Philippines, North America and Europe lift Aristocrat

 
Aristocrat Leisure Ltd. reported an 11.2 percent rise in net profit to A$52.6 million ($50.5 million) for the half-year ended March 31 from a year earlier. The company said that, due to its improved financial position, it would raise its target dividend payout ratio to a range of 60-80 percent of profits from 50-70 percent.
Total revenue however fell 7.5 percent to A$383.2 million. The company traced the fall to Japan, but also reported declines in revenues and profits in Australia and New Zealand. In Japan, it released just one game compared to two in the same period last year, but the 4,600 units sold of the new game, Zettai Shogeki 2, made it the top game to date for 2013 in Japan. Japan profits plunged 98.4 percent to A$200,000 as revenues declined 66.6 percent to A$18.8 million. The company reported gains in Europe, North America and the rest of Asia-Pacific, where revenue rose 7.8 percent and the company supplied nearly half the 1,200 machines in the new Solaire Casino in Manila.