Sceptre hits profits jackpot with maiden results

SCEPTRE Leisure sparkled today as it announced its maiden figures as a public company.

The supplier of fruit, bingo and lottery machines to pubs and private members’ clubs joined AIM last September after an £18m reverse takeover of Lancashire-based Orb Holdings by listed rival Gamingking.

Orb Holdings boss Ken Turner now leads the combined group, which is the second-largest operator of amusement and gaming machines in the UK, with more than  7,000 amusement and gaming machines in operation nationwide.

Financial figures for the six months to October 31 showed the benefits of the combination of Orb and Gamingking as revenues soared from £5.3m in the same period in 2007 to £18.5m.

Mr Turner said: “Much progress has been made over the past year and the company has grown substantially. We have a great opportunity to reap benefit from the strengths of Sceptre and Gamingking and the cross-marketing of those into each of their marketplaces.

“Our rental model is resilient, market consolidation is benefiting us and the recent news on increased stakes and prizes will provide impetus. Overall, I am enthusiastic and excited about our prospects and future.”

He said the current economic climate had provided “much in the way of challenges”,  but Sceptre Leisure was capitalising on it.

“We are helping the pubs sector, for instance, grow their revenues at a difficult time for them.”

Sceptre, which is headquartered at Walton Summit near Preston, employs around 400 people nationwide.