackpot contribution scheme, taking all jackpot winnings
directly to NGR with the exception of large amounts won and withdrawn in cash. During Q4-2009, a single
customer withdrew c250k from his account after winning c303k.

Depreciation and Amortisation
Depreciation  rose  to  c0.7  million  from  c0.4  million  due  to  there  being  a  full  year’s  charge  on  the  assets
acquired in 2008 (c1,453k) together with depreciation on the current year’s acquisitions (c436k). Of the total
amortisation charge of c740k charge in the year, c607k was attributable to the acquisition of intangible assets
in Betboo.

Financial Income and Financial Expense

The significant drop in Euro interest rates led to the fall in interest earnings during the year. The discounting
of the deferred consideration arising from the acquisition of Betboo has to be unwound from the period of
the earn-out to 30 September 2012. The charge arising in the six month period was c467k (2008: cnil).

Taxation

The taxation charge for the year remained static.

12

Cash Balances
Overall cash balance rose to c19.2 million from c18.8 million, although own funds rose to c17.6 million from
c17.5 million. A summary of the cash movements is shown below:

Own funds at 31 December 2008
Cash generated from trading operations
Add: tax recovered 

Less: corporation tax paid
Initial consideration and costs for Betboo
Purchase of tangible assets
Purchase of non-Betboo intangible assets

Retained before dividend 
Dividend 

Own funds at 31 December 2009

Acquisition of Betboo

c000’s

17,552
1,652

(2,956)
(3,140)
(441)
(135)
–––––––––
12,532
(12,454)
–––––––––

c000’s
17,502

78
–––––––––
17,580
–––––––––

On 2 July 2009, the Group acquired the trade and assets of Betboo, a leading gaming portal in the fledgling
South America market. The group paid an initial consideration of $4 million (c3 million) and is liable to an
earn-out capped at a further $26 million. The contract amounts are denominated in US dollars.

Pursuant  to  IFRS3,  the  group  has  estimated  the  total  consideration  of  c12  million of  which  c9.0  million  is
payable  on  30  September  2012.  The  Group  will  need  sufficient  funds  to  make  this  payment  at  that  time.
Under IFRS 3, the deferred consideration is discounted to its present value (Gaming VC have used a weighted
average cost of capital of 21%) which was c5.4 million at the balance sheet date. The discount is then released
to the income statement over the period of the earn out.

The estimated deferred consideration of c9.0 million will be payable on 30 September 2012. The group will
need sufficient funds to make this payment at that time and will review its ability to pay dividend in this light.

Reserves

The Company was incorporated in Luxembourg. The ability of the company to pay dividends is determined
by the reserves available under Luxembourg GAAP, and not IFRS. 

At 31 December 2009, the available reserves were c15.6 million – equivalent to 50.6 Euro cents per share.

13

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF GAMING VC HOLDINGS S.A.

To the Shareholders of Gaming VC Holdings S.A.
13-15, Avenue de la Liberté L-1931 LUXEMBOURG

Report of the Réviseur d’Entreprises

Report on the consolidated financial statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Gaming VC Holdings S.A. and its
subsidiaries (the “Group”), which comprise the consolidated balance sheet as at December 31, 2009 and the
consolidated  statements  of  income, comprehensive  income,  changes  in  equity and  cash  flows  for  the  year
then ended, and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory notes.

Board of Directors’ responsibility for the consolidated financial statements

The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial
statements  in  accordance  with  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  as  adopted  by  the  European
Union. This responsibility includes: designing, implementing and maintaining internal control relevant to the
preparation  and  fair  presentation  of  consolidated  financial  statements  that  are  free  from  material
misstatement,  whether  due  to  fraud  or  error;  selecting  and  applying  appropriate  accounting  policies;  and
making accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances.

Responsibility of the Réviseur d’Entreprises

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit. We
conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing as adopted by the Institut des
Reviseurs  d’Entreprises.  Those  standards  require  that  we  comply  with  ethical  requirements  and  plan  and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the consolidated financial statements are free from
material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the
consolidated  financial  statements.  The  procedures  selected  depend  on  the  judgement  of  the  Reviseur
d’Entreprises,  including  the  assessment  of  the  risks  of  material  misstatement  of  the  consolidated  financial
statements,  whether  due  to  fraud  or  error.  In  making  those  risk  assessments,  the  Reviseur  d’Entreprises
considers  internal  control  relevant  to  the  entity’s  preparation  and  fair  presentation  of  the  consolidated
financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for
the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. 

An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of
accounting estimates made by the Board of Directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the
consolidated financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our
audit opinion.

Opinion

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view of the consolidated financial
position of the Group as of December 31, 2009, and of its financial performance and its consolidated cash
flow for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by
the European Union.

Report on other legal and regulatory requirements

The consolidated management report, which is the responsibility of the Board of Directors, is in accordance
with the consolidated financial statements.

Luxembourg, April 16, 2010

Thierry Remacle
Réviseurs d’Entreprises
Grant Thornton Lux Audit S.A.

14

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

15

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

For the year ended 31 December 2009

Net Gaming Revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profits
Marketing and affiliate costs

Contribution
Operating costs (as below)

Other operating costs
Share option charges

Exceptional items
Depreciation and amortisation

Operating profit
Financial income
Financial expense

Profit before tax
Taxation (charge)/income

Profit after taxation

Earnings per share
Basic

Diluted

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s
53,958
(9,433)
––––––––
44,525
(16,991)
––––––––
27,534
(13,306)

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s
50,085
(9,163)
––––––––
40,922
(12,990)
––––––––
27,932
(11,574)

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s
42,639
(9,234)
––––––––
33,405
(6,128)
––––––––
27,277
(11,085)

(10,106)
(213)
––––––––
(10,319)
(1,538)
(1,449)

––––––––
14,228
64
(472)
––––––––
13,820
(366)
––––––––
13,454

d

0.432
––––––––

0.424
––––––––

(8,384)
(557)
––––––––
(8,941)
(1,917)
(716)

––––––––
16,358
551
(6)
––––––––
16,903
(360)
––––––––
16,543

c

0.531
––––––––

0.521
––––––––

(7,294)
(815)
––––––––
(8,109)
–
(2,976)

––––––––
16,192
459
(20)
––––––––
16,631
11
––––––––
16,642

c

0.534
––––––––

0.534
––––––––

Notes

5

5.4
6

6.1
6.1, 20

6
6.2
6, 10, 11

7
7

8

9.1

9.2

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

For the year ended 31 December 2009

Profit and total comprehensive income for the year

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s
13,454
––––––––

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s
16,543
––––––––

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s
16,642
––––––––

The notes on pages 20 to 61 form part of these financial statements

16

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

As at 31 December 2009

Assets
Property, plant and equipment
Intangible assets
Deferred tax asset

Total non-current assets

Receivables and prepayments
Taxation reclaimable
Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Current Liabilities
Trade and other payables
Income Taxes payable
Other taxation liabilities

Total current liabilities

Notes

10.3
11.3
8.2

13
8.2
14

15
8.2
16

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s

1,099
63,182
53
––––––––
64,334
––––––––

5,727
3,195
19,195
––––––––
28,117
––––––––

(6,554)
(2,670)
(52)
––––––––
(9,276)
––––––––

1,538
55,879
11
––––––––
57,428
––––––––

6,367
2,611
18,834
––––––––
27,812
––––––––

(5,477)
(2,982)
(173)
––––––––
(8,632)
––––––––

521
55,724
11
––––––––
56,256
––––––––

4,295
–
15,859
––––––––
20,154
––––––––

(4,404)
(18)
(26)
––––––––
(4,448)
––––––––

Current assets less current liabilities

18,841

19,180

15,706

Long Term Liabilities
Deferred consideration on Betboo

Total net assets

As represented by:

Equity
Issued share capital
Share premium
Retained earnings

12.5

17

18

(5,354)

–

–

77,821

76,608

71,962

38,608
8,748
30,465

38,608
13,832
24,168

38,608
51,977
(18,623)

Total equity attributable to equity holders
of the parent

77,821

76,608

71,962

These Financial Statements were approved by the Board on 16 April 2010 and signed on their behalf by:

K.J. Alexander
(Chief Executive Officer)

R.Q.M. Cooper
(Chief Financial Officer)

The notes on pages 20 to 61 form part of these financial statements

17

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

For the year ended 31 December 2009

Attributable to equity holders of the parent company:

2007
Balance at 1 Jan 2007
Share option charges
Transfer between reserves
Dividend paid

Transactions with owners
Profit and total comprehensive income

Balance as at 31 December 2007

2008
Balance at 1 Jan 2008
Share option charges
Transfer between reserves
Dividend paid

Transactions with owners
Profit and total comprehensive income

Balance as at 31 December 2008

2009
Balance at 1 Jan 2009
Share option charges
Dividend paid

Transactions with owners
Profit and total comprehensive income

Balance as at 31 December 2009

Share
Capital
c000’s

38,608
–
–
–
––––––––
38,608
–
––––––––
38,608
––––––––

38,608
–
–
–
––––––––
38,608
–
––––––––
38,608
––––––––

38,608
–
–
––––––––
38,608
–
––––––––
38,608
––––––––

Share
Premium
c000’s

57,926
–
–
(5,949)
––––––––
51,977
–
––––––––
51,977
––––––––

51,977
–
(38,145)

––––––––
13,832
–
––––––––
13,832
––––––––

13,832
–
(5,084)
––––––––
8,748
–
––––––––
8,748
––––––––

Retained
earnings
c000’s

(29,853)
815
–
(6,227)
––––––––
(35,265)
16,642
––––––––
(18,623)
––––––––

(18,623)
557
38,145
(12,454)
––––––––
7,625
16,543
––––––––
24,168
––––––––

24,168
213
(7,370)
––––––––
17,011
13,454
––––––––
30,465
––––––––

Total
d000’s

66,681
815
–
(12,176)
––––––––
55,320
16,642
––––––––
71,962
––––––––

71,962
557
–
(12,454)
––––––––
60,065
16,543
––––––––
76,608
––––––––

76,608
213
(12,454)
––––––––
64,367
13,454
––––––––
77,821
––––––––

The notes on pages 20 to 61 form part of these financial statements

18

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASHFLOWS

For the year ended 31 December 2009

Cash flows from operating activities
Cash receipts from customers
Cash paid to suppliers and employees
Corporate taxes recovered
Corporate taxes paid

Net cash from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities
Interest received
Acquisition of Business
Disposal of Business
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment
Acquisition of intangible assets

Net cash from investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities
Interest paid
Dividend paid 

Net cash from financing activities

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash held

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s

54,963
(36,730)
1,652
(2,956)
––––––––
16,929
––––––––

72
(3,140)
(295)
(441)
(135)
––––––––
(3,939)
––––––––

(5)
(12,454)
––––––––
(12,459)
––––––––

531
18,834
(170)
––––––––
19,195
––––––––

47,528
(30,703)
–
(8)
––––––––
16,817
––––––––

542
–
–
(1,453)
(435)
––––––––
(1,346)
––––––––

(6)
(12,454)
––––––––
(12,460)
––––––––

3,011
15,859
(36)
––––––––
18,834
––––––––

41,598
(22,545)
–
–
––––––––
19,053
––––––––

459
40
–
(562)
(95)
––––––––
(158)
––––––––

(20)
(12,176)
––––––––
(12,196)
––––––––

6,699
9,407
(247)
––––––––
15,859
––––––––

The notes on pages 20 to 61 form part of these financial statements

19

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

Significant accounting policies

New accounting and reporting standards

Operating segments

Alternative presentation of consolidated income statement

Geographic and Segmental reporting of Net Gaming Revenue, Contribution and clean EBITDA

Operating costs

Financial income and Financial expenses

Taxation

Earnings per share

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Acquisition of Betboo

Receivables and prepayments

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other payables

Other taxation payable

Segmental analysis of net assets

Share Capital

Dividends

Share option schemes

Financial instruments and risk management

Related parties

Group entities

Contingent liabilities

Accounting estimates and judgements

Going concern

Subsequent events

20

1.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Gaming  VC  Holdings  S.A.  (the  “Company“)  is  a  company  registered  in  Luxembourg  and  was
incorporated on 30 November 2004. The consolidated financial statements of the Company for the
year ended 31 December 2009 comprise the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the
“Group”). The Group’s principal activities are that of operating online casinos, access to online poker
rooms, online bingo, and online sports betting.

The Group’s principal subsidiaries are listed in note 23.

1.1

Statement of compliance

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRSs), as adopted by the European Union.

1.2

Basis of preparation

The  financial  statements  are  presented  in  the  Euro,  rounded  to  the  nearest  thousand,  and  are
prepared on the historical cost basis. The financial statements are prepared on the going concern basis
(see note 26).

The  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  IFRSs  requires  directors  to  make
judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and reported amounts
of assets and liabilities, income and expenses. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on
various factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form
the basis of making the judgements about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily
apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates. 

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting
estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that
period or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future
periods.

Significant  accounting estimates and judgements are discussed in further detail in note 25.

The accounting policies set out below have been applied consistently to all periods presented in these
consolidated financial statements.

The accounting policies have been applied consistently by Group entities.

1.3

Basis of consolidation

1.3.1 Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Company. Control exists when the Company has the power,
directly or indirectly, to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits
from  its  activities.  In  assessing  control,  potential  voting  rights  that  presently  are  exercisable  or
convertible  are  taken  into  account.  The  financial  statements  of  subsidiaries  are  included  in  the
consolidated financial statements from the date that control commences until the date that control
ceases.

1.3.2 Transactions eliminated on consolidation

Intragroup  balances  and  any  unrealised  gains  and  losses  or  income  and  expenses  arising  from
intragroup transactions, are eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements. Unrealised
losses  are  also  eliminated  unless  the  transaction  provides  evidence  of  an  impairment  of  the  asset
transferred.

21

1.3.3 Business combinations

All business combinations are accounted for by applying the purchase method. The cost of a business
combination  is  measured  as  the  aggregate  of  the  fair  values,  at  the  acquisition  date,  of  the  assets
given,  liabilities  incurred  or  assumed,  and  equity  instruments  issued  by  the  Group,  plus  any  costs
directly attributable to the combination. The identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of
the acquiree are measured initially at fair value at the acquisition date, irrespective of the extent of any
minority interest. The excess of the cost of the business combination over the Group’s interest in the
net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities is recognised as goodwill.

