GVC Holdings schools Bwin.party execs on the need to actually earn bonuses

UK-listed online gambling firm GVC Holdings‘ 2015 revenue jumped while profits tumbled following the company’s acquisition of rival Bwin.party digital entertainment.

On Monday, GVC issued preliminary results for 2015, during which net gaming revenue rose 10% year-on-year to €248m, clean earnings were up 10% to €54m and profit before tax (and exceptional items) rose 21% to €50m. This marks the fifth straight year GVC has boasted revenue and earnings growth.

However, €23m in costs related to the prolonged battle to secure the €1.1b Bwin.party acquisition helped push operating profits down 35% to £27.7m. The company also reported a combined hit of £12.4m from the UK’s new 15% online point of consumption tax and the imposition of new value added tax in certain European Union markets.

Regardless, GVC CEO Kenneth Alexander hailed his company’s “momentous year” and claimed GVC has “never been in a stronger position going forward.” Over the next year, the company maintains that it will achieve the €125m in synergies it promised when it inked the Bwin.party deal last September.