EX-99.1 2 a16-4009_2ex99d1.htm EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

Manchester United plc

 

Interim report (unaudited) for the three and six months

 

ended 31 December 2015

 



 

Contents

 

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations

2

Interim consolidated income statement for the three and six months ended 31 December 2015 and 2014

12

Interim consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the three and six months ended 31 December 2015 and 2014

13

Interim consolidated balance sheet as of 31 December 2015, 30 June 2015 and 31 December 2014

14

Interim consolidated statement of changes in equity for the six months ended 31 December 2015, the six months ended 30 June 2015 and the six months ended 31 December 2014

16

Interim consolidated statement of cash flows for the three and six months ended 31 December 2015 and 2014

17

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements

18

 

1



 

Manchester United plc

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations

 

GENERAL INFORMATION AND FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

The following Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the interim consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included as part of this report. This report contains forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on such statements because they are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties relating to Manchester United plc’s (“the Company”) operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many are beyond the Company’s control. Forward-looking statements include information concerning the Company’s possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of its business strategy. These statements often include words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “seek,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “possible” or similar expressions. The forward-looking statements contained in this interim report are based on our current expectations and estimates of future events and trends, which affect or may affect our businesses and operations. You should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although the Company believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect its actual financial results or results of operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in these forward-looking statements. These factors are more fully discussed in the “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended 30 June 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 15 October 2015 (File No. 001-35627).

 

GENERAL

 

Manchester United is one of the most popular and successful sports team in the world, playing one of the most popular spectator sports on Earth. Through our 137-year heritage we have won 62 trophies, including a record 20 English league titles, enabling us to develop what we believe is one of the world’s leading sports brands and a global community of 659 million followers. Our large, passionate community provides Manchester United with a worldwide platform to generate significant revenue from multiple sources, including sponsorship, merchandising, product licensing, media & content, broadcasting and matchday. We attract leading global companies such as adidas, Aon, and General Motors (Chevrolet) that want access and exposure to our community of followers and association with our brand.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Three months ended 31 December 2015 as compared to the three months ended 31 December 2014

 

 

 

Three months ended
31 December

 

% Change

 

 

 

(in £ millions)

 

2015 over

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2014

 

Revenue

 

133.8

 

105.7

 

26.6

%

Commercial revenue

 

66.1

 

46.4

 

42.5

%

Broadcasting revenue

 

37.3

 

28.4

 

31.3

%

Matchday revenue

 

30.4

 

30.9

 

(1.6

)%

Total operating expenses

 

(101.8

)

(93.1

)

9.3

%

Employee benefit expenses

 

(55.7

)

(48.7

)

14.4

%

Other operating expenses

 

(22.0

)

(14.6

)

50.7

%

Depreciation

 

(2.5

)

(2.6

)

(3.8

)%

Amortization

 

(21.6

)

(27.0

)

(20.0

)%

Exceptional items

 

 

(0.2

)

 

Profit on disposal of players’ registrations

 

0.6

 

1.5

 

(60.0

)%

Net finance costs

 

(4.7

)

(6.3

)

(25.4

)%

Tax expense

 

(9.3

)

(7.8

)

19.2

%

 

2



 

Revenue

 

Our consolidated revenue for the three months ended 31 December 2015 was £133.8 million, an increase of £28.1 million, or 26.6%, over the three months ended 31 December 2014, as a result of an increase in revenue in our Commercial and Broadcasting sectors, which was partially offset by a decrease in revenue in our Matchday sector, as described below.

 

Commercial revenue

 

Commercial revenue for the three months ended 31 December 2015 was £66.1 million, an increase of £19.7 million, or 42.5%, over the three months ended 31 December 2014.

 

·     Sponsorship revenue for the three months ended 31 December 2015 was £37.4 million, an increase of £1.6 million, or 4.5%, over the three months ended 31 December 2014;

·     Retail, Merchandising, Apparel & Product Licensing revenue for the three months ended 31 December 2015 was £25.7 million, an increase of £17.8 million, or 225.3%, over the three months ended 31 December 2014, primarily due to the commencement of the new agreement with adidas from 1 August 2015, which included a step-up in minimum guaranteed revenues and the contribution from several businesses previously operated by Nike; and

·     Mobile & Content revenue for the three months ended 31 December 2015 was £3.0 million, an increase of £0.3 million, or 11.1%, over the three months ended 31 December 2014.

 

Broadcasting revenue

 

Broadcasting revenue for the three months ended 31 December 2015 was £37.3 million, an increase of £8.9 million, or 31.3%, over the three months ended 31 December 2014, primarily due to participation in the UEFA Champions League, partially offset by two fewer FAPL home games and two fewer FAPL live broadcast games in the current quarter.

 

Matchday revenue

 

Matchday revenue for the three months ended 31 December 2015 was £30.4 million, a decrease of £0.5 million, or 1.6%, over the three months ended 31 December 2014, primarily due to playing two fewer FAPL home games and hosting a friendly international game (in the prior year quarter), largely offset by two UEFA Champions League home games and one domestic cup home game in the current quarter.

 

Total operating expenses

 

Total operating expenses (defined as employee benefit expenses, other operating expenses, depreciation, amortization, and exceptional items) for the three months ended 31 December 2015 were £101.8 million, an increase of £8.7 million, or 9.3%, over the three months ended 31 December 2014.

 

Employee benefit expenses

 

Employee benefit expenses for the three months ended 31 December 2015 were £55.7 million, an increase of £7.0 million, or 14.4%, over the three months ended 31 December 2014, primarily due to renewals of existing player contracts, coupled with an uplift from participation in the UEFA Champions League.

 

Other operating expenses

 

Other operating expenses for the three months ended 31 December 2015 were £22.0 million, an increase of £7.4 million, or 50.7%, over the three months ended 31 December 2014, primarily due to retail, merchandising, apparel and licensing costs now being recognized in-house, plus an increase in matchday costs as a result of playing two UEFA Champions League games in the quarter compared to the prior year quarter.

 

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Depreciation

 

Depreciation for the three months ended 31 December 2015 was £2.5 million, a decrease of £0.1 million, or 3.8%, over the three months ended 31 December 2014.

 

Amortization

 

Amortization, primarily of players’ registrations, for the three months ended 31 December 2015 was £21.6 million, a decrease of £5.4 million, or 20.0%, over the three months ended 31 December 2014. The unamortized balance of players’ registrations as of 31 December 2015 was £240.4 million.

 

Exceptional items

 

Exceptional items for the three months ended 31 December 2015 were £nil, compared with £0.2 million in the prior year quarter.

 

Profit on disposal of players’ registrations

 

Profit on disposal of players’ registrations for the three months ended 31 December 2015 was £0.6 million, compared to a profit of £1.5 million for the three months ended 31 December 2014.

 

Net finance costs

 

Net finance costs for the three months ended 31 December 2015 were £4.7 million, a decrease of £1.6 million, or 25.4%, over the three months ended 31 December 2014. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in interest payable on the secured term loan facility and senior secured notes following the refinancing in June 2015.

 

Tax

 

The tax expense for the three months ended 31 December 2015 was £9.3 million, compared to an expense of £7.8 million for the three months ended 31 December 2014.

 

Six months ended 31 December 2015 as compared to the six months ended 31 December 2014

 

 

 

Six months ended
31 December

 

% Change

 

 

 

(in £ millions)

 

2015 over

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2014

 

Revenue

 

257.4

 

194.4

 

32.4

%

Commercial revenue

 

137.3

 

103.2

 

33.0

%

Broadcasting revenue

 

64.9

 

45.2

 

43.6

%

Matchday revenue

 

55.2

 

46.0

 

20.0

%

Total operating expenses

 

(208.5

)

(185.9

)

12.2

%

Employee benefit expenses

 

(114.6

)

(98.1

)

16.8

%

Other operating expenses

 

(45.1

)

(33.6

)

34.2

%

Depreciation

 

(5.0

)

(4.9

)

2.0

%

Amortization

 

(43.8

)

(48.2

)

(9.1

)%

Exceptional items

 

 

(1.1

)

(100.0

)%

(Loss)/profit on disposal of players’ registrations

 

(6.8

)

19.8

 

(134.3

)%

Net finance costs

 

(9.0

)

(12.4

)

(27.4

)%

Tax expense

 

(9.5

)

(7.0

)

35.7

%

 

4



 

Revenue

 

Our consolidated revenue for the six months ended 31 December 2015 was £257.4 million, an increase of £63.0 million, or 32.4%, over the six months ended 31 December 2014, as a result of an increase in all of our revenue sectors, as described below.

 

Commercial revenue

 

Commercial revenue for the six months ended 31 December 2015 was £137.3 million, an increase of £34.1 million, or 33.0%, over the six months ended 31 December 2014.

 

·                  Sponsorship revenue for the six months ended 31 December 2015 was £83.7 million, an increase of £1.6 million, or 1.9%, over the six months ended 31 December 2014;

·                  Retail, Merchandising, Apparel & Product Licensing revenue for the six months ended 31 December 2015 was £48.0 million, an increase of £32.3 million, or 205.7%, over the six months ended 31 December 2014, primarily due to the commencement of the new agreement with adidas from 1 August 2015, which included a step-up in minimum guaranteed revenues and the contribution from several businesses previously operated by Nike; and

·                  Mobile & Content revenue for the six months ended 31 December 2015 was £5.6 million, an increase of £0.2 million, or 3.7%, over the six months ended 31 December 2014.

 

Broadcasting revenue

 

Broadcasting revenue for the six months ended 31 December 2015 was £64.9 million, an increase of £19.7 million, or 43.6%, over the six months ended 31 December 2014, primarily due to participation in the UEFA Champions League, partially offset by one fewer FAPL home game and one fewer FAPL live broadcast game in the current year.

 

Matchday revenue

 

Matchday revenue for the six months ended 31 December 2015 was £55.2 million, an increase of £9.2 million, or 20.0%, over the six months ended 31 December 2014, primarily due to participation in the UEFA Champions League and two domestic cup home games, partially offset by one fewer FAPL home game in the current year.

 

Total operating expenses

 

Total operating expenses (defined as employee benefit expenses, other operating expenses, depreciation, amortisation, and exceptional items) for the six months ended 31 December 2015 were £208.5 million, an increase of £22.6 million, or 12.2%, over the six months ended 31 December 2014.

 

Employee benefit expenses

 

Employee benefit expenses for the six months ended 31 December 2015 were £114.6 million, an increase of £16.5 million, or 16.8%, over the six months ended 31 December 2014, primarily due to increased player wages resulting from renewals of existing contracts, coupled with an uplift from participation in the UEFA Champions League.

