Otago Daily Times

Big dip for SkyCity’s profit

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AUCKLAND: Casino operator SkyCity has reported a 60% drop in its normalised profit.

SkyCity says it has been a challengin­g year due to the New Zealand Internatio­nal Convention Centre fire and Covid19, with significan­t operationa­l and financial impacts.

The normalised profit, which removes oneoff gains and costs, was 60% less than last year, at $66.3 million.

When the oneoff items are included, the casino operator reported boosted profits due to a $337 million insurance payout for the convention centre fire in October, and asset sales.

Its earnings, excluding interest, tax and other adjustment­s were down almost 40%, having been significan­tly disrupted by the fire and the Covid19 restrictio­ns.

The company also wrote down the value of its Adelaide casino by $161 million.

Chairman Rob Campbell has told investors the 2020 financial year has been ‘‘a tough one’’.

He said Covid19 halted business across all locations.

The delay in completing the

New Zealand Internatio­nal Convention Centre was ‘‘deeply exacerbate­d’’ by the fire late last year, he said.

‘‘SkyCity can operate under current trading conditions, but at present we do not have an operating model which can optimise the business to previous levels without a recovery in the economy and internatio­nal tourism,’’ he said.

Chief executive Graeme Stephens said the company had a strong balance sheet and could cope if further disruption came its way.

‘‘A wide range of strategic decisions and actions have had to be taken to mitigate the impacts of, first, the fire and then the impacts of Covid19.’’

He cited a cut in the New Zealand workforce by about 25%, a capital raising and debt restructur­e and ‘‘significan­t . . . effort has been focused on closing and reopening our properties with rigorous health and safety measures in place’’.

He said the wage subsidy schemes in New Zealand and Australia partially mitigated the impact of the pandemic. SkyCity received $31.1 million from the Government’s wage subsidy and subsidy extension scheme.

In June it raised $230 million through a share issue to strengthen its balance sheet and increase liquidity in response to the uncertaint­y caused by the pandemic.

It also extended its bank facilities of $170 million, took on new debt of $160 million and secured covenant waivers and relief from its existing lenders.

Mr Stephens said domestic business in both countries had recovered more quickly than anticipate­d, but the outlook remained uncertain.

‘‘The other aspects of our business that are more reliant on internatio­nal visitors — including VIP gaming, hotels and restaurant­s — can only fully recover when country borders reopen. Our internatio­nal business activities should recover once travel restrictio­ns are lifted, but the parts of our business driven by corporate travel and by tourism, such as our hotels and the Sky Tower, will take longer.’’

 ?? PHOTO: THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD ?? ‘‘A tough one’’ . . . SkyCity says it has been a challengin­g year due to the New Zealand Internatio­nal Convention Centre fire and Covid19.
PHOTO: THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD ‘‘A tough one’’ . . . SkyCity says it has been a challengin­g year due to the New Zealand Internatio­nal Convention Centre fire and Covid19.

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