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Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Section title goes here This 26th edition of the Deloitte Annual Review of Football Finance documents English and European professional football’s business and commercial performance over the 2015/16 season, which will be remembered for Leicester City’s remarkable Premier League title triumph. B
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Contents Contents Foreword 02 Edited by Dan Jones Delivering results worldwide 04 Sub-editors The leading team in the business of football 06 Adam Bull, Chris Stenson Europe’s premier leagues 08 Authors Michael Barnard, Calum Ross, James Savage Deloitte Football Intelligence Tool 14 and Christopher Winn Premier League clubs 16 Sports Business Group Telephone: +44 (0)161 455 8787 For all the teams in China 22 PO Box 500, 2 Hardman Street, Manchester, M60 2AT, UK E-mail: sportsteamuk@deloitte.co.uk Over the top? 23 www.deloitte.co.uk/sportsbusinessgroup Football League clubs 24 July 2017 Player transfers 28 For the good of the game 29 Stadia 30 Please visit our website at www.deloitte.co.uk/sportsbusinessgroup to download a It’s in the game 32 copy of the full report and to purchase the Databook. Databook price £1,000 Our 32 page Databook includes over 8,000 data items on the various topics covered in this report, prepared on the basis of our specialist and long-established methodologies. 01
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Foreword Foreword Welcome to the 26th edition of the Deloitte Annual Review of revenues, as has been the case for well over the same three teams – Paris Saint-Germain, a decade now. To compound this situation Bayern Munich and Juventus – won the leagues Football Finance, compiling our analysis and commentary on the 2016/17 season’s results will reflect a new in France, Germany and Italy, respectively. the recent financial developments within, and prospects for, Premier League broadcast rights cycle, with Barcelona, meanwhile, retained their La Liga central distributions increasing by an average of crown; their third title in four seasons. the world’s most popular sport. £38m per club. Whilst the introduction to last year’s 25th 2015/16 will be followed by a domestic deal Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! edition of the Annual Review chronicled the starting in 2017/18, which promises to deliver The Winner Takes it All In 2015/16 Premier League revenues rose to a key developments in football finance over the an impressive 85% increase in revenue on The collective selling of broadcast rights, and record £3.6 billion. Each club generated more last quarter of a century, this year we return 2015/16 levels. the associated relative equality in distribution, on average than the whole top division of 22 to two familiar themes as we assess the has been a fundamental strength of the Premier clubs did in total in 1991/92 and commercial 2015/16 season – the continuation of relentless On a pan-European level, the large increases in League over the past 25 years. The league’s revenues exceeded £1 billion for the first time revenue growth across Europe’s major leagues, UEFA distributions in 2015/16 made qualifying revenue distribution mechanism – the most in the league’s history. The aforementioned in particular the Premier League, and the for these competitions even more important to equal of the ‘big five’ European leagues – and Premier League champions, Leicester City, commitment of this money to spending on clubs. Examples such as increases of 50% and the effective ‘minimum guarantee’ that all clubs secured a notable revenue increase of players via transfer fees and wages, again led by 80% in the amounts being received by Spanish receive as a consequence enables strength £25m yet still generated less than 40% of English clubs. and English clubs respectively drive intense in depth and intense competitiveness as the average revenue of the ‘big six’ clubs. domestic competition to secure these rewards. exemplified by the shock of Leicester City’s These six collectively responded strongly and Such continent-wide revenue increases, bringing Premier League title win in 2015/16. In no other immediately to Leicester’s accomplishment Name of the Game incentives to compete and stretch financial major footballing nation could a club with a by spending more than any other clubs in New broadcasting deals taking effect in the resources, reinforce the growing importance similar profile to Leicester City be able to collect the summer transfer window of 2016 before 2015/16 season for UEFA and others, together and use of financial regulations in football. This c.£90m in broadcast revenue alone, to help subsequently occupying the top six places in with those confirmed in England and elsewhere drive for club sustainability and development level the playing field and give such an ‘outsider’ the league in the 2016/17 season. for 2016/17 and beyond, continue to have a throughout Europe is a topic discussed further a shot at glory without reckless overspending. profound effect on the financial landscape of in For the good of the game. Whilst English clubs have therefore remained Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues. New deals in Italy Whilst Leicester’s remarkable achievement ahead of their European counterparts in and Spain – the latter being its first year of However, in spite of the aforementioned made it four consecutive different winners of terms of revenue generation, the 2015/16 collective selling thus improving the equality of enhanced deals and improved UEFA the Premier League for the first time in the season also demonstrated their attempts to distributions – provided substantial increases distributions, the Premier League continues to competition’s history, this unpredictability did not enhance their on-pitch position by already on previous arrangements whilst the new power ahead of the other four big European extend to the rest of Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues. committing to spend some of the increased Bundesliga deal for international rights in leagues, particularly with regard to broadcast Indeed, 2015/16 was the fourth year in a row that broadcast revenue arriving in 2016/17. English 02