 

Other operating expenses

 

Other operating expenses for the six months ended 31 December 2015 were £45.1 million, an increase of £11.5 million, or 34.2%, over the six months ended 31 December 2014, primarily due to retail, merchandising, apparel and licensing costs now being recognized in-house, plus an increase in matchday costs as a result of playing five additional home games in the current year.

 

Depreciation

 

Depreciation for the six months ended 31 December 2015 was £5.0 million, an increase of £0.1 million, or 2.0%, over the six months ended 31 December 2014.

 

5



 

Amortization

 

Amortization, primarily of players’ registrations, for the six months ended 31 December 2015 was £43.8 million, a decrease of £4.4 million, or 9.1%, over the six months ended 31 December 2014.

 

Exceptional items

 

Exceptional items for the six months ended 31 December 2015 were £nil, compared to £1.1 million in the six months ended 31 December 2014.

 

(Loss)/profit on disposal of players’ registrations

 

Loss on disposal of players’ registrations for the six months ended 31 December 2015 was £6.8 million compared with a profit of £19.8 million for the six months ended 31 December 2014. The loss on disposal of players’ registrations for the six months ended 31 December 2015 primarily related to the disposal of Di Maria (Paris St-Germain).

 

Net finance costs

 

Net finance costs for the six months ended 31 December 2015 were £9.0 million, a decrease of £3.4 million, or 27.4%, over the six months ended 31 December 2014. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in interest payable on the secured term loan facility and senior secured notes following the refinancing in June 2015.

 

Tax

 

The tax expense for the six months ended 31 December 2015 was £9.5 million, compared to an expense of £7.0 million for the six months ended 31 December 2014.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Our primary cash requirements stem from the payment of transfer fees for the acquisition of players’ registrations, capital expenditure for the improvement of facilities at Old Trafford and the Aon Training Complex, payment of interest on our borrowings, employee benefit expenses, other operating expenses and dividends on our Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Historically, we have met these cash requirements through a combination of operating cash flow and proceeds from the transfer fees from the sale of players’ registrations. Our existing borrowings primarily consist of our secured term loan facility and our senior secured notes. Additionally, although we have not needed to draw any borrowings under our revolving credit facility since 2009, we have no intention of retiring our revolving credit facility and may draw on it in the future in order to satisfy our working capital requirements. We manage our cash flow interest rate risk where appropriate using interest rate swaps. Such interest rate swaps have the economic effect of converting borrowings from floating to fixed rates. We have US dollar borrowings that we use to hedge a portion of our US dollar sponsorship revenue exposure. We continue to evaluate our financing options and may, from time to time, take advantage of opportunities to repurchase or refinance all or a portion of our existing indebtedness to the extent such opportunities arise.

 

We paid quarterly cash dividends of $0.045 per share on our outstanding Class A and Class B ordinary shares on 15 October 2015 and 7 January 2016.  We expect to continue paying regular dividends to our Class A ordinary shareholders and Class B ordinary shareholders out of our operating cash flows. The declaration and payment of any future dividends, however, will be at the sole discretion of our board of directors or a committee thereof, and our expectations and policies regarding dividends are subject to change as our business needs, capital requirements or market conditions change.

 

Our business generates a significant amount of cash from our gate revenues and commercial contractual arrangements at or near the beginning of our fiscal year, with a steady flow of other cash received throughout the fiscal year. In addition, we generate a significant amount of our cash through advance receipts, including season tickets (which include general admission season tickets and seasonal hospitality tickets), most of which are received prior to the end of June for the following season. Our broadcasting revenue from the Premier League and UEFA are paid periodically throughout the season, with primary payments made in late summer, December, January and the end of the football season. Our sponsorship and other commercial revenue tends to be paid either quarterly or annually in advance. However, while we typically have a high cash balance at the beginning of each fiscal year, this

 

6



 

is largely attributable to deferred revenue, the majority of which falls under current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet, and this deferred revenue is unwound through the income statement over the course of the fiscal year. Over the course of a year, we use our cash on hand to pay employee benefit expenses, other operating expenses, interest payments and other liabilities as they become due. This typically results in negative working capital movement at certain times during the year. In the event it ever became necessary to access additional operating cash, we also have access to cash through our revolving credit facility. As of 31 December 2015, we had no borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

 

Our cost base is more evenly spread throughout the fiscal year than our cash inflows. Employee benefit expenses and fixed costs constitute the majority of our cash outflows and are generally paid throughout the 12 months of the fiscal year. Our working capital levels tend to be at their lowest in November, in advance of Premier League and UEFA broadcasting receipts in December.

 

In addition, transfer windows for acquiring and disposing of players’ registrations occur in January and the summer. During these periods, we may require additional cash to meet our acquisition needs for new players and we may generate additional cash through the sale of existing players’ registrations. Depending on the terms of the agreement, transfer fees may be paid or received by us in multiple installments, resulting in deferred cash paid or received. Although we have not historically drawn on our revolving credit facility during the summer transfer window, if we seek to acquire players with values substantially in excess of the values of players we seek to sell, we may be required to draw on our revolving credit facility to meet our cash needs.

 

Acquisition and disposal of players’ registrations also affects our current trade receivables and payables, which affects our overall working capital. Our trade receivables include accrued income from sponsors as well as transfer fees receivable from other football clubs, whereas our trade payables include transfer fees and other associated costs in relation to the acquisition of players’ registrations.

 

Cash Flow

 

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the six months ended 31 December 2015 and 2014:

 

 

 

Six months ended
31 December
(in £ millions)

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

Cash generated from operations

 

31.1

 

48.9

 

Interest paid

 

(3.1

)

(13.3

)

Debt finance costs relating to borrowings

 

 

(0.8

)

Interest received

 

0.1

 

0.1

 

Income tax paid

 

(1.6

)

(1.0

)

Net cash generated from operating activities

 

26.5

 

33.9

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

 

(0.6

)

(3.8

)

Purchases of players’ registrations and other intangible assets

 

(95.9

)

(86.8

)

Proceeds from sale of players’ registrations

 

35.8

 

16.7

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(60.7

)

(73.9

)

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from borrowings

 

 

4.7

 

Repayment of borrowings

 

(0.2

)

(0.2

)

Dividends paid

 

(4.8

)

 

Net cash (used in)/generated from financing activities

 

(5.0

)

4.5

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(39.2

)

(35.5

)

 

7



 

Net cash generated from operating activities

 

Net cash generated from operations represents our operating results and net movements in our working capital. Our working capital is generally impacted by the timing of cash received from the sale of tickets and hospitality and other matchday revenues, broadcasting revenue from the Premier League and UEFA and sponsorship and commercial revenue. Cash generated from operations for the six months ended 31 December 2015 produced a cash inflow of £31.1 million, a decrease of £17.8 million from an inflow of £48.9 million for the six months ended 31 December 2014.

 

Additional changes in net cash generated from operating activities generally reflect our finance costs. We currently pay fixed rates of interest on our senior secured notes and variable rates of interest on our secured term loan facility. We have an interest rate swap which has the economic effect of converting interest on our secured term loan facility from variable rates to a fixed rate. Net cash generated from operating activities for the six months ended 31 December 2015 was £26.5 million, a decrease of £7.4 million from net cash generated of £33.9 million for the six months ended 31 December 2014.

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

Capital expenditure for the acquisition of players as well as for improvements to property, principally at Old Trafford and the Aon Training Complex, are funded through cash flow generated from operations, proceeds from the sale of players’ registrations and, if necessary, from our revolving credit facility. Capital expenditure on the acquisition, disposal and trading of players’ registrations tends to vary significantly from year to year depending on the requirements of our first team, overall availability of players, our assessment of their relative value and competitive demand for players from other clubs. By contrast, capital expenditure on the purchase of property, plant and equipment tends to remain relatively stable as we continue to make improvements at Old Trafford and invest in our training facility, the Aon Training Complex.

 

Net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended 31 December 2015 was £60.7 million, a decrease of £13.2 million from £73.9 million for the six months ended 31 December 2014.

 

For the six months ended 31 December 2015, net property, plant and equipment capital expenditure was £0.6 million, a decrease of £3.2 million from £3.8 million for the six months ended 31 December 2014.

 

For the six months ended 31 December 2015, net player and other intangible assets capital expenditure was £60.1 million, a decrease of £10.0 million from £70.1 million for the six months ended 31 December 2014.

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

Net cash used in financing activities for the six months ended 31 December 2015 was £5.0 million, an increase of £9.5 million from net cash generated of £4.5 million for the six months ended 31 December 2014.

 

Indebtedness

 

Our primary sources of indebtedness consist of our secured term loan facility and our senior secured notes. As part of the security for our secured term loan facility, our senior secured notes and our revolving credit facility, substantially all of our assets are subject to liens and mortgages.

 

Description of principal indebtedness

 

Secured term loan

 

Our wholly-owned finance subsidiary, MU Finance plc, has a secured term loan facility with Bank of America, N.A. As of 31 December 2015 the sterling equivalent of £149.7 million (net of unamortized issue costs of £2.9 million) was outstanding under our secured term loan facility. The outstanding principal amount was $225.0 million. We have the option to repay the loan at any time. The remaining balance of the loan is repayable on 26 June 2025.

 

8



 

Loans under the secured term loan facility bear interest at a rate per annum equal to US dollar LIBOR (provided that if the rate is less than zero, LIBOR shall be deemed to be zero) plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin, if no event of default has occurred and is continuing, means the following:

 

Total net leverage ratio (as defined in the secured term loan facility agreement)

 

Margin %
(per annum)

 

Greater than 3.5

 

1.75

 

Greater than 2.0 but less than or equal to 3.5

 

1.50

 

Less than or equal to 2.0

 

1.25

 

 

While any event of default is continuing, the applicable margin shall be the highest level set forth above.

 

Our secured term loan facility is guaranteed by Red Football Limited, Red Football Junior Limited, Manchester United Limited, Manchester United Football Club Limited and MU Finance plc and secured against the assets of those entities.

 

The secured term loan facility contains a financial maintenance covenant  requiring us to maintain consolidated profit/loss for the period before depreciation, amortization of, and profit on disposal of, players’ registrations, exceptional items, net finance costs, and tax (“EBITDA”) of not less than £65 million for each 12 month testing period. We are able to claim certain dispensations from complying with the consolidated EBITDA floor up to twice (in non-consecutive years) during the life of the secured term loan facility if we fail to qualify for the first round group stages (or its equivalent from time to time) of the Champions League.

 

Senior secured notes

 

Our wholly-owned finance subsidiary, MU Finance plc, issued $425 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.79% senior secured notes due 2027. As of 31 December 2015 the sterling equivalent of £283.6 million (net of unamortized issue costs of £4.6 million) was outstanding. The outstanding principal amount was $425.0 million. The notes mature on 25 June 2027.