1.4

Foreign currency

The functional currency of the Company and the presentational currency of the Group is the Euro.

1.4.1 Foreign currency transactions

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated to the Euro at the foreign exchange rates ruling at the
dates  of  the  transactions.  Monetary  assets  and  liabilities  denominated  in  foreign  currencies  at  the
balance sheet date are translated to the Euro at the foreign exchange rate ruling at that date. Foreign
exchange  differences  arising  on  translation  are  recognised  in  the  consolidated  income  statement.
Non-monetary assets and liabilities that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency
are translated using the exchange rate at the date of the transaction.

1.5

Property, plant and equipment

1.5.1 Owned assets

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation (see 1.5.2. below) and
impairment  losses  (see  accounting  policy  1.7).  Where  parts  of  an  item  of  property,  plant  and
equipment have different useful lives, they are accounted for as separate items of property, plant and
equipment.

1.5.2 Depreciation

Depreciation is charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives
of each part of an item of property, plant and equipment. The estimated useful lives are as follows:

Fixtures and fittings:–

3 years

The residual value, if not insignificant, is reassessed annually.

1.6

Intangible assets

1.6.1 Goodwill

Acquired  goodwill  represents  the  excess  of  the  cost  of  a  business  combination  over  the  Group’s
interest in the fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the acquiree at
the  date  of  acquisition.  Goodwill  is  tested  at  least  annually  for  impairment  and  carried  at  cost  less
accumulated impairment losses.  At the date of acquisition, goodwill is allocated to cash generating
units for the purpose of impairment testing. Any negative goodwill arising on an acquisition would be
recognised directly in profit or loss.

1.6.2 Other intangible assets

Other  intangible  assets  that  are  acquired  by  the  Group  are  stated  at  cost  less  accumulated
amortisation (see 1.6.4 below) and impairment losses (see accounting policy 1.7).

22

The cost of intangible assets acquired in a business combination is the fair value at acquisition date.
The valuation methodology used for each type of identifiable asset category is detailed below:

Asset category

Valuation methodology

Magazine-related
Consulting
Software licence
Trademarks
Trade name
Non Contractual customer relationships
Goodwill

Cost
Income (cost saving)
Income (incremental value plus loss of profits)
Relief from royalty
Relief from royalty
Excess earnings
Residual balance

Expenditure on internally generated goodwill and brands is recognised in the income statement as an
expense is incurred.

1.6.3 Subsequent expenditure

Subsequent expenditure on capitalised intangible assets is capitalised only when it increases the future
economic benefits embodied in the specific asset to which it relates. This includes legal and similar
expenditure incurred in registering brands and trade names, which is capitalised, all other expenditure
is expensed as incurred.

1.6.4 Amortisation

Amortisation is charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives
of intangible assets unless such lives are indefinite. Goodwill and trademarks with an indefinite useful
life are systematically tested for impairment at each balance sheet date. Other intangible assets are
amortised from the date they are available for use. The estimated useful lives are as follows:

Consulting agreements
Capitalised development costs
Software licence agreements
Non Contractual customer relationships

3-5 years
2-4 years
2-15 years
4 years

1.7

Impairment

At  each  reporting  date,  the  Group  assesses  whether  there  is  any  indication  that  an  asset  may  be
impaired. Where an indicator of impairment exists, the group makes an estimate of the recoverable
amount. Where the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its recoverable amount, the asset is written
down to its recoverable amount. Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and
value in use and is determined for an individual asset. If the asset does not generate cash inflows that
are largely independent of those from other assets or groups of assets, the recoverable amount of the
cash  generating  unit  to  which  the  asset  belongs  is  determined.  Discount  rates  reflecting  the  asset
specific risks and the time value of money are used for the value in use calculation.

For goodwill and trademarks that have an indefinite useful life, the recoverable amount is estimated
at each balance sheet date.

1.8

Dividends paid to holders of share capital

Dividend  distributions  payable  to  equity  shareholders  are  included  in  “other  short  term  financial
liabilities” when the dividends are approved in general meeting prior to the balance sheet date.

23

1.9

Employee benefits

1.9.1 Pension arrangements

The  Group  does  not  operate  any  pension  schemes.  The  Group,  as  part  of  general  remuneration
arrangements, makes payments directly to employees as a pension contribution allowance.

1.9.2 Share options

The  Group  has  a  share  option  scheme  which  allows  Group  employees  and  contractors  to  acquire
shares of the Company. The fair value of options granted is recognised as an employee expense with
a corresponding increase in equity. The fair value is measured at grant date and spread over the period
during which the employees become unconditionally entitled to the options. 

The  fair  value  of  the  options  granted  is  measured  using  a  binomial  valuation  model  (for  options
granted  after  1  January  2007)  and  the  Black-Scholes  valuation  model  for  options  granted  before
1 January 2007). These valuation methods take into account the terms and conditions upon which
the  options  were  granted.  The  amount  recognised  as  an  expense  is  adjusted  to  reflect  the  actual
number of share options that vest. 

1.10

Provisions

A  provision  is  recognised  in  the  balance  sheet  when  the  Group  has  a  present  legal  or  constructive
obligation as a result of a past event, and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be
required to settle the obligation. If the effect is material, provisions are determined by discounting the
expected future cash flows at a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value
of money and, where appropriate, the risks specific to the liability.

1.11 Net Gaming Revenue

Net  Gaming  Revenue  is  measured  at  the  fair  value  of  consideration  received  or  receivable  net  of
betting duties and similar taxes, and comprises the following elements:

Casino:

Sportsbook:

Poker:

Bingo: 

net win in respect of bets placed on casino games that have concluded in the
year, stated net of certain promotional bonuses

gains and losses in respect of bets placed on sporting events in the year, stated
after certain promotional bonuses. Open position are carried at fair market value
and gains and losses arising on this valuation are recognised in revenue, as well
as gains and losses realised on position that have closed

net  win  in  respect  of  rake  for  poker  games  that  have  concluded  in  the  year,
stated net of certain promotional bonuses

net win in respect of bets placed on bingo games that have concluded in the
year, stated net of certain promotional bonuses

1.12

Expenses

1.12.1 Financial expenses

Financial expenses comprise interest payable on borrowings calculated using the effective interest rate
method.

1.13

Exceptional items

Exceptional items are those that in judgement of the directors, need to be disclosed by virtue of their
size or incidence in order for the user to obtain a proper understanding of the financial information.

24

1.14

Financial Income

Financial  income  is  interest  income  recognised  in  the  income  statement  as  it  accrues,  using  the
effective interest method.

1.15

Tax

Current tax is the tax currently payable based on taxable profit for the year. Deferred income taxes
are calculated using the liability method on temporary differences.

Deferred  tax  is  generally  provided  on  the  difference  between  the  carrying  amounts  of  assets  and
liabilities and their tax bases. However, deferred tax is neither provided on the initial recognition of
goodwill, nor on the initial recognition of an asset or liability unless the related transaction is a business
combination or affects tax or accounting profit. Deferred tax on temporary differences associated with
shares in subsidiaries is not provided if reversal of these temporary differences can be controlled by
the group and it is probable that reversal will not occur in the foreseeable future.  In addition, tax
losses available to be carried forward as well as other income tax credits to the group are assessed for
recognition as deferred tax assets.

Deferred tax liabilities are provided in full, with no discounting. Deferred tax assets are recognised to
the extent that it is probable that the underlying deductible temporary differences will be able to be
offset against future taxable income. Current and deferred tax assets and liabilities are calculated at
tax rates that are expected to apply to their respective period of realisation, provided they are enacted
or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

Changes  in  deferred  tax  assets  or  liabilities  are  recognised  as  a  component  of  tax  expense  in  the
income statement, except where they relate to items that are charged or credited directly to equity
in which case the related deferred tax is also charged or credited directly to equity.

1.16

Segment reporting

In  identifying  its  operating  segments,  management  generally  follows  the  Group’s  key  brands.  The
Group has identified the following reportable operating segments:

CasinoClub
Betaland
Winzingo
Betboo

German online casino operator; 
Italian online sports-book and gaming operator; 
Spanish online bingo operator; 
South American internet gaming operator, offering bingo, casino, poker and sports
betting

Each  of  these  operating  segments  is  managed  separately  as  each  of  these  service  lines  requires
different technologies and other resources as well as marketing approaches. All inter-segment transfers
are carried out at arm’s length prices.

The measurement policies the Group uses for segment reporting under IFRS 8 are the same as those
used in its financial statements, except that segmental results are only reported to clean EBITDA level
(earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, and before exceptional items and share
option costs).

In  addition,  corporate  assets  which  are  not  directly  attributable  to  the  business  activities  of  any
operating segment are not allocated to a segment.

25

1.17

Financial instruments

The Group’s financial assets are all classified as loans and receivables and comprise trade and other
receivables and cash and cash equivalents. The Group’s financial liabilities comprise trade and other
payables and deferred consideration in relation to Betboo, and bank borrowings to the extent they
exist.

1.17.1 Non-derivative financial instruments

Non-derivative financial instruments comprise trade and other receivables, cash and cash equivalents,
loans  and  borrowings,  and  trade  and  other  payables.  Non-derivative  financial  instruments  are
recognised  initially  at  fair  value,  plus,  for  instruments  not  at  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss,  any
directly  attributable  transaction  costs.  Subsequent  to  initial  recognition,  non-derivative  financial
instruments  are  measured  at  amortised  cost  using  the  effective  interest  method.  Provisions  for
impairment  are  made  against  financial  assets  if  considered  appropriate  and  any  impairment  is
recognised in profit or loss.

1.17.2 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash  and  cash  equivalents  comprise  cash  balances  and  call  deposits.  Bank  overdrafts  that  are
repayable on demand and form an integral part of the Group’s cash management are included as a
component of cash and cash equivalents for the purpose of the statement of cash flows.

Accounting  for  financial  income  and  financial  expense  is  discussed  in  notes  1.14  and  1.12.1
respectively.

1.18

Equity

Equity comprises the following:

“Share capital” represents the nominal value of equity shares.
“Share premium” represents the excess over nominal value of the fair value of consideration received
for equity shares, net of expenses of the share issue.
“Retained earnings” represents retained profits.

2.

NEW ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING STANDARDS

Adoption of IAS 1 “Presentation of Financial Statements” (Revised 2007)
The  Group  has  adopted  IAS  1  “Presentation  of  Financial  Statements”  (Revised  2007)  in  its
consolidated financial statements. This standard has been applied retrospectively. The adoption of the
standard  does  not  affect  the  financial  position  or  profits  of  the  Group,  but  gives  rise  to  additional
disclosures. The measurement and recognition of the Group’s assets, liabilities, income and expenses
is unchanged. 

The  standard  affects  the  presentation  of  owner  changes  in  equity  and  introduces  a  “Consolidated
Statement  of  Comprehensive  Income”  as  a  primary  statement.  The  “Consolidated  Statement  of
Recognised Income and Expenses” as was presented in the 2008 consolidated financial statements is
no longer required. Further, a “Statement of Changes in Equity” is presented as a primary statement.

The standard requires presentations of a comparative balance sheet as at the beginning of the first
comparative  period,  in  some  circumstances.  Management  are  required  to  present  a  comparative
balance sheet and have chosen to present comparatives for all other primary financial statements as
at 31 December 2007, together with related notes, in the consolidated financial statements.

26

Adoption of IFRS 8 “Operating Segments”
This standard has been applied retrospectively. The accounting policy for identifying segments is now
based on internal management reporting information that is regularly reviewed by the chief operating
decision maker. The primary reporting format of management information is by brand, and therefore
segmental information is presented by brand in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

In contrast, IAS 14 required the Group to identify two sets of segments (business and geographical)
based on risks and rewards of the operating segments. In the 2008 consolidated financial statements,
segmental information was primarily split by business.

The  Group  has  identified  the  following  reportable  operating  segments  for  this  year’s  consolidated
financial  statements:  CasinoClub;  Betaland;  Winzingo;  Betboo.  Each  of  these  operating  segments
generates independent revenues and the risks and rewards associated with generating these revenues
are considered to be different to those of the other products offered by the Group.

Costs of share option schemes and taxation is not allocated to individual operating segments.

There  have  been  no  changes  from  prior  periods  in  the  measurement  methods  used  to  determine
reported  segment  results.  The  new  format  of  presenting  segmental  information  can  be  found  in
note 5.

Adoption  of  amendments  to  IFRS  7  “Financial  Instruments:  Disclosures”  –  improving  disclosures  about
financial instruments
The  amendments  require  additional  disclosures  for  financial  instruments  that  are  measured  at  fair
value in the consolidated balance sheet. The Group’s balance sheet includes no financial instruments
measured  at  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss,  and  therefore  management  have  not  amended  the
format of the financial instruments disclosures from prior years.

Adoption of IFRIC Interpretation 13 “Customer Loyalty Programmes”
IFRIC 13 Customer Loyalty Programmes clarifies that when goods or services are sold together with a
customer loyalty incentive (for example, loyalty points or the right to free products), the arrangement
is  a  multiple-element  arrangement  and  the  consideration  receivable  from  the  customer  is  allocated
between the components of the arrangement using fair values. 

The Group’s accounting policy in respect of promotional bonuses (which include loyalty bonuses) is
stated in note 1.11. The Group has considered the implications of the interpretation stated in IFRIC
13, and do not believe that the adoption of IFRIC 13 would have a significant impact on the reported
results  for  the  current  and  prior  reporting  periods.  Therefore,  no  retrospective  adjustment  to  the
financial statements is required in respect of the adoption of IFRC 13. 

New standards not yet effective
A number of new standards, amendments to standards and interpretations are not yet effective for
the  year  ended  31  December  2009  and  have  not  been  applied  in  preparing  these  consolidated
financial statements. Those which may have a significant effect on the financial statements are:

Revised IFRS 3 – Business Combinations (effective from 1 July 2009) 
The standard is applicable for business combinations occurring in reporting periods beginning on or
after  1  July  2009  and  will  be  applied  prospectively  The  new  standard  introduces  changes  to  the
accounting requirements for business combinations, but still requires use of the purchase method, and
will have a significant effect on business combinations occurring in future reporting periods.