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Foreword clubs remained by far the largest spenders on I Have a Dream Take a Chance on Me transfers in the world, whereas German and The three clubs promoted to the Premier This 26th edition of the Annual Review also French clubs were net ‘exporters’ of talent in the League in 2016/17 generated combined marks our first inclusion of another form of the 2015/16 season. Notably, the Premier League operating profits of £28m, a year after sport, with a brief discussion of professional collectively recorded net transfer receipts recording a combined operating loss of £47m competitive video gaming, or eSports, in It’s for the first time in a single transfer window in the Football League Championship, starkly in the game. Although long considered a niche in January 2017, primarily due to exports to illustrating the difference in profitability activity, this perception is changing, driven by Chinese clubs. Whether this will continue given between the two divisions. In contrast to the impressive audience figures, revenue potential increased local regulation remains to be seen, Premier League, Championship clubs continue and technological advances. a development discussed further in For all the to overspend relative to their revenues, with the teams in China. “Over the three seasons from value of promotion continuing to escalate. The In Over the top? we comment on the latest 2013/14 to 2015/16, Premier two clubs promoted to the Premier League for the first time at the end of the 2016/17 season developments in football’s media landscape, driven by consumers’ desire for anytime, Money, Money, Money League clubs generated – Brighton and Hove Albion and Huddersfield anywhere access to content, and the potential As Premier League transfer spending has continued, so has wage cost growth, which in combined operating profits Town – are guaranteed a minimum uplift in revenue of £170m over the next three seasons. threats to traditional Pay-TV platforms posed by new market entrants such as over-the-top (OTT) 2015/16 led to a total of £2.3 billion, an increase of £1.6 billion, more than This is likely to rise to more than £290m if streaming platforms, social media networks and of 12%. Wage costs grew at almost twice the rate witnessed in each of the previous two they managed in total over they survive more than one season, and may grow further when the next Premier League other technology companies. years as clubs spent in anticipation of the extra the previous 16 seasons broadcast rights deals commence in 2019/20. Thank You for the Music broadcast revenue in 2016/17. However, over a longer cycle, the previous trend of revenue combined.“ Championship clubs again (for the third time in Finally, I would like to wish continued success increases being wholly consumed by wage costs four seasons) spent more on wages than they in their careers to four colleagues and former now appears to have been replaced by a more earned in revenue in 2015/16 and also suffered contributors to our Annual Review who left us prudent approach – since 2012/13, just 44% costs and league position, with the division’s top record operating losses of £261m, continuing for new roles this year, and most importantly of revenue increases have been accounted for six wage spenders in 2015/16 filling the top six to stretch their financial limits in the hope of thank my colleagues in the Sports Business by wage growth, whereas in the five years to league positions in 2016/17. securing the riches and glory accompanying Group including new recruits and authors, 2012/13 this figure was 99%. promotion to the Premier League. As a result of Henry Wong, and all those from across the Premier League clubs recorded a third this financial performance aggregate net debt football community that have helped us compile As Leicester City’s achievement has confirmed, consecutive season of operating profits in increased to £1.3 billion in the 2015/16 season, this year’s report. there are other factors beyond wage excess of £500m, and although they returned more than double the revenue of the division. spend which contribute to clubs’ on-pitch to cumulative pre-tax losses following two The division’s new profitability and sustainability We hope you enjoy this edition. performance. For example, in 2015/16 whilst consecutive seasons of profit this was due rules effective from the 2016/17 season, largely Leicester won the league despite being ranked to exceptional items. Over the three year aligned with the approach for Premier League 15th by wage costs, defending champions broadcast rights cycle from 2013/14 to 2015/16, clubs, seem unlikely to deliver a turnaround in Dan Jones, Partner Chelsea finished eight places lower than their Premier League clubs generated combined Championship clubs’ financial results. www.deloitte.co.uk/sportsbusinessgroup wage costs rank of second, and relegated Aston operating profits of over £1.6 billion; more than Villa twelve places lower than their wage costs they managed in total over the previous 16 rank of eighth. The 2016/17 season reverted seasons combined, and we expect a return to to a much stronger correlation between wage record-breaking pre-tax profits in 2016/17. 03
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Sports Business Group Delivering results worldwide Deloitte has a unique focus on the sports sector, led from Strategic programme the UK and operating across the world. Our experience, long- management Continuing assistance to the standing relationships and understanding of the industry British Olympic Association mean we bring valuable expertise to any project from day one. through to the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020. For more than a quarter of a century, across Deloitte are also audit and tax advisers to many over 40 countries, we have worked with more sports businesses. organisations in sport than any other advisors. Bid support Our specialist Sports Business Group at Deloitte For further details on how Deloitte can add Lead advisors to Ireland’s bid provides: value to your project and your business, for the Rugby World Cup 2023. visit our website www.deloitte.co.uk/ • Business planning sportsbusinessgroup • Revenue enhancement and cost control Telephone: +44 (0)161 455 8787 • Market analysis and benchmarking Email: sportsteamuk@deloitte.co.uk • Strategic review Bid support • Economic impact studies Financial feasibility and • Venue feasibility and development services economic impact of the • Sports regulation advice city’s bid to host the 2022 • Due diligence Commonwealth Games. • Corporate finance advisory • Business improvement and restructuring • Forensic and dispute services Competition format Review of the competition structure and calendar for major international table tennis events. 04
