Aristocrat Expects $50-60m H1 Net Profit

This article comes from Highwaygames.com

Poker machine maker Aristocrat Leisure Ltd said it expects a net profit between $50 million and $60 million for the first half of calendar 2004. "Based on preliminary unaudited management results for May 2004 and the near term outlook, the company expects to report a first half profit after tax for the period ending 30 June 2004 in the region of $50 million - $60 million," Aristocrat said. It said the forecast compared with a $32.9 million net loss in the prior corresponding period, although the normalised result for the previous first half, adjusting for one-off items, was a profit after tax of $4.3 million.

The 2004 first half result was expected to include sales of between 42,000 and 45,000 units in Japan, predominantly of the newly released game Daruma-Neko. "These results reflect the continuing underlying strength of the business and the progress that the company continues to make in positioning itself as the leading global provider of gaming solutions," chief executive Paul Oneile said. Aristocrat said the first half result was still subject to a number of variables including confirmation of the "final, actual management results" for May 2004, the timing of product approvals in Australia and elsewhere and trading in June which was generally one of the busier trading months of the year.

SOURCE: The Age.