Pre-Close Trading Update
08 October 2003 - 5:00PM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:6407Q
SCI Entertainment Group PLC
08 October 2003
SCi Entertainment Group Plc
Pre-close trading update
SCi Entertainment Group Plc ("SCi"), a leading UK based computer games
publisher, is today issuing a trading update prior to entering the close period,
ahead of its preliminary results for the year to 30 September 2003, which will
be announced on Monday 8 December 2003.
During the second half-year SCi released, on schedule, three new titles:
Futurama, The Great Escape and Conflict: Desert Storm 2. Overall, the three
products have exceeded SCi's initial expectations. The Great Escape and
Conflict: Desert Storm 2 in particular, have enjoyed a strong showing in both
the Sony PS2 and All Formats charts. With SCi's back catalogue game, Conflict:
Desert Storm also selling well throughout the year, SCi expects pre-tax profits
for the year will exceed current market expectations by approximately 20%.
The first half of the 2004 financial year will benefit from the strong initial
performance of Conflict: Desert Storm 2, which was only released on 19 September
2003, close to SCi's financial year-end. Following last week's acquisition of
Pivotal Games - the developer of Conflict: Desert Storm and Conflict: Desert
Storm 2 - the Conflict series will make a greater contribution to SCi's profits,
with a greater share of royalties now retained within the Group.
With a number of new launches planned for the 2004 financial year, including
Richard Burns Rally and the third game in the hugely successful Conflict series,
SCi begins the new financial year with confidence and a determination to
continue to build shareholder value.
For further information, please contact:
For media enquiries:
Robin Tozer
Bell Pottinger Financial Tel: 0207 861 3891
For investor enquiries:
Neville Harris
Bell Pottinger Financial Tel: 0207 861 3894
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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