 

The notes are guaranteed by Red Football Limited, Red Football Junior Limited, Manchester United Limited and Manchester United Football Club Limited and are secured against substantially all of the assets of those entities.

 

The note purchase agreement governing the notes contains a financial maintenance covenant requiring us to maintain consolidated EBITDA of not less than £65 million for each 12 month testing period. We are able to claim certain dispensations from complying with the consolidated EBITDA floor up to twice (in non-consecutive years) during the life of the notes if we fail to qualify for the first round group stages (or its equivalent from time to time) of the Champions League.

 

The note purchase agreement governing the notes contains events of default typical for securities of this type, as well as customary covenants and restrictions on the activities of Red Football Limited and each of Red Football Limited’s subsidiaries, including, but not limited to, the incurrence of additional indebtedness; dividends or distributions in respect of capital stock or certain other restricted payments or investments; entering into agreements that restrict distributions from restricted subsidiaries; the sale or disposal of assets, including capital stock of restricted subsidiaries; transactions with affiliates; the incurrence of liens; and mergers, consolidations or the sale of substantially all of Red Football Limited’s assets. The covenants in the note purchase agreement governing the notes are subject to certain thresholds and exceptions described in the note purchase agreement governing the notes.

 

The notes may be redeemed in part, in an amount not less than 5% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding, or in full, at any time at 100% of the principal amount plus a “make-whole” premium of an amount equal to the discounted value (based on the US Treasury rate) of the remaining interest payments due on the notes up to 25 June 2027.

 

Revolving credit facility

 

Our revolving facilities agreement allows MU Finance plc (or any direct or indirect subsidiary of Red Football Limited that becomes a borrower thereunder) to borrow up to £125 million, plus (subject to certain conditions) the

 

9



 

ability to incur a further £25 million by way of incremental facilities, from a syndicate of lenders with Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited as agent and security trustee. As of 31 December 2015, we had no outstanding borrowings and had £125 million (exclusive of capacity under the incremental facilities) in borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility agreement.

 

Our initial revolving facility is scheduled to expire on 26 June 2021 (although it may be possible for any subsequent incremental facility thereunder to expire at a later date). Any amount still outstanding at that time will be due in full immediately on the applicable expiry date.

 

Our revolving credit facility is guaranteed by Red Football Limited, Red Football Junior Limited, Manchester United Limited, Manchester United Football Club Limited and MU Finance plc and secured against substantially all of the assets of those entities.

 

Alderley facility

 

The Alderley facility consists of a bank loan to Alderley Urban Investments Limited, a subsidiary of Manchester United Limited. The loan attracts interest at LIBOR plus 1%. As of 31 December 2015, £4.8 million was outstanding under the Alderley facility, £1.2 million of the loan is repayable in quarterly installments through July 2018, and the remaining balance of £3.6 million is repayable at par on 9 July 2018. The loan is secured against the Manchester International Freight Terminal which is owned by Alderley Urban Investments Limited.

 

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PATENTS AND LICENSES, ETC.

 

We do not conduct research and development activities.

 

OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

Transfer fees payable

 

Under the terms of certain contracts with other football clubs in respect of player transfers, additional amounts would be payable by us if certain specific performance conditions are met. We estimate the fair value of any contingent consideration at the date of acquisition based on the probability of conditions being met and monitor this on an ongoing basis. A provision of £2.0 million relating to this contingent consideration has been recognized on our balance sheet as of 31 December 2015, and the maximum additional amount that could be payable as of that date is £41.2 million.

 

Transfer fees receivable

 

Similarly, under the terms of contracts with other football clubs for player transfers, additional amounts would be payable to us if certain specific performance conditions are met. In accordance with the recognition criteria for contingent assets, such amounts are only disclosed by the Company when probable and recognised when virtually certain. As of 31 December 2015, we believe receipt of £2.4 million to be probable.

 

Other commitments

 

In the ordinary course of business, we enter into operating lease commitments and capital commitments. These transactions are recognised in the consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”), and are more fully disclosed therein.

 

As of 31 December 2015, we had not entered into any other off-balance sheet transactions.

 

10



 

TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

 

Contractual Obligations

 

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of 31 December 2015:

 

 

 

Payments due by period(1)

 

 

 

Less than
1 year

 

1-3 years

 

3-5 years

 

More than
five years

 

Total

 

 

 

(in £ thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt obligations(2)

 

17,182

 

37,936

 

33,447

 

537,868

 

626,433

 

Finance lease obligations

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating lease obligations(3)

 

2,531

 

4,992

 

213

 

4,069

 

11,805

 

Purchase obligations(4)

 

164,286

 

19,818

 

660

 

 

184,764

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

183,999

 

62,746

 

34,320

 

541,937

 

823,002

 

 


(1)             This table reflects contractual non-derivative financial obligations including interest and operating lease payments and therefore differs from the carrying amounts in our consolidated financial statements.

 

(2)             As of 31 December 2015, we had $225.0 million of our secured term loan facility outstanding and $425.0 million of our senior secured notes outstanding. Other long-term indebtedness consists of a bank loan to Alderley Urban Investments Limited, a subsidiary of Manchester United Limited. As of 31 December 2015, we had £4.8 million outstanding under the Alderley facility.

 

(3)             We enter into operating leases in the normal course of business. Most lease arrangements provide us with the option to renew the leases at defined terms. The future operating lease obligations would change if we were to exercise these options, or if we were to enter into additional new operating leases.

 

(4)             Purchase obligations include current and non-current obligations related to the acquisition of players’ registrations and capital commitments. Purchase obligations do not include contingent transfer fees of £41.2 million which are potentially payable by us if certain specific performance conditions are met.

 

Except as disclosed above and in note 29.3 to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and six months ended 31 December 2015 included elsewhere in this interim report, as of 31 December 2015, we did not have any material contingent liabilities or guarantees.

 

11



 

Manchester United plc

Interim consolidated income statement - unaudited

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended
31 December

 

Six months ended
31 December

 

 

 

Note

 

2015
£’000

 

2014
£’000

 

2015
£’000

 

2014
£’000

 

Revenue

 

6

 

133,764

 

105,761

 

257,326

 

194,431

 

Operating expenses

 

7

 

(101,804

)

(93,137

)

(208,410

)

(185,888

)

Profit/(loss) on disposal of players’ registrations

 

9

 

648

 

1,432

 

(6,788

)

19,760

 

Operating profit

 

 

 

32,608

 

14,056

 

42,128

 

28,303

 

Finance costs

 

 

 

(4,799

)

(6,241

)

(9,178

)

(12,477

)

Finance income

 

 

 

67

 

 

105

 

99

 

Net finance costs

 

10

 

(4,732

)

(6,241

)

(9,073

)

(12,378

)

Profit before tax

 

 

 

27,876

 

7,815

 

33,055

 

15,925

 

Tax expense

 

11

 

(9,269

)

(7,870

)

(9,488

)

(7,036

)

Profit/(loss) for the period

 

 

 

18,607

 

(55

)

23,567

 

8,889

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings/(loss) per share during the period:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings/(loss) per share (pence)

 

12

 

11.35

 

(0.03

)

14.38

 

5.43

 

Diluted earnings/(loss) per share (pence)

 

12

 

11.33

 

(0.03

)

14.35

 

5.42

 

 

See accompanying notes to the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

12



 

Manchester United plc

Interim consolidated statement of comprehensive income - unaudited

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended
31 December

 

Six months ended
31 December

 

 

 

Note

 

2015
£’000

 

2014
£’000

 

2015
£’000

 

2014
£’000

 

Profit/(loss) for the period

 

 

 

18,607

 

(55

)

23,567

 

8,889

 

Other comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value movements on cash flow hedges

 

 

 

(6,313

)

(14,344

)

(21,460

)

(30,358

)

Tax credit relating to cash flow hedges

 

 

 

2,209

 

5,020

 

7,511

 

10,625

 

Other comprehensive loss for the period, net of tax

 

 

 

(4,104

)

(9,324

)

(13,949

)

(19,733

)

Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the period

 

 

 

14,503

 

(9,379

)

9,618

 

(10,844

)

 

See accompanying notes to the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

13



 

Manchester United plc

Interim consolidated balance sheet - unaudited

 

 

 

Note

 

As of
31 December
2015
£’000

 

As of
30 June
2015
£’000

 

As of
31 December
2014
£’000

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

14

 

248,314

 

250,626

 

254,398

 

Investment property

 

15

 

13,503

 

13,559

 

13,615

 

Goodwill

 

16

 

421,453

 

421,453

 

421,453

 

Players’ registrations and other intangible assets

 

17

 

241,892

 

238,944

 

270,061

 

Derivative financial instruments

 

19

 

1,680

 

 

857

 

Trade and other receivables

 

20

 

10,375

 

3,836

 

 

Deferred tax asset

 

26

 

132,910

 

133,640

 

128,797

 

 

 

 

 

1,070,127

 

1,062,058

 

1,089,181

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inventories

 

18

 

1,504

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments

 

19

 

1,971

 

27

 

544

 

Trade and other receivables

 

20

 

81,807

 

83,627

 

83,716

 

Current tax receivable

 

 

 

 

124

 

81

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

21

 

121,611

 

155,752

 

37,115

 

 

 

 

 

206,893

 

239,530

 

121,456

 

Total assets

 

 

 

1,277,020

 

1,301,588

 

1,210,637

 

 

See accompanying notes to the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

14



 

Manchester United plc

Interim consolidated balance sheet (continued) - unaudited

 

 

 

Note

 

As of
31 December
2015
£’000

 

As of
30 June
2015
£’000

 

As of
31 December
2014
£’000

 

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share capital

 

22

 

52

 

52

 

52

 

Share premium

 

 

 

68,822

 

68,822

 

68,822

 

Merger reserve

 

 

 

249,030

 

249,030

 

249,030

 

Hedging reserve

 

 

 

(9,220

)

4,729

 

6,185

 

Retained earnings

 

 

 

174,834

 

155,285

 

164,424

 

 

 

 

 

483,518

 

477,918

 

488,513

 

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments

 

19

 

2,454

 

2,769

 

1,612

 

Trade and other payables

 

23

 

19,587

 

48,078

 

47,181

 

Borrowings

 

24

 

437,656

 

410,482

 

374,034

 

Deferred revenue

 

25

 

16,944

 

21,583

 

14,260

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

26

 

14,070

 

17,311

 

24,085

 

 

 

 

 

490,711

 

500,223

 

461,172

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments

 

19

 

2,207

 

2,966

 