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Sports Business Group Consulting services Financial and technical consulting services for the privatisation of sports clubs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Regulatory development Feasibility assessment of financial fair play regulations for the Arabian Gulf League. Consulting services Analysis of various strategic options for international Rugby Union. Competition format Independent financial and strategic analysis of potential domestic T20 competition structures. 05
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Sports Business Group The leading team in the business of football Improve your strategy and governance Working together with our clients, Deloitte’s Business unique experience, insights, robust evidence- planning based advice, and credibility in sport helps build a strong case and consensus for change Commercial amongst key stakeholders and enables our development clients to positively influence and react to Restructuring of their wider political, economic and social competitions and environment. calendar Media rights We help deliver effective governance, strategies, analysis competitions and impact analysis for sports Economic impact organisations to build their integrity, credibility, studies quality, popularity and value. Market analysis and development Optimise your revenues Governance and Deloitte bring experience, information, organisational design insights and leading practices to help our clients to analyse and grow their revenues and Ticketing and profitability. hospitality strategies Strategy review We give our clients a competitive advantage by and development delivering solutions to help engage their fans, grow attendances, promote their brand, build Benchmarking and value from new markets and accelerate growth. best practice 06
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Sports Business Group Make informed investment decisions Advice on the Deloitte has an extensive track-record of development of stadia delivering tailored added-value services to a and other facilities wide range of investors, owners and financiers in Sports tax respect of various sports assets around advisory the world. Targeting and acquiring a sports We utilise our experience, industry knowledge business and global networks to provide independent Audit and and trusted advice to help our clients compliance understand the commercial realities of their Financial and proposed investments, and plan successfully for commercial due the future. diligence Investigatory and dispute services Disposing of a Ensure financial integrity sports business Deloitte brings to clients an unrivalled deep understanding of sports’ regulatory Club licensing requirements, how the business of sport works and cost control in practice, and the wider economic, accounting Business and regulations and legal environment in which a sport operates. venue market feasibility studies Our clients benefit from our expert review, Risk advice and reports to manage their risks, comply management with statutory requirements, resolve disputes, and implement effective sport regulations. 07
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Europe’s premier leagues Europe’s premier leagues Driven by continued growth in broadcast Chart 1: European football market size – 2014/15 and 2015/16 (€ billion) rights values in European football’s biggest The impact of Euro 2016 leagues, and the impact of UEFA Euro 2016, ‘Big five’ European leagues 2.2 3.1 total European football market revenues 10% 13% The increase from 16 to 24 teams at reached almost €25 billion in 2015/16, a 0.6 0.7 Non ‘big five’ top leagues UEFA Euro 2016 in France helped UEFA 2.4 3% 3% 13% increase on 2014/15. 11% 2.6 record a significant increase in its €21.8 billion €24.6 billion 11% ‘Big five’ countries’ other revenues in the 2015/16 season. 2014/15 2015/16 13.4 leagues The tournament, which was attended 12.0 54% European football market 4.6 55% by roughly 2.5 million fans and 21% 4.8 The ‘big five’ European leagues grew collective 19% FIFA, UEFA and National watched in 230 countries worldwide, revenues by €1.4 billion (12%) in 2015/16, 59% Associations generated gross revenue of over of which was due to increased broadcast €1.9 billion (an increase of more than revenues, and 31% due to increased Non ‘big five’ other leagues €500m on the previous Championships sponsorship and other commercial revenues. in 2012) and a net profit of more than In recent years, step-change increases in cycle, resulting in the restatement of prior year Source: Leagues; UEFA; FIFA; €800m. broadcast revenues have been almost the revenue and a marginal reduction in revenue Deloitte analysis. sole preserve of English Premier League in 2015/16. European Football Championship clubs. However, in 2015/16 new broadcast revenues have more than doubled since arrangements in Germany, Italy and Spain, The 2015/16 season was notable for just how the 2004 tournament in Portugal, and coupled with a significant increase in UEFA broadcast distributions under the new three widespread growth was across the entire European football landscape, with revenue The ‘big five’ European have increased almost 50 fold since Euro 92 in Sweden. For the 2016 event year rights cycle, led to combined broadcast revenue growth among the clubs in the top increases across the non-‘big five’ European leagues, and even clubs in the lower tiers leagues grew broadcast rights exceeded €1 billion, and represented 53% of total revenue. divisions of those three countries of €535m. of Europe’s ‘big five’ football markets grew revenues by €271m (11%). collective revenues Compared to Euro 96, when broadcast rights accounted for 36% of total A successful UEFA Euro 2016 in France resulted in a substantial increase in UEFA revenues by €1.4 billion (12%) in revenue, and ticket sales 44% (just 14% in 2016) it is clear to see how the (presented here net of distributions and solidarity payments to clubs and national 2015/16. landscape of European football finance has shifted in a similar way for national associations to avoid double counting). FIFA team football as for club football, over adopted new revenue recognition policies to the last two decades. more accurately reflect its four-year World Cup 08