Revised IAS 27 – Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements (effective from 1 July 2009) 
The revised standard introduces changes to the accounting requirements for the loss of control of a
subsidiary  and  for  changes  in  the  Group’s  interest  in  subsidiaries.  These  changes  will  be  applied
prospectively in accordance with the transitional provisions and so do not have an immediate effect
on the Group’s financial statements.

27

Annual Improvements 2009 (effective from 1 July 2009 and later).  
The IASB has issued Improvements for International Financial Reporting Standards 2009. Most of these
amendments become effective in annual periods beginning on or after 1 July 2009 or 1 January 2010.
Preliminary  assessments  indicate  that  the  effect  on  the  Group’s  financial  statements  will  not  be
significant. 

Revised IAS 24 Related Party Transactions (effective from 1 January 2011)
The  revised  standard  introduces  exemptions  from  IAS  24’s  disclosure  requirements  for  transactions
with a government that has control, joint control or significant influence over the reporting entity and
government-related  entities.  The  revised  standard  also  broadens  the  definition  of  related  parties.
Based  on  transactions  currently  undertaken  by  the  Group,  the  revised  standard  is  not  expected  to
have a significant effect on the consolidated financial statements.

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (effective from 1 January 2013)
The IASB aims to replace IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement in its entirety
by the end of 2010, with the replacement standard to be effective for annual periods beginning 1
January 2013. IFRS 9 is the first part of Phase 1 of this project. The main phases are:

Phase 1: Classification and Measurement
Phase 2: Impairment methodology
Phase 3: Hedge accounting

In addition, a separate project is dealing with derecognition.

Management have yet to assess the impact that this new standard is likely to have on the financial
statements of the Group. However, they do not expect to implement the standard until all chapters
of the IAS 39 replacement have been published and they can comprehensively assess the impact of
all changes.

The Group has not yet determined all the potential effect of the new standards and interpretations
not yet effective.

3.

OPERATING SEGMENTS

Management  currently  identifies  the  Group’s  key  brands  as  operating  segments.  These  operating
segments are monitored and strategic decisions are made on the basis of adjusted segments operating
results.

Segment capital expenditure is the total costs incurred during the year to acquire segment assets that
are  expected  to  be  used  for  more  than  one  year.  Segmental  assets  and  liabilities  are  presented  in
note 17.

28

4.

ALTERNATIVE PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

To  better  aid  shareholders  and  other  interested  parties,  the  Directors  have  prepared  an  alternative
presentation of the Consolidated Income Statement. This is included below:

Net Gaming Revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit

Gross profit ratio

Marketing and affiliate costs

Contribution
Other operating costs

Clean EBITDA
Exceptional items
Share Option Charges

EBITDA
Depreciation
Amortisation

Operating Profit
Financial income
Unwinding of discount on deferred
consideration
Other Financial expense

Profit before tax
Taxation (charge) / income

Profit after tax

Notes

5

5.4
6.1

5.5
6.2
6.1

10
11

7

12.5
7

8

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s
53,958
(9,433)
––––––––
44,525

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s
50,085
(9,163)
––––––––
40,922

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s
42,639
(9,234)
––––––––
33,405

83%

(16,991)
––––––––
27,534
(10,106)
––––––––
17,428
(1,538)
(213)
––––––––
15,677
(709)
(740)
––––––––
14,228
64

(467)
(5)
––––––––
13,820
(366)
––––––––
13,454
––––––––

82%

(12,990)
––––––––
27,932
(8,384)
––––––––
19,548
(1,917)
(557)
––––––––
17,074
(436)
(280)
––––––––
16,358
551

–
(6)
––––––––
16,903
(360)
––––––––
16,543
––––––––

78%

(6,128)
––––––––
27,277
(7,294)
––––––––
19,983
–
(815)
––––––––
19,168
(57)
(2,919)
––––––––
16,192
459

–
(20)
––––––––
16,631
11
––––––––
16,642
––––––––

5.

5.1

GEOGRAPHIC AND SEGMENTAL REPORTING

NGR by geographic location of customers

Germany
Austria
Italy
Spain
Latin America
Other

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s
23,052
3,566
21,018
1,549
2,180
2,593
––––––––
53,958
––––––––

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s
27,155
4,198
13,502
678
–
4,552
––––––––
50,085
––––––––

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s
32,084
6,275
2,271
484
–
1,525
––––––––
42,639
––––––––

29

5.2

NGR by quarter

2009
2008
2007

5.3

NGR by brand

CasinoClub

Betaland

Winzingo

Betboo

TOTALS

Q2
c000s

Total
Q3
Q1
c000s
c000s
c000s
14,876 11,633 12,262 15,187 53,958
13,278 12,848 12,195 11,764 50,085
11,276 10,725 10,000 10,638 42,639

Q4
c000s

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s

15,059
14,567
––––––––
29,626
––––––––
10,894
9,932
––––––––
20,826
––––––––
556
770
––––––––
1,326
––––––––
–
2,180
––––––––
2,180
––––––––
26,509
27,449
––––––––
53,958
––––––––

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s
19,710
16,765
––––––––
36,475
––––––––
6,374
6,982
––––––––
13,356
––––––––
42
212
––––––––
254
––––––––
–
–
––––––––
–
––––––––
26,126
23,959
––––––––
50,085
––––––––

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s
22,001
18,638
––––––––
40,639
––––––––
–
2,000
––––––––
2,000
––––––––
–
–
––––––––
–
––––––––
–
–
––––––––
–
––––––––
22,001
20,638
––––––––
42,639
––––––––

H1
H2

FY

H1
H2

FY

H1
H2

FY

H1
H2

FY

H1
H2

FY

30

5.4

Contribution by brand

CasinoClub

Betaland

Winzingo

Betboo

TOTALS

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s
10,574
10,066
––––––––
20,640
––––––––
70%

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s
13,979
11,862
––––––––
25,841
––––––––
71%

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s
13,432
13,510
––––––––
26,942
––––––––
66%

2,729
2,283
––––––––
5,012
––––––––
24%

234
273
––––––––
507
––––––––
38%

–
1,373
––––––––
1,373
––––––––
63%

13,519
14,015
––––––––
27,534
––––––––
51%

1,489
663
––––––––
2,152
––––––––
16%

(33)
(28)
––––––––
(61)
––––––––
(24%)

–
–
––––––––
–
––––––––
–

15,435
12,497
––––––––
27,932
––––––––
56%

–
335
––––––––
335
––––––––
17%

–
–
––––––––
–
––––––––
66%

–
–
––––––––
–
––––––––
–

13,432
13,845
––––––––
27,277
––––––––
64%

H1
H2

FY

Contribution margin

H1
H2

FY

Contribution margin

H1
H2

FY

Contribution margin

H1
H2

FY

Contribution margin

H1
H2

FY

Contribution margin

31

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s
9,507
8,892
––––––––
18,399
––––––––
62%

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s
13,051
10,805
––––––––
23,856
––––––––
65%

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s
12,351
12,494
––––––––
24,845
––––––––
61%

1,059
682
––––––––
1,741
––––––––
8.4%

(120)
(102)
––––––––
(222)
––––––––
(17%)

–
103
––––––––
103
––––––––
5%

10,446
9,575
––––––––
20,021
––––––––
37%

(1,566)
(1,027)
––––––––
(2,593)
––––––––

8,880
8,548
––––––––
17,428
––––––––
32%

(134)
(1,097)
––––––––
(1,231)
––––––––
(9%)

(33)
(28)
––––––––
(61)
––––––––
(24%)

–
–
––––––––
–
––––––––
–

12,884
9,680
––––––––
22,564
––––––––
45%

(2,024)
(992)
––––––––
(3,016)
––––––––

10,860
8,688
––––––––
19,548
––––––––
39%

–
(327)
––––––––
(327)
––––––––
(16%)

–
–
––––––––
–
––––––––
–

–
–
––––––––
–
––––––––
–

12,351
12,167
––––––––
24,518
––––––––
57%

(2,073)
(2,462)
––––––––
(4,535)
––––––––

10,278
9,705
––––––––
19,983
––––––––
47%

5.5

Clean EBITDA by brand

CasinoClub

Betaland

Winzingo

Betboo

Total from Operating
Divisions

Unallocated central
Costs

Group total

H1
H2

FY

Ebitda margin

H1
H2

FY

Ebitda margin

H1
H2

FY

Ebitda margin

H1
H2

FY

Ebitda margin

H1
H2

FY

Ebitda margin

H1
H2

FY

H1
H2

FY

Ebitda margin

32

5.6

Reconciliation of Clean Ebitda to Profit after taxation

Year ended 31 December 2009

Clean EBITDA
Exceptional items
Share option charges
Depreciation & amortisation
Financial income and financial
expense*
Taxation

Profit after tax

Casino
Club
c000s
18,399
(420)
–
(367)

Betaland Winzingo
c000s
(222)
–
–
–

c000s
1,741
(235)
–
(475)

Betboo
c000s
103
–
–
(607)

Central
costs
c000s
(2,593)
(883)
(213)
–

Total
c000s
17,428
(1,538)
(213)
(1,449)

–
–
––––––––
17,612
––––––––

–
–
––––––––
1,031
––––––––

–
–
––––––––
(222)
––––––––

(472)
–
––––––––
(976)
––––––––

64
(366)
––––––––
(3,991)
––––––––

(408)
(366)
––––––––
13,454
––––––––

* includes  the  unwinding  of  the  discount  on  the  deferred  consideration  arising  from  the  acquisition  of

Betboo

Year ended 31 December 2008

Clean EBITDA
Exceptional items
Share option charges
Depreciation & amortisation
Financial income and financial
expense
Taxation

Profit after tax

Year ended 31 December 2007

Clean EBITDA
Exceptional items
Share option charges
Depreciation & amortisation
Financial income and financial
expense
Taxation

Profit after tax

Casino
Club
c000s
23,856
–
–
(366)

Betaland Winzingo
c000s
(61)
(1,075)
–
–

c000s
(1,231)
–
–
(350)

Betboo
c000s
–
–
–
–

Central
costs
c000s
(3,016)
(842)
(557)
–

Total
c000s
19,548
(1,917)
(557)
(716)

–
–
––––––––
23,490
––––––––

–
–
––––––––
(1,581)
––––––––

–
–
––––––––
(1,136)
––––––––

–
–
––––––––
–
––––––––

545
(360)
––––––––
(4,230)
––––––––

545
(360)
––––––––
16,543
––––––––

Casino
Club
c000s
24,845
–
–
(2,935)

Betaland Winzingo
c000s
–
–
–
–

c000s
(327)
–
–
(41)

Betboo
c000s
–
–
–
–

Central
costs
c000s
(4,535)
–
(815)
–

Total
c000s
19,983
–
(815)
(2,976)

–
–
––––––––
21,910
––––––––

–
–
––––––––
(368)
––––––––

–
–
––––––––
–
––––––––

–
–
––––––––
–
––––––––

439
11
––––––––
(4,900)
––––––––

439
11
––––––––
16,642
––––––––

It  is  not  deemed  appropriate  to  allocate  share  option  charges,  financial  income  and  expense  by
operating segment.

33

6.

OPERATING COSTS

Other operating costs
Exceptional items
Depreciation
Amortisation

6.1

Other operating costs

Other Personnel expenditure
Share option charges

Total Personnel expenditure
Professional fees
Technology costs
Office, travel and other costs
Third party service costs*
Foreign exchange differences

* provided to Winzingo & Betboo

Total by brand
CasinoClub
Betaland
Winzingo
Betboo
Unallocated central costs

Share option charges

6.1.1 Personnel expenditure

Wages and salaries, including directors’
remuneration
Amounts paid to long term contractors
Compulsory social security contributions
Pension allowances

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s
10,319
1,538
709
740
––––––––
13,306
––––––––

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s
4,255
213
––––––––
4,468
920
1,457
1,457
1,847
170
––––––––
10,319
––––––––

2,242
3,271
730
1,270
2,593
––––––––
10,106
213
––––––––
10,319
––––––––

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s
8,941
1,917
436
280
––––––––
11,574
––––––––

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s
4,817
557
––––––––
5,374
1,102
987
1,442
–
36
––––––––
8,941
––––––––

1,985
3,383
–
–
3,016
––––––––
8,384
557
––––––––
8,941
––––––––

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s
8,109
–
57
2,919
––––––––
11,085
––––––––

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s
3,449
815
––––––––
4,264
2,161
166
1,271
–
247
––––––––
8,109
––––––––

2,097
662
–
–
4,535
––––––––
7,294
815
––––––––
8,109
––––––––

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s

3,590
452
169
44
––––––––
4,255
––––––––

3,031
1,594
123
69
––––––––
4,817
––––––––

1,957
1,378
65
49
––––––––
3,449
––––––––

Notes

6.1
6.2

Notes

6.1.1

6.1.3

6.1.4

Notes

6.1.2

6.1.2

34

Number of personnel
With employment contracts or service contracts
Contractors

At 31 Dec
2009
Number
60
7
––––––––
67
––––––––

At 31 Dec
2008
Number
59
11
––––––––
70
––––––––

At 31 Dec
2007
Number
15
23
––––––––
38
––––––––

6.1.2 Directors’ remuneration

Included in wages and salaries are amounts paid to the directors for services during the year:

Directors’ remuneration (included with wages
and salaries)
Pension allowances (included within pension
allowances)

Total remuneration included within Personnel
Expenditure

Termination payments included in exceptional
items (note 6.2)

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s

1,519

1,209

1,236

–
––––––––

1,519
––––––––

–
––––––––

46
––––––––

1,255
––––––––

449
––––––––

45
––––––––

1,281
––––––––

–
––––––––

The  directors  who  served  throughout  the  year  were:  Lee  Feldman,  Kenny  Alexander,  Nigel  Blythe-
Tinker, Richard Cooper, Karl Diacono.

6.1.3 Professional fees

At 31 December 2009, the group has legal entities in Luxembourg, Cyprus, Malta, Italy, Netherlands
Antilles,  Jersey  and  Israel.  Accordingly,  the  group  seeks  professional  advice  in  these  and  other
jurisdictions,  including  the  UK  where  its  shares  are  traded  on  the  Alternative  Investment  Market
(“AIM”) of the London Stock Exchange, Spain, where the Winzingo product is marketed, and Brazil,
where the Betboo product is marketed.

