DCD Media PLC - Trading Update

DCD Media Plc

("DCD Media", the "Company" or the "Group")

Trading Update

DCD Media, the independent TV distribution and production group, provides the following unaudited trading update for the twelve-month period ended 31 December 2019 ahead of releasing audited financial statements for the fifteen-month period to 31 March 2020 by 31 August 2020.

Financial highlights (unaudited)

·      Revenue                               £8.98m (2018: £7.05m)

·      Gross profit                           £1.78m (2018: £1.64m)

·      Operating profit/(loss)           £0.02m (2018: (£0.07m))

·      Net Cash                               £1.59m (2018: £2.28m)

At the 31 December, the Group had an available gross overdraft facility of £300k and a net facility of £150k.

Operational highlights

·      The fifth series of Penn & Teller: Fool Us in Vegas was transmitted in H1 2019. The highly successful series is a co-production between 1/17 Productions and September Films for The CW Network in the USA.

·      DCD Rights renewed its output deal with The Open University to distribute their prestigious factual catalogue of 160 hours of diverse and engaging factual programming.

·      DCD Rights further extended its producer support initiative to over 100 hours of programming since its launch. DCD secured production funding for four additional factual series created by UK and International independents.

·      DCD Rights announced multiple sales of its recently launched titles On The Ropes (Screen Media Ventures/Crackle), Inspector Rojas (Rialto Channel & SBS Australia) and The Hunting (Channel 5, Sky New Zealand, RTE Ireland, CBC Canada, IVI Russia and NPO Netherlands). DCD also debuted its brand-new drama series' The Secrets She Keeps, Dry Water and Find My Killer.

·      DCD Rights' popular factual titles were sold across the globe; Secret Nazi Bases (Foxtel Australia, A&E in CEE and Scandinavia, Prima Group in Czech Republic, Emirates Cable TV E-Vision for the Middle East, True Visions in Thailand, ProSiebenSat.1 for German Speaking Europe and Discovery Communications for Spain), The Nile (SBS Australia, Viasat World for Central and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Russia and CIS, Dazzler Media in the UK & Eire, Choice TV NZ, Expressive Media for Spain & Andorra and True Visions in Thailand).

·      A new factual slate was also announced for MIPCOM.

·      DCD's short form drama Find My Killer won at the Asian Academy Creative Awards.

·      The Hunting won 2 awards at the AACTA Awards for Best Screenplay in Television (EP 3) and Richard Roxburgh won Best Guest or Supporting Actor in A Television Drama.

·      The 1/17 and September Films co-production partnership successfully continued with the summer transmission of season 5 to strong ratings and continued network enthusiasm for the brand.

Current trading and outlook

The business has had a steady start to 2020 with a quiet first quarter as has tended to be the case for the first quarter of the year for the Company.

David Craven, Executive Chairman, commented: 'We are pleased with the results for the twelve months to 31 December 2019 with the Company delivering a steady performance, increasing revenues by 27% and returning a small profit for the period. The business continued to invest in new programming with continued support from its primary funding partner.

'The Board believes that with further funding available to DCD Media, we will create a quality company, capable of strong and predictable cash generation, sustainable returns on capital with attractive growth opportunities in this exciting, expanding market place. The continued consumer demand to enjoy personalised and tailored TV content across multiple platforms is providing tailwinds for the industry as a whole.

'Reaching funding agreements with partners at the lowest possible cost provides DCD Media with a competitive advantage, The Board continues to work to provide access to competitively priced debt in the marketplace. The outlook for the remainder of the trading period to 31 March 2020 remains positive.'

Financial Review

Revenues for the twelve months to 31 December 2019 were £8,975k (2018: £7,051k). Revenues across the Rights and Distribution division of the business have increased by 27% over the year while the remaining revenue in other group companies has remained steady.

Direct costs have increased 33% to £7,200k (2018: £5,411k) and gross profit by 8% to £1,776k (2018: £1,640k) as a result of the increased revenue activity. Administrative costs have increased 3% year-on-year as a result of general rises in rates along with some changes in personnel costs. The business continually reviews its cost base to look for ways to reduce this where possible without hindering the operations of the business. The board remains committed to ensuring the cost base is appropriately managed, given the current scale of the business.

We continue to benefit from funding support from our existing external finance provider and our major shareholder, Timeweave. The funding support from both funders allows us to be competitive in the tender process for new titles and content, while we add to our burgeoning catalogue. We continue to work diligently in the marketplace to help secure and diversify our funding options.

Intangible assets as at 31 December 2019 stood at £1,017k (2018: £1,017k). There has been no movement in the balance since 2017 with carrying values fully justified through future cashflows of the businesses.

Trade and other receivables and trade and other payables at £9,637k (2018: £9,350k) and £9,388k (2018: £9,769k) respectively. Debtors are up 3% on the previous year while creditors are down 4% accordingly.

Cash on hand at the period end stood at £1,590k (2018: £2,276k). The majority of the Group's cash balances represent working capital commitment in relation to programme making and cash held in DCD Rights' client accounts and therefore is not all considered to be free cash.

Financial expectations noted above are preliminary, and subject to the fifteen-month period-end financial close and audit review processes. DCD Media intends to issue its results for the fifteen-month period to 31 March 2020, by 31 August 2020 at which point a more detailed update will be provided.

The information communicated in this announcement is inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation 596/2014.

For further information please contact:

David Craven

Lucy Pryke

Investor Relations/ Media Relations

DCD Media plc

Tel: +44 (0)20 3869 0190

ir@dcdmedia.co.uk

Carl Holmes / Giles Rolls

finnCap

Tel: +44 (0)20 7220 0500