UNITED STATES 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 6-K

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER 

PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16 

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of November, 2024
Commission File Number: 001-35627

 

MANCHESTER UNITED PLC 

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

Old Trafford 

Manchester M16 0RA 

United Kingdom 

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F. Form 20-F ⌧ Form 40-F ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1). ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7). ¨

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: November 26, 2024

 

  MANCHESTER UNITED PLC
   
  By: /s/ Roger Bell
  Name: Roger Bell
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit 
Number
  Description
     
99.1   Press Release of Manchester United plc, dated November 26, 2024

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

CORPORATE RELEASE26 November 2024

 

Manchester United PLC Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results

 

Key Points

 

·Achieved Commercial revenues of £85.3 million with a reduced summer tour relative to last year

·The men’s first team participated in the revised format of the UEFA Europa League, contributing to Broadcasting revenue for the quarter of £31.3 million

·Matchday revenues remain resilient at £26.5 million, with 3 fewer fixtures relative to last year offset by strong Hospitality and Matchday VIP revenues

·Club announced a new global sponsorship with Heineken until June 2028, with Tiger Beer as the Official Beer Partner of Manchester United and renewed global sponsorships with DHL, Hong Kong Jockey Club and Konami during the quarter

·For Fiscal 2025, the company reiterates its prior guidance of total revenues of £650 million to £670 million and adjusted EBITDA of £145 million to £160 million

 

MANCHESTER, England – 26 November 2024 – Manchester United (NYSE: MANU; the “Company” and the “Group”) today announced financial results for the 2025 fiscal first quarter ended 30 September 2024.

 

Management Commentary

 

Omar Berrada, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “The season is now well underway for both our men’s and women’s team, and we are keen to ensure both are as competitive as possible. We are delighted to have appointed Ruben Amorim as head coach of our men’s team and remain committed to returning Manchester United to the top of domestic and European football. Our cost and headcount reductions remain on track, and we are pleased to have seen further commercial traction, and welcome new partner Heineken, through their Tiger brand. Our renovation of the Carrington Training Centre is progressing well, while the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force continues its work. Once it has delivered its recommendations, we will then take some time to digest them and evaluate all our options in the upcoming year.”

 

Outlook

 

For fiscal 2025, the Company reiterates its full year revenue guidance of £650 million to £670 million and adjusted EBITDA guidance of £145 million to £160 million. The club remains committed to, and in compliance with, both the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules and UEFA’s Financial Fair Play Regulations.

 

Phasing of Premier League games  Quarter 1   Quarter 2   Quarter 3   Quarter 4   Total 
2024/25 season   6    13    10    9    38 
2023/24 season   7    13    9    9    38 
2022/23 season   6    10    10    12    38 

 

1 

 

 

Key Financials (unaudited)

 

£ million (except earnings/(loss) per share)  Three months ended
30 September
     
         
   2024   2023   Change 
             
Commercial revenue   85.3    90.4    (5.6)%
Broadcasting revenue   31.3    39.3    (20.4)%
Matchday revenue   26.5    27.4    (3.3)%
Total revenue   143.1    157.1    (8.9)%
Adjusted EBITDA(1)   23.7    23.3    1.7%
Operating (loss)/profit   (6.9)   1.9    (463.2)%
Profit/(loss) for the period (i.e. net profit/(loss)) (3)   1.4    (25.8)   105.4%
Basic earnings/(loss) per share (pence)   0.78    (15.79)   104.9%
Adjusted loss for the period (i.e. adjusted net loss)(1)   (0.3)   (8.6)   96.5%
Adjusted basic loss per share (pence)(1)   (0.21)   (5.27)   96.0%
Non-current borrowings in USD (contractual currency) (2)  $650.0   $650.0    0.0%

 

(1) Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted loss for the period and adjusted basic loss per share are non-IFRS measures. See “Non-IFRS Measures: Definitions and Use” on page 6 and the accompanying Supplemental Notes for the definitions and reconciliations for these non-IFRS measures and the reasons we believe these measures provide useful information to investors regarding the Group’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

(2) In addition to non-current borrowings, the Group maintains a revolving credit facility which varies based on seasonal flow of funds. The outstanding balance of the revolving credit facility as of 30 September 2024 was £230.0 million and total current borrowings including accrued interest payable was £232.3 million.