During 2008, the Group settled legal claims with Fort Knox Consulting LLC which were provided for
in 2007.

(Credit) / Costs incurred in the settlement of fees
with Fort Knox Consulting LLC
Other professional fees

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s

–
920
––––––––
920
––––––––

(384)
1,486
––––––––
1,102
––––––––

692
1,469
––––––––
2,161
––––––––

35

6.1.4 Office, travel and other expenditure, by brand

CasinoClub
Betaland
Winzingo
Betboo

Sub-total
Unallocated central costs

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s
507
449
–
83
––––––––
1,039
418
––––––––
1,457
––––––––

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s
458
486
–
–
––––––––
944
498
––––––––
1,442
––––––––

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s
441
159
–
–
––––––––
600
671
––––––––
1,271
––––––––

6.2

Exceptional items

The  Group  incurred  expenditure  on  exceptional  items  (as  defined  in  accounting  policy  note  1.14).
These are items which are both exceptional in size and nature.

Disposal of GVC Corporation SpA 
Termination costs related to consultants
Abnormal individual jackpot win
Write-off of working capital loan to
New Town Capital Limited
(trading as Winzingo)
Termination and other costs associated 
with Board changes
Professional fees associated with abortive
take-over during the year

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s
1,005
283
250

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s
–
–
–

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s
–
–
–

Notes

6.2.1
6.2.2
6.2.3

–

–

–
––––––––
1,538
––––––––

1,075

526

316
––––––––
1,917
––––––––

–

–

–
––––––––
–
––––––––

6.2.1 Disposal of GVC Corporation S.p.A

As  announced  on  17  December  2009,  the  group  entered  into  an  agreement  to  dispose  of  GVC
Corporation S.p.A., its licensed Italian subsidiary, to local management for a nominal sum.

The exceptional item recognises the legal costs incurred in this process together with the write-off of
the investment held and the net assets parted with at the time of the sale, being 31 August 2009.

During the eight month period to 31 August 2009, the company generated NGR of c553k and made
a loss (before and after) taxation of c731k.

36

The balance sheet at the date of disposal had the following assets and liabilities:

Assets
Cash & cash equivalents
Trade debtors
Trade creditors

The loss on disposal was calculated as follows:

Write-off of assets
Write-off of licences 
Payment of debt to technology provider
Staff terminations

d000’s
396
295
182
(744)
––––––––
129
––––––––

d000’s
129
360
360
156
––––––––
1,005
––––––––

6.2.2 Termination costs related to consultants

The group terminated the contracts with certain long-term senior contractors during the period and
has recognised the settlements as exceptional items, being the extension of the restructuring work the
group has undertaken.

6.2.3 Unusual jackpot win

There was a significant winner of a jackpot during the year ended 31 December 2009. A single player
won c309k on a game known as “Roman Empire.” In accordance with the group’s policy, the amount
withdrawn by the customer (in this case c250k) has been treated as an exceptional item.

7.

FINANCIAL INCOME AND FINANCIAL EXPENSES

Financial income – interest income

Financial expense – interest payable
– Interest payable
– Unwinding of discount on deferred consideration

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s
64
––––––––

(5)
(467)
––––––––
(472)
––––––––

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s
551
––––––––

(6)
–
––––––––
(6)
––––––––

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s
459
––––––––

(20)
–
––––––––
(20)
––––––––

37

8.

TAXATION

Current tax for the current and prior periods is classified as a current liability to the extent that it is
unpaid. Amounts paid in excess of amounts owed are classified as a current asset. There is a current
tax asset of c525k (net of tax payable amounts) at 31 December 2009 (2008: Current tax liability of
c371k (net of tax receivable amounts)).

8.1

Taxation amounts recognised in the Income Statement

Current tax expense
Current year
Adjustments for prior period

Deferred tax income
Origination and reversal of temporary differences
Reduction in tax rate
Benefits of tax losses recognises

Total income tax expense/(income) in 
income statement

Reconciliation of effective tax rate

Profit before tax

Income tax using the domestic corporation tax rate
Effect of tax rates in foreign jurisdictions 
(Rates decreased)
Capital allowances for period in access of depreciation

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s

408
–
—————
408
—————

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s

360
–
—————
360
—————

(42)
–
–
—————

–
–
–
—————

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s

–
–
—————
–
—————

(11)

—————

366
—————

360
—————

(11)
—————

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s

13,820
3,870

16,903
4,817

16,631
4,936

(3,462)
(42)
—————
366
—————

(4,457)
–
—————
360
—————

(4,936)
(11)
—————
(11)
—————

A deferred tax asset was recognised as the Group considers that it more probable than not that future
taxable profits will be available against which the asset could be utilised.

38

8.2

Taxation amounts recognised in the Balance Sheet

At 1 January 2007
Paid/(received) during the year ended 
31 December 2007
(Charge)/credit in income statement 
for the year ended 31 December 2007

Balances at 31 December 2007

Balances at 1 January 2008
Paid/(received) during the year ended 
31 December 2008
(Charge)/credit in income statement 
for the year ended 31 December 2008

Balances at 31 December 2008

Balances at 1 January 2009
Paid/(received) during the year ended 
31 December 2009
(Charge)/credit in income statement 
for the year ended 31 December 2009

Balances at 31 December 2009

Current Tax

c000’s
c000’s
Payable Receivable
–

(18)

Deferred Tax

c000’s
Asset
–

c000’s
Liability
–

–

–

–

–

Total
c000

(18)

–

–

–

11
———— ———— ———— ———— ————
(7)
———— ———— ———— ———— ————
(7)

(18)

(18)

11

11

11

–

–

–

–

–

7

–

–

–

7

2,611

(2,971)

(360)
———— ———— ———— ———— ————
(360)
———— ———— ———— ———— ————
(360)

(2,982)

(2,982)

2,611

2,611

11

11

–

–

–

–

2,956

(1,652)

–

–

1,304

2,236

(2,644)

(366)
———— ———— ———— ———— ————
578
———— ———— ———— ———— ————

(2,670)

3,195

53

42

–

–

Tax reclaimable represents a portion of the tax paid by GVC Corporation Limited (a wholly owned
company incorporated in Malta), which is refundable by the Maltese tax authorities to Gaming VC
Holdings  S.A.  shortly  after  the  submission  of  the  audited  accounts  and  tax  computation  for  GVC
Corporation Limited.

9.

9.1

EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share and Basic earnings per share before exceptional items

Basic earnings per share

Basic earnings per share before exceptional items

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
g

0.432
—————
0.482
—————

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c

0.531
—————
0.593
—————

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c

0.534
—————
0.534
—————

Basic earnings per share has been calculated by taking the profit attributable to ordinary shareholders
of c13,454k (2008: c16,543k) and dividing by the weighted average number of shares in issue, being
31,135,762 (2008: 31,135,762).

Basic earnings per share before exceptional items has been calculated by taking the profit attributable
to ordinary shareholders of c13,454k (2008: c16,543k), adding back the cost of exceptional items of
c1,538k (2008:  c1,917k)  and  dividing  by  the  weighted  average  number  of  shares  in  issue,  being
31,135,762 (2008: 31,135,762).

39

9.2

Diluted earnings per share and Diluted earnings per share before exceptional items

Diluted earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share before exceptional items

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
g

0.424
—————
0.473
—————

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c

0.521
—————
0.582
—————

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c

0.534
—————
0.534
—————

Diluted  earnings  per  share  has  been  calculated  by  taking  the  profit  attributable  to  ordinary
shareholders of c13,454k (2008: c16,543k) and dividing by the weighted average number of shares
in issue as diluted by share options, being 31,707,094 (2008: 31,726,146).

Diluted  earnings  per  share  before  exceptional  items  has  been  calculated  by  taking  the  profit
attributable  to  ordinary  shareholders  of  c13,454  (2008:  c16,543k),  adding  back  the  cost  of
exceptional items of c1,538k (2008: c1,917k) and dividing by the weighted average number of shares
in issue, as diluted by share options, being 31,707,094 (2008: 31,726,146).

Diluted number of shares

Weighted average number of ordinary shares at
end of the year
Effect of share options in issue

Weighted average number of ordinary shares 
(diluted) at end of year

10.

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

10.1

Cost

Year ended
31 Dec
2009

Year ended
31 Dec
2008

Year ended
31 Dec
2007

31,135,762
571,332
—————

31,135,762
590,384
—————

31,135,762
–
—————

31,707,094
—————

31,726,146
—————

31,135,762
—————

Allocated by brand

Total
Property
Fixtures and Plant and
Fittings Equipment
g000’s
c000’s
112
112
(112)
(112)
562
562

Casino
Club
c000’s
112
(112)
–

–

562

562

Betaland
c000’s
–
–
562

Central
c000’s
–
–
–
————– ————– ————– ————– ————–
–
————– ————– ————– ————– ————–
–
–
————– ————– ————– ————– ————–
–
————– ————– ————– ————– ————–
–
–
–
————– ————– ————– ————– ————–
–
————– ————– ————– ————– ————–

2,015
(320)
441

2,015
(320)
441

1,190
(320)
345

825
–
96

562
1,453

562
1,453

562
628

–
825

2,136

2,015

2,136

1,215

2,015

1,190

562

825

921

Balance at 1 Jan 2007
Disposals
Additions

Balance at 31 Dec 2007

Balance at 1 Jan 2008
Additions

Balance at 31 Dec 2008

Balance at 1 Jan 2009
Disposals
Additions

Balance at 31 Dec 2009

40

10.2 Depreciation and impairment losses

Balance at 1 Jan 2007
Disposal
Depreciation charge for the year

Balance at 31 Dec 2007

Balance at 1 Jan 2008
Depreciation charge for the year

Balance at 31 Dec 2008

Balance at 1 Jan 2009
Disposal
Depreciation charge for the year

Balance at 31 Dec 2009

10.3

Carrying amounts

At 31 December 2007

At 31 December 2008

At 31 December 2009

Allocated by brand

Total
Property
Fixtures and Plant and
Fittings Equipment
g000’s
c000’s
56
56
(72)
(72)
57
57

Central
c000’s
–
–
–
————– ————– ————– ————– ————–
–
————– ————– ————– ————– ————–
–

Betaland
c000’s
–
–
41

41

41

41

–

Casino
Club
c000’s
56
(72)
16

41
436

–
153

41
283

41
436

477

153

477

————– ————– ————– ————– ————–
–
————– ————– ————– ————– ————–
–
–
–
————– ————– ————– ————– ————–
–
————– ————– ————– ————– ————–

477
(149)
709

477
(149)
709

324
(149)
414

153
–
295

1,037

1,037

448

324

589

Allocated by brand

Total
Property
Fixtures and Plant and
Fittings Equipment
g000’s
c000’s
521
521

Casino
Club
c000’s
–

Central
c000’s
–
————– ————– ————– ————– ————–
–
————– ————– ————– ————– ————–
–
————– ————– ————– ————– ————–

Betaland
c000’s
521

1,538

1,538

1,099

1,099

473

626

672

866

41

Software

Consulting
&

Non-
contractual
customer
Licence Magazine relationships
d000’s
d000’s
d000’s
4,919
12,146
–
95

Total

d000’s
– 105,822
95
–

12,241

12,241
435

12,676

12,676
(313)
2,590

14,953

2,455
12,398
100

14,953

–
12,262
414

12,676

–
12,236
5

12,241

4,919

4,919
–

4,919

4,919
–
–

4,919

–
4,919
–

4,919

–
4,919
–

4,919

–
4,919
–

4,919

– 105,917

– 105,917
435
–

– 106,352

– 106,352
(313)
–
8,268
1,704

1,704 114,307

1,704

8,133
– 106,074
100
–

1,704 114,307

–
–
– 105,938
414
–

– 106,352

–
–
– 105,912
5
–

– 105,917

11.

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

11.1

Cost

Balance at 1 Jan 2007
Additions

Balance at 31 Dec 2007

Balance at 1 Jan 2008
Additions

At 31 Dec 2008

Balance at 1 Jan 2009
Disposals
Additions

At 31 Dec 2009

By brand at 31 Dec 2009
Betboo
Casino Club
Betaland

By brand at 31 Dec 2008
Betboo
Casino Club
Betaland

By brand at 31 Dec 2007
Betboo
Casino Club
Betaland

Goodwill

d000’s
73,613
–

73,613

73,613
–

73,613

73,613
–
3,278

76,891

3,278
73,613
–

76,891

–
73,613
–

73,613

–
73,613
–

73,613

Trade-
marks &
Trade name
d000’s
15,144
–

15,144

15,144
–

15,144

15,144
–
696

15,840

696
15,144
–

15,840

–
15,144
–

15,144

–
15,144
–

15,144

42

11.2

Amortisation and Impairment losses

Balance at 1 Jan 2007
Amortisation for the year

Balance at 31 Dec 2007

Balance at 1 Jan 2008
Amortisation for the year

At 31 Dec 2008

Balance at 1 Jan 2009
Amortisation for the year
Disposals

At 31 Dec 2009

By brand, at 31 Dec 2009
Betboo
Casino Club
Betaland

By brand, at 31 Dec 2008
Casino Club
Betaland

By brand, at 31 Dec 2007
Casino Club
Betaland

Goodwill

d000’s
33,274
–

33,274

33,274
–

33,274

33,274
–
–

33,274

–
33,274
–

33,274

33,274
–

33,274

33,274
–

33,274

Total

d000’s
47,274
2,919

50,193

50,193
280

50,473

50,473
740
(88)

51,125

607
50,478
40

51,125

50,406
67

50,473

50,192
1

50,193

Trade-
marks &
Trade name
d000’s
–
–

Software

Consulting
&

Non-
contractual
customer
Licence Magazine relationships
d000’s
d000’s
d000’s
–
3,231
10,769
–
1,584
1,335

–

–
–

–

–
87
–

87

87
–
–

87

–
–

–

–
–

–

12,104

12,104
176

12,280

12,280
440
(88)

12,632

307
12,285
40

12,632

12,213
67

12,280

12,103
1

12,104

4,815

4,815
104

4,919

4,919
–
–

4,919

–
4,919
–

4,919

4,919
–

4,919

4,815
–

4,815

–

–
–

–

–
213
–

213

213
–
–

213

–
–

–

–
–

–

43

11.3

Carrying amounts

At 31 Dec 2007

At 31 Dec 2008

At 31 Dec 2009

At 31 December 2009
Betboo
Casino Club
Betaland

At 31 December 2008
Betboo
Casino Club
Betaland

At 31 December 2007
Betboo
Casino Club
Betaland

Goodwill

d000’s
40,339

40,339

43,617

3,278
40,339
–

43,617

–
40,339
–

40,339

–
40,339
–

40,339

Trade-
marks &
Trade name
d000’s
15,144

15,144

15,753

609
15,144
–

15,753

–
15,144
–

15,144

–
15,144
–

15,144

Software

Consulting
&

Non-
contractual
customer
Licence Magazine relationships
d000’s
d000’s
d000’s
–
104
137

Total

d000’s
55,724

396

2,321

2,148
113
60

2,321

–
49
347

396

–
133
4

137

–

–

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

–
104
–

104

–

55,879

1,491

63,182

1,491
–
–

7,526
55,596
60

1,491

63,182

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

–
55,532
347

55,879

–
55,720
4

55,724

11.4

Amortisation and impairment charge

The amortisation for the year is recognised in the following line items in the income statement.