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Europe’s premier leagues The financial performance of the ‘big five’ European leagues in 2015/16 was heavily returned to full collective sales in 2016/17 with the commencement of new three year rights Growing broadcast revenues have pushed the influenced by growth in centralised broadcast revenues, with new collective deals. ‘big five’ European leagues even further ahead arrangements in both Spain and Italy, and new international rights deals in Germany. Whereas growth in broadcast revenue has traditionally been driven by the individual rights of their competitor leagues. The impact of this growing, shared wealth, deals secured by Barcelona and Real Madrid, coupled with ever-increasing revenues under the one year transitional collective Chart 2: ‘Big five’ European league clubs’ revenues – 2015/16 (€m) generated from participation in UEFA’s sales model the average broadcast revenue 6,000 club competitions, has pushed the ‘big five’ generated by the 18 other La Liga clubs, Matchday European leagues even further ahead of including UEFA distributions, was almost €45m; 4,865 their competitor leagues. an increase of 39% on 2014/15. 5,000 Broadcasting 1,457 30% The majority of revenue growth in Italy came Sponsorship/Commercial 4,000 ‘Big five’ European leagues’ revenues from broadcast rights, with the first year of the Bundesliga clubs achieved a combined revenue extended media rights advisory relationship 2,577 Other commercial 3,000 53% 2,712 increase of €320m (13%), to remain the second with Infront Sports & Media, and increased 478 2,437 highest revenue-generating football league in UEFA distributions, resulting in a €75m (7%) 18% 705 1,917 773 29% the world, and the second-fastest growing of increase in broadcast revenue. Commercial 2,000 29% 523 340 1,485 Note: Commercial revenue is not the ‘big five’ European leagues in 2015/16. revenues grew by €58m (12%), with Juventus 1,232 27% 23% 325 disaggregated into ‘sponsorship’ 933 51% 1,190 22% alone responsible for around half of that. 34% 62% and ‘other commercial’ for clubs in 1,000 This growth was underpinned by the 831 204 656 164 England, Spain and Italy. 17% 528 500 11% 44% 11% commencement of new two-year international Ligue 1 clubs remained the lowest revenue- 19% 20% broadcast rights deals, which delivered revenue generating of Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues, and 0 England Germany Spain Italy France Source: Leagues; Deloitte analysis. growth of around €100m compared with total revenue growth of 5% was less than that of Average revenue per club (€m) 2014/15. Total UEFA distributions to German any of the other ‘big five’ leagues. 243 151 122 96 74 clubs participating in UEFA competitions Average match attendance increased by €46m, resulting in an overall Given that most of the stadium developments 36,490 42,420 27,626 21,680 20,894 increase of 28% in broadcast revenue. for UEFA Euro 2016 were completed some years prior to the 2015/16 season, it was Stadium utilisation German clubs continued their traditionally unsurprising to see Ligue 1 average attendances 96% 90% 76% 52% 70% strong commercial performance, generating and matchday revenues remain flat in 2015/16, total sponsorship and other commercial following three years of growth. Olympique de revenue of c.€1.3 billion, 47% of total revenue Marseille’s disappointing domestic campaign and second only to the c.€1.5 billion generated resulted in 11,000 fewer fans attending their by English Premier League clubs. matches on average than in 2014/15. La Liga clubs’ combined revenues grew by 19% Paris Saint-Germain, French treble winners for a to over €2.4 billion in 2015/16; thanks to the second successive season, were responsible for impact of the one year transitional collective 35% of the division’s total revenue, and 60% of broadcast rights sales arrangement. La Liga total revenue growth. 09
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Europe’s premier leagues The reduction in the value of the pound revenue growth in 2018/19, as the full impact of Chart 3: ‘Big five’ European league clubs’ revenues – 2013/14 to 2017/18 (€m) over the last 12 months means that the new rights deals are felt. 5,500 our prediction in early June 2016, of the England Italy 5,080 combined revenues of European football’s 4,980 4,865 ‘big five’ leagues exceeding €15 billion in Spain 5,000 France Spain the 2016/17 season will not come to pass. Spanish clubs fully adopted their new collective 4,403 Nonetheless, the continued growth in rights selling mechanism from 2016/17, Germany 4,500 broadcast and commercial values means after a transitional year in 2015/16. The new passing this threshold has only been arrangements are reported to have delivered 3,897 delayed temporarily. a total uplift in rights values of around €250m 4,000 Source: Leagues; Deloitte analysis. per season compared with 2015/16, which is likely to take total La Liga revenues beyond 3,500 3,200 England €2.8 billion. We expect the impact of the new The Premier League’s new three-year broadcast broadcast deals will see La Liga briefly eclipse 2,840 3,000 2,990 rights cycle, which commenced at the start the Bundesliga as Europe’s second highest 2,712 2,790 of the 2016/17 season, resulted in an average revenue-generating league in 2016/17. 2,392 2,437 c.45% increase in central distributions to clubs 2,500 2,275 compared with 2015/16. However, the effect of 2,053 1,960 1,980 1,933 1,917 exchange rate movements mutes the impact Italy 2,000 1,790 1,700 1,700 1,750 of this on our calculation of the total European Italian clubs’ revenues are unlikely to grow 1,498 1,485 market size in euro terms. We still expect the significantly over the next two seasons, with Serie 1,418 1,500 Premier League to break the €5 billion revenue A’s existing media rights advisory relationship Projected barrier in 2017/18. with Infront Sports & Media, worth a minimum of €990m per season, covering the six year period 1,000 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 to 2020/21. Juventus’ run to the 2016/17 UEFA Germany Champions League final will deliver increased New, four-year, synchronised domestic and UEFA distributions, but any further growth will c.80% international broadcast rights cycles are likely to be dependent on improving commercial deals result in Bundesliga clubs’ combined revenues and/or increasing matchday attendances. exceeding €3 billion in 2017/18. The total annual value of broadcast rights in Germany, for the of projected total revenue top two divisions combined, is expected to rise France growth of Europe’s ‘big five’ to over €1.4 billion over the term of the new We forecast that French clubs will remain the leagues between 2015/16 cycle – an increase of 75% on 2015/16 levels. lowest revenue-generating in Europe’s ‘big and 2017/18 attributable However, not all of this revenue increase will be five’ leagues throughout seasons 2016/17 and to new broadcast rights paid to clubs in the first season of the new rights 2017/18, despite the commencement of new arrangements deal, with one of the major domestic broadcast domestic broadcast rights deals in 2016/17, partners, Sky Deutschland, reportedly only worth around €130m more than in the previous paying 32% more in season 2017/18. There is rights cycle, and AS Monaco’s run to the UEFA therefore the likelihood of further, substantial Champions League semi-finals in 2016/17. 10