 

(3) Profit attributable primarily to foreign exchange gains on unhedged US dollar borrowings as a result of favourable movements in the USD/GBP exchange rates, from 1.2643 at 30 June 2024, to 1.3412 at 30 September 2024; the majority of this gain is expected to be reversed during the second quarter of Fiscal 2025.

 

2 

 

 

Revenue Analysis

 

Commercial

 

Commercial revenue for the quarter was £85.3 million, a decrease of £5.1 million, or 5.6%, over the prior year quarter.

 

·Sponsorship revenue was £51.8 million, a decrease of £4.4 million, or 7.8%, over the prior year quarter due to changes in sponsorship agreements and the men’s first team playing 3 fewer matches on their pre-season tour compared to the prior year quarter.

 

·Retail, Merchandising, Apparel & Product Licensing revenue was £33.5 million, a decrease of £0.7 million, or 2.0%, over the prior year quarter.

 

Broadcasting

 

Broadcasting revenue for the quarter was £31.3 million, a decrease of £8.0 million, or 20.4%, over the prior year quarter, primarily due to our men’s first team participating in the UEFA Europa League compared to the UEFA Champions League in the prior year quarter.

 

Matchday

 

Matchday revenue for the quarter was £26.5 million, a decrease of £0.9 million, or 3.3%, over the prior year quarter.

 

Other Financial Information

 

Operating expenses

 

Total operating expenses for the quarter were £185.6 million, an increase of £0.9 million, or 0.5%, over the prior year quarter. This increase is explained by category below.

 

Employee benefit expenses

 

Employee benefit expenses for the quarter were £80.2 million, a decrease of £10.1 million, or 11.2%, over the prior year quarter, primarily due to changes in the make-up of the first team playing squad.

 

Other operating expenses

 

Other operating expenses for the quarter were £39.2 million, a decrease of £4.3 million, or 9.9%, over the prior year quarter. This is primarily due to reduced costs associated with the men’s first team’s pre-season tour in the current year quarter.

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

Depreciation for the quarter was £4.3 million, an increase of £0.2 million, or 4.9%, over the prior year quarter. Amortization for the quarter was £53.3 million, an increase of £6.5 million, or 13.9%, over the prior year quarter, due to investment in the first team playing squad and transactions made in the Summer transfer window. The unamortized balance of registrations at 30 September 2024 was £559.3 million, compared to £539.9 million at 30 September 2023.

 

Exceptional items

 

Exceptional items for the quarter were a cost of £8.6 million. This comprises costs incurred in relation to the restructuring of the Group’s operations, including the redundancy scheme implemented in the first quarter of financial year 2025. Exceptional items in the prior year quarter were £nil.

 

3 

 

 

Profit on disposal of intangible assets

 

Profit on disposal of intangible assets for the quarter, namely player sales was £35.6 million, an increase of £6.1 million, or 20.7%, from £29.5 million in the prior year quarter.

 

Net finance income/(costs)

 

Net finance income for the quarter was £8.6 million, compared to net finance costs of £34.7 million in the prior year quarter. This is primarily due to a favorable swing in foreign exchange rates resulting in unrealized foreign exchange gains on unhedged USD borrowings.

 

Income tax

 

The income tax expense for the quarter was £0.3 million, compared to an income tax credit of £7.0 million in the prior year quarter.

 

Cash flows

 

Overall cash and cash equivalents (including the effects of exchange rate movements) increased by £76.0 million in the quarter to 30 September 2024 compared to the cash position at 30 June 2024.

 

Net cash inflow from operating activities for the quarter was £13.3 million, compared to net cash inflow of £21.5 million in the prior year quarter.

 

Net capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment for the quarter was £10.3 million, an increase of £1.2 million over the prior year quarter, primarily due to expenditure relating to the redevelopment of our Carrington Training Centre.

 

Net capital expenditure on intangible assets for the quarter was £120.2 million, an increase of £13.7 million over the prior year quarter, due to increased investment in the first team playing squad.

 

Net cash inflow from financing activities for the quarter was £199.9 million, compared to a net cash inflow of £99.8m in the prior year quarter. This is due to a drawdown of £200.0 million on our revolving facilities in the current year quarter compared to a drawdown of £100.0 million in the prior year quarter.

