Berjaya Sports Toto Q1 net profit jumps 26.5%

PETALING JAYA: Berjaya Sports Toto Bhd’s (BToto) net profit in the first quarter (Q1) ended July 31, 2017 jumped 26.5% to RM74.31 million, from RM58.74 million in the previous corresponding quarter.
The group told the stock exchange today, this was mainly attributed to the improved results of HR Owen Plc as well as the foreign exchange gain recognised by a foreign subsidiary company in the current quarter.
Its first-quarter revenue rose slightly by 2.5% to RM1.47 billion, compared with RM1.44 billion in the same period last year.
BToto has proposed to declare an interim dividend of 4 sen per share for the quarter under review amounting to RM53.9 million, representing about 72.5% of the attributable profit of the group for Q1. The entitlement date for the dividend has been fixed on Oct 10.
On prospects, the group said it expects the number forecast operation (NFO) business to be challenging for the remaining quarters of the financial year ending April 30, 2018 (FY18), in view of the intense competition from illegal gaming activities coupled with rising costs and weak consumer sentiments.
“Notwithstanding these challenges, the directors are confident that the group will continue to maintain its market share in the NFO business for the remaining quarters of the financial year ending April 30, 2018.”
BToto shares closed unchanged at RM2.32 today with a total of 421,500 shares traded.