Net operating expenses

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
g000’s
740
—————

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s
280
—————

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s
2,919
—————

11.5

Impairment tests for cash-generating units containing goodwill and trademarks

An Impairment Review of the Group’s goodwill and trademarks was carried out for the year ended
31 December 2009. The carrying values of the assets were compared with the recoverable amounts,
which  were  determined  with  the  assistance  of  independent  valuers.  The  recoverable  amount  was
estimated  based  upon  a  value  in  use  calculation,  based  upon  management  forecasts  for  the  years
ending 31 December 2010 and 31 December 2011.

A long-term growth rate of 2.5% was used, to reflect the risk of adverse changes in legislation in the
future on potential market growth. A discount rate of 18% was used, based on company specific post-
tax  weighted  average  cost  of  capital.  Having  performed  appropriate  sensitivity  analysis  on  the  key
assumptions (including reducing the growth rate to nil and increasing the discount rate to 20%), it
was concluded that the carrying value of the goodwill and trademarks was not impaired.

44

The following units have significant carrying amounts of goodwill:

Betboo
Casino Club

12.

ACQUISITION OF BETBOO

31 Dec
2009
d000’s
3,278
40,339
—————
43,617
—————

31 Dec
2008
c000’s
–
40,339
—————
40,339
—————

31 Dec
2007
c000’s
–
40,339
—————
40,339
—————

On 2 July 2009, the Group acquired the trade and assets of betboo.com, a leading South American
internet gaming operator, offering, bingo, casino, poker and a sports betting product.

The terms of the acquisition were an upfront payment of US$4 million (c3,040k) with the sellers able
to earn up to a further US$26 million depending on performance, being the sum of: one times the
post tax profits for the year ended 30 June 2010; plus one times the post tax profits for the year ended
30  June  2011;  and  five  times  the  post  tax  profits  for  the  year  ended  30  June  2012,  subject  to  a
maximum total consideration, including the initial consideration, of US$30 million.

IFRS3, Business Combinations, requires management to value the asset acquired, and, as there is an
element of deferred consideration, to discount this consideration to its present value at the date of
acquisition. Over the period of the earn-out, this discount is unwound, resulting in a charge to the
Income Statement. The group instructed an independent firm of Chartered Accountants to conduct
a valuation of the intangible assets acquired, and a valuation of the purchase price in accordance with
IFRS 3.

Management have estimated the deferred consideration payable to be c8,963k, and the discount to
be c4,076k, resulting in the discounted value being c4,887k.

The Group acquired the asset through the acquisition of a shell company, Intera NV, (incorporated in
the Netherlands Antilles) and its subsidiary, Intertronic Ltd (incorporated in Malta).

12.1

Cost of acquisition
The fair value of the cost of acquisition was c8,027k and includes the components stated below:

Initial consideration paid
Acquisition costs
Fair value of consideration on acquisition
Discount back to date of acquisition

Non-discounted value of business acquired

8,963
(4,076)
—————

Value
g000’s
3,040
100

4,887
—————
8,027
—————
12,103
—————

The fair value of the cost of acquisition has been estimated using cash flow projections for the 3 years
to 2012, and discounted using the estimated weighted average cost of capital of 21%.

45

12.2

Assets acquired at fair values

Intangible assets:

Pre-acquisition
carrying
amount
c000’s

Adjustments
to fair value Recognised on
acquisition
c000’s

fair value
c000’s

Total current assets

Total non-current assets

Trade and other payables

Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Net identifiable assets and liabilities
Goodwill on acquisition

non contractual customer relationships
software
trade name

1,704
2,455
696
—————
4,855
—————
–
–
—————
–
—————
–
—————
4,855
3,278
—————
8,133
—————

–
–
–
—————
–
—————
205
1
—————
206
—————
(312)
—————
(106)
–
—————
(106)
—————

1,704
2,455
696
—————
4,855
—————
205
1
—————
206
—————
(312)
—————
4,749
3,278
—————
8,027
—————
4,887
3,140
—————
8,027
—————
3,140
(1)
—————
3,139
—————
Goodwill of c3,278k is primarily related to growth expectations, expected future profitability, the skill
and expertise of the trained workforce and expected cost synergies. Goodwill has been allocated to
the betboo cash generating unit at 31 December 2009. No major line of business will be disposed of
as a result of the combination.

Cost of acquisition, satisfied in cash
Cash and cash equivalents acquired

Cost of acquisition, deferred
Cost of acquisition, satisfied in cash

Cash outflow on acquisition

Net assets acquired

12.3 Useful economic life of Intangible assets

The  fair  values  of  the  intangible  assets  acquired  in  the  transaction,  including  the  tax  amortisation
benefit, and their useful economic lives are as follows:

Asset

Useful economic life

Non contractual customer relationships
Software
Trade name
Goodwill

Total

4 years
4 years
4 years
indefinite

Value
c000’s
1,704
2,455
696
3,278
—————
8,133
—————

46

12.4

Summarised income statement for Betboo for the period from 2 July 2009 to 31 December 2009

Net Gaming Revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit

Gross profit ratio

Marketing and affiliate costs
Contribution
Other operating costs

Clean EBITDA
Exceptional items
Share Option Charges

EBITDA
Depreciation
Amortisation

Operating Profit
Financial income
Unwinding of discount on deferred consideration
Other Financial expense

Loss before tax

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
c000’s
2,180
(508)
—————
1,672

77%

(299)
1,373
(1,270)
—————
103
–
–
—————
103
–
(607)
—————
(504)
–
(467)
(5)
—————
(976)
—————

Due to a lack of IFRS specific data prior to the acquisition, pro-forma profit or loss for the combined
entity for the complete 2009 period cannot be determined reliably.

12.5 Deferred Consideration

The deferred consideration has been discounted to reflect its fair value at the date of acquisition. The
effect of this discount will be unwound over the period of the deferral with a charge to the income
statement contained within interest expense. The expected impact of this over the earn-out period is
shown below:

Balance at 1 January
Fair value of deferred consideration 
on acquisition
Unwinding of discount charged to 
income statement

Balance at 31 December

2009
d000’s
–

4,887

2010
g000’s
5,354

2011
g000’s
6,441

2012
g000’s
7,768

–

–

–

467
—————
5,354
—————

1,087
—————
6,441
—————

1,327
—————
7,768
—————

1,195
—————
8,963
—————

47

13.

RECEIVABLES AND PREPAYMENTS

Trade receivables
Interest receivables
Other receivables

Loans and receivables
Prepayments

31 Dec
2009
d000’s
4,600
–
464
—————
5,064
663
—————
5,727
—————

31 Dec
2008
c000’s
5,475
9
593
—————
6,077
290
—————
6,367
—————

31 Dec
2007
c000’s
3,021
–
540
—————
3,561
734
—————
4,295
—————

Trade  receivables  include  funds  held  by  third  party  collection  agencies  as  of  31  December  2009
amounting to c4.6 million, which corresponds to the revenue generated over the last 3 weeks of the
12 month period ended 31 December 2009. Prepayments include payments as at 31 December 2009
for goods or services which will be consumed after 1 January 2010.

31 Dec
2009
d000’s

31 Dec
2008
c000’s

19,195
–
—————
19,195
—————

10,994
7,966
235
—————
19,195
—————

18,923
130
40
102
—————
19,195
—————

4,074
14,760
—————
18,834
—————

17,185
1,000
649
—————
18,834
—————

18,651
22
147
14
—————
18,834
—————

31 Dec
2007
c000’s

15,859
–
—————
15,859
—————

14,090
1,256
513
—————
15,859
—————

15,773
63
9
14
—————
15,859
—————

17,580
1,615

17,502
997

15,232
547

–
—————
19,195
—————
d0.564

335
—————
18,834
—————
c0.562

80
—————
15,859
—————
c0.489

14.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash and cash equivalents
Bank balances
Treasury deposits held with banks

Held in the following institutions:
Barclays Bank
Bank of Valletta (Malta)
Other

Held in the following currencies
(in euro equivalents at the balance sheet date):
Euro
US Dollars
British Pounds
Other

Comprising:
Own funds
Customer balances (note 15)
Funds held in escrow representing withholding tax 
for founder shareholders

Amount per share represented by own funds

48

15.

TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

Balances with customers
Other trade payables

Total trade payables
Accruals
Other creditors: balances due to founder shareholders 
in respect of withholding taxes recovered

31 Dec
2009
d000’s
1,615
1,121
—————
2,736
3,818

31 Dec
2008
c000’s
997
1,254
—————
2,251
2,891

–
—————
6,554
—————

335
—————
5,477
—————

31 Dec
2007
c000’s
547
991
—————
1,538
2,786

80
—————
4,404
—————

With-holding  taxes  held  in  escrow  represent  the  liability  to  founder  shareholders  in  relation  to  the
recovery of withholding taxes from the Luxembourg fiscal authorities. It was paid on to the founder
shareholders in January 2009. The fair value of open bets at either period end is not material.

16.

OTHER TAXATION PAYABLE

Social security and other similar taxes
Value added taxes
Betting taxes and similar

31 Dec
2009
d000’s
24
–
28
—————
52
—————

31 Dec
2008
c000’s
13
78
82
—————
173
—————

31 Dec
2007
c000’s
–
–
26
—————
26
—————

Income taxes principally represent tax on the profits of the operations of GVC Corporation Limited,
the Group’s licensed business in Malta.

17.

SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS

31 Dec 2009

Casino club

Betaland Winzingo

Betboo Unallocated

Total

Non current assets

Current assets
Current liabilities

Net current assets
Long term liabilities

Net assets

Total assets
Total liabilities

g000’s
56,070
————
837
(405)
————
432
–
————
56,502
————
56,907
(405)

g000’s
738
————
3,299
(4,244)
————
(945)
–
————
(207)
————
4,037
(4,244)

g000’s
–
————
265
(28)
————
237
–
————
237
————
265
(28)

(note 12)
g000’s
7,526
————
894
(473)
————
421
(5,354)
————
2,593
————
8,420
(5,827)

g000’s
–
————
22,822
(4,126)
————
18,696
–
————
18,696
————
22,822
(4,126)

g000’s
64,334
————
28,117
(9,276)
————
18,841
(5,354)
————
77,821
————
92,451
(14,630)

Expenditure on non current
assets
Property, plant and equipment
(note 10)
Intangible assets (note 11)

96
135
————
231
————

345
–
————
345
————

–
–
————
–
————

–
8,040
————
8,040
————

–
–
————
–
————

441
8,175
————
8,616
————

49

31 Dec 2008

Non current assets

Current assets
Current liabilities

Net current assets

Net assets

Total assets
Total liabilities

Casino club
g000’s
56,442
————
2,247
(408)
————
1,839
————
58,281
————
58,689
(408)

Betaland Winzingo
g000’s
–
————
18
(1)
————
17
————
17
————
18
(1)

g000’s
986
————
4,056
(2,838)
————
1,218
————
2,204
————
5,042
(2,838)

Betboo Unallocated
g000’s
g000’s
–
–
————
————
21,491
–
(5,385)
–
————
————
16,106
–
————
————
16,106
–
————
————
21,491
–
(5,385)
–

Expenditure on non current 
assets
Property, plant and equipment 
(note 10)
Intangible assets (note 11)

825
25
————
850
————

628
410
————
1,038
————

–
–
————
–
————

–
–
————
–
————

–
–
————
–
————

31 Dec 2007

Non current assets

Current assets
Current liabilities

Net current assets

Total assets
Total liabilities

Net assets

Casino club
g000’s
55,729
————
2,781
(811)
————
1,970
————
58,510
(811)
————
57,699
————

Betaland Winzingo
g000’s
–
————
–
–
————
–
————
–
–
————
–
————

g000’s
527
————
1,349
(1,845)
————
(496)
————
1,876
(1,845)
————
31
————

Betboo Unallocated
g000’s
g000’s
–
–
————
————
16,024
–
(1,792)
–
————
————
14,232
–
————
————
16,024
–
(1,792)
–
————
————
14,232
–
————
————

Total
g000’s
57,428
————
27,812
(8,632)
————
19,180
————
76,608
————
85,240
(8,632)

1,453
435
————
1,888
————

Total
g000’s
56,256
————
20,154
(4,448)
————
15,706
————
76,410
(4,448)
————
71,962
————

Expenditure on non current 
assets
Property, plant and equipment 
(note 10)
Intangible assets (note 11)

–
90
————
90
————

562
5
————
567
————

–
–
————
–
————

–
–
————
–
————

–
–
————
–
————

562
95
————
657
————

Analysis of non-current assets by geographical region

Property, plant and equipment

Malta
Israel

Intangible assets
Malta
South America

Deferred tax asset

Malta

2009
d000’s
625
474
—————
1,099
—————

55,656
7,526
—————
63,182
—————

—————
53
—————

2008
c000’s
915
623
—————
1,538
—————

55,879
–
—————
55,879
—————

—————
11
—————

2007
c000’s
521
–
—————
521
—————

55,724
–
—————
55,724
—————

—————
11
—————

The analysis of assets by currency is shown in note 21.2.1.

50

18.

