Digitalbox Regulatory News (DBOX)

8 September 2020

Digitalbox plc

("Digitalbox", the "Group" or the "Company")

Unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2020

Digitalbox plc, the mobile-first digital media business, which owns leading websites Entertainment Daily and The Daily Mash, today publishes its interim results for six months to 30 June 2020 (the "First Half", the "Period", or "H1 2020").

Financial Highlights

· Group revenue of £1.0 million, up 38% year on year.

· Gross profit of £0.7 million, up 74%.

· Gross margin of 71%, up from 56%.

· Adjusted operating profit1 of £0.05 million.

· Loss before taxation of £0.1 million.

· Cash balance of £1.2 million, up from £0.5 million at 31 December 2019.

1. Adjusted operating profit is stated before amortisation, depreciation, acquisition and listing costs and share options charges.

Operational Highlights

· Growth in traffic and revenue in Q1 helped to alleviate the impact of COVID 19 in Q2.

· Entertainment Daily website sessions up 16% to 94 million but session values down.

· Entertainment Daily 6 million users in February 2020, similar to December 2019, typically the site's biggest traffic month.

· Daily Mash saw record traffic during lockdown, likely linked with the nation spending more time online and looking to brighten its mood.

· Record viewing figures for BBC TV's The Mash Report.

· Mitigation measures offset revenue shortfall in order to protect the margin.

· Early signs of Q3 ad revenues recovering.

James Carter, CEO, Digitalbox plc, said: "Digitalbox has exceeded our expectations in these difficult conditions, which is evidence of a resilient operating model and strong management. Our success in the first quarter has positioned us to withstand the challenges presented by COVID 19. We quickly adapted to deal with the new environment, and our content teams made a seamless switch to homeworking. Running a primarily automated commercial operation through programmatic and header bidding solutions has enabled us to continue the trading of our inventory without disruption."

"While the lockdown has presented great opportunities for the Daily Mash to showcase the talent of its writers, the flow of news for Entertainment Daily slowed as TV production stopped and celebrities were out of view. We remain cautiously optimistic about the second half of 2020 as big TV shows return to our screens, retail opens up again, and the economy returns to a more positive position."

Commenting on the Group's performance and prospects for the year, Chairman Robin Miller said: "We have exceeded our expectations in challenging conditions, clear evidence of a resilient operating model and nimble leadership. The economic impact of Coronavirus and its uncertainty going forward make it impossible to forecast with any accuracy how the remainder of the year will play out. But the advertising market is beginning to show tentative signs of recovery and we are confident the Digitalbox approach will continue to serve us well."

Certain information contained in this announcement would have constituted inside information (as defined by Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014) ("MAR") prior to its release as part of this announcement and is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of MAR. 

Enquiries:

About Digitalbox plc

Based in Bath, UK, Digitalbox is a 'pure-play' digital media business with the aim of profitable publishing at scale on mobile platforms.

Digitalbox operates two trading brands, "Entertainment Daily" and "The Daily Mash". Entertainment Daily produces and publishes online UK entertainment news covering TV, showbiz and celebrity news. The Daily Mash produces and publishes satirical news content.

Digitalbox generates revenue from the sale of advertising in and around the content it publishes. The Group's optimisation for mobile enables it to achieve revenues per session significantly ahead of market norms for publishers on mobile.

InteriM Statement

Overview

Despite the impact of COVID 19, the performance of the Group in the first six months has been encouraging and exceeded our expectations. As a result of the Group's strong operating margins, Digitalbox reports adjusted operating profit ahead of management expectations. Furthermore, the cash balance has increased from £0.5 million at 31 December 2019 to £1.2 million at 30 June 2020.

Operating Review

The two factors that drive revenue are the volume and value of advertising. The volume is reflected in the number of visits (or sessions) that the Group's websites receive from users that come to read the content. The value is the price paid by advertisers to reach these users during these sessions. The number of visits to the Group's websites has increased significantly but this has been offset by the sharp fall in the value per session because of the impact of COVID 19 on advertisers' spending appetite. The Executive team took measures to mitigate the impact of the lockdown to offset the revenue shortfall, which protected the profit margin.