617

 

Current tax liabilities

 

 

 

4,870

 

2,105

 

2,399

 

Trade and other payables

 

23

 

164,769

 

131,283

 

123,058

 

Borrowings

 

24

 

6,057

 

485

 

6,447

 

Deferred revenue

 

25

 

124,888

 

186,608

 

128,431

 

 

 

 

 

302,791

 

323,447

 

260,952

 

Total equity and liabilities

 

 

 

1,277,020

 

1,301,588

 

1,210,637

 

 

See accompanying notes to the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

15



 

Manchester United plc

Interim consolidated statement of changes in equity - unaudited

 

 

 

Share
capital
£’000

 

Share
premium
£’000

 

Merger
reserve
£’000

 

Hedging
reserve
£’000

 

Retained
earnings
£’000

 

Total
equity
£’000

 

Balance at 1 July 2014

 

52

 

68,822

 

249,030

 

25,918

 

154,828

 

498,650

 

Profit for the period

 

 

 

 

 

8,889

 

8,889

 

Cash flow hedges

 

 

 

 

(30,358

)

 

(30,358

)

Tax credit relating to cash flow hedges

 

 

 

 

10,625

 

 

10,625

 

Total comprehensive (loss)/income for the period

 

 

 

 

(19,733

)

8,889

 

(10,844

)

Equity-settled share-based payments

 

 

 

 

 

707

 

707

 

Balance at 31 December 2014

 

52

 

68,822

 

249,030

 

6,185

 

164,424

 

488,513

 

Loss for the period

 

 

 

 

 

(9,784

)

(9,784

)

Cash flow hedges

 

 

 

 

(2,244

)

 

(2,244

)

Tax credit relating to cash flow hedges

 

 

 

 

788

 

 

788

 

Total comprehensive loss for the period

 

 

 

 

(1,456

)

(9,784

)

(11,240

)

Equity-settled share-based payments

 

 

 

 

 

645

 

645

 

Balance at 30 June 2015

 

52

 

68,822

 

249,030

 

4,729

 

155,285

 

477,918

 

Profit for the period

 

 

 

 

 

23,567

 

23,567

 

Cash flow hedges

 

 

 

 

(21,460

)

 

(21,460

)

Tax credit relating to cash flow hedges

 

 

 

 

7,511

 

 

7,511

 

Total comprehensive (loss)/income for the period

 

 

 

 

(13,949

)

23,567

 

9,618

 

Equity-settled share-based payments

 

 

 

 

 

795

 

795

 

Dividends paid

 

 

 

 

 

(4,813

)

(4,813

)

Balance at 31 December 2015

 

52

 

68,822

 

249,030

 

(9,220

)

174,834

 

483,518

 

 

Details of movements on the hedging reserve are provided in note 31.2.

 

See accompanying notes to the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

16



 

Manchester United plc

Interim consolidated statement of cash flows - unaudited

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended
31 December

 

Six months ended
31 December

 

 

 

Note

 

2015
£’000

 

2014
£’000

 

2015
£’000

 

2014
£’000

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash (used in)/generated from operations

 

27

 

(7,007

)

(34,421

)

31,108

 

48,921

 

Interest paid

 

 

 

(1,576

)

(4,500

)

(3,118

)

(13,229

)

Debt finance costs relating to borrowings

 

 

 

 

42

 

 

(824

)

Interest received

 

 

 

50

 

40

 

117

 

89

 

Income tax paid

 

 

 

(660

)

(123

)

(1,602

)

(1,010

)

Net cash (used in)/generated from operating activities

 

 

 

(9,193

)

(38,962

)

26,505

 

33,947

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

(223

)

(1,851

)

(576

)

(3,793

)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

(2

)

 

19

 

 

Purchases of players’ registrations and other intangible assets

 

 

 

(9,360

)

(15,564

)

(95,892

)

(86,866

)

Proceeds from sale of players’ registrations

 

 

 

(818

)

1,273

 

35,773

 

16,716

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

 

(10,403

)

(16,142

)

(60,676

)

(73,943

)

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from borrowings

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,704

 

Repayment of borrowings

 

 

 

(94

)

(102

)

(183

)

(199

)

Dividends paid

 

 

 

(4,813

)

 

(4,813

)

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

 

 

(4,907

)

(102

)

(4,996

)

4,505

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

(24,503

)

(55,206

)

(39,167

)

(35,491

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

 

 

143,525

 

90,266

 

155,752

 

66,365

 

Foreign exchange gains on cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

2,589

 

2,055

 

5,026

 

6,241

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

21

 

121,611

 

37,115

 

121,611

 

37,115

 

 

See accompanying notes to the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

17



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

1           General information

 

Manchester United plc (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (together the “Group”) is a professional football club together with related and ancillary activities. The Company incorporated under the Companies Law (2011 Revision) of the Cayman Islands, as amended and restated from time to time. The Company’s shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MANU”.

 

These financial statements are presented in pounds sterling and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand (£’000) except when otherwise indicated.

 

These interim consolidated financial statements were approved for issue by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors on 11 February 2016.

 

2           Basis of preparation

 

The interim consolidated financial statements of Manchester United plc have been prepared on a going concern basis and in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 “Interim Financial Reporting”. The interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended 30 June 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 15 October 2015, contained within the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F, which were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRSs”), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and IFRS Interpretations Committee (“IFRS IC”) interpretations. The report of the auditors on those financial statements was unqualified and did not contain an emphasis of matter paragraph. The results of operations for the interim periods should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full fiscal year.

 

Out of period adjustments

 

There were no out of period adjustments in the six months ended 31 December 2015.

 

The interim consolidated financial statements for the six months ended 31 December 2014 included an out of period adjustment which was not considered material to year ended 30 June 2015 nor the year ended 30 June 2014 annual financial statements.  The adjustment resulted in a credit of £1.9 million to the income statement in the three months ended 30 September 2014 related to broadcasting revenue that was in respect of the prior year.

 

18



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

3           Accounting policies

 

The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015, except as described below.

 

Taxes on income in the interim periods are accrued using the tax rate that would be applicable to expected total annual earnings.

 

Dividend distributions to the Company’s shareholders are recognised when they become legally payable. In the case of interim dividends, this is when they are paid.

 

During the fiscal year 2015, the Group now holds material levels of inventory for the first time and has adopted the following new accounting policy for the financial year beginning on 1 July 2015:

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. The cost of finished goods comprises cost of purchase and, where appropriate, other directly attributable costs. It excludes borrowing costs. Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less applicable variable selling expenses.

 

New and amended standards adopted by the Group

 

The Group has adopted the following new and amended IFRS standards for the first time for the financial year beginning on 1 July 2015. None of these had a material impact on the interim consolidated financial statements of the Group.

 

·                  Amendment to IAS 32, “Financial Instruments: Presentation”

 

·                  Annual improvements to IFRSs 2012 - 2014

 

New and amended standards and interpretations issued but not yet adopted

 

The following new standards, amendments to standards and interpretations are not yet effective and have not been applied in preparing these interim consolidated financial statements. Adoption may affect the disclosures in the Group’s financial statements in the future. The adoption of these standards, amendments and interpretations is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Group, except as set out below.

 

·                  IFRS 9, “Financial instruments”. The Group has yet to fully consider the impact of IFRS 9 which it expects to adopt from 1 July 2018

 

·                  IFRS 15, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. The Group has yet to fully consider the impact of IFRS 15 which it expects to adopt from 1 July 2018

 

·                  IFRS 16, “Leases”. The Group has yet to fully consider the impact of IFRS 16 which it expects to adopt from 1 July 2019

 

There are no other IFRSs or IFRS IC interpretations that are not yet effective that would be expected to have a material impact on the Group.

 

19



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

4           Estimates

 

The preparation of interim financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expense. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the interim consolidated financial statements are considered to be revenue recognition — minimum guarantee payable by adidas, revenue recognition - estimates in certain commercial contracts, impairment of goodwill and non-current assets, intangible assets — players’ registrations, and recognition of deferred tax assets.

 

In preparing these interim consolidated financial statements, the significant judgements made by management in applying the Group’s accounting policies and the key sources of estimation uncertainty were the same as those that applied to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015, with the exception of changes in estimates that are required in determining the provision for income taxes and management’s estimate that the full minimum guarantee amount will be received from adidas on the grounds that management do not expect two consecutive seasons of non-participation in the Champions League during the term of the agreement.

 

20



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

5           Seasonality of revenue

 

We experience seasonality in our revenue and cash flow, limiting the overall comparability of interim financial periods. In any given interim period, our total revenue can vary based on the number of games played in that period, which affects the amount of Matchday and Broadcasting revenue recognised. Similarly, certain of our costs are derived from hosting games at Old Trafford, and these costs will also vary based on the number of games played in the period. We historically recognize the most revenue in our second and third fiscal quarters due to the scheduling of matches. However, a strong performance by our first team in the Champions League and domestic cups could result in significant additional Broadcasting and Matchday revenue, and consequently we may recognize the most revenue in our fourth fiscal quarter in those years.

 

Commercial revenue comprises revenue receivable from the exploitation of the Manchester United brand through sponsorship and other commercial agreements, including minimum guaranteed revenue, and fees for the Manchester United first team undertaking tours. For sponsorship contracts any additional revenue receivable over and above the minimum guaranteed revenue contained in the sponsorship and licensing agreements is taken to revenue when a reliable estimate of the future performance of the contract can be obtained and it is probable that the amounts will not be recouped by the sponsor in future years. Revenue is recognized over the term of the sponsorship agreement in line with the performance obligations included within the contract and based on the sponsorship rights enjoyed by the individual sponsor. In instances where the sponsorship rights remain the same over the duration of the contract, revenue is recognised on a straight-line basis. In respect of contracts with multiple elements, the Group allocates the total consideration receivable to each separately identifiable element based on their relative fair values, and then recognizes the allocated revenue on a straight-line basis over the relevant period of each element. Minimum guaranteed revenue under the agreement with adidas is subject to certain adjustments. Management’s current best estimate is that the full minimum guarantee amount will be received, as management do not expect two consecutive seasons of non-participation in the Champions League.

 

Broadcasting rights revenue represents revenue receivable from all UK and overseas media contracts, including contracts negotiated centrally by the FA Premier League and UEFA. In addition, broadcasting rights revenue includes revenue receivable from the exploitation of Manchester United media rights through the internet or wireless applications. Distributions from the FA Premier League comprise a fixed element (which is recognized evenly as domestic home matches are played), facility fees for live coverage and highlights of domestic home and away matches (which are recognized when the respective match is played), and merit awards (which are only recognized when they are known at the end of the football season). Distributions from UEFA relating to participation in European cup competitions comprise market pool payments (which are recognized over the matches played in the competition, a portion of which reflects Manchester United’s performance relative to the other FA Premier League clubs in the competition) and fixed amounts for participation in individual matches (which are recognized when the matches are played).

