Commercial Deals Boost Manchester United Quarterly Profit

Manchester United’s second-quarter profit rose 31 percent as the defending Premier League soccer champions reduced its finance costs and paid less tax.

Net income was £10.5 million ($16.6 million) in the three months ended Dec. 31, pharmacy compared to £8 million in the year-earlier period, sickness MU Finance Plc said today in its website. Net finance costs declined £3 million to £12.2 million, see while revenue rose 8.7 percent to £101.3 million.

The record 19-time English champion benefited from a sponsorship deal with shipping company DHL and extra broadcast income. Commercial revenue rose 14 percent to 29 million pounds. The team reduced debt by £69 million to £439 million and was left with £50.9 millions in cash and equivalents at the end of the period.

United, which leads Real Madrid as soccer’s most valuable brand according to a report by Brand Finance Plc, got approval from Singapore’s stock exchange in September to raise about $1 billion in an initial public offering. The team hasn’t set a date for the sale.

United has continued to repurchase its bonds, and bought £5.3 million worth in the quarter. It now owns £92.8 million of its senior secured notes. The team will continue to hold them and they may be sold back to the market depending on the club’s needs, it said today.

In the six-month period, United’s commercial revenue rose 16.3 percent to £58.6 million on the accord for DHL to sponsor its training uniform, a profit-sharing agreement with jersey supplier Nike Inc. and other sponsorships. The DHL contract is worth £40 million over four years.

Media income rose 13.4 percent to £60.9 million on a bigger share of broadcast revenue from Champions League organizer UEFA, while ticket and hospitality sales at Old Trafford rose 5.9 percent to 55.5 million pounds.

United’s broadcast share increased because it won the Premier League. Coach Alex Ferguson’s team dropped out of this season’s Champions League after the group phase for the first time in six years.

Staff costs rose 14.7 percent to £76.5 million on higher player salaries and employees hired to support the growth of United’s sponsorship and commercial operations. Net finance costs almost doubled to £31.6 million, in the six month period.

by Ismail Uddin