 

Balance sheet

 

Our USD non-current borrowings as of 30 September 2024 were $650 million, which was unchanged from 30 September 2023. As a result of the year-on-year change in the USD/GBP exchange rate from 1.2208 at 30 September 2023 to 1.3412 at 30 September 2024, our non-current borrowings when converted to GBP were £481.7 million, compared to £528.8 million at the prior year quarter.

 

In addition to non-current borrowings, the Group maintains a revolving credit facility which varies based on seasonal flow of funds. Current borrowings at 30 September 2024 were £232.3 million compared to £204.4 million at 30 September 2023.

 

As of 30 September 2024, cash and cash equivalents were £149.6 million compared to £80.8 million at the prior year quarter.

 

4 

 

 

About Manchester United

 

Manchester United is one of the most popular and successful sports teams in the world, playing one of the most popular spectator sports on Earth. Through our 147-year football heritage we have won 69 trophies, enabling us to develop what we believe is one of the world’s leading sports and entertainment brands with a global community of 1.1 billion fans and followers. Our large, passionate and highly engaged fan base provides Manchester United with a worldwide platform to generate significant revenue from multiple sources, including sponsorship, merchandising, product licensing, broadcasting and matchday initiatives which in turn, directly fund our ability to continuously reinvest in the club.

 

Cautionary Statements

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on such statements because they are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties relating to the Company’s operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many are beyond the Company’s control. 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 press release 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 Registration Statement on Form F-1, as amended (File No. 333-182535) and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-35627) as supplemented by the risk factors contained in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

5 

 

 

Non-IFRS Measures: Definitions and Use

 

1.Adjusted EBITDA

 

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as profit/(loss) for the period before depreciation, amortization, profit on disposal of intangible assets, net finance income/costs, exceptional items and tax.

 

Adjusted EBITDA is useful as a measure of comparative operating performance from period to period and among companies as it is reflective of changes in pricing decisions, cost controls and other factors that affect operating performance, and it removes the effect of our asset base (primarily depreciation and amortization), material volatile items (primarily profit on disposal of intangible assets and exceptional items), capital structure (primarily finance income/costs), and items outside the control of our management (primarily taxes). Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation, or as a substitute for an analysis of our results as reported under IFRS as issued by the IASB. A reconciliation of profit/(loss) for the period to adjusted EBITDA is presented in supplemental note 2.

 

2.Adjusted loss for the period (i.e. adjusted net loss)

 

Adjusted loss for the period is calculated, where appropriate, by adjusting for foreign exchange losses/gains on unhedged US dollar denominated borrowings (including foreign exchange gains/losses immediately reclassified from the hedging reserve following change in contract currency denomination of future revenues), and fair value movements on embedded foreign exchange derivatives, subtracting/adding the actual tax credit/expense for the period, and adding the adjusted tax credit for the period (based on an normalized tax rate of 25%; 2023: 21%). The normalized tax rate of 25% is the current UK corporation tax rate (2023: US federal corporate income tax rate of 21%).

 

In assessing the comparative performance of the business, in order to get a clearer view of the underlying financial performance of the business, it is useful to strip out the distorting effects of the items referred to above and then to apply a ‘normalized’ tax rate (for both the current and prior periods) of the UK corporation tax rate of 25% (2023: US federal corporate income tax rate of 21% ) applicable during the financial year. A reconciliation of profit/(loss) for the period to adjusted loss/profit for the period is presented in supplemental note 3.

 

3. Adjusted basic and diluted loss per share

 

Adjusted basic and diluted loss per share are calculated by dividing the adjusted loss for the period by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period. Adjusted diluted loss per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period to assume conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares. There is 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. Adjusted basic and diluted loss per share are presented in supplemental note 3.