 

Matchday revenue is recognized based on matches played throughout the year with revenue from each match being recognized only after the match to which the revenue relates has been played. Revenue from related activities such as Conference and Events or the Museum is recognized as the event or service is provided or the facility is enjoyed. Matchday revenue includes revenue receivable from all domestic and European match day activities from Manchester United games at Old Trafford, together with the Group’s share of gate receipts from cup matches not played at Old Trafford (where applicable), and fees for arranging other events at the Old Trafford stadium. The share of gate receipts payable to the other participating club and competition organiser for cup matches played at Old Trafford (where applicable) is treated as an operating expense.

 

21



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

6           Segment information

 

The principal activity of the Group is the operation of a professional football club. All of the activities of the Group support the operation of the football club and the success of the first team is critical to the on-going development of the Group. Consequently the Chief Operating Decision Maker (being the Board and Executive Officers of Manchester United plc) regards the Group as operating in one material segment, being the operation of a professional football club.

 

All revenue derives from the Group’s principal activity in the United Kingdom. Revenue can be analysed into its three main components as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended
31 December

 

Six months ended
31 December

 

 

 

2015
£’000

 

2014
£’000

 

2015
£’000

 

2014
£’000

 

Commercial

 

66,095

 

46,441

 

137,267

 

103,187

 

Broadcasting

 

37,293

 

28,384

 

64,872

 

45,195

 

Matchday

 

30,376

 

30,936

 

55,187

 

46,049

 

 

 

133,764

 

105,761

 

257,326

 

194,431

 

 

All non-current assets, other than US deferred tax assets, are held within the United Kingdom.

 

7                                        Operating expenses

 

 

 

Three months ended
31 December

 

Six months ended
31 December

 

 

 

2015
£’000

 

2014
£’000

 

2015
£’000

 

2014
£’000

 

Employee benefit expenses

 

(55,705

)

(48,760

)

(114,552

)

(98,147

)

Other operating expenses

 

(21,987

)

(14,586

)

(45,105

)

(33,561

)

Depreciation - property, plant and equipment (note 14)

 

(2,445

)

(2,532

)

(4,911

)

(4,840

)

Depreciation - investment property (note 15)

 

(28

)

(28

)

(56

)

(56

)

Amortization (note 17)

 

(21,639

)

(27,046

)

(43,786

)

(48,223

)

Exceptional items (note 8)

 

 

(185

)

 

(1,061

)

 

 

(101,804

)

(93,137

)

(208,410

)

(185,888

)

 

8           Exceptional items

 

 

 

Three months ended
31 December

 

Six months ended
31 December

 

 

 

2015
£’000

 

2014
£’000

 

2015
£’000

 

2014
£’000

 

Professional adviser fees related to public sale of shares

 

 

(185

)

 

(1,061

)

 

Professional adviser fees relating to the public sale of Class A ordinary shares are recognized as an expense when they are not directly attributable to the issue of new shares or when a particular offer is no longer being pursued.

 

22



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

9                               Profit/(loss) on disposal of players’ registrations

 

 

 

Three months ended
31 December

 

Six months ended
31 December

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

£’000

 

£’000

 

£’000

 

£’000

 

Profit/(loss) on disposal of players’ registrations

 

648

 

157

 

(6,788

)

18,085

 

Player loan fee income

 

 

1,275

 

 

1,675

 

 

 

648

 

1,432

 

(6,788

)

19,760

 

 

10         Net finance costs

 

 

 

Three months ended
31 December

 

Six months ended
31 December

 

 

 

2015
£’000

 

2014
£’000

 

2015
£’000

 

2014
£’000

 

Interest payable on bank loans, overdrafts and deferred element of terminated interest rate swap

 

(311

)

(366

)

(745

)

(986

)

Interest payable on secured term loan facility and senior secured notes

 

(4,210

)

(5,249

)

(8,226

)

(10,334

)

Amortization of issue discount, debt finance and debt issue costs on secured term loan facility and senior secured notes

 

(159

)

(540

)

(292

)

(1,062

)

Costs associated with debt refinancing

 

 

(46

)

 

(1,295

)

Foreign exchange losses(1)

 

(455

)

 

(1,214

)

 

Unwinding of discount relating to player transfer fees

 

(769

)

(993

)

(1,613

)

(1,512

)

Fair value movement on derivative financial instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Embedded foreign exchange derivatives

 

1,105

 

1,185

 

2,912

 

2,486

 

Interest rate swaps

 

 

(31

)

 

(8

)

Ineffectiveness on cash flow hedges

 

 

(201

)

 

234

 

Total finance costs

 

(4,799

)

(6,241

)

(9,178

)

(12,477

)

Total finance income - interest receivable on short-term bank deposits

 

67

 

 

105

 

99

 

Net finance costs

 

(4,732

)

(6,241

)

(9,073

)

(12,378

)

 


(1) Foreign exchange losses arising on re-translation of the Group’s unhedged US dollar borrowings.

 

23



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

11         Tax

 

 

 

Three months ended
31 December

 

Six months ended
31 December

 

 

 

2015
£’000

 

2014
£’000

 

2015
£’000

 

2014
£’000

 

Current tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current tax on result for the period

 

(3,305

)

(155

)

(3,647

)

(155

)

Foreign tax suffered

 

(660

)

(392

)

(841

)

(174

)

Total current tax expense

 

(3,965

)

(547

)

(4,488

)

(329

)

Deferred tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Origination and reversal of temporary differences

 

(5,304

)

(7,323

)

(5,000

)

(6,707

)

Adjustment in respect of previous years

 

 

 

 

 

Total deferred tax expense

 

(5,304

)

(7,323

)

(5,000

)

(6,707

)

Total tax expense

 

(9,269

)

(7,870

)

(9,488

)

(7,036

)

 

Tax is recognised based on management’s estimate of the weighted average annual tax rate expected for the full financial year. Based on current forecasts, the estimated weighted average annual tax rate used for the year to 30 June 2016 is 35.8% (30 June 2015: 54.1%). The total tax expense also includes a credit of £2.3 million (30 June 2015: credit of £1.6 million) mainly relating to foreign exchange gains arising on US dollar denominated tax bases.

 

24



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

12         Earnings/(loss) per share

 

(a)        Basic

 

Basic earnings/(loss) per share is calculated by dividing the profit/(loss) for the period by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period.

 

 

 

Three months ended
31 December

 

Six months ended
31 December

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

Profit/(loss) for the period (£’000)

 

18,607

 

(55

)

23,567

 

8,889

 

Class A ordinary shares (thousands)

 

39,892

 

39,797

 

39,888

 

39,792

 

Class B ordinary shares (thousands)

 

124,000

 

124,000

 

124,000

 

124,000

 

Basic earnings/(loss) per share (pence)

 

11.35

 

(0.03

)

14.38

 

5.43

 

 

(b)        Diluted

 

Diluted (loss)/earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year to assume conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares. The Company has one category of dilutive potential ordinary shares: share awards pursuant to the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”). Share awards pursuant to the Equity Plan are assumed to have been converted into ordinary shares at the beginning of the financial year.

 

 

 

Three months ended
31 December

 

Six months ended
31 December

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

Profit/(loss) for the period (£’000)

 

18,607

 

(55

)

23,567

 

8,889

 

Class A ordinary shares (thousands)

 

39,892

 

39,797

 

39,888

 

39,797

 

Adjustment for assumed conversion into Class A ordinary shares (thousands)

 

371

 

349

 

375

 

349

 

Class B ordinary shares (thousands)

 

124,000

 

124,000

 

124,000

 

124,000

 

Basic earnings/(loss) per share (pence)

 

11.33

 

(0.03

)

14.35

 

5.42

 

 

13         Dividends

 

An interim dividend of $0.045 per share (2014: $nil) amounting to a total dividend of £4.8 million (2014: £nil) was paid in October 2015. On 12 November 2015 our board of directors announced that it had approved the payment of a further interim dividend of $0.045 per share (2014: $nil) to be paid on 7 January 2016.

 

25



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

14                          Property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

Freehold 
property
£’000

 

Plant and 
machinery
£’000

 

Fixtures 
and 
fittings
£’000

 

Total
£’000

 

Cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 July 2015

 

270,047

 

39,826

 

40,269

 

350,142

 

Additions

 

354

 

500

 

1,803

 

2,657

 

Disposals

 

 

(1,561

)

(73

)

(1,634

)

Transfers

 

(604

)

600

 

4

 

 

At 31 December 2015

 

269,797

 

39,365

 

42,003

 

351,165

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 July 2015

 

40,228

 

34,091

 

25,197

 

99,516

 

Charge for the period

 

1,689

 

1,075

 

2,147

 

4,911

 

Disposals

 

 

(1,520

)

(56

)

(1,576

)

At 31 December 2015

 

41,917

 

33,646

 

27,288

 

102,851

 

Net book amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 31 December 2015

 

227,880

 

5,719

 

14,715

 

248,314

 

At 30 June 2015

 

229,819

 

5,735

 

15,072

 

250,626

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 July 2014

 

270,319

 

39,761

 

35,427

 

345,507

 

Additions

 

47

 

697

 

3,640

 

4,384

 

Disposals

 

 

(1,098

)

(227

)

(1,325

)

At 31 December 2014

 

270,366

 

39,360

 

38,840

 

348,566

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 July 2014

 

36,895

 

32,476

 

21,277

 

90,648

 

Charge for the period

 

1,663

 

1,321

 

1,856

 

4,840

 

Disposals

 

 

(1,094

)

(226

)

(1,320

)

At 31 December 2014

 

38,558

 

32,703

 

22,907

 

94,168

 

Net book amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 31 December 2014

 

231,808

 

6,657

 

15,933

 

254,398

 

 

26



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

15                          Investment property

 

 

 

Total
£’000

 

Cost

 

 

 

At 1 July 2015

 

19,128

 

Additions

 

 

At 31 December 2015

 

19,128

 

Accumulated depreciation and impairment

 

 

 

At 1 July 2015

 

5,569

 

Charge for the period

 

56

 

At 31 December 2015

 

5,625

 

Net book amount

 

 

 

At 31 December 2015

 

13,503

 

At 30 June 2015

 

13,559

 

 

 

 

 

Cost

 

 

 

At 1 July 2014

 

19,128

 

Additions

 

 

At 31 December 2014

 

19,128

 

Accumulated depreciation and impairment

 

 

 

At 1 July 2014

 

5,457

 

Charge for the period

 

56

 

Impairment

 

 

At 31 December 2014

 

5,513

 

Net book amount

 

 

 

At 31 December 2014

 

13,615

 

 

Management obtained an external valuation report carried out in accordance with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (“RICS”) Valuation - Professional Standards, January 2014 as of 30 June 2015 which supported the carrying value of investment property as of that date and consequently there were no changes to the net book amount. Management has considered the carrying amount of investment property as of 31 December 2015 and concluded that, as there are no indicators of impairment, an impairment test is not required. The external valuation was carried out on the basis of Market Value, as defined in the RICS Valuation — Professional Standards, January 2014. Fair value of investment property is determined using inputs that are not based on observable market data, consequently the asset is categorized as Level 3 (see note 31.2). The fair value of investment property as of 31 December 2015 was £14,238,000.