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Europe’s premier leagues Wage costs across Europe’s ‘big five’ Italy Chart 4: ‘Big five’ European league clubs’ revenues and wage costs leagues grew slightly more slowly than Serie A saw a modest 3% increase in wage – 2014/15 and 2015/16 (€m) revenue in 2015/16, such that the average costs, which, combined with a 7% increase in 6,000 wages/revenue ratio dipped, from 62% total revenue, saw the wages to revenue ratio in 2014/15, to 61%. In total, wage costs fall from 72% to 70%. However, this was still the 4,865 increased by 10% to €8.2 billion. highest of any of the ‘big five’ European leagues. 5,000 4,403 4,000 England France Premier League clubs’ wages increased to Ligue 1 wage costs exceeded €1 billion for the 2,712 €3 billion, more than double the total spent by first time, as 2015/16 saw an increase of 7%, 3,000 3,047 2,392 2,437 2,670 the clubs in any of the other ‘big five’ leagues. following a slight reduction in wage costs 2,053 1,917 1,790 in 2014/15. 2,000 1,485 1,418 1,476 1,341 Spain Wage cost growth outpaced revenue growth, 1,246 1,341 1,280 1,298 1,000 953 1,019 Clubs in La Liga overtook those in Serie A to resulting in the wages/revenue ratio increasing become the second-highest wage spenders of to 69%. Paris Saint-Germain’s wage bill Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues in the 2015/16 season. increased by 15% to €292m, representing 0 14/15 15/16 14/15 15/16 14/15 15/16 14/15 15/16 14/15 15/16 almost 30% of total Ligue 1 wage expenditure. England Germany Spain Italy France Total wages increased by almost €200m (15%), 61% 63% 52% 49% 62% 61% 72% 70% 67% 69% considerably more than the previous year’s 6% 134 152 69 75 64 74 65 67 48 51 increase, as more clubs were able to increase wages in line with the collective increase in broadcast rights, without compromising operating profitability. Indeed, the league’s Premier League clubs’ Revenue Wage costs Wages/revenue ratio Average club wages wages to revenue ratio reduced marginally to 61% in 2015/16. wage costs were more Source: Leagues; Deloitte analysis. than double that Germany Bundesliga clubs increased wages by €95m (8%) in 2015/16, matching Serie A and becoming the of any of the other ‘big five’ European 57% of additional revenue joint third-highest wage spenders in Europe. generated by the ‘big five’ However, clubs in Germany recorded a much lower wages to revenue ratio than those in Italy: leagues. European leagues in 2015/16 was spent on wage costs just 49%, compared with Serie A’s 70%. This is only the third time in the last decade that one of Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues has recorded a wages to revenue ratio of less than 50%; on all three occasions the feat was achieved by the Bundesliga. 11
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Europe’s premier leagues As financial regulations at both a European Chart 5: ‘Big five’ European league clubs’ profitability – 2011/12 to 2015/16 (€m) and domestic level continue to have an Future profitability 1,000 impact, in 2015/16 only Ligue 1 and Serie A England Italy of the ‘big five’ leagues recorded aggregate Significant growth in broadcast operating losses. 800 739 721 France Spain revenues is expected with new rights 683 cycles beginning in England, Spain and Germany France in 2016/17, with Germany to 600 England follow in 2017/18. This provides the Premier League clubs’ combined operating 397 potential for greater profitability in the 347 316 profits saw a slight decrease, to €683m, with 400 Notes: The operating result is the short term, particularly in the first year 264 250 a number of clubs looking to get ahead of the 190 284 net of revenues less wage costs of the respective broadcast deals. 260 competition by spending on playing talent – 200 96 and other operating costs. The 104 and consequently wages – in advance of the operating result excludes player Worryingly for Italy, Serie A – about to (3) new broadcast cycle. Impressively, 17 of the 20 (67) (35) (38) trading and certain exceptional enter the third year of a long term 0 Premier League clubs recorded an operating (53) (140) items. Aggregate operating results media rights advisory arrangement (98) profit in 2015/16, and the results for 2016/17 (143) (133) for Spanish clubs were not available through to 2020/21 – has no upcoming (160) may show every Premier League club generating -200 prior to 2013/14. short-term ‘step-change’ opportunities. an operating profit for the first time. Italian clubs face a difficult challenge -400 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 Source: Leagues; Deloitte analysis. competing, in financial terms, with their European counterparts to attract the Spain best playing talent over the coming Clubs in La Liga have worked hard over recent seasons. years to improve their finances, and 2015/16 Germany Italy once again saw them rewarded with positive Bundesliga clubs generated an aggregate Italian clubs recorded a significant improvement results. operating profit of €284m in 2015/16, a 10% in operating profit in the 2015/16 season, reduction on their record operating profit reducing combined losses by €95m (71%) to In Spain, the impact of the move to collective in 2014/15. This, coupled with La Liga clubs’ €38m, as clubs spent only around a third (€43m) broadcast rights selling, and the more even improved profitability, has seen Germany slip of their €127m revenue growth on wages. distribution of revenues from these, led to a back into third place of the ‘big five’ leagues in 53% increase in combined operating profits in profitability terms. 2015/16, to €397m. France Despite this, Bundesliga clubs recorded With the increase in wage costs outstripping Further revenue growth from the three-year combined net transfer receipts of €21m in revenue growth, Ligue 1 clubs recorded an broadcast cycle commencing in 2016/17, 2015/16, and 16 of the 18 Bundesliga clubs aggregate operating loss of almost €100m in the and a push from La Liga for further financial generated a net profit after tax, an improvement 2015/16 season, a 180% increase on 2014/15 transparency and responsibility from its on 11 in 2014/15. operating losses. The impact of the new four- clubs, should sustain their improvements in year domestic broadcast rights cycle, coupled profitability over the coming seasons. with increased UEFA distributions arising from AS Monaco’s successful UEFA Champions League campaign, should see losses reduce again in the 2016/17 season. 12
