Southern Equity Buys Waterhousebet
A recent decision by Southern Equity shareholders to purchase Waterhousebet Ltd. means Robbie Waterhouse's business will soon be listed on the Australian stock market.
The betting shop is owned by Waterhouse and his father, Bill. The handful of Southern Equity shareholders who voted on the decision met for 20 minutes at Sydney's Tatterstalls Club to OK the deal, which is reportedly worth $25 million. Robbie and Bill Waterhouse stand to gain more than 32 million
shares of Southern Equity.
The nod of shareholder approval means Waterhousebet Ltd. could be ready to start trading on the stock market by the end of the year. The new company has plans to offer the Asian market online wagering on overseas racing.
Snai Posts Negative Results for Q2
Italian bookmaker Snai (SNA.MI) finished the first half of 2001 by losing L34 billion and recording a 38 percent drop in turnover to L101.4bn.
The losses are blamed on a decrease in gambling and betting in Italy. Snai's shares fell 14.4 percent in the stock market one week ago on Aug. 13. The shares have lost 62.7 percent of their value since the beginning of the year. Snai shares closed Friday at 3.8.
TAB Queensland Buys SA TAB
TAB Queensland Ltd (TQL) has reached a deal with the South Australian Totalisator Agency Board (SA TAB) to purchase it for ASD$43.5 million.
The agreement will be finalized in January. TAB Queensland will receive a 99-year, off-course totalisator license with a 15-year exclusivity period. The new business will be able to offer fixed price sports betting under similar circumstances.
A wagering tax of 6 percent, in addition to GST, will be applied to the betting revenue of the new company. The South Australian racing industry will get 39 percent of the commission from race betting.
Wembley Posts Promising First Half
Gaming and track entertainment company Wembley Plc announced last week that its profits for the first half of the year rose 11 percent after it sold land around the English national soccer stadium and successfully launched its casino in Rhode Island.
Wembley's net income for the last 6 months rose to £9.9 million from £8.95 million, or to 24.6 pence a share from 19.5 pence a share, its price in the period ending a year earlier. Revenue increased 21 percent to £68.1 million.
The company changed its central business to betting after selling Wembley stadium in north London to England's Football Association in 1999. Wembley makes half its income in the United States. The company's website for wagering on greyhound racing, 24dogs, was launched last year. Chief executive Nigel Potter said he doesn't expect it to be profitable until
2003.
The Way of the RivTrend
|
Aug. 3 |
Aug. 10 |
% Change |
| North America Index |
154.57 |
143.64 |
-7.07% |
| EuroAustralasia Index |
120.25 |
119.04 |
-1.01% |
| Global Index |
123.21 |
116.72 |
-5.27% |
Profit Rise Lower for Tabcorp
Tabcorp Holdings Ltd. (TAH.ASX) had its lowest ever profit rise during January to June of this year since the company was first listed in 1994.
Part of the reason is the recent success of high rollers at Sydney's Star City casino, which has hit Tabcorp's profits and affirmed its decision to leave the high-stakes table.
The company's net profit of AU$187.7 million for the half-year was a record high, but rise in annual profit was low at 7.4 percent. Tabcorp chief executive Ross Wilson called the results satisfactory for a very challenging year. During the year the company faced separate state government inquiries into gambling in Victoria and NSW, while the federal government looked into Internet gambling.
F2 Broadcast Network Sells Assets, Restructures
Last week F2 Broadcast Network (FTWB) completed its assets sales and liquidation of all longterm obligations, as well as the rearranging of its board of directors.
The Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based company raised between $1.1 and $1.4 million from the assets sale and increased its liquid assets by $577,000. The company, which provides Internet video production services, also appointed retired steel executive Donald Edwards to its board of directors.
Reports Released
Poker.com (PKER) - Second Quarter Results
MDI Entertainment Inc. (LTRY) - Second Quarter Results
Global ePoint Inc. (GEPT) - Second Quarter Results
Stanley Leisure (SLY.L) - Annual Report for 2001
Total Entertainment Inc. (TTLN) - Second Quarter Results
Boss Media (BOSS.ST) - Half-Year Report