 

6 

 

 

Key Performance Indicators

 

   Three months ended
30 September
 
   2024   2023 
         
Revenue          
Commercial % of total revenue   59.6%   57.5%
Broadcasting % of total revenue   21.9%   25.0%
Matchday % of total revenue   18.5%   17.5%
           
     2024/25
Season
     2023/24
Season
 
Home Matches Played          
PL   3    4 
UEFA competitions   1    - 
Domestic Cups   1    1 
Away Matches Played          
PL   3    3 
UEFA competitions   -    1 
Domestic Cups   -    - 
           
Other          
Employee benefit expenses % of revenue   56.0%   57.5%

 

Contacts

 

Investors: 

Corinna Freedman 

Head of Investor Relations 

Corinna.Freedman@manutd.co.uk

 

Media: 

Toby Craig 

Chief Communications Officer 

Toby.Craig@manutd.co.uk

 

7 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS 

(unaudited; in £ thousands, except per share and shares outstanding data)

 

   Three months ended
30 September
 
   2024   2023 
         
Revenue from contracts with customers   143,065    157,096 
Operating expenses   (185,585)   (184,762)
Profit on disposal of intangible assets   35,552    29,481 
Operating (loss)/profit   (6,968)   1,815 
Finance costs   (19,776)   (34,968)
Finance income   28,372    349 
Net finance income/(costs)   8,596    (34,619)
Profit/(loss) before income tax   1,628    (32,804)
Income tax (expense)/credit   (299)   7,047 
Profit/(loss) for the period   1,329    (25,757)
           
Basic and diluted earnings/(loss) per share:          
Basic and diluted earnings/(loss) per share (pence) (1) (2)   0.78    (15.79)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used as the denominator in calculating basic and diluted earnings/(loss) per share (thousands) (1) (2)   169,318    163,159 

 

(1) For the three months ended 30 September 2023, potential ordinary shares are anti-dilutive, as their inclusion in the diluted loss per share calculation would reduce the loss per share, and hence have been excluded.

 

(2) For the three months ended 30 September 2024, potential ordinary shares are dilutive as their inclusion reduces the earnings per share, however this dilution does not have an impact upon rounding the earnings per share to two decimal places.

 

8 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET 

(unaudited; in £ thousands)

 

   As of 
   30 September
2024
   30 June
2024
   30 September
2023
 
             
ASSETS               
Non-current assets               
Property, plant and equipment   265,432    256,118    256,961 
Right-of-use assets   7,912    8,195    8,417 
Investment properties   19,643    19,713    19,923 
Intangible assets   987,674    837,564    966,766 
Deferred tax asset   16,848    17,607    6,244 
Trade receivables   59,512    27,930    45,014 
Derivative financial instruments   101    380    190 
    1,357,122    1,167,507    1,303,515 
Current assets               
Inventories   12,441    3,543    5,046 
Prepayments   36,555    18,759    36,418 
Contract assets – accrued revenue   45,759    39,778    47,343 
Trade receivables   39,355    36,999    28,920 
Other receivables   2,162    2,735    11,677 
Derivative financial instruments   11    1,917    6,646 
Cash and cash equivalents   149,558    73,549    80,829 
    285,841    177,280    216,879 
Total assets   1,642,963    1,344,787    1,520,394 

 

9 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (continued) 

(unaudited; in £ thousands)

 

   As of 
   30 September
2024
   30 June
2024
   30 September
2023
 
             
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES               
Equity               
Share capital   55    55    53 
Share premium   227,361    227,361    68,822 
Treasury shares   (21,305)   (21,305)   (21,305)
Merger reserve   249,030    249,030    249,030 
Hedging reserve   583    (1,000)   (2,947)
Retained deficit   (307,545)   (309,251)   (221,669)
    148,179    144,890    71,984 
Non-current liabilities               
Deferred tax liabilities    -    -    - 
Contract liabilities - deferred revenue   7,269    5,347    7,816 
Trade and other payables   210,555    175,894    203,853 
Borrowings   481,714    511,047    528,787 
Lease liabilities   8,227    7,707    7,766 
Derivative financial instruments   3,192    4,911    850 
Provisions   -    -    95 
    710,957    704,906    749,167 
Current liabilities               
Contract liabilities - deferred revenue   224,842    198,628    214,666 
Trade and other payables   309,542    249,030    267,728 
Income tax liabilities   914    427    684 
Borrowings   232,317    35,574    204,380 
Lease liabilities   446    934    971 
Derivative financial instruments   7,890    2,603    499 
Provisions   7,876    7,795    10,315 
    783,827    494,991    699,243 
Total equity and liabilities   1,642,963    1,344,787    1,520,394 