SHARE CAPITAL

Since 20 December 2004 the authorised and issued share capital has been:

Number of Ordinary shares
Par value per share
Aggregate paid up value

Number of Redeemable shares
Par value per share
Aggregate value

Authorised
40,000,000
c1.24
c49,600,000

Issued
31,135,762
c1.24
c38,608,345

30,000
c1.24
c37,300

Nil
–
–

The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time and are
entitled to one vote per share at meetings of the Company. However, should the Company not be
satisfied as to the true identity of the shareholders it can suspend the entitlement of those shareholders
to receive dividends.

As Luxembourg shares are not eligible for CREST settlement, economic interests in shares are traded
through depository interests. At 31 March 2009, the true split of shares was:

Held in registered form by Capital IRG Trustees Limited
Held in registered form by other shareholders

30,219,369
916,393
—————
31,135,762
—————

The economic interest in the shares at 31 March 2009 was represented by the following significant
shareholders:

Audley Capital Management Limited
Ora (Guernsey) Limited
Steve Barlow
Capital Research and Management Co
M&G Investment Management

9,109,911
2,629,885
1,951,927
1,491,800
1,400,000

29.3%
8.4%
6.3%
4.8%
4.5%

18.1

Share premium
As permitted by Luxembourg company law, c5,084k of the total of c12,454k of the dividend paid
during  2009  was  debited  to  the  Share  Premium  account  and  the  balance  was  charged  to  retained
earnings as more fully shown in the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity on page 18.

At  the  2008  Annual  General  Meeting,  shareholders  approved  the  transfer  from  Share  Premium  to
retained earnings of c38,145k.

18.2

Capital management policies and procedures

The Group’s capital management objectives are to ensure its ability to continue as a going concern
and  to  provide  an  adequate  return  to  shareholders  and  benefits  to  other  stakeholders  by  pricing
services commensurately with the level of risk, and maintaining an optimal capital structure to reduce
the cost of capital.

In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the company may issue new shares, return capital
to shareholders, limit the amount of dividends paid, or sell assets.

Total equity employed at 31 December 2009 was c78.3 million (2008: c76.6 million).

51

19.

DIVIDENDS

After the balance sheet date, but up to the date on which these financial statements were approved,
the following dividends were proposed by the directors:

Total amount
Amount per qualifying share

20.

SHARE OPTION SCHEMES

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d000’s
gnil
gnil
—————

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c000’s
c6,227,152
c0.20
—————

Year ended
31 Dec
2007
c000’s
c6,227,152
c0.20
—————

At 2 December 2004, the Group established a share option programme that entitles key management
personnel and senior employees to purchase shares in the Group. Subsequently, grants were made
available  to  eligible  individuals  under  the  programme  as  detailed  below.  In  accordance  with  the
programme,  options  are  exercisable  at  the  market  price  of  the  shares  at  the  starting  date  of
employment or the date of grant.

Based on the advice of external valuation experts, the valuation of the share options is conducted on
two bases:

Options granted prior to 1 January 2007
Options granted after 1 January 2007

: Black-Scholes
: Binominal

20.1

Vesting

On the first anniversary of the grant date, 25% of the option grant vests. Thereafter, the balance of
the option grant vests over three years, at 1/36th per month.

20.2 Options outstanding

The options which have been granted, and are still capable of being exercised as shown below:

Date of grant
21 Dec 2004
28 Sep 2005
16 May 2006
1 Mar 2007
15 May 2007
21 Aug 2007
21 Sept 2007
27 Nov 2007
26 Feb 2008
12 Dec 2008

Vested at 31 Dec 2009
Unvested at 31 Dec 2009

Number
Share price of options
at 1 Jan
2009
310,000
53,807
140,000
800,000
243,052
110,000
126,500
390,000
150,000
400,000

at date
of grant
£4.20
£4.20
£3.875
£1.105
£1.26
£1.285
£1.345
£1.21
£1.39
£1.00

Exercise
price
£4.20
£4.20
£4.20
£1.00
£1.29
£1.285
£1.345
£1.3816
£1.3816
£1.26

Number
Lapsed of options
during at 31 Dec
2009
310,000
–
140,000
800,000
154,590
–
–
–
150,000
400,000

the year
–
(53,807)
–
–
(88,462)
(110,000)
(126,500)
(390,000)
–
–

2,723,359

(768,769) 1,954,590

1,254,006
700,584

1,954,590

The  existing  share  option  scheme  allows  the  company  to  grant  up  to  10%  of  the  issued  Ordinary
Share  Capital  in  share  options.  At  the  balance  sheet  date,  6.28%  had  been  granted  and  was
outstanding.

52

20.3 Directors’ and others interest in options

At  31  December  2009  and  at 19 April  2010  (when  these  financial  statements  were  approved)  the
Directors’ interest, and interest of other option holders in share options was as follows:

At 31 December 2009
Individual and grant date
L Feldman
21.12.04
16.05.05

N.Blythe-Tinker

21.12.04
16.05.05
K Alexander
01.03.07

R Cooper

12.12.08

Other personnel

15.05.07
26.02.08

Strike price

Vested

Not vested

Total

£4.20
£4.20

£4.20
£4.20

155,000
40,313

155,000
85,104

–
4,687

–
9,896

155,000
45,000

155,000
95,000

£1.00

550,000

250,000

800,000

£1.26

100,000

300,000

400,000

£1.29
£1.3816

99,839
68,750

54,751
81,250

154,590
150,000

1,254,006

700,584

1,954,590

On 27 January 2010, the Remuneration Committee made an offer to the Executive Directors to cancel
their options that had been vested by that date. The Executive directors accepted that offer and were
compensated in cash at the price of £2.11 for those options. The average share price in the three days
immediately prior to this offer was £2.13.

The individual details of these arrangements were as follows:

Director
K Alexander
R Cooper

Number
of options
vested
566,667
108,333
————–
675,000
————–

Exercise Compensation
price
£2.11
£2.11

price
£1.00
£1.26

Amount
paid
£629,000
£92,083
————–
£721,083
————–

At 19 April 2010 (when these financial statements were approved)

Individual and grant date
L Feldman
21.12.04
16.05.05

N.Blythe-Tinker

21.12.04
16.05.05
K Alexander
01.03.07

R Cooper

12.12.08

Other personnel

15.05.07
26.02.08

Strike price

Vested

Not vested

Total

£4.20
£4.20

£4.20
£4.20

155,000
44,063

155,000
93,021

–
937

–
1,979

155,000
45,000

155,000
95,000

£1.00

33,333

200,000

233,333

£1.26

16,667

275,000

291,667

£1.29
£1.3816

112,722
78,125

687,931

41,868
71,875

154,590
150,000

591,659

1,279,590

* The exercise price for K Alexander was determined on the date of the announcement of him joining the company, 2
February  2007,  when  the  mid-market  closing  price  of  the  shares  in  the  three  days  immediately  preceding  the
announcement was 81.33p

53

20.4 Weighted average exercise price of options

The number and weighted average exercise prices of share options is as follows:

Weighted
average
price
2009
GBP
1.76
–
1.35

Outstanding at the beginning of the year
Granted during the year
Forfeited during the year

Number of
Options
2009

2,723,359
–
(768,769)

Weighted
average
exercise
price
2008
GBP
2.03
1.29
2.44

Number of
Options
2008

3,009,883
550,000
(836,524)

Outstanding at the end of the year

1.76

1,954,590

1.76

2,723,359

Exercisable at the end of the year

1,254,006

1,075,227

The options outstanding at 31 December 2009 have a weighted average contractual life of 7 years
(2008: 8 years).

20.5 Options granted after 1 January 2007 – Binomial valuation method

The fair value of services received in return for share options granted in 2008 and 2007 were measured
by reference to the fair value of share options granted. The estimate of the fair value of the services
received is measured on a Binomial valuation model. The contractual life of the option (10 years) is
used  as  an  input  into  this  model.  Expectations  of  early  exercise  are  incorporated  into  the  Binomial
model. The option exercise price for all individuals was the average market price on grant date, or a
premium thereto apart from K Alexander whose options were priced at a premium on the date of the
announcement of his appointment.

Fair value of share options and assumptions:

Share price
at date
of grant*
(in £)

1.08

1.22

1.42

1.42

1.25

1.32

1.33

1.35

1.05

Date of grant

1 Mar 2007

15 May 07

13 Jul 07

13 Jul 07

21 Aug 07

21 Sep 07

27 Nov 07

26 Feb 08

12 Dec 08

Exercise
price
(in £)

1.00

1.29

2.98

1.60

1.29

1.345

1.33

1.3816

1.26

Expected
volatility

Exercise
multiple

Expected
dividend
yield

Risk free
rate**

Fair value at
measure-
ment date

65%

50%

60%

60%

60%

55%

50%

50%

50%

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

8%

8%

8%

8%

8%

8%

8%

12%

12%

5.02%

5.33%

5.63%

5.63%

5.07%

5.08%

4.80%

4.53%

3.02%

0.46

0.40

0.53

0.53

0.48

0.48

0.44

0.35

0.17

* This is the bid price, not the mid-market price, at market close, as sourced from Bloomberg.

**The measurement of the risk-free rate was based on rate of UK sovereign debt prevalent at each grant date over the

expected term of the option.

The expected volatility is based on the historic volatility (calculated based on the weighted average
remaining  life  of  the  share  options),  adjusted  for  any  expected  changes  to  future  volatility  due  to
publicly available information. There are no market conditions associated with the share option grants.

54

20.6 Options granted before 1 January 2007 – Black-Scholes valuation method

The fair value of services received in return for share options granted prior to 2007 were measured by
reference  to  the  fair  value  of  share  options  granted.  The  estimate  of  the  fair  value  of  the  services
received is measured on a Black-Scholes valuation model. The contractual life of the option (10 years)
is  used  as  an  input  into  this  model.  Expectations  of  early  exercise  are  incorporated  into  the  Black-
Scholes model.

The option exercise price for individuals who were employed at 21 December 2004 was the market
price on admission to AIM of £4.20 and for all other individuals was a range of prices, not being lower
than the mid-market price of the shares on the three days immediately before the grant date.

Share price
at date
of grant*
(in £)

£4.20

£5.50

£5.50

£3.89

£3.89

£3.83

Date of grant

21 Dec 04

28 Sep 05

28 Sep 05

23 Jan 06

23 Jan 06

16 May 06

Exercise
price
(in £)

£4.20

£5.50

£4.20

£3.59

£2.98

£4.20

Expected
volatility

Exercise
multiple

Expected
dividend
yield

45%

45%

45%

45%

45%

65%

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4%

5%

5%

8%

8%

8%

Risk free
rate**

4.51%

4.22%

4.22%

4.16%

4.16%

4.70%

Fair value at
measure-
ment date

£1.33

£1.58

£1.95

£0.94

£1.10

£1.23

The expected volatility is based on the historic volatility (calculated based on the weighted average
remaining  life  of  the  share  options),  adjusted  for  any  expected  changes  to  future  volatility  due  to
publicly available information.

There are no market conditions associated with the share option grants.

21.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

The  Group’s  principal  financial  instruments  as  at  31  December  2009  comprise  cash  and  cash
equivalents. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to finance the Group’s operations. The
Group has other financial instruments which mainly comprise receivables and payables, which arise
directly  from  its  operations.  Cash  and  cash  equivalents  and  trade  and  other  receivables  have  been
classified  as  loans  and  receivables  and  trade  and  other  payables,  and  deferred  consideration  as
financial liabilities measured at amortised cost.

During  the  year,  the  Group  did  not  use  derivative  financial  instruments  to  hedge  its  exposure  to
foreign exchange or interest rate risks arising from operational, financing and investment activities.
The Group does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

21.1 Market risk

Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as foreign exchange rates and interest rates
will affect the Group’s income or value of its holdings of financial instruments. Exposure to market risk
(which includes currency and interest rate risk) arises in the normal course of the Group’s business.

21.2

Foreign exchange risk

Foreign exchange risk arises from transactions, recognised assets and liabilities and net investments in
foreign operations. The Group does not use foreign exchange contracts to hedge its currency risk. The
Group dividend is declared in the Euro as a Luxembourg company. Two weeks before the dividend is
due to be paid, the Company sells Euro and buys British Pounds for an amount equal to the dividend
net of withholding tax.

55

The Group considers its net exposure to currency risk to be low and that the potential savings from
managing this exposure to be minimal.

The Group has investments in foreign operations which are all denominated in Euros minimising the
Group’s exposure to currency translation risk.

GBP
g000’s
–

USD
g000’s
–

Other
g000’s
–

21.2.1 Analysis of the balance sheet by currency

At 31.12.2009

Non-current assets

Receivables and prepayments
Tax reclaimable
Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Trade and other payables
Taxation payable

Total current liabilities

Net current assets

Long Term Liabilities
– Deferred consideration

Euro
g000’s
64,334

4,483
3,195
18,923

26,601

(5,820)
(2,722)

(8,542)

18,059

–

Total assets less current liabilities

82,393

–

(5,354)

(166)

77,821

Total
g000’s
64,334

5,727
3,195
19,195

28,117

(6,554)
(2,722)

(9,276)

18,841

Total
g000’s
57,428

6,367
2,611
18,834

27,812

(5,477)
(3,155)

(8,632)

19,180

76,608

Total
g000’s
56,256

4,295
–
15,859

20,154

(4,404)
(44)

(4,448)

15,706

71,962

752
–
130

882

(61)
–

(61)

821

(5,354)

(4,533)

USD
g000’s
–

22
–
22

44

(151)
–

(151)

(107)

(107)

286
–
102

388

(554)
–

(554)

(166)

Other
g000’s
–

72
–
14

86

(130)
–

(130)

(44)

(44)

USD
g000’s
–

Other
g000’s
–

100
–
9

109

(741)
–

(741)

(632)

(632)

–
–
14

14

(69)
–

(69)

(55)

(55)

206
–
40

246

(119)
–

(119)

127

–

127

GBP
g000’s
–

62
–
147

209

Euro
g000’s
57,428

6,211
2,611
18,651

27,473

(3,729)
(3,155)

(1,467)
–

(6,884)

(1,467)

(1,258)

(1,258)

GBP
g000’s
–

70
–
63

133

(638)
–

(638)

(505)

(505)

20,589

78,017

Euro
g000’s
56,256

4,125
–
15,773

19,898

(2,956)
(44)

(3,000)

16,898

73,154

56

At 31.12.2008

Non-current assets

Receivables and prepayments
Tax reclaimable
Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Trade and other payables
Taxation payable

Total current liabilities

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities

At 31.12.2007

Non-current assets

Receivables and prepayments
Tax reclaimable
Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Trade and other payables
Taxation payable

Total current liabilities

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities

A significant proportion of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities are denominated in Euros, which
minimises the Group’s exposure to foreign exchange risk. Management do not consider the impact
of possible exchange rate movements based on current market conditions to be material to the net
result for the year.