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Europe’s premier leagues The record distributions paid by UEFA to respectively compared with the year to Chart 600 6: Selected other European league clubs’ revenues – 2015/16 (€m) clubs participating in its competitions in December 2015. FC Copenhagen’s participation 2015/16 was the primary factor behind in the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League group 500 478 revenue growth in European leagues stages also contributed to total year-on-year 80 17% outside of the ‘big five’. The financial revenue growth of 36%, to more than €200m; 400 178 rewards from participating in the UEFA the fastest growth rate of any of the featured 37% Champions League or UEFA Europa League leagues. are now greater than ever. Whilst some of 300 these other countries have seen increases 203 in revenue, mainly thanks to higher value Sweden 76 48 166 200 16% 24% 161 149 domestic league broadcast contracts, their Swedish top-tier clubs’ combined revenues 87 34 132 144 61 21% 62 scale pales in significance compared to grew by 11% as Malmö competed in the UEFA 30% 30% 53% 78 41% 55 100 49% 31 42% Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues. Each of the top Champions League group stages for a second 79 15 39 23 21% 58 19 39% 23% 26 56 six clubs in our Deloitte Football Money successive year in 2015/16. IFK Norrkoping’s 7% 40 16% 14% 44% 14% 24% 38% League earned more in revenue than any title triumph in the 2015 Allsvenskan gave them 0 Netherlands Denmark Sweden Austria Scotland Poland of the six leagues featured here. the opportunity to close the revenue gap to Average revenue per club (€m) Malmö through participation in the 2016/17 27 14 10 16 12 8 UEFA Champions League, but they were Netherlands defeated by Norway’s Rosenborg in the second Wages/revenue ratio An almost 50% increase in UEFA distributions qualifying round. 58% 56% 46% 66% 67% 59% to Eredivisie clubs aided total revenue growth Number of clubs of €41m in the Dutch top league, as PSV 18 14 16 10 12 16 Eindhoven reached the knockout stages of Austria the UEFA Champions League. Despite no The success of Rapid Vienna, who reached Dutch cubs reaching the knockout stages of the round of 32 in the 2015/16 UEFA Europa of total revenues as they won the league for a Matchday the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League, Ajax’s League, was a prime example of the boost fifth consecutive season, and their participation impressive run to the final of the UEFA Europa such a performance can provide to a domestic in the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League group Broadcasting League should mitigate any revenue loss. league’s financial performance. Aggregate stages will result in a substantial uplift in revenues across the ten Austrian Bundesliga revenue being reported in next year’s Annual Sponsorship/Commercial clubs increased by 25% (€32m), with €5m of this Review of Football FInance. Denmark coming from UEFA distributions alone, helping Other commercial The financial results for the Danish Superliga reduce the division’s wages to revenue ratio by Poland Notes: This chart includes a sample relate to the year to December 2016, and 12 percentage points from 2014/15. Another demonstration of the importance of countries ranking below fifth in include the impact of a change in the of UEFA competition revenue is seen in the terms of average club revenues. competition’s structure at the beginning of the Ekstraklasa, featured in our review for the first Figures in respect of clubs in Sweden relate to year to December 2016/17 season. The league’s new 14-team Scotland time. Legia Warsaw’s participation in the group 2015. Figures in respect of clubs in format, with an end-of-season playoff system, Despite Celtic’s failure to qualify for the UEFA stages of the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League, Denmark and Poland relate to the has been positively received by sponsors, Champions League group stages for the second having competed in the UEFA Europa League year to December 2016. broadcasters and supporters, and has helped consecutive season, Scottish Premiership in 2015/16, helped Ekstraklasa clubs increase Source: Leagues; Club accounts; Danish clubs deliver increases of 50% and clubs’ aggregate revenues grew 10% (€14m), to their combined revenues by 12% in the year to Deloitte analysis. 67% in matchday and broadcast revenues €149m. Celtic continued to generate over 50% December 2016. 13
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Sports Business Group Deloitte Football Intelligence Tool The Annual Review of Football Finance continues to be recognised 01 League wide trends and analysis as a definitive independent source of financial information in Big five European respect of European football. Reflecting both this and a greater leagues plotted on industry appetite for financial information than ever before, map, with users Deloitte have developed the Football Intelligence Tool (FIT). able to select one or more by clicking on them. 02 Users can plot the charts based on This digital solution allows the user to This subscription service is ideal for: a range of league manipulate data in a quick and easy to use level metrics, such format. •• Football club executives looking to as revenue, wage understand their organisation’s performance costs and average Deloitte FIT uses leading user-friendly and position within the market and to attendance. technology to display many of the data points benchmark against other clubs; contained in the Annual Review of Football Finance Databook and a host of other industry •• Aspiring club investors looking to identify and information. We hope FIT will be a valuable assess a club; and asset for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the football business. •• Sports media and broadcasters looking for further insight and analysis. If you would like to find out more about the tool and to book your free, personalised 03 Club trends and demonstration, please contact sportsteamuk@deloitte.co.uk Revenue splits for each league set out and shown analysis over time. 14