 

10 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS 

(unaudited; in £ thousands)

 

   Three months ended
30 September
 
   2024   2023 
         
Cash flow from operating activities          
Cash generated from operations (see supplemental note 4)   23,208    25,871 
Interest paid   (11,370)   (10,574)
Interest received   1,060    349 
Tax refunded             419    5,817 
Net cash inflow from operating activities   13,317    21,463 
Cash flow from investing activities          
Payments for property, plant and equipment   (10,299)   (9,029)
Payments for intangible assets   (153,740)   (132,213)
Proceeds from sale of intangible assets   33,568    25,669 
Net cash outflow from investing activities   (130,471)   (115,573)
Cash flow from financing activities          
Proceeds from borrowings   200,000    100,000 
Principal elements of lease payments   (128)   (200)
Net cash inflow from financing activities   199,872    99,800 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   (6,709)   (880)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   76,009    4,810 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   73,549    76,019 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   149,558    80,829 

 

11 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL NOTES

 

1General information

 

Manchester United plc (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (together the “Group”) is a men’s and women’s professional football club together with related and ancillary activities. The Company incorporated under the Companies Law (as amended) of the Cayman Islands.

 

2Reconciliation of profit/(loss) for the period to adjusted EBITDA

 

   Three months ended
30 September
 
   2024
£’000
   2023
£’000
 
         
Profit/(loss) for the period   1,329    (25,757)
Adjustments:          
Income tax expense/(credit)   299    (7,047)
Net finance (income)/costs   (8,596)   34,619 
Profit on disposal of intangible assets   (35,552)   (29,481)
Amortization   53,270    46,845 
Depreciation   4,256    4,102 
Exceptional items   8,638    - 
Adjusted EBITDA   23,644    23,281 

 

12 

 

 

3Reconciliation of profit/(loss) for the period to adjusted loss for the period and adjusted basic and diluted loss per share

 

   Three months ended
30 September
 
   2024
£’000
   2023
£’000
 
         
Profit/(loss) for the period   1,329    (25,757)
Exceptional items   8,638    - 
Foreign exchange (gains)/losses on unhedged US dollar denominated borrowings   (16,684)   13,753 
Fair value movement on embedded foreign exchange derivatives   5,952    8,163 
Income tax expense/(credit)   299    (7,047)
Adjusted loss before income tax   (466)   (10,888)
Adjusted income tax credit (using a normalized tax rate of 25% (2023: 21%))   117    2,286 
Adjusted loss for the period (i.e. adjusted net loss)   (349)   (8,602)
           
Adjusted basic and diluted loss per share:          
Adjusted basic and diluted loss per share (pence)(1)   (0.21)   (5.27)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used as the denominator in calculating basic and diluted loss per share (thousands) (1)   169,318    163,159 

 

(1) For the three months ended 30 September 2024 and the three months ended 30 September 2023 potential ordinary shares are anti-dilutive, as their inclusion in the diluted loss per share calculation would reduce the loss per share, and hence have been excluded.

 

13 

 

 

4Cash generated from operations

 

   Three months ended
30 September
 
   2024
£’000
   2023
£’000
 
         
Profit/(loss) for the period   1,329    (25,757)
Income tax expense/(credit)   299    (7,047)
Profit/(loss) before income tax   1,628    (32,804)
Adjustments for:          
Depreciation   4,256    4,102 
Amortization   53,270    46,845 
Profit on disposal of intangible assets   (35,552)   (29,481)
Net finance (income)/costs   (8,596)   34,619 
Non-cash employee benefit expense - equity-settled share-based payments   376    740 
Foreign exchange gains on operating activities   (714)   (142)
Reclassified from hedging reserve   2,759    (252)
Changes in working capital:          
Inventories   (8,898)   (1,881)
Prepayments   (18,098)   (20,119)
Contract assets – accrued revenue   (5,981)   (4,011)
Trade receivables   (14,230)   (5,245)
Other receivables   573    (1,749)
Contract liabilities – deferred revenue   28,136    46,199 
Trade and other payables   24,306    (8,237)
Provisions   (27)   (2,713)
Cash generated from operations   23,208    25,871 

 

14 

 


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