Sumo Group PLC Pre-close Trading Update and Notice of Results (5084A)

TIDMSUMO

RNS Number : 5084A

Sumo Group PLC

22 January 2020

22 January 2020

Sumo Group plc

("Sumo Group" or the "Group")

PRE-CLOSE TRADING UPDATE AND NOTICE OF RESULTS

FY2019 at least in line with management expectations

Sumo Group, the award-winning provider of creative and development services to the video games and entertainment industries, announces that it will report its final results for the full year ended 31 December 2019, which are expected to be at least in line with market expectations, on Wednesday 1 April 2020.

The Board is pleased to report that a number of significant contracts were secured towards the end of 2019 which underpin the Group's financial forecasts for the year ahead.

At 31 December 2019, the Group had positive cash balances of GBP12.9m and employed 766 people, an increase of 174 from the figure at the previous year end.

Carl Cavers, Chief Executive Officer of Sumo Group, said:

"2019 was another busy and successful year for Sumo Group and one in which we generated strong growth across all areas of the business. We acquired Red Kite Games, opened new studios in Leamington Spa and Warrington and relocated the Red Kite Games studio from Huddersfield to the talent hot-spot of central Leeds. Five studios have been added to the Group since IPO and we now operate globally from 10 studios across the UK, India and Canada. Our appetite to deliver further sustainable growth remains strong and we continue to explore opportunities, both in the UK and overseas, to acquire businesses which show a strong cultural fit with our Group and are based in desirable locations."

"In November, we announced that Tencent Holdings Limited ("Tencent") had acquired a near 10% shareholding in the Group from Perwyn Bidco (UK) Limited. We are delighted by this investment and look forward to exploring development opportunities with Tencent going forward."

"We are seeing many exciting opportunities to deliver more growth in our core markets, served by Sumo Digital and Atomhawk, and I am very pleased with the progress the business is making.

"The Board looks forward to announcing the final results on 1 April and providing shareholders with a full update on the Group's progress."

 
 Enquiries: 
 
 Sumo Group plc                                                           Tel: [phone] 
 Carl Cavers, Chief Executive Officer 
 David Wilton, Chief Financial Officer 
 
 Zeus Capital Limited (Nominated Adviser & Broker) 
 Nick Cowles / Andrew Jones                                               Tel: [phone] 
 Ben Robertson / John Goold                                               Tel: [phone] 
 
 Belvedere Communications Limited 
 Cat Valentine                                                            Tel: [phone] 
                                                                         [e-mail] 
 Keeley Clarke                                                            Tel: [phone] 
                                                                            [e-mail] 
 Llew Angus                                                               Tel: [phone] 
                                                                             [e-mail] 
 

About Sumo Group - www.sumogroupplc.com

Sumo Group's businesses provide acclaimed development and design services to the video games and entertainment industries from studios in the UK, India, and Canada.

Sumo Digital, as the Group's primary business, is one of the UK's largest independent developers of AAA-rated video games, having studios in Sheffield, Newcastle, Nottingham, Leeds, Leamington Spa, Warrington and Pune, India. The business has acquired two studios since IPO, which operate under their own names, BAFTA award-winning The Chinese Room and Red Kite Games. Sumo Digital provides turnkey and co-development solutions to a global blue-chip client base.

Atomhawk is a multi-award-winning visual design company, with studios in Newcastle and in Vancouver (Canada), servicing the games, film and visual effects industries.

Together, the Group delivers full-spectrum visual and development solutions, which include initial visual concepts, conceiving new products and game development involving all aspects of pre-production, production & development, as well as supporting games as a service.

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January 22, 2020 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)