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Sports Business Group 05 10 Club profiling Matrix analysis Explore the local on a club-by-club area of a given club, basis with the axes defined by user with population data displaying the socio- 11 selected metrics. Peer group averages and correlation lines 06 Overall revenue economic profile of the catchment area. Historical details of key financial measures and also plotted. trend for given selection of clubs, with ability to click 08 Users can see where their supporting matrix analysis for two parameters through to further highlighted club is relative simultaneously. explore historic to their own user selected revenue trends. peer group. 04 09 Users can create their An interactive map of Europe allows the user to quickly select the clubs 07 Users can configure own peer groups by filtering by a variety of possible metrics such as Individual club benchmarking most appropriate to their the screen by selecting stadium size, whether specific geography and any metric they wish a club has played in circumstances, with FIT to explore, setting up European competitions, currently containing data the overall dashboard their average attendance for the ‘big five’ European to reflect their areas or their league position. leagues and the EFL of interest, providing Championship. visual analysis of specific clubs. 15
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Sports Business Group Premier League clubs Premier League clubs’ revenues grew by Matchday revenue is at its lowest level (17%) League clubs to expand capacities and hence 9% to a record £3.6 billion in 2015/16. In Impact of individual as a proportion of total revenue in the history supply to meet demand amid consistently full or the final year of the Premier League’s of the Premier League, but in absolute terms near full stadia. broadcast cycle, the 20 Premier League clubs (£622m) is at a record high. We expect further clubs generated more on average (£182m) Of the 17 clubs that were in the growth given the continuing work by Premier Commercial revenues grew by 10% to exceed than all 22 top division clubs combined did Premier League in both 2014/15 and £1 billion for the first time in the league’s history, in 1991/92 (£170m), the last season before 2015/16, the club which had the largest driven by new commercial deals at several the competition began. revenue, Manchester United, was also Chart 7: Premier League clubs’ revenues leading Premier League clubs. the fastest growing in 2015/16. 2013/14-2017/18 (£m) Revenue growth of £120m (30%) was 6,000 Premier League clubs’ revenues principally due to their reported £75m Projected Over half of the £289m increase in Premier per year kit deal with adidas, and a Future revenue growth League clubs’ revenues year-on-year was due return to Champions League football, 5,000 4,460 4,550 to broadcast income, predominantly as a result which generated UEFA distributions of 1,170 The 2016/17 season was the first of a 1,120 26% of UEFA distributions to Premier League clubs over £30m. 3,639 25% new Premier League broadcast rights 4,000 increasing (by £100m). This in turn was driven in 3,259 3,350 cycle, with total Premier League central 1,090 part by English clubs’ improved performance in Manchester City generated the largest 897 987 30% 2,700 2,710 distributions increasing by 46% to 29% 61% 59% UEFA competitions in the 2015/16 season, with revenue increase (£40m) among the 3,000 27% £2.4 billion in 2016/17, an average Manchester City reaching the semi-finals of the other 16 clubs. Their run to the 1,758 1,780 1,927 increase of £38m per Premier League 53% UEFA Champions League, and Liverpool the final Champions League semi-finals earned 2,000 54% 53% club. This growth will be enhanced and of the UEFA Europa League, and it also being them £63m in UEFA distributions, the supported by new commercial the first season of a new, more lucrative, UEFA highest club distribution made by UEFA agreements such as Chelsea’s with 1,000 broadcast rights cycle. in 2015/16. Leicester City also 640 670 Nike, and likely matchday revenue 604 583 622 generated an absolute revenue 19% 18% 17% 14% 15% uplifts arising from West Ham United’s The average revenue of a Premier League club increase of £25m, and the second 0 13/14 14/15 15/16 16/17 17/18 move to the London Stadium in was £182m in 2015/16, which is more than all 22 highest relative increase of the 17 Average revenue per club 2016/17, Liverpool’s expansion of their top division clubs generated in total in 1991/92, clubs, almost exclusively driven by 163 168 182 223 228 main stand, and Tottenham Hotspur’s the last year of the ’old’ Division One. Broadcast extra Premier League central planned one-year residency at revenue has almost doubled since 2008/09, and distributions of £22m in their Commercial Matchday Wembley in 2017/18. As a result, we in 2016/17 we expect it will make up over 60% title-winning season. Five clubs saw expect total Premier League clubs’ of total revenue, reflecting the growing global their revenue fall. Broadcasting Source: Deloitte analysis. revenues to rise to £4.5 billion in demand for Premier League football. 2016/17, and £4.6 billion in 2017/18. 16
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Premier League clubs Although the Premier League has the most Chart 8: Premier League and Championship clubs’ average revenues – 2015/16 (£m) equal distribution mechanism of broadcast Parachute payments 500 revenue in any of Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues, there are significant differences between for relegated clubs 398 clubs in terms of matchday and commercial The average revenue of Championship 400 170 revenue. Qualifying for European club clubs in receipt of parachute payments competitions also brings a significant was almost double that of those without 300 256 revenue advantage, especially in the in 2015/16, and the average parachute 10 89 context of improved UEFA broadcast deals, payment of £18m exceeded the total 46 which resulted in total UEFA distributions average revenue of non-parachute clubs. 