Leading football finance expert, the tireless Swiss Ramble, turns his attention to the 2018/19 accounts of Leicester City. He notes, 'Despite the tragic loss of club chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, in a helicopter accident in October 2018, Leicester City have made great progress since King Power International acquired the club in 2010 with “a renewed commitment to investing growing revenues back into the club"'.
The Foxes went from £2m profit before tax to a £20m loss, even though revenue rose £20m (12%) to £178m and profit on player sales was up £20m to £58m, as costs grew £61m, due to investment in the squad and the 'transfer fee' for Brendan Rodgers. After tax, club posted a £17m loss.
All three revenue streams were higher, but the majority of the £20m growth came from commercial, which rose £14m (65%) to £36m, due to sponsorship agreements. Broadcasting was up £4m (3%) to £128m, while gate receipts increased £2m (14%) to £15m. [WG: To me, making progress on commercial agreements shows that a club is starting to develop a global profile of the kind that is key to long-terms success].
The £20m loss is clearly not great, but to put this into perspective, half of the 12 Premier League clubs that have so far published 2018/19 accounts have lost money. In fact, Leicester’s loss is the smallest reported, significantly better than Everton and Chelsea (both above £100m).
The figures significantly benefited from profit on player sales increasing from £38m to £58m, mainly Riyad Mahrez to Manchester City and Ahmed Musa to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr. To date, in 2018/19 only Chelsea have a higher profit than Leicester with £60m. The club made hardly any money from player sales up to 2016, but profits have grown to an average of £45m in the past 3 years. Next year‘s accounts will benefit from Harry Maguire’s £80m sale to Manchester United. [Top clubs generally are relying more on player trading, but they are a volatile income stream.]
Following promotion to the Premier League, the Foxes delivered four years of profits, amounting to £137m, before the £20m loss in 2019. This was obviously boosted by the amazing £92m surplus in 2017, which is actually the third highest profit in Premier League history.
Since promotion to the Premier League, revenue has grown by an average of nearly 20% every year, adjusting for the extraordinary 2017 figure of £223m, which was inflated by £70m of money from the Champions League. Now £50m higher than 2016, when they were crowned champions. The club's £178m revenue is the 10th highest revenue in England, though the gap to the Big Six is enormous, as Leicester generate less than half of 6th placed Arsenal £395m, while they are £450m below Manchester United £627m.
Premier League TV money up £5m to £123m, due to more facility fees (broadcast live three more times) and higher overseas TV rights. They will see further growth in 2019/20, if they finish in top half, as increase in overseas rights increase will be split by league position.
The club hope to qualify for Europe, which would have a significant impact on revenue. As an illustration, in 2018/19 the English Champions League representatives received £80-100m TV money, while Chelsea and Arsenal got £41m and £34m respectively for reaching the Europa League final. Of course, they will be well aware of how much can be earned from Europe, as their solitary, albeit very lucrative, season in the Champions League means the Foxes have the 7th highest earnings from Europe of English clubs in last five years with €82m (£70m).
Owners King Power pay £16m sponsorship (shirt and stadium naming rights), which has probably driven most of the 2019 growth. Media reports have shirt deal as £4m. New deals in 18/19: Adidas replaced Puma as kit supplier, while Bia Saigon were the new sleeve sponsor.
The wage bill rose by £31m (26%) from £119m to £150m, due to further investment in the playing squad, including contract extensions. The wages to turnover ratio increased from 75% to 84%, which means that this is the 2nd highest (worst) in the Premier League of clubs that have reported to date, only “beaten” by Everton 85%. Much higher than 55% in 2015 and well above UEFA’s recommended 70% upper limit.
The club splashed out a club record £119m on player purchases (including Maddison, Pereira, Soyuncu, Benkovic, Ghezzal, Ward and Evans), which is the fourth highest in the Premier League in 2018/19 to date. Have spent over £300m in the last three seasons. The club have really ramped up player investment, spending £405m in the last five years, compared to just £47m in the preceding 5 years. Over the same periods, net spend tripled from £39m to £128m.
Gross debt rose by £66m to £91m, including new £55m bank loan with Macquarie Bank and £36m from the owners (up £11m in 2019): £20m loans and £15m finance leases from stadium purchase. Debt was significantly cut in 2014 by converting £103m of shareholder loans into equity. The £91m debt is mid-table in the Premier League, though will further increase to fund their infrastructure projects.
Since King Power acquired Leicester City in August 2010, the owners have put in £190m (£106m share capital and £84m loans), while £107m has been generated from operations.
The club's CEO Susan Whelan said: 'We aspire to challenge the Big Six. We remain a club of fierce ambition: striving to progress every season; giving ourselves every opportunity to compete more consistently at the elite level of the game. We’re very confident that the best is yet to come.'
WG: I went to university in Leicester and many of my tutors were keen supporters. I remember going to Filbert Street. I wish the club every success in their bid for Champions League qualification.
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