It is very pleasing to be able to report impressive financial results for the year to the end of 2009.

Our revenue share model ensures that the business is fully aligned with its licensees, focusing on continual product development to help them achieve their business objectives. This is the cornerstone of the Playtech business and delivers substantial benefits to our investors.

Throughout, our determination has been to provide the best possible range of gaming products to our licensees. Content is delivered on an operating platform which is the most sophisticated in the industry. This gives our licensees the range of tools needed to enhance playing experience and maximise player yields, factors that are core elements of their business objectives and critical in a year of economic downturn.

In 2009 we welcomed several new licensees ranging from specialist online sportsbooks such as Betfair, land-based operators such as Olympic, the Serbian state lottery, and entertainment brands such as SEGA and Virgin. This diverse licensee base reflects both the flexibility of Playtech’s offering and an increasingly mainstream entertainment profile of the sector, which is attracting a number of new entrants. It also reflects the fact that online gaming continues to be a truly exciting, fast paced and dynamic sector.

In 2009 Playtech recorded total revenues of €114.8 million, up 3% on the prior year, whilst gross income, which includes the Group’s share of profit before amortization for William Hill Online, grew by 23% to €137.3 million. The benefits of the high operational gearing of the business together with ongoing cost control has helped deliver 25% increase in adjusted EBITDA to €93.7 million.

Playtech is highly cash generative and recorded a net cash position at the year end of €59 million. Given this strong financial performance, the Board recommends payment of a final dividend of 9.4 € cents and which gives a total dividend of 18.3 € cents for the year. The overall dividend reflects the confidence of the Company going forward and the attractive dividend policy we have which rewards shareholders for their continuing investment in Playtech.