The Rank Group’s financial results for the 12 months ending June 30 show a steady improvement for the second half of the year.

Rank

Operating profit for the second half was £46.9m compared to £36.6m in the first.

UK digital revenue was up 15 per cent, with profit increasing 63 per cent. The company also saw four per cent adjusted earnings per share growth, a net debt decrease from £41.2m to £12.4m, and a dividend increase of 12 per cent to 7.3p per share.

Henry Birch, chief executive of the Rank Group, said: “After a challenging first half of our financial year, we are very pleased with our second half performance, especially with our digital business, which delivered 63 per cent growth in operating profit for the year. We are excited about the roll out of our new Luda bingo concept following the opening of the first venue on August 7.

"Additionally, the group has put in place a number of digital, product and venue-based initiatives launching in the current financial year, which we expect to drive top line revenues. The new financial year has started well and the board looks to the future with confidence.”