21.3

Interest rate risk

The Group earns interest from bank deposits. During the year, the Group held cash on deposits with
a range of maturities of less than three months. The Group had no committed borrowing facilities as
at 31 December 2009 (2008: nil).

Management do not consider the impact of possible interest rate movements based on current market
conditions to be material to the net result for the year or the equity position at the year end for either
the year ended 31 December 2008 or 31 December 2009.

21.4

Credit risk

The Group has no significant concentrations of credit risk with exposure spread over a large number
of  customers.  The  Group  does  not  grant  credit  facilities  to  any  of  its  customers  and  the  maximum
exposure to credit risk is represented by the carrying amount of each financial asset in the balance
sheet.

The Group has material exposure to credit risk through amounts owed by Webdollar (a third party
collection  agency  owned  by  Boss  Media,  the  Group’s  principal  software  provider)  of  c2.07 million
(2008: c2.04 million) and cash balances held with Barclays Bank plc of c11.0 million (2008: c17.2
million). The Group considers the credit risk associated with these balances to be low, having assessed
the  credit  ratings  and  financial  strength  of  the  counter-parties  involved.  The  Group  is  seeking  to
diversify its banking deposits to further reduce credit risk.

No  provision  for  impairment  has  been  made  at  31  December  2009  (2008:  cnil).  No  receivable
amounts were past due date at 31 December 2009 (2008: cnil).

21.5

Liquidity risk
At  31  December  2009,  the  Group  had  cash  and  cash  equivalents  of  c19.2  million  (2008:  c18.8
million) and considers liquidity risk to be low for the business.

All  financial  liabilities  at  the  year-end  are  due  within  one  year,  with  the  exception  of  the  deferred
consideration on Betboo.

21.6

Fair Values

The  carrying  amounts  of  the  financial  assets  and  liabilities,  including  deferred  consideration  in  the
Balance  Sheet  at  31  December  2009  and  2008  for  the  Group  and  Company  are  a  reasonable
approximation of their fair values. All trade and other receivables and payables have a maturity of less
than one year.

57

21.7

Summary of financial assets and liabilities by category

The carrying amounts of the group’s financial assets and liabilities recognised at the balance sheet date
are categorised as follows:

Current assets:

Financial assets measured as loans and receivables –
Trade and Other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Current liabilities:

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost –
Trade and other payables
Deferred consideration

22

RELATED PARTIES

22.1

Identity of related parties

31 Dec
2009
g000’s

31 Dec
2008
c000’s

31 Dec
2007
c000’s

5,064
19,195

6,077
18,834

3,561
15,859

6,554
5,354

5,477
–

4,404
–

The Group has a related party relationship with its subsidiaries (see note 23) and with its directors and
executive officers.

22.2

Transactions with key management personnel

The Group’s key management personnel are considered to be the directors as shown in note 6.1.2.

Directors of the Company and their immediate relatives control 12,000 of the voting shares of the
Company (0.4%).

Nigel Blythe-Tinker is the non-executive chairman of Pentasia Limited, a leading recruiter in the field
of internet gaming. During the year ended 31 December 2009, Pentasia provided recruitment services
to various members of the group to a value of c67,566 (2008: cnil).

Karl Diacono is the Chief Executive Officer of Fenlex Limited, a corporate service provider incorporated
in  Malta.  During  the  year  ended  31  December  2009,  Fenlex  received  c52,780  from  the  group  in
relation to Company secretarial matters arising in Malta (2008: cnil).

Richard Cooper and his wife are the shareholders of Rousset Capital Limited, a company incorporated
in the United Kingdom. During the year ended 31 December 2009, Rousset Capital Limited provided
conference and meeting room services amounting to £12,600 (c14,354) (2008: cnil).

The Directors are satisfied that all of the above arrangements were at arms-length commercial rates.

58

23.

GROUP ENTITIES

Significant subsidiaries

Country of incorporation

Ownership interest

Gaming VC (Cyprus) Limited
Gaming VC Cyprus 2 Limited
GVC Corporation B.V.
GVC Corporation II B.V.
Intera N.V.
Gaming VC Corporation Limited
Intertronic Limited
Gaming VC Corporation S.p.A.
Gaming VC (Jersey) Limited

Cyprus
Cyprus
Netherland Antilles
Netherland Antilles
Netherlands Antilles
Malta
Malta
Italy
Jersey

31 Dec
2009

100%
100%
100%
nil
100%
100%
100%
Nil
100%

31 Dec
2008

100%
nil
100%
100%
Nil
100%
Nil
100%
100%

GVC Corporation B.V
a. also has a registered branch in Israel
b. absorbed the assets and liabilities of GVC Corporation II B.V. through a contractual merger during

the year

Gaming VC Corporation S.p.A was sold to its local management for a nominal sum with effect from
31 August 2009.

Gaming  VC  Cyprus  2  Limited was  incorporated  to  effect  the  acquisition  of  “betboo”  and  did  this
through the acquisition of Intera N.V and its wholly owned subsidiary, Intertronic Limited.

24.

CONTINGENT LIABILTIES

The group, through its trading websites, offers progressive jackpots on slot machines.

Betaland progressive jackpots

The progressive jackpot fund in which the Betaland site participates is part of a network scheme; that
is to say, it is built up based on the gaming activity of every player from every operator in the network.
At  the  end  of  each  month,  each  operator  pays  into  the  central  fund  the  amount  added  into  it  as
calculated from the play of their own customers and receives back from the fund the value of jackpots
won by their own customers (less a deduction to re-seed the jackpot to its starting value). If Gaming
VC customers never win such a jackpot, Gaming VC still has to pay into the fund, but it has the peace
of mind that if one of their customers does win a substantial jackpot then Gaming VC does not have
to carry that cost itself; it is basically an insurance policy but one which provides a strong revenue-
generating tool in the jackpot games themselves.

CasinoClub progressive jackpots

Unlike  Betaland,  CasinoClub  does  not  participate  in  the  network  progressive  jackpot  scheme;
instead,it  offers  an  equivalent  system  in  which  only  its  own  customers  participate.  This  means  that
CasinoClub make no contributions to the central fund as it builds up (since they are the only operator
in the scheme, this would serve no purpose) and, should a CasinoClub customer win the progressive
jackpot, there is no central fund to cover the payout so the cost of this would be taken directly to the
Income Statement in the period in which it would be won.

Across 42 games, the total of the available jackpots at 31 December 2009 was c6.5 million. The single
largest  jackpot  amounted  to  c2.2  million  from  the  slots  game  “Alladin’s  Lamp.”  The  total  of  the
available jackpots at the end of December 2008 was c4.0 million (2007: c3.2 million), with the largest
available individual jackpot being c1.1 million (2006: c1.6 million).

59

There was a significant winner of a jackpot during the year ended 31 December 2009. A single player
won c308,999.08 on a game known as “Roman Empire.” In accordance with the group’s policy, the
amount withdrawn by the customer (in this case c250,000) has been treated as an exceptional item
(see note 6.2.1).

25.

ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS

The  directors  discuss  the  development,  selection  and  disclosure  of  the  Group’s  critical  accounting
policies and estimates and the application of these policies and estimates.

The estimates and judgements which have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the
carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below.

25.1

Impairment of goodwill and trademarks

Determining whether goodwill and trademarks with an indefinite useful life are impaired requires an
estimation of the value in use of the cash-generating units. The value-in-use calculation requires the
entity to estimate the future cash flows expected to arise from the cash-generating unit and select a
suitable  discount  rate  in  order  to  calculate  present  value.  Note  11.5  provides  information  on  the
assumptions used in these financial statements.

The  valuation  work  to  assess  the  impairment  of  goodwill  and  intangible  assets  was  conducted  by
Chartered Accountants, BDO Stoy Hayward, London.

25.2

Valuation of betboo.com

The acquisition of betboo.com required estimations of the fair value of the consideration payable, as
well as judgements relating to the value of the acquired intangible assets. The valuation work to assess
the  fair  value  of  consideration  payable  and  acquired  intangible  assets  was  conducted  by  Chartered
Accountants, BDO Stoy Hayward, London.

25.3

Share options

Accounting for share option charges requires a degree of judgement over such matters as dividend
yield, and expected volatility. Further details on the assumptions made by management are disclosed
in note 20.

25.4 Open bets

The directors review the scale and magnitude of open bets frequently, and in particular at the balance
sheet date. Assessments are made on whether to make provisions for the outcome of such open bets.
Management have assessed that the value of open bets at year end is not material.

26.

GOING CONCERN

The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future performance and
position  are  set  out  in  the  Chairman’s statement  and  the  reports  of  the  Chief  Executive  and  the
Finance Director. Note 21 to the financial statements sets out the Group’s financial risk management
policies, and its exposure to credit risk and liquidity risk.

The Directors have assessed the financial risks facing the business, and compared this risk assessment
to the net current assets position and dividend policy. The Directors have also reviewed relationships
with  key  suppliers  and  software  providers  and  are  satisfied  that  the  appropriate  contracts  and
contingency plans are in place. The directors have prepared income statement and cash flow forecasts
to assess whether the Group has adequate resources for the foreseeable future.

60

The directors consider that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for
the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing
the consolidated financial statements.

27.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Gaming  VC is  currently  in  dispute  with  Boss  Media  over  an  alleged  infringement  of  the  Group’s
intellectual property. The Group has made its concerns known to Boss after the year end. If the dispute
is not resolved, Court proceedings will be instituted although this had not taken place at the year end
nor up to the date of approval of these financial statements.

The  Group  is  also  in  dispute  with  Boss  regarding  a  contract  in  relation  to  services  for  its  Italian
businesses. Legal costs associated with such matters are expensed as incurred.

61

SECTION B – ADDITIONAL UNAUDITED INFORMATION

62

TRADING HISTORY IN THE PERIOD SINCE INCORPORATION

Net Gaming Revenue

Gross profit

Operating profit

Profit before tax

Cash at the balance-sheet date

2005
c000’s

40,443

31,585

13,362

12,807

7,233

2006
c000’s
See note
below

40,573

30,201

12,630

12,707

9,407

2007
c000’s

2008
c000’s

2009
c000’s

42,639

33,405

16,192

16,631

15,859

50,085

40,922

16,359

16,903

18,834

53,958

44,525

14,228

13,820

19,195

Notes:

1.

2.

the one month period from 30 November 2004 to 31 December 2004 has been omitted as being
unrepresentative

In  the  2006  financial  year,  there  was  a  charge  of  c33,274k  for  impaired  goodwill,  and  a  charge  of
c8,272k for the accelerated amortisation of the software licences. The numbers above exclude these
charges.  Including  these  charges,  there  was  an  operating  loss  of  c28,934k  and  a  loss  before  tax
of c28,839k.

63

RECONCILIATION OF CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF
GAMING VC HOLDINGS S.A.
AS PREPARED UNDER IFRS TO THE COMPANY BALANCE SHEET OF GAMING VC HOLDINGS S.A. AS PREPARED
UNDER LUXEMBOURG GAAP

This reconciliation, which has not been audited, is designed to assist shareholders with their understanding
of the preparation of the accounts of the Company under Luxembourg GAAP, which appears on pages 66
to 74.

All in c000’s and at 31 December 2009

Consolidated

Balance Consolidation
sheet Adjustments

Balance Adjustments
under
Sheet of

Balance
Sheet of The
Company
Under
the Luxembourg Luxembourg
GAAP

GAAP

Company

Non Current Assets
Property, plant & equipment
Intangible fixed assets
Deferred tax asset
Shares in affiliated undertakings
Formation expenses

Current assets
Amount owed by affiliated undertakings
Other

Current liabilities
Amounts owed to affiliated undertakings
Other

Current assets less current liabilities

Long Term Liabilities
Deferred Consideration on Betboo
Net assets
As represented by:
Retained earnings at 1 Jan 2009
Profit for the year
Interim dividends
Retained earnings at 31 Dec 2009
Share premium account at 1 Jan 2009
Dividends paid from Share Premium
Share option reserve
Legal reserve
Total reserves
Share Capital

1,099
63,182
53
–
–
64,334

–
28,117
28,117

–
(9,276)
(9,276)

(1,099)
(63,182)
(53)
63,696
–
(638)

6,261
(14,749)
(8,488)

(25,546)
9,159
(16,387)

–
–
–
63,696
–
63,696

6,261
13,368
19,629

–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–

–
–
–
63,696
–
63,696

6,261
13,368
19,629

(25,546)
(117)
(25,663)

(1,925)
–
(1,925)

(27,471)
(117)
(27,588)

18,841

(24,875)

(6,034)

(1,925)

(7,959)

(5,354)
77,821

5,354
(20,159)

–
57,662

24,168
13,454
(7,370)
30,252
13,832
(5,084)
213
–
39,213
38,608
77,821

(20,134)
(2,631)
–
(22,765)
–
–
2,606
–
(20,159)
–
(20,159)

4,034
10,823
(7,370)
7,487
13,832
(5,084)
2,819
–
19,054
38,608
57,662

–
(1,925)

(2,518)
(6,161)
6,227
(2,452)
1,980
–
(2,819)
1,366
(1,925)
–
(1,925)

–
55,737

1,516
4,662
(1,143)
5,035
15,812
(5,084)
–
1,366
17,129
38,608
55,737

64

SECTION C – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF GAMING VC HOLDINGS S.A.

As prepared under Luxembourg GAAP.

65

GAMING VC HOLDINGS S.A.

ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2009
(with report of the Réviseur d’Entreprises thereon)

66

To the Shareholders of
GAMING VC HOLDINGS S.A.
13-15, Avenue de la Liberté
L-1931 LUXEMBOURG

REPORT OF THE REVISEUR D’ENTREPRISES

Report on the annual accounts

We have audited the accompanying annual accounts of GAMING VC HOLDINGS S.A., which comprise the
balance  sheet  as  at  December  31,  2009,  and  the  profit  and  loss  account  for  the  year  then  ended,  and  a
summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory notes to the annual accounts.

