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Poker company reports net loss of $2.3 million compared to net income of $3.6 million in 2006.
WPT Enterprises, Inc. has announced financial results for the first quarter ended April 1, 2007. Highlights for the quarter include the delivery of five episodes of Season V of the World Poker Tour (WPT) television series and the signing of a Professional Poker Tour (PPT) Season I agreement in Finland, which represents the first executed agreement under the Party Gaming sponsorship agreement.
Subsequent to the quarter end, WPT signed a new broadcast-rights agreement for WPT Season VI with Game Show Network for the broadcast of twenty-three individual episodes, with taping of Season VI scheduled for May 2007 for debut on GSN in early 2008.
WPT has also announced a three-year agreement with CryptoLogic in connection with the re-launch of WPT's new online poker room and online casino.
The re-launched site will now deploy CryptoLogic's proven online gaming and poker room software platform to deliver a unique WPT look and feel that will only be available at WorldPokerTour.com. The site will only be available for real-money play outside the United States in jurisdictions where online gaming is permitted, and is scheduled to open for business in June 2007.
"We are excited about our prospects in 2007 and are confident in our ability to continue to successfully build the World Poker Tour brand and execute our strategic plan," said Steve Lipscomb, President and CEO of WPT Enterprises.
Revenues are down in the first quarter of 2007 at $4.5 million, compared to $6.5 million in the same period in 2006. The decrease was primarily a result of the delivery of fewer episodes. Specifically, five episodes of Season V of the WPT television series were delivered in the first quarter of 2007 versus the delivery of six episodes of Season IV of the WPT and one episode of the PPT in the 2006 period. The company reported a net loss for the quarter of $2.3 million compared to net income of $3.6 million in the 2006 period.
Domestic television license revenues were $2.4 million in the first quarter of 2007, a decrease from $3.0 million in the first quarter of 2006 due to the delivery of fewer episodes of the company's television series in the first quarter of 2007 versus a year ago.
Online gaming, sponsorship and international television license revenues were also down at $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2007 compared to $2.6 million in the prior year period. The decrease of $0.4 million in online gaming revenue during 2007 was primarily due to lower levels of player activity versus the prior year period.
Sponsorship and event revenues decreased $0.7 million, which was primarily due to not airing any Season V episodes in the first quarter of 2007 versus the airing of five episodes of Season IV in the prior year period.
International television licensing revenues decreased by $0.5 million as a result of fewer distribution agreements in the international marketplace. Product licensing revenues increased to $0.9 million in the first quarter of 2007 compared to $0.7 million in the first quarter of 2006. The increase was due primarily to higher revenues from Hands-On Mobile.
Overall gross margins were 52 percent in the first quarter of 2007, compared to 63 percent in the first quarter of 2006. Domestic television licensing margins were 37 percent in the first quarter of 2007 compared to 44 percent in the same period in 2006. This decrease was principally because of the delivery of an episode of the Professional Poker Tour series in 2006 for which the production costs had been expensed in an earlier period. The lower margin contribution from online gaming in the first quarter of 2007, a result of the amended agreement with the service provider that significantly increased the percentage of revenues paid to that party, also contributed to the overall lower margin.
An unsuccessful strategy whereby WPT tried develop its own online gaming software and support led to increased selling, general and administrative expenses to $5.3 million. The company subsequently stopped its own development and entered into an agreement with CryptoLogic for its online poker room and casino.
At April 1, 2007, the company had no debt, and total cash, cash equivalents and investments in marketable securities of approximately $37.0 million.
Looking ahead, the report suggests:
For the second quarter of 2007, revenues are expected to be in the range of $7.0-$7.5 million. Regarding the outlook for 2007, WPT expects:
To deliver nine episodes of Season V of the WPT television series in the second quarter of 2007, with the remaining three episodes of Season V to be delivered during the third quarter of 2007.
To deliver one episode and four episodes of Season VI of the WPT television series in the third and fourth quarters of 2007, respectively.
To recognize host fee and sponsorship revenues as WPT episodes are aired during the second and third quarters of 2007.
Lower revenues and gross profits in online gaming during the second quarter of 2007 compared to 2006, as a result of the increased percentage of online poker revenues WPT has agreed to pay to its current service provider for the remaining term of the agreement.
To significantly increase year-over-year sales and marketing costs beginning in June 2007 as the company aggressively markets the new online gaming site.
As a result of the decision to use the CryptoLogic software platform for the re-launch of the online gaming site and to stop the development of an internally-created software platform, the Company expects the following effects on its results of operations and financial condition:
In the second quarter of 2007, a write-off of approximately $2.0-$3.0 million of certain property, equipment and other capitalized costs related to the internally-developed online gaming platform.
A decrease in general and administrative expenses from current levels, beginning in the third quarter of 2007. |
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发表于 2007-5-10 03:25