200 8 91 22 to participating English clubs of £230m in 88 110 110 15 23 the 2015/16 season. The new Premier League broadcast cycle, 100 7 5 33 17 81 74 64 6 4 commencing in 2016/17, has increased 49 5 2 3 6 6 year one parachute payments to 14 18 18 0 UCL clubs UEL clubs Premier Premier Championship Championship Premier League clubs’ revenue levels relegated clubs to over £40m each, a 58% League League with without The average revenues of Premier League clubs increase year-on-year. However, with (other) (relegated) parachute parachute competing in the Champions League were parachute payments now lasting for only almost £400m in 2015/16. This was mainly three years rather than four, and clubs Commercial due to the return of Manchester United to making an immediate return to the Spending for success Champions League football and the impact of Championship only receiving the first two Broadcast other the new UEFA broadcast rights cycle, which years’ worth, it remains to be seen After some disappointing domestic resulted in a significant increase in distributions whether this will significantly alter the Broadcast UEFA campaigns in 2015/16, the Premier to clubs. The six clubs who qualified for the competitive balance of the Championship. League’s big six clubs outspent the rest group stages of UEFA competitions accounted Broadcast PL central of the division in the summer 2016 for almost 80% of Premier League clubs’ total transfer window, and re-established commercial revenue in 2015/16, demonstrating revenue of the average non-big six club, Chelsea Matchday their on-pitch supremacy, finishing as the enduring commercial appeal of continental finished tenth, and Liverpool finished eighth the top six in 2016/17 for the second football to sponsors. despite revenue of over £300m, more than Note: UCL clubs comprised time in three seasons. They will all double that of sixth-placed Southampton, or Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester compete in UEFA competitions in The revenue primacy of these six clubs seventh placed West Ham United. City and Manchester United. UEL 2017/18, with five English clubs in the (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester clubs comprised Liverpool and Champions League following City, Manchester United and Tottenham The three relegated clubs in 2015/16 averaged Tottenham Hotspur. Manchester United’s Europa League Hotspur), which was further accentuated by £110m in revenue, 58% of which was Premier success. Although it is difficult to see any their presence in European competition, was League broadcast revenue. In the 2016/17 Source: Premier League; UEFA; club mounting a sustained challenge to overcome on the pitch in the 2015/16 season by season the three clubs relegated from the Deloitte analysis. the financial pre-eminence of these Leicester City. The Foxes won the league despite Premier League received an average of £96.5m clubs in the short term, Leicester’s generating revenues of less than 40% of the in central distributions alone, highlighting remarkable triumph in 2015/16 average of the big six, and less than one third the impact of the new broadcast rights demonstrated the continuing truth in of the four Champions League clubs’ average. agreement, and the huge incentive on offer for the old adage that in football, money Despite generating more than three times the Championship clubs to gain promotion. does not always guarantee success. 17
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Premier League clubs Premier League clubs’ wage costs We would expect to see another substantial continued to grow in 2015/16, reaching Impact of individual £2.3 billion, an increase of 12%. Wage costs grew at almost twice the rate witnessed clubs increase in wages in 2016/17, with average in each of the previous two years, as clubs spent in anticipation of the extra revenue The 17 clubs present in both the 2014/15 and 2015/16 Premier League broadcast rights distribution per club from the new broadcast cycle commencing in 2016/17. seasons increased wage costs by an average of £13m each. Liverpool increasing by around £38m. (£42m) and Manchester United (£37m) had the largest increases, although Chart 9: Premier League clubs’ revenues and wage costs Premier League clubs’ wage costs these include the effects of managerial – 2014/15-2015/16 (£m) For the eighth time in the last ten years, wage redundancy payments. As a result, 5,000 costs grew at a faster rate than revenues in Manchester United replaced Chelsea Revenue 2015/16. As a result, the division’s wages/ as the division’s highest wage payers. revenue ratio increased for the second These two clubs, along with Arsenal, 4,000 3,639 Wage costs 3,350 successive year to 63%. The introduction Manchester City and Liverpool, were of the Premier League’s Short Term Cost the only clubs to pay higher than the Wages/revenue ratio 3,000 Control measures in 2013/14, coupled with the average league wage costs. Tottenham substantial uplift in broadcast rights values, has Hotspur were the only Premier League 2,279 Average wage costs resulted in the ratio falling by eight percentage club to reduce their wage bill 2,000 2,031 per club points from the all-time high of 71% in 2012/13. year-on-year, yet managed to improve Since 2012/13, just 44% of revenue increases their league position from fifth to third. 1,000 have been consumed by wage growth, whereas Source: Deloitte analysis. in the five years to 2012/13, this figure was 99%. Leicester City had the largest increase 0 2014/15 2015/16 in relative terms (40%), aside from the Although increased financial regulation has promoted clubs. This increase is 61% 63% undoubtedly helped limit clubs’ wage spend attributable in part to player and 102 114 relative to their revenues, we would expect coaching staff bonuses as a result of to see another substantial increase in wages them winning the 2015/16 Premier £1.6 billion in 2016/17, with average Premier League League. broadcast rights distributions per club increasing by around £38m. Contributed by English professional football to Government in taxes in 2015/16 18
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Premier League clubs Seven Premier League clubs had a wages/ Chart 10: Premier League clubs’ revenues and wage costs – 2015/16 (£m) revenue ratio in excess of 70%, the 600 indicative warning threshold level used by UEFA as part of their Financial Fair Play 515 Regulations. This is an increase from six 500 Tottenham Hotspur clubs in 2014/15, and two in 2013/14, as 393 West Bromwich Albion clubs spent in anticipation of increased West Ham United 400 350 Newcastle United broadcast revenue in 2016/17 and beyond. 335 AFC Bournemouth 302 Average Leicester City Southampton Notably, Aston Villa recorded the league’s Crystal Palace Swansea City Norwich City 300 Sunderland highest wages/revenue ratio in 2015/16 Aston Villa Stoke City Everton (88%), and the eighth highest wage total 209 Watford 241 232 182 (£93m), but finished in 20th position and 200 198 195 209 144 were relegated. 129 126 124 122 108 106 104 101 98 98 96 91 88 Liverpool Man City Man Utd 114 Chelsea 105 Arsenal 100 95 93 85 80 75 85 84 82 81 82 74 67 58 60 Correlation between wage costs and league position 0 47% 50% 56% 69% 69% 50% 63% 59% 62% 59% