UK bookmaker, William Hill, has announced full-year figures in line with expectations.

Pre-tax profits for the year ending 30 December 2003 were £170.8m, compared with £32.4m in the previous year, while turnover was up 77 per cent to £5,945.8m, compared with 2002.

2004 was described as getting off to an ‘encouraging start’ for the bookmaking chain, as gross win rose 17 per cent in the first eight weeks of 2004 to 24 February.

Excellent rates of growth were also reported in both gross win and operating profit in all three channels – retail, telephone and interactive.

William Hill also announced that it intends to seek authority from shareholders at the upcoming Annual General Meeting to repurchase 10 per cent of the issued share capital as part of an ongoing review of the options for returning capital to shareholders in the most efficient manner.

Commenting on the results, chair, Charles Scott, said: “William Hill has continued to deliver significant profit growth in 2003 and is taking steps to return value to shareholders via an increase in dividends and by seeking authority from shareholders for a share buy back.” Details: www.williamhillplc.co.uk