The performance of the Group's online publishing assets has progressed during the period. Entertainment Daily which is focused on TV and showbusiness news, had a solid six months. The number of sessions recorded was up 16% to 94 million compared to the same period last year. In February 2020, Entertainment Daily had more than six million unique users to its site, a similar level to December 2019. December is historically the biggest month of the year for Entertainment Daily. In the second quarter, the lockdown dominated the news agenda and reduced the flow of entertainment news and the value received per session. As a result, overall revenue for Entertainment Daily in the period was flat.

The Daily Mash, which the Group acquired in March 2019, has been successfully expanding its user base. The site saw record audience figures through the early stages of lockdown as the nation looked to brighten its mood. Top articles through the period included: 'School kid who didn't revise and prayed for a miracle scared of his own powers'; 'Waitrose limits food sales to people with detached houses'; and 'Your guide to holding out till midday before starting to drink'. This increase was also helped by The Mash Report TV show which aired on BBC2 through April and May. The show achieved record viewing figures as it successfully adapted its production format. Importantly, its share of the younger audience demographic grew, which is a key metric for the BBC when judging success.

Financial review

The Directors are pleased to report strong absolute growth in revenues with a year on year uplift of 38% to £1.0 million driven by a full six months of trading compared to four months last year. More pleasing is the business's ability to trade through the impact of COVID 19 with underlying revenues, on a like for like basis, not losing any ground and remaining flat year on year.

Further, gross margins are up from 56% last year to 71% this year serving to highlight the high efficiency of successful digital media businesses like Digitalbox.

With adjusted operating profit of £0.05 million, which is the true cash generating indicator for the business, and cash in hand of £1.2 million, the stage is set for the second half of the year, typically the significantly larger trading period.

Outlook

Digitalbox has delivered strong results despite significant challenges presented by COVID 19. While much uncertainty remains, the Group remains cautiously optimistic that the positive early signs of recovery in the advertising market will continue to benefit revenues through H2, traditionally the Group's strongest trading period.

DIGITALBOX PLC

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

for the six months ended 30 June 2020 

DIGITALBOX PLCINTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITYfor the six months ended 30 June 2020

DIGITALBOX PLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

as at 30 June 2020

DIGITALBOX PLC

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

for the six months ended 30 June 2020

DIGITALBOX PLC

NOTES TO THE INTERIM REPORT

for the six months ended 30 June 2020

1. Corporate information

The interim consolidated financial statements of the group for the period ended 30 June 2020 were authorised for issue in accordance with a resolution of the directors on 7 September 2020. Digitalbox plc ("the company") is a Public Limited Company listed on AIM, incorporated in England and Wales. The interim consolidated financial statements do not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006.

2. Statement of Accounting policies

2.1 Basis of Preparation

The entities consolidated in the half year financial statements of the company for the six months to 30 June 2020 comprise the company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as "the group").

The interim consolidated financial statements do not include all the information and disclosures required in the annual financial statements.

The directors are satisfied that, at the time of approving the consolidated interim financial statements, it is appropriate to adopt a going concern basis of accounting and in accordance with the recognition and measurement principles of International Financial Reporting Standards adopted for use in the European Union ("IFRS"). In reaching this conclusion the directors have considered the financial position of the Group, its cash, liquidity position and borrowing facilities together with its forecasts and projections for a period in excess of 12 months from the date of approval. In particular, the Group has reviewed the current situation with COVID 19 and produced several scenario plans assessing the impact on the Group. The directors believe that they can mitigate the risks arising from COVID 19 to ensure that the Group is able to continue to meet its liabilities as they fall due for the foreseeable future. At the reporting date had £1.2m of cash at bank and in hand providing a strong position to support the continued and future success of the Group.

2.2 Accounting Policies

The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below. The policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

The interim results announcement has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), International Accounting Standards and Interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board as adopted by the European Union ("IFRSs") and with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies preparing their accounts under IFRSs. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

The preparation of these consolidated half year financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expense. Actual results may differ from these estimates in preparing these consolidated half year financial statements.

DIGITALBOX PLC

NOTES TO THE INTERIM REPORT

for the six months ended 30 June 2020

3. Segment Information

The Group's primary reporting format for segment information is business segments which reflect the management reporting structure in the Group and of its two core media assets.