 

27



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

16                          Goodwill

 

 

 

Total
£’000

 

Cost and net book value at 31 December 2015, 30 June 2015 and 31 December 2014

 

421,453

 

 

Goodwill is not subject to amortization and is tested annually for impairment (normally at the end of the third fiscal quarter) or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate a potential impairment. Management has considered the carrying amount of goodwill as of 31 December 2015 and concluded that, as there are no indicators of impairment, a detailed impairment test is not required. Having assessed the future anticipated cash flows, management believes that any reasonably possible changes in key assumptions would not result in an impairment of goodwill.

 

28



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

17                          Players’ registrations and other intangible assets

 

 

 

Players’ 
registrations
£’000

 

Other 
intangible 
assets
£’000

 

Total
£’000

 

Cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 July 2015

 

465,830

 

951

 

466,781

 

Additions

 

107,636

 

753

 

108,389

 

Disposals

 

(113,706

)

 

(113,706

)

At 31 December 2015

 

459,760

 

1,704

 

461,464

 

Accumulated amortisation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 July 2015

 

227,684

 

153

 

227,837

 

Charge for the period

 

43,709

 

77

 

43,786

 

Disposals

 

(52,051

)

 

(52,051

)

At 31 December 2015

 

219,342

 

230

 

219,572

 

Net book amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 31 December 2015

 

240,418

 

1,474

 

241,892

 

At 30 June 2015

 

238,146

 

798

 

238,944

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 July 2014

 

412,797

 

 

412,797

 

Additions

 

120,761

 

861

 

121,622

 

Disposals

 

(31,663

)

 

(31,663

)

At 31 December 2014

 

501,895

 

861

 

502,756

 

Accumulated amortisation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 July 2014

 

208,225

 

 

208,225

 

Charge for the period

 

48,143

 

80

 

48,223

 

Disposals

 

(23,753

)

 

(23,753

)

At 31 December 2014

 

232,615

 

80

 

232,695

 

Net book amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 31 December 2014

 

269,280

 

781

 

270,061

 

 

Other intangible assets comprise website, mobile applications and trademark registration costs. Other intangible assets are fully amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which is typically between 5 - 10 years.

 

29



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

18         Inventories

 

 

 

31 December
2015
£’000

 

30 June
2015
£’000

 

31 December
2014
£’000

 

Finished goods

 

1,504

 

 

 

 

The cost of inventories recognized as an expense and included in operating expenses for the six months ended 31 December 2015 amounted to £4,203,000 (six months ended 31 December 2014: £nil).

 

19         Derivative financial instruments

 

 

 

31 December 2015

 

30 June 2015

 

31 December 2014

 

 

 

Assets

 

Liabilities

 

Assets

 

Liabilities

 

Assets

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

£’000

 

£’000

 

£’000

 

£’000

 

£’000

 

£’000

 

Derivatives that are designated and effective as hedging instruments carried at fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swaps

 

 

(2,382

)

 

(111

)

235

 

 

Forward foreign exchange contracts

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial instruments carried at fair value through profit or loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Embedded foreign exchange derivatives

 

2,872

 

 

27

 

(67

)

1,166

 

 

Interest rate swaps

 

 

 

 

 

 

(958

)

Forward foreign exchange contracts

 

769

 

(2,279

)

 

(5,557

)

 

(1,271

)

 

 

3,651

 

(4,661

)

27

 

(5,735

)

1,401

 

(2,229

)

Less non-current portion:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives that are designated and effective as hedging instruments carried at fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swaps

 

10

 

(2,382

)

 

(111

)

235

 

 

Financial instruments carried at fair value through profit or loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Embedded foreign exchange derivatives

 

1,510

 

 

 

(67

)

622

 

 

Interest rate swaps

 

 

 

 

 

 

(958

)

Forward foreign exchange contracts

 

160

 

(72

)

 

(2,591

)

 

(654

)

Non-current derivative financial instruments

 

1,680

 

(2,454

)

 

(2,769

)

857

 

(1,612

)

Current derivative financial instruments

 

1,971

 

(2,207

)

27

 

(2,966

)

544

 

(617

)

 

Further details of derivative financial instruments are provided in note 31.

 

30



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

20         Trade and other receivables

 

 

 

31 December
2015
£’000

 

30 June
2015
£’000

 

31 December
2014
£’000

 

Trade receivables

 

58,509

 

51,746

 

38,035

 

Less: provision for impairment of trade receivables

 

(4,458

)

(3,897

)

(3,809

)

Net trade receivables

 

54,051

 

47,849

 

34,226

 

Other receivables

 

426

 

82

 

424

 

Accrued revenue

 

24,841

 

29,421

 

41,049

 

 

 

79,318

 

77,352

 

75,699

 

Prepayments

 

12,864

 

10,111

 

8,017

 

 

 

92,182

 

87,463

 

83,716

 

Less: non-current portion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade receivables

 

10,375

 

3,836

 

 

Non-current trade and other receivables

 

10,375

 

3,836

 

 

Current trade and other receivables

 

81,807

 

83,627

 

83,716

 

 

Net trade receivables include transfer fees receivable from other football clubs of £41,682,000 (30 June 2015: £20,693,000; 31 December 2014: £13,665,000) of which £10,375,000 (30 June 2015: £3,836,000; 31 December 2014: £nil) is receivable after more than one year. Net trade receivables also include £7,346,000 (30 June 2015: £21,856,000; 31 December 2014: £12,659,000) of deferred revenue that is contractually payable to the Group, but recorded in advance of the earnings process, with corresponding amounts recorded as deferred revenue liabilities.

 

21         Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

31 December
2015
£’000

 

30 June
2015
£’000

 

31 December
2014
£’000

 

Cash at bank and in hand

 

121,611

 

155,752

 

37,115

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents for the purposes of the statement of cash flows are as above.

 

31



 

 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

22                        Share capital

 

 

 

Number of
shares
(thousands)

 

Ordinary shares
£’000

 

At 1 July 2014

 

163,778

 

52

 

Employee share-based compensation awards — issue of shares

 

19

 

 

At 31 December 2014

 

163,797

 

52

 

Employee share-based compensation awards — issue of shares

 

76

 

 

At 30 June 2015

 

163,873

 

52

 

Employee share-based compensation awards — issue of shares

 

19

 

 

At 31 December 2015

 

163,892

 

52

 

 

The Company has two classes of ordinary shares outstanding: Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares, each with a par value of $0.0005 per share. The rights of the holders of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares are identical, except with respect to voting and conversion. Each Class A ordinary share is entitled to one vote per share and is not convertible into any other shares. Each Class B ordinary share is entitled to 10 votes per share and is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time. In addition, Class B ordinary shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares upon certain transfers and other events, including upon the date when holders of all Class B ordinary shares cease to hold Class B ordinary shares representing, in the aggregate, at least 10% of the total number of Class A and Class B ordinary shares outstanding. For special resolutions (which are required for certain important matters including mergers and changes to the Company’s governing documents), which require the vote of two-thirds of the votes cast, at any time that Class B ordinary shares remain outstanding, the voting power permitted to be exercised by the holders of the Class B ordinary shares will be weighted such that the Class B ordinary shares shall represent, in the aggregate, 67% of the voting power of all shareholders.

 

As of 31 December 2015, the Company’s issued share capital comprised 39,892,289 Class A ordinary shares and 124,000,000 Class B ordinary shares.

 

32



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

23         Trade and other payables

 

 

 

31 December
2015
£’000

 

30 June
2015
£’000

 

31 December
2014
£’000

 

Trade payables

 

132,039

 

118,969

 

119,933

 

Other payables

 

2,228

 

2,064

 

8,154

 

Accrued expenses

 

43,088

 

45,616

 

35,497

 

 

 

177,355

 

166,649

 

163,584

 

Social security and other taxes

 

7,001

 

12,712

 

6,655

 

 

 

184,356

 

179,361

 

170,239

 

Less: non-current portion:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade payables

 

18,230

 

46,512

 

46,625

 

Other payables

 

1,357

 

1,566

 

556

 

Non-current trade and other payables

 

19,587

 

48,078

 

47,181

 

Current trade and other payables

 

164,769

 

131,283

 

123,058

 

 

Trade payables include transfer fees and other associated costs in relation to the acquisition of players’ registrations of £125,599,000 (30 June 2015: £114,937,000; 31 December 2014: £116,500,000) of which £18,230,000 (30 June 2015: £46,512,000; 31 December 2014: £46,625,000) is due after more than one year.

 

The fair value of trade and other payables is not materially different to their carrying amount.

 

33



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

24                          Borrowings

 

 

 

31 December
2015
£’000

 

30 June
2015
£’000

 

31 December
2014
£’000

 

Non-current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior secured notes due 2027

 

283,611

 

265,734

 

 

Secured term loan facility due 2025

 

149,676

 

140,182

 

199,691

 

Senior secured notes due 2017

 

 

 

168,870

 

Secured bank loan due 2018

 

4,369

 

4,566

 

5,473

 

 

 

437,656

 

410,482

 

374,034

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secured bank loan due 2018

 

383

 

371

 

415

 

Accrued interest on senior secured notes

 

5,674

 

114

 

6,032

 

 

 

6,057

 

485

 

6,447

 

Total borrowings

 

443,713

 

410,967

 

380,481

 

 

The senior secured notes due 2027 of £283,611,000 (30 June 2015: £265,734,000; 31 December 2014: £nil) are stated net of unamortized issue costs amounting to £4,583,000 (30 June 2015: £4,760,000; 31 December 2014: £nil). The outstanding principal amount of the notes is $425,000,000 (30 June 2015: $425,000,000; 31 December 2014: $nil). The notes have a fixed coupon rate of 3.79% per annum and interest is paid semi-annually. The notes mature on 25 June 2027.

