Arena Leisure plc (ARE) FTSE

[Day-to-day]

When I research a company I allways look at the product. In the case of Arena they manage six racecourses, they also run the 'attheraces' interactive website. the Group is also involved in a joint venture with Autotote providing interactive technology solutions for racing in the form of 'Trackplay' an interactive wagering systerm.

Their preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2005, show record operating profits and 50% increase in total dividend.

On the 1 March the shares went up by 2.98% and at the close of trading last night the shares were up o.58% to 43.5p

 

[Day-to-day]

I am a member of a share-club, one of our members came up with the following information from the preliminary results posting.

Financial highlights.

Turnover increased by 9.4% to £40.7m (2004: £37.2m).
Profit from operations increased by 30.0% to £6.7m (2004: £5.2m)
Adjusted profit from operations increased by 21.6% to £6.3m (2004: £5.2m), after adjusting the 2005 result for one-off gains and losses.
Arena's share of At The Races' adjusted operating loss reduced by 73.0% to £1.0m (2004: £3.7m).
Profits before tax of £4.5m.
Adjusted earnings per share increased by 312% to 1.32p (2004: 0.32p)
Proposed final dividend of 0.2p per share, giving a total dividend of 0.45p per share - an increase of 50% (2004: per share).

On the close of business last night the shares were up 1.17% to 43.5p.

 

[Day-to-day]

Arena Leisure plc

I have noted that Arena's share price is holding around 43p.

Directors Dealings

Raymond Mould Non-Executive Deputy Chairman of the company has purchased 75,000 ordinary shares in the Company, which represents 0.048 per-cent of the issued share capital. When the Chairman of a company starts to trade shares in the his company, then I sit up and take notice.

 

[Day-to-day]

Casino project:

Arena is putting the finishing touches to revised proposals to build a Casino at its Dunstall Park course in Wolverhampton.

The company also expects to receive planning permission for its redevelopment projects at its Windsor and Lingfield courses soon. The firm wants to build a hotel and new grandstand at its Windsor course and a hotel and golf house on its Lingfield course.

The Casino project and the other projects will cut Arena's dependency on its raceourse division, which is currently generating all of its profits. The shares close last night up 43.25p.

 

[Day-to-day]

Operating Highlights. Some more backgound information from tracking Arena.

Record 324 fixtures held in 2005 (2004: 315) at Arena's six owned racecourses, staging 2,172 races representing 25% of all UK horse races
Record attendance at Arena's six owned racecourses up 6.0% to 534,000 (2004: 504,000).
Ladbrokes St Leger successfully managed in September. Annual Doncaster attendances increased by 5.2% to 224,000 (2004: 213,000
Doncaster Racecourse, home of the St Leger - the oldest classic horserace in the world - acquired in December 2005. Redevelopment work underway to transform it in to a world class leisure and racing destination.

As you can see the diectors of Arena are working together to make Arena Leisure the best.

 

[Day-to-day]

We held a share-club meeting last night and voted to sell the shares in Arena Leisure. At the end of the day we came out jest above the amount that we when in with.