Unaudited six months to 30 June 2020

Unaudited six months to 30 June 2019

DIGITALBOX PLC

NOTES TO THE INTERIM REPORT

for the six months ended 30 June 2020

3. Segment Information (continued)

12 months to 31 December 2019

* Admin expenses exclude share option charge, amortisation, depreciation and acquisition and listing costs.

External revenue by location of customer

DIGITALBOX PLC

NOTES TO THE INTERIM REPORT

for the six months ended 30 June 2020

4. Earnings per share

The calculation of the group basic and diluted loss per ordinary share is based on the following data:

Earnings per ordinary share has been calculated using the weighted average number of shares in issue during the year. The weighted average number of equity shares in issue was 91,370,626. IAS 33 requires presentation of diluted EPS when a company could be called upon to issue shares that would decrease earnings per share or increase the loss per share. The exercise price of the outstanding share options is significantly more than the average and closing share price. Therefore, as per IAS 33 the potential ordinary shares are disregarded in the calculation of EPS.

DIGITALBOX PLC

NOTES TO THE INTERIM REPORT

for the six months ended 30 June 2020

5. Intangible Assets

The other intangible assets are being amortised over a period of 7 years.

Amortisation is charged to administrative costs in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

DIGITALBOX PLC

NOTES TO THE INTERIM REPORT

for the six months ended 30 June 2020

6. Share capital

Shares issued in the 6-month period to 30 June 2020:

7. Related party transactions

At 30 June 2020, the Group was due £172k (30 June 2019: £171k, 31 December 2019: £171k) from James Carter and Jim Douglas, two Directors of the company. The outstanding balance is split equally between the directors and is included within trade and other receivables. The amounts are repayable either on sale of shares by the Directors, by prior charge over the proceeds of dividends or distributions due to the directors' net of tax or by prior charge over remuneration payments in excess of a pre-determined level. Interest is charged at 0.75% per annum.

During the period, Integral2 Limited charged £27k (30 June 2019: £24k, 31 December 2019: £43k) to the Group, a company related by virtue of David Joseph being a common director. As at 30 June 2020, £5k (30 June 2019: £2k, 31 December 2019: £5k) was owed to Integral2 Limited.

During the period, the Group received revenue of £2k (30 June 2019: £13k, 31 December 2019: £17k) from Immotion Group plc, a company related by virtue of Martin Higginson being a common director. As at 30 June 2020, £nil (30 June 2019: £7k, 31 December 2019: £2k) was owed to the Group.

During the period, M Capital Investment Partners (Holdings) Limited billed £15k (30 June 2019: £5k, 31 December 2019: £23k) to the Group, a company related by virtue of Martin Higginson being a common director. As at 30 June 2020, £3k (30 June 2019: £nil, 31 December 2019: £nil) was owed to M Capital Investment Partners (Holdings) Limited.

During the period, Robin Miller Consultants Limited billed £9k (30 June 2019: £4k, 31 December 2019: £10k) to the Group, a company related by virtue of Robin Miller being a common director. As at 30 June 2020, £nil (30 June 2019: £1k, 31 December 2019: £nil) was owed to Robin Miller Consultants Limited.

DIGITALBOX PLC

NOTES TO THE INTERIM REPORT

for the six months ended 30 June 2020

7. Related party transactions (continued)

The key management personnel are considered to be the Board of Directors, and were remunerated £191k in the period (30 June 2019: £170k, 31 December 2019: £444k).

The key management personnel were provided 3,008,808 share options resulting in a charge of £47k in the period (30 June 2019: £47k, 31 December 2019: £93k).

8. Seasonality

The Group's activities are not subject to significant seasonal variation outside the normal parameters of a consumer media business.

9. Events after the reporting date

On 20 May 2020 the shareholders resolved to cancel the Company's deferred shares as disclosed in note 6, and to reduce the share premium account by £19.5m. These resolutions were designed to simplify the capital structure of the Group and will give rise to a much-improved retained earnings position to enable the Board to make future dividend distributions as they consider appropriate. The Court approved this capital restructure on 30 July 2020, and this was subsequently certified at Companies House on 31 July 2020. Accordingly, this will be reflected in the annual report for the year ending 31 December 2020.