 

The notes were issued by our wholly-owned finance subsidiary, MU Finance plc, and are guaranteed by Red Football Limited, Red Football Junior Limited, Manchester United Limited and Manchester United Football Club Limited and are secured against substantially all of the assets of those entities.

 

The secured term loan facility due 2025 of £149,676,000 (30 June 2015: £140,182,000; 31 December 2014: £199,691,000) is stated net of unamortized issue costs amounting to £2,898,000 (30 June 2015: £3,021,000; 31 December 2014: £3,031,000). The outstanding principal amount of the loan is $225,000,000 (30 June 2015: $225,000,000; 31 December 2014: $315,700,000). The loan attracts interest of US dollar LIBOR plus an applicable margin of between 1.25% and 1.75% per annum and interest is paid monthly. The remaining balance of the loan is repayable on 26 June 2025, although the Group continues to have the option to repay the loan at any time.

 

The loan was provided to our wholly-owned finance subsidiary, MU Finance plc, and is guaranteed by Red Football Limited, Red Football Junior Limited, Manchester United Limited, Manchester United Football Club Limited and MU Finance plc and is secured against substantially all of the assets of each of those entities.

 

The senior secured notes due 2017 of £nil (30 June 2015: £nil; 31 December 2014: £168,870,000) were stated net of unamortized issue discount and unamortized debt finance costs amounting to £nil (30 June 2015: £nil; 31 December 2014: £3,981,000). The outstanding principal amount of the notes is $nil (30 June 2015: $nil; 31 December 2014: $269,180,000). The notes had a fixed coupon rate of 8.375% per annum.

 

34



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

24                          Borrowings (continued)

 

The secured bank loan due 2018 of £4,752,000 (30 June 2015: £4,937,000; 31 December 2014: £5,888,000) comprises a bank loan within Alderley Urban Investments Limited, a subsidiary of Manchester United Limited, that attracts interest of LiBOR + 1% per annum. £1,108,000 (30 June 2015: £1,293,000; 31 December 2014: £1,689,000) is repayable in quarterly instalments through to July 2018, with the remaining balance of £3,644,000 (30 June 2015: £3,644,000; 31 December 2014: £4,199,000) being re-payable at par on 9 July 2018. The loan is secured by way of a first legal charge over a Group investment property, known as the Manchester International Freight Terminal, and the loan is also guaranteed by Manchester United Limited.

 

The Group also has undrawn committed borrowing facilities of £125,000,000 (30 June 2015: £125,000,000; 31 December 2014: £75,000,000). The Group also has (subject to certain conditions) the ability to incur a further £25,000,000 by way of incremental facilities. The facility terminates on 26 June 2021 (although it may be possible for any incremental facilities to terminate after such date). Drawdowns would attract interest of LIBOR or EURIBOR plus an applicable margin of between 1.25% and 1.75% per annum (depending on the total net leverage ratio at that time). No drawdowns were made from these facilities during 2015 or 2014.

 

As of 31 December 2015, the Group was in compliance with all covenants in relation to borrowings.

 

25                          Deferred revenue

 

 

 

31 December
2015
£’000

 

30 June
2015
£’000

 

31 December
2014
£’000

 

Total

 

141,832

 

208,191

 

142,691

 

Less non-current deferred revenue

 

(16,944

)

(21,583

)

(14,260

)

Current deferred revenue

 

124,888

 

186,608

 

128,431

 

 

Revenue from commercial, broadcasting and matchday activities received in advance of the period to which it relates is treated as deferred revenue. The deferred revenue is then released to revenue in accordance with the substance of the relevant agreements or, where applicable, as matches are played. The Group receives substantial amounts of deferred revenue prior to the previous financial year end which is then released to revenue throughout the current and, where applicable, future financial years.

 

35



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

26                          Deferred tax

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset where the Group has a legally enforceable right to do so. The following is the analysis of the deferred tax balances (after allowable offset) for financial reporting purposes:

 

 

 

31 December
2015
£’000

 

30 June
2015
£’000

 

31 December
2014
£’000

 

US deferred tax assets

 

(132,910

)

(133,640

)

(128,797

)

UK deferred tax liabilities

 

14,070

 

17,311

 

24,085

 

Net deferred tax asset

 

(118,840

)

(116,329

)

(104,712

)

 

The movements in the net deferred tax asset are as follows:

 

 

 

31 December
2015
£’000

 

30 June
2015
£’000

 

31 December
2014
£’000

 

At the beginning of the period

 

(116,329

)

(100,794

)

(100,794

)

Expensed/(credited) to the income statement

 

5,000

 

(4,126

)

6,707

 

Credited to other comprehensive income

 

(7,511

)

(11,409

)

(10,625

)

At the end of the period

 

(118,840

)

(116,329

)

(104,712

)

 

The main rate of UK corporate tax will reduce by 1% to 19% from 1 April 2017 and by a further 1% to 18% from 1 April 2020. These changes were substantively enacted on 26 October 2015 and consequently UK deferred tax balances have been re-measured to 18%.

 

36



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

27                        Cash generated from operations

 

 

 

Three months ended
31 December

 

Six months ended
31 December

 

 

 

2015
£’000

 

2014
£’000

 

2015
£’000

 

2014
£’000

 

Profit before tax

 

27,876

 

7,815

 

33,055

 

15,925

 

Depreciation

 

2,473

 

2,560

 

4,967

 

4,896

 

Amortization

 

21,639

 

27,046

 

43,786

 

48,223

 

(Profit)/loss on disposal of players’ registrations

 

(648

)

(1,432

)

6,788

 

(19,760

)

Net finance costs

 

4,732

 

6,241

 

9,073

 

12,378

 

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

1

 

1

 

10

 

5

 

Equity-settled share-based payments

 

420

 

377

 

795

 

707

 

Foreign exchange losses/(gains) on operating activities

 

123

 

(329

)

2,189

 

(968

)

Other fair value losses/(gains) on derivative financial instruments

 

201

 

577

 

(4,046

)

1,211

 

Reclassified from hedging reserve

 

321

 

(1,196

)

663

 

(2,391

)

Increase in inventories

 

(144

)

 

(1,504

)

 

Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables

 

24,541

 

(12,110

)

14,375

 

52,398

 

Decrease in trade and other payables and deferred revenue

 

(88,542

)

(63,971

)

(79,043

)

(63,703

)

Cash (used in)/generated from operations

 

(7,007

)

(34,421

)

31,108

 

48,921

 

 

28                          Contingencies

 

At 31 December 2015, the Group had no material contingent liabilities in respect of legal claims arising in the ordinary course of business. Contingent transfer fees are disclosed in note 29.3.

 

37



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

29                          Commitments

 

29.1              Operating lease commitments

 

The Group leases various premises and plant and equipment under non-cancellable operating lease agreements. The Group leases out its investment properties.

 

29.2                Capital commitments

 

At 31 December 2015 the Group had capital commitments amounting to £5.4 million (30 June 2015: £0.2 million; 31 December 2014: £3.7 million).

 

29.3                Transfer fees payable

 

Under the terms of certain contracts with other football clubs in respect of player transfers, additional amounts, in excess of the amounts included in the cost of players’ registrations, would be payable by the Group if certain substantive performance conditions are met. These excess amounts are only recognised within the cost of players’ registrations when the Company considers that it is probable that the condition related to the payment will be achieved. For MUFC appearances, the Company estimates the probability of the player achieving the contracted number of appearances. The conditions relating to the signing of a new contract and international appearances are only considered to be probable once they have been achieved. The maximum additional amounts that could be payable is £41,194,000 (30 June 2015: £26,271,000; 31 December 2014: £29,736,000).

 

At 31 December 2015 the potential amount payable by type of condition and category of player was:

 

Type of condition

 

First team 
squad
£’000

 

Other
£’000

 

Total
£’000

 

MUFC appearances/new contract

 

25,333

 

5,142

 

30,475

 

International appearances

 

10,559

 

160

 

10,719

 

 

 

35,892

 

5,302

 

41,194

 

 

Similarly, under the terms of contracts with other football clubs for player transfers, additional amounts would be payable to the Group if certain specific performance conditions are met. In accordance with the recognition criteria for contingent assets, such amounts are only disclosed by the Group when probable and recognized when virtually certain. As of 31 December 2015, the amount of such receipt considered to be probable was £2.4 million (30 June 2015: £2.2 million; 31 December 2014: £nil).

 

38



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

30                          Pension arrangements

 

Certain employees of the Group are members of The Football League Limited Pension and Life Assurance Scheme (“the Scheme”). Accrual of benefits on a final salary basis was suspended with effect from 31 August 1999 following an actuarial review which revealed a substantial deficit. As one of 92 participating employers, the Group is unable to identify its share of the assets and liabilities of the Scheme and therefore accounts for its contributions as if they were paid to a defined contribution scheme. The Group is advised only of the additional contributions it is required to pay to make good the deficit. The Group has received confirmation that the assets and liabilities of the Scheme cannot be split between the participating employers. Full provision has been made for the additional contributions that the Group has been requested to pay to help fund the deficit as it is principally attributable to employees who have left the Group or retired. These contributions could increase in the future if one or more of the participating employers exits the Scheme.

 

The last triennial actuarial valuation of the Scheme was carried out at 31 August 2014 where the total deficit on the ongoing valuation basis was £21.8 million. The accrual of benefits ceased within the Scheme on 31 August 1999, therefore there are no contributions relating to current accrual. The Group pays monthly contributions based on a notional split of the total expenses and deficit contributions of the Scheme.

 

The Group currently pays total contributions of £437,000 per annum and, based on the actuarial valuation assumptions, will be sufficient to pay off the deficit by 28 February 2020.  As of 31 December 2015, the present value of the Group’s outstanding contributions (i.e. its future liability) is £1,774,000. This amounts to £417,000 (30 June 2015: £414,000; 31 December 2014: £369,000) due within one year and £1,357,000 (30 June 2015: £1,566,000; 31 December 2014: £556,000) due after more than one year and is included within other payables.

 

Contributions are also made to defined contribution pension arrangements and are charged to the income statement in the period in which they become payable.

 

39



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

31                          Financial risk management

 

31.1                Financial risk factors

 

The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (including currency risk and interest rate risk), credit risk, and liquidity risk.

 

The interim consolidated financial statements do not include all financial risk management information and disclosures required in the annual financial statements, they should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended 30 June 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 15 October 2015, in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F.

 

There have been no changes in risk management since the previous financial year end or in any risk management policies.

 

31.2                Hedging activities

 

The Group uses derivative financial instruments to hedge certain exposures, and has designated certain derivatives as hedges of cash flows (cash flow hedge).

