Company Factsheet

A history of success

Ladbrokes was first established in 1886 taking wagers in the gentleman's clubs of London.

Today it has the highest brand awareness of any bookmaker in the UK and is promoting its brand internationally through its award-winning internet service http://www.ladbrokes.com/, alliances and partnerships.

Click here to find out more about Ladbrokes History

A global company, based in Britain

Ladbrokes is the world's leading retail bookmaker with 2,583 high street betting shops and betting shops at 47 football clubs and 11 horseracing tracks

Ladbrokes.com has nearly 2 million registered customers from over 200 countries betting in 12 languages and 18 currencies. Ladbrokes takes over 350 million bets a year in its UK shops.

Ladbrokes operates as a consultant to China’s first single match pool betting shops.

As well as betting shops in the UK, Jersey, Ireland , Italy and Belgium, Ladbrokes has previoiusly held betting and or gaming licences in 15 countries across 3 continents.

Annual Report

A modern, innovative company

Ladbrokes has reinvented the betting shop experience with a £50 million annual investment since 2001.

Ladbrokes has "concept" shops throughout its estate which spearheads the evolution of Ladbrokes European Retail.

Ladbrokes has over 6,700 dual screen FOBT's (Fixed Odds Betting Terminals), and is driving the forefront of retail technology by introducing Self Service Terminals which empower the punter.

Shops now include the latest screen displays and broadcasting technology as well as latest wood, glass and steel design features. Ladbrokes' electronic point of sale system is one of the most advanced on the high street enabling Ladbrokes to take and settle bets more quickly and to offer a bigger range of betting opportunities.

With the launch of Ladbrokes Xtra, Ladbrokes has become the first bookmaker to offer a dedicated second channel in betting shops giving hundreds of additional betting opportunities each week, and more information for sports fans than any other bookmaker.

Annual Report

A leader in eGaming

Ladbrokes offers a best of breed sportsbook offering a state of the art betting in play service incorporating statistics, commentary, live scores and of course a range of betting markets with odds that change instantly during play.

Ladbrokes Financials is a unique fixed odds betting product that offers betting on movements in financial indices like the FTSE-100 index every five minutes.

Completing the comprehensive portal offering is Ladbrokespoker.com, one of the most popular poker sites with European players, Ladbrokescasino.com and Ladbrokesgames.com which host over 350 online games.

Financial Highlights 2007

Operating profit(1) from continuing operations increased by 60.2 per cent to £420.0 million (2006: £262.2 million).

Operating profit(1) from continuing operations, excluding High Rollers, decreased by 4.4 per cent to £241.0 million (2006: £252.0 million).

Total gross win increased by 29.9 per cent to £1,286.4 million (2006: £990.0 million).

Total gross win from continuing operations, excluding High Rollers, grew by 6.0 per cent to £1,036.8 million (2006: £978.1 million).

Final dividend of 9.05 pence per share (up 5.2 per cent)

Net debt of £917.0 million with cash generated by operations of £421.1 million.

Effective tax rate(2) of 15.6 per cent.

During 2007, 19.9 million shares were purchased through Ladbrokes' share buy-back programme. the buy-back programme has continued in 2008, with a further 10.3 million shares purchased.

Profit on disposal of discontinued operations of £46.0 million. Operating profit(1) from continuing operations increased by 7.7 per cent to £268.1 million (2005: £249.0 million).

(1)Profit before tax, finance costs and non-trading items.
(2)For continuing operations before non-trading items.

Annual Report

Creating Opportunities

Ladbrokes is an equal opportunities employer with nearly 14,000 people throughout the World. Ladbrokes operates a flexible working policy and has a number of home workers, term-time only employees, those who work a compressed working week as well as job shares and part-time roles.

In 2005 Ladbrokes achieved the Investor in People Corporate Recognition, reflecting the high standards Ladbrokes adheres to in the development of its people.

Ladbrokes offers a range of company benefits including an elected Staff Council to enable employees to raise issues and opportunities, a staff advice line which allows staff to gain free access to legal and financial advice and support. It also continues to offer a final salary pension scheme to all employees over 18 who have been with Ladbrokes for 12 months.

Job Oppotunities

Committed to Social Responsibility

Social responsibility is a key commitment for Ladbrokes. It has been accredited by Good Corporation for its high standards in this area every year since 2001. Ladbrokes is also included in the FTSE4 Good Index Series, which is designed to measure the performance of companies against globally recognised corporate responsibility standards.

Ladbrokes plc is also included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, which identifies best practice across a range of economic, social and environmental indicators.

Ladbrokes In The Community Charitable Trust (LITCC) has raised over £3 million since its formation in 2004. Since January 2005 over £500,000 has been donated to a variety of good causes including a one off donation of over £200,000 to the Tsunami appeal. During 2006 LITCC raised £300,000 over the Christmas period

CSR Report 2006

Helping Tackle Problem Gambling

Ladbrokes was a founder contributor to the Responsibility in Gambling Trust (formerly the Gambling Industry Charitable Trust) and continues to provide funding that enables Gamcare and Gordon House to provide counselling and support to the small number of people who suffer from problem gambling.

100% of Ladbrokes retail staff are trained in how to inform problem gamblers where they can get the help. Staffs also implement requests for self-exclusion, so that customers who experience problems can be excluded from further betting at their own request.

Prominent signage and leaflets in each of Ladbrokes 2,131 shops in the UK and Jersey also provide information to those who may be vulnerable.

CSR Report 2006

For further information contact:

Ciaran O'Brien

Head of PR

0208 515 5104/07976 180173