Board of Director’s responsibility for the annual accounts

The  Board  of  Directors  is  responsible  for  the  preparation  and  fair  presentation  of  these  annual  accounts  in
accordance  with  Luxembourg  legal  and  regulatory  requirements  relating  to  the  preparation  of  the  annual
accounts. This responsibility includes: designing, implementing and maintaining internal control relevant to
the  preparation  and  the  fair  presentation  of  annual  accounts  that  are  free  from  material  misstatement,
whether  due  to  fraud  or  error;  selecting  and  applying  appropriate  accounting  policies;  and  making
accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances.

Responsibility of the Réviseur d’entreprises

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these annual accounts based on our audit. We conducted our
audit  in  accordance  with  International  Standards  on  Auditing  as  adopted  by  the  Institut  des  réviseurs
d’entreprises. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the
audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the annual accounts are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the
annual accounts. The procedures selected depend the judgement of the réviseur d’entreprises, including the
assessment  of  the  risks  of  material  misstatement  of  the  annual  accounts,  whether  due  to  fraud  or  error.  In
making  those  risks  assessments,  the  réviseur  d’entreprises  considers  internal  control  relevant  to  the  entity’s
preparation  and  fair  presentation  of  the  annual  accounts  in  order  to  design  audit  procedures  that  are
appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the
entity’s internal control.

An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of
accounting estimates made by the Board of Directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the
annual accounts.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis of our
audit opinion.

Opinion

In  our  opinion,  the  annual  accounts  give  a  true  and  fair  view  of  the  financial  position  of  GAMING  VC
HOLDINGS  S.A.  as  of  December  31,  2009,  and  of  the  results  of  its  operations  for  the  year  then  ended  in
accordance with the Luxembourg legal and regulatory requirements relating to the preparation of the annual
accounts.

Report on other legal and regulatory requirements

The management report, which is the responsibility of the board of directors, is consistent with the annual
accounts

Luxembourg, April 16, 2010

Thierry REMACLE
Réviseur d’Entreprises
Grant Thornton Lux Audit S.A.

67

STATUTORY BALANCE SHEET

As at 31 December 2009

In euro

ASSETS
Formation expenses

Fixed assets

Financial assets

Shares in affiliated undertakings

Current assets

Amounts owed by affiliated undertakings

Debtors becoming due within one year

Other Debtors
Debtors becoming due within one year

Cash at bank

Prepayments

TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES
Capital and reserves

Subscribed capital
Share premium account
Legal Reserve
Profit and Loss account

Creditors

Amounts owed to affiliated undertakings 
becoming due and payable within one year
Other creditor due and payable within one year

TOTAL CAPITAL, RESERVES AND LIABILITIES

Notes

2009
d

2008
c

2.3/3.1

–
––––––––––

2,192,420
––––––––––

2.4/3.2

63,695,914
––––––––––

63,813,914
––––––––––

2.5/3.3

6,260,451

1,071,652

2.5

4
5
6

2.6

7

3,195,191
9,896,461
––––––––––
19,352,103
276,375
––––––––––
19,628,478
––––––––––

2,611,164
1,284,526
––––––––––
4,967,342
15,255
––––––––––
4,982,597
––––––––––

83,324,392

70,988,931

38,608,345
10,728,389
1,365,682
5,034,202
––––––––––
55,736,618
––––––––––

38,608,345
15,812,333
992,921
1,515,970
––––––––––
56,929,569
––––––––––

27,471,097
116,677
––––––––––
27,587,774
––––––––––

13,613,119
446,243
––––––––––
14,059,362
––––––––––

83,324,392

70,988,931

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these annual accounts

68

PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT

For the year ended 31 December 2009

In euro

CHARGES

External charges
Value adjustment in respect of formation expenses
Other operating charges
Interest payable and similar charges

Concerning affiliated undertakings
Other interest and similar charges

Exceptional Items
Other Taxes not shown under the above items
Profit for the year

INCOME

Income from affiliated undertakings
Interest receivable and similar income
Tax Credit

STATEMENT OF MOVEMENT ON PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT

Balance as at 1 January
Transfer to Legal reserve
Transfer from Share Premium account
Dividend paid from Share Premium account
Final dividend paid after the year-end

Profit for the year
Interim dividend paid during the year

Balance as at 31 December

Note

2.3

Year ended
31 Dec
2009
d

Year ended
31 Dec
2008
c

375,441
2,192,420
18,750

413,803
2,286,426
85,541

250,468
–
3,878,200
–
11,261,354
–––––––––––
17,976,633
–––––––––––

498,497
5,980
316,072
7,673
7,455,224
–––––––––––
11,069,216
–––––––––––

15,737,145
4,220
2,235,268
–––––––––––
17,976,633
–––––––––––

10,040,256
78,051
950,909
–––––––––––
11,069,216
–––––––––––

1,515,970
(372,762)
–
5,083,944
(6,227,152)
–––––––––––
–
11,261,354
(6,227,152)
–––––––––––
5,034,202
–––––––––––

(30,959,090)
(670,642)
38,144,782
–
(6,227,152)
–––––––––––
287,898
7,455,224
(6,227,152)
–––––––––––
1,515,970
–––––––––––

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these annual accounts

69

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.

GENERAL

Gaming  VC  Holdings  S.A.  (the  “Company”)  was  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  Luxembourg  on
November 30, 2004 under the legal form of a “Société Anonyme”.

The Company is established for an unlimited period.

The registered office of the Company is at 13-15 Avenue de la Liberte, L-1931 Luxembourg and the
Company is registered with the Register of Commerce of Luxembourg under the section B number
104348.

The purpose of the Company is the acquisition of ownership interests, in Luxembourg or abroad, in
any  form  whatsoever,  and  the  management  of  such  ownership  interests.  The  Company  may  in
particular acquire by subscription, purchase, and exchange or in any manner any stock, shares and
other  securities,  bonds,  debentures,  certificates  of  deposit  and  other  debt  instruments  and  more
generally any securities and financial instruments issued by any public or private entity whatsoever.

The  Company  may  participate  in  establishment,  development  of  any  financial,  industrial  or
commercial enterprises.

The Company may also borrow in any form and proceed to the issue of notes, bonds and debentures,
and any kind of debt and/or equity securities. The Company may lend funds including the proceeds
of  any  borrowings  and/or  issues  of  debt  securities  to  its  subsidiaries,  affiliated  companies  or  to  any
other group company. It may also give guarantees and grant security interests in favour of third parties
to secure its obligations or the obligations of its subsidiaries, affiliated companies or any other group
company. The Company may further mortgage, pledge, transfer, encumber or otherwise hypothecate
all or some of its assets.

The Company may also acquire and exploit all patents and all other ancillary property rights which
are reasonable and necessary for the exploitation of such patents.

On December 21, 2004, the Company raised GBP 81 (EUR 117.5) million through the subscription
by Collins Stewart of Ordinary Shares, and their placing with institutional and other investors at 420
pence  per  share  (“the  Placing”).  The  Placing  was  subject  to  Admission  of  the  Company  on  the
Alternative Investment Market (“AIM”) in London.

The  Company’s  financial  year  begins  on  the  first  day  of  January  and  terminates  on  the  last  day  of
December.

The  Company  prepares  consolidated  financial  statements.  Copies  of  the  consolidated  financial
statements are available at the parent company’s registered office.

70

2.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

2.1

Basis of presentation

The annual accounts of the Company are prepared in accordance with current Luxembourg legal and
regulatory requirements.

2.2

Basis of conversion for items originally expressed in foreign currency

The Company maintains its accounting records in euro (“EUR”) and the balance sheet and profit and
loss account are expressed in this currency.

Income and charges are translated at the exchange rates ruling at the transaction date. Fixed assets
are  valued  using  historical  exchange  rates.  Other  current  assets  and  liabilities  expressed  in  foreign
currencies are translated into euro at the rates of exchange in effect at the balance sheet date. Realised
exchange  gains  and  losses  and  unrealised  exchange  losses  are  recognised  in  the  profit  and  loss
account.

2.3

Formation expenses

Expenses relating to the creation or extension of the Company are recorded as formation expenses.

Formation expenses are amortised on a straight-line basis at an annual rate of 20%.

2.4

Valuation of fixed assets

Assets  are  valued  in  the  accounts  at  cost.  Value  adjustments  are  made  in  respect  of  fixed  assets  to
recognise a durable reduction in the value of the investments, such reduction being determined and
made for each investment individually.

2.5

Debtors

Debtors are stated at their nominal value. Value adjustments are recorded at the end of the financial
year if the net realisable value is lower than the book value.

2.6

Creditors

Creditors are stated at their nominal value.

71

3.

FINANCIAL ASSETS

3.1

Formation Expenses

The movements in the year are as follows:

Cost
Balance as at 1 Jan 2009
Additions for the year

Balance as at 31 Dec 2009

Amortisation
Balance as at 1 Jan 2009
Charge for the year

Balance as at 31 Dec 2009

Carrying Amounts
As at 31 Dec 2008
As at 31 Dec 2009

EUR

11,432,128
–
–––––––––––
11,432,128
–––––––––––

9,239,708
2,192,240
–––––––––––
11,432,128
–––––––––––

2,192,240
–
–––––––––––

3.2

Shares in affiliated undertakings

Financial assets represent shares in the following undertakings:

Acquisition
cost
EURO

Value
adjustment
EURO

Net book
value

Shareholders’
equity(*)
EURO

Result for
the year(*)
EURO

Gaming VC (Cyprus) 
Limited , 100%

105,000,000
––––––––––––

(41,546,086)
––––––––––––

63,453,914
–––––––––––

63,557,350
–––––––––––

(15,814)
–––––––––––

Gaming VC Corporation
Limited, Malta, 100%

240,000
––––––––––––

–
–––––––––––

240,000
–––––––––––

296,223
–––––––––––

(1,985,968)
–––––––––––

Gaming VC Cyprus 2 
Limited, 100%

–
–––––––––––
*The figures are taken from the annual accounts as at December 31, 2009. The shareholder’s equity
includes the result for the year as well as the interim dividend paid in Cyprus in 2008.

2,000
––––––––––––

–
–––––––––––

2,000
–––––––––––

2,000
–––––––––––

In  May  2009,  Gaming  VC  Holdings  incorporated  a  wholly  owned  subsidiary  Gaming  VC  Cyprus  2
Limited.

As  announced  on  17  December  2009,  the  group  entered  into  an  agreement  to  dispose  of  GVC
Corporation S.p.A., its licensed Italian subsidiary, to local management for a nominal sum.

The exceptional item recognises the legal costs incurred in this process together with the write-off of
the investment held and the net assets parted with at the time of the sale, being 31 August 2009.

3.3

Amount owed by affiliated undertakings

This amount corresponds primarily to costs due by Gaming VC (Malta) Limited, Gaming VC (Cyprus
2) Limited, betboo and Gaming VC (Jersey) Limited, subsidiaries of Gaming VC Holding SA.

72

4.

CAPITAL AND RESERVES

The authorised share capital of the company is:

40,000,000 ordinary shares of c1.24 each and 30,000 redeemable shares of c1.24 each

The authorised and not yet issued share capital of the company is 8,864,238

Capital fluctuations during the period are illustrated in the table below:

At December 31, 2008

At December 31, 2009

Number
of ordinary 
shares issued
31,135,762
––––––––––––
31,135,762
––––––––––––

Share value
EUR

1.24

1.24

Total Value
EUR
38,608,344.88
––––––––––––––
38,608,344.88
––––––––––––––

The company has not issued any redeemable shares since incorporation.

On admission to the AIM market, a share premium of EUR 78,953,651 was recorded.

At  the  AGM  held  on  20  May  2008  in  Luxembourg  shareholders  agreed  to  write  down  the  share
premium reserve by an equal amount to the historic retained losses.

4.1.

Interim Dividends

Based on the interim balance sheet of the Company as at September 28, 2009, the Board of Directors
paid an interim dividend of an aggregate net amount of EUR 6,227,152 on November 6, 2009 (2008:
EUR 6,227,152).

5.

SHARE PREMIUM ACCOUNT

The movements in the Share Premium account are shown below:

In EUR

Balance at start of year
Transfer from Profit and Loss
Dividend paid

Balance at end of year

6.

LEGAL RESERVE

Year ended
31 Dec

Year ended
31 Dec

2009

2008

15,812,333
–
(5,083,944)
–––––––––––
10,728,389
–––––––––––

53,957,115
(38,144,782)
–
–––––––––––
15,812,333
–––––––––––

Under Luxembourg corporate law, the Company must appropriate annually at least 5% of its statutory
net profits to a Legal reserve until the aggregate reserve equals 10% of the subscribed share capital.
Such reserve is not available for distribution.

The movements in the Legal reserve are shown below:

In EUR

Balance at start of year
Transfer from Profit and Loss account

Balance at end of year

Year ended
31 Dec

Year ended
31 Dec

2009

2008

992,921
372,761
–––––––––––
1,365,682
–––––––––––

322,279
670,642
–––––––––––
992,921
–––––––––––

73

7.

OTHER CREDITORS

This amount mainly corresponds to costs incurred by the Company relating to professional fees and
external charges.

8.

PERSONNEL

There were no employees during the year.

9.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

On  December  2,  2004,  the  Group  established  a  share  option  programme  that  entitles  key
management  personnel  and  senior  employees  to  purchase  shares  in  the  Group.  On  December  21,
2004,  a  grant  was  made  to  two  non-executive  directors  and  on  September  28,  2005,  a  grant  was
made  to  other  eligible  individuals  under  the  programme.  On  23  January  2006 and  16  May  2006,
grants were made to eligible individuals under the programme. During 2007 and 2008, additional
grants were made to eligible individuals under the programme.

In  accordance  with  these  programmes,  options  are  exercisable  at  a  set  price,  normally  the  market
price, of the shares at the date of grant. Options vest and become exercisable as to one quarter on
the  first  anniversary  of  the  date  of  grant  with  the  balance  vesting  and  becoming  exercisable  in  36
equal monthly installments over the subsequent three years.

As  of  December  31,  2009,  1,954,590  (2,723,359  as  of  December  31,  2008)  share  options  were
outstanding and no share option had been exercised under this programme.

74

sterling 130748