 

The Group hedges the foreign exchange risk on contracted future US dollar revenues whenever possible using the Group’s US dollar net borrowings as the hedging instrument. The foreign exchange gains or losses arising on re-translation of the Group’s US dollar net borrowings used in the hedge are initially recognized in other comprehensive income, rather than being recognized in the income statement immediately. Amounts previously recognized in other comprehensive income and accumulated in the hedging reserve are subsequently reclassified into the income statement in the same accounting period, and within the same income statement line (i.e. Commercial revenue), as the underlying future US dollar revenues, which given the varying lengths of the commercial revenue contracts will be between January 2016 to June 2021. The foreign exchange gains or losses arising on re-translation of the Group’s unhedged US dollar borrowings are recognized in the income statement immediately. The table below details the net borrowings being hedged at the balance sheet date:

 

 

 

31 December
2015
$’000

 

30 June
2015
$’000

 

31 December
2014
$’000

 

USD borrowings

 

650,000

 

650,000

 

584,880

 

USD cash

 

(133,400

)

(138,500

)

(50,400

)

Net USD debt

 

516,600

 

511,500

 

534,480

 

Hedged future USD revenues

 

(486,188

)

(470,404

)

(534,480

)

Unhedged USD borrowings

 

30,412

 

41,096

 

 

Closing USD exchange rate ($: £)

 

1.4747

 

1.5712

 

1.5573

 

 

40



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

31                          Financial risk management (continued)

 

31.2                Hedging activities (continued)

 

The Group hedges its cash flow interest rate risk where appropriate using interest rate swaps at contract lengths consistent with the repayment schedule of the borrowings. Such interest rate swaps have the economic effect of converting borrowings from floating rates to fixed rates. The following table details the interest rate swaps at the balance sheet date that are used to hedge borrowings:

 

 

 

31 December
2015

 

30 June
2015

 

31 December
2014

 

Principal value of loan outstanding ($’000)

 

225,000

 

225,000

 

299,915

 

Rate received

 

1 month $ LIBOR

 

1 month $ LIBOR

 

3 month $ LIBOR

 

Rate paid

 

Fixed 2.032%

 

Fixed 2.032%

 

Fixed 1.308%

 

Expiry date

 

30 June 2024

 

30 June 2024

 

21 June 2018

 

 

As of 31 December 2015 the fair value of the above interest rate swaps was a liability of £2,382,000 (30 June 2015: liability of £111,000; 31 December 2014: asset of £235,000).

 

The Group also seeks to hedge the majority of the currency risk on Euro revenue arising as a result of participation in European cup competitions by placing forward foreign exchange contracts at the point at which it becomes reasonably certain that it will receive the revenue. The following table details the forward foreign exchange contracts at the balance sheet date that are used to hedge future revenues:

 

 

 

31 December
2015

 

30 June
2015

 

31 December
2014

 

Buy Euro:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average exchange rate (€: £)

 

1.3618

 

 

 

Foreign currency (€’000)

 

1,270

 

 

 

Notional value (£’000)

 

946

 

 

 

Fair value (£’000)

 

10

 

 

 

 

41



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

31                          Financial risk management (continued)

 

31.2                Hedging activities (continued)

 

Details of movements on the hedging reserve are as follows:

 

 

 

Future
US dollar
revenues
£’000

 

Interest
rate
swap
£’000

 

Euro
revenue
forward
contracts
£’000

 

Total,
before
tax
£’000

 

Tax
£’000

 

Total,
after tax
£’000

 

Balance at 1 July 2014

 

40,021

 

(147

)

 

39,874

 

(13,956

)

25,918

 

Foreign exchange loss on hedged US dollar net borrowings

 

(28,114

)

 

 

(28,114

)

9,840

 

(18,274

)

Reclassified to income statement

 

(2,391

)

 

 

(2,391

)

837

 

(1,554

)

Fair value movement

 

 

147

 

 

147

 

(52

)

95

 

Movement recognized in other comprehensive income

 

(30,505

)

147

 

 

(30,358

)

10,625

 

(19,733

)

Balance at 31 December 2014

 

9,516

 

 

 

9,516

 

(3,331

)

6,185

 

Foreign exchange gain on hedged US dollar net borrowings

 

189

 

 

 

189

 

(66

)

123

 

Reclassified to income statement

 

(2,322

)

 

 

(2,322

)

815

 

(1,507

)

Fair value movement

 

 

(111

)

 

(111

)

39

 

(72

)

Movement recognized in other comprehensive income

 

(2,133

)

(111

)

 

(2,244

)

788

 

(1,456

)

Balance at 30 June 2015

 

7,383

 

(111

)

 

7,272

 

(2,543

)

4,729

 

Foreign exchange loss on hedged US dollar net borrowings

 

(19,842

)

 

 

(19,842

)

6,945

 

(12,897

)

Reclassified to income statement

 

663

 

 

 

663

 

(232

)

431

 

Fair value movement

 

 

(2,271

)

(10

)

(2,281

)

798

 

(1,483

)

Movement recognized in other comprehensive income

 

(19,179

)

(2,271

)

(10

)

(21,460

)

7,511

 

(13,949

)

Balance at 31 December 2015

 

(11,796

)

(2,382

)

(10

)

(14,188

)

4,968

 

(9,220

)

 

42



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

31                          Financial risk management (continued)

 

31.3                Fair value estimation

 

The following table presents the assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value. The fair value hierarchy used in measuring fair value has the following levels:

 

·             Level 1 - quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

·             Level 2 - inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (i.e. as prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices);

·             Level 3 - inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).

 

 

 

31 December
2015
£’000

 

30 June
2015
£’000

 

31 December
2014
£’000

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative financial assets designated as cash flow hedges

 

10

 

 

235

 

Derivative financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

 

3,641

 

27

 

1,166

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative financial liabilities designated as cash flow hedges

 

(2,382

)

(111

)

 

Derivative financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

 

(2,279

)

(5,624

)

(2,229

)

 

 

(1,010

)

(5,708

)

(828

)

 

The fair value of financial instruments that are not traded in an active market is determined by using valuation techniques. These valuation techniques maximise the use of observable market data where it is available and rely as little as possible on entity specific estimates. If all significant inputs required to fair value an instrument are observable, the instrument is categorized as Level 2. All of the financial instruments detailed above are categorized as Level 2. Specific valuation techniques used include:

 

·                  The fair value of forward foreign exchange contracts is determined using forward exchange rates at the balance sheet date, with the resulting value discounted back to present value;

·                  The fair value of interest rate swaps is calculated as the present value of the estimated future cash flows based on observable yield curves;

·                  The fair value of embedded foreign exchange derivatives is determined as the change in the fair value of the embedded derivative at the contract inception date and the fair value of the embedded derivative at the balance sheet date; the fair value of the embedded derivative is determined using forward exchange rates with the resulting value discounted to present value.

 

43



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) - unaudited

 

32                                 Related party transactions

 

The immediate parent undertaking of Manchester United plc is Red Football LLC, a company incorporated in the state of Delaware. The ultimate parent undertaking and controlling party is Red Football Limited Partnership, a limited partnership formed in the state of Nevada, United States of America whose general partner is Red Football General Partner, Inc., a corporation formed in the state of Nevada, United States of America. Red Football Limited Partnership and Red Football General Partner, Inc. are controlled by family trusts affiliated with the Glazer family.

 

Mr. Kevin Glazer, a director of the Company, and certain members of his immediate family held an interest in the Group’s US dollar denominated senior secured notes due 2017. The principal amount of the Group’s senior secured notes due 2017 held by Mr. Kevin Glazer and certain members of his immediate family at 31 December 2015 was $nil (30 June 2015: $nil; 31 December 2014: $7.3 million). The US dollar denominated notes had a fixed coupon rate of 8.375%. Interest payable to Mr. Kevin Glazer and certain members of his immediate family during the six months ended 31 December 2015 amounted to £nil (six months ended 31 December 2014: £188,000) of which £nil (30 June 2015: £nil; 31 December 2014: £164,000) was accrued at the period end.

 

33                          Subsidiaries

 

The following companies are the principal subsidiary undertakings of the Company as of 31 December 2015:

 

Subsidiaries

 

Principal activity

 

Issued share
capital

 

Description of
share classes
owned

Red Football Finance Limited

 

Finance company

 

USD 0.01

 

100% Ordinary

Red Football Holdings Limited

 

Holding company

 

GBP 150,000,001

 

100% Ordinary

Red Football Shareholder Limited

 

Holding company

 

GBP 99

 

100% Ordinary

Red Football Joint Venture Limited

 

Holding company

 

GBP 99

 

100% Ordinary

Red Football Limited

 

Holding company

 

GBP 99

 

100% Ordinary

Red Football Junior Limited

 

Holding company

 

GBP 100

 

100% Ordinary

Manchester United Limited

 

Commercial company

 

GBP 26,519,248

 

100% Ordinary

Alderley Urban Investments Limited

 

Property investment

 

GBP 2

 

100% Ordinary

Manchester United Commercial Enterprises (Ireland) Limited

 

Property investment

 

EUR 13

 

100% Ordinary

Manchester United Football Club Limited

 

Professional football club

 

GBP 1,008,546

 

100% Ordinary

Manchester United Interactive Limited

 

Media company

 

GBP 10,000

 

100% Ordinary

MU Commercial Holdings Limited

 

Holding company

 

GBP 100

 

100% Ordinary

MU Commercial Holdings Junior Limited

 

Holding company

 

GBP 100

 

100% Ordinary

MU Finance plc

 

Debt-holding company

 

GBP 15,000,000

 

100% Ordinary

MU RAML Limited

 

Retail and licensing company

 

GBP 100

 

100% Ordinary

MUTV Limited

 

Subscription TV channel

 

GBP 2,400

 

100% Ordinary

 

All of the above are incorporated and operate in England and Wales, with the exception of Red Football Finance Limited which is incorporated and operates in the Cayman Islands and Manchester United Commercial Enterprises (Ireland) Limited which is incorporated and operates in Ireland.

 

44



 

Manchester United plc

Notes to the interim consolidated financial statements (continued) -
unaudited

 

34              Events after the reporting date

 

34.1              Dividends

 

On 12 November 2015 our board of directors announced that it had approved the payment of a further interim dividend of $0.045 per share which was paid on 7 January 2016.

 

On 11 February 2016 our board of directors announced that it had approved the payment of a further interim dividend of $0.045 per share to be paid on 10 March 2016.

 

34.2              Playing registrations

 

The playing registrations of certain footballers have been disposed of, subsequent to 31 December 2015, for total proceeds, net of associated costs, of £339,000. The associated net book value was £4,000.

 

Subsequent to 31 December 2015 the playing registrations of certain players were acquired or extended for a total consideration, including associated costs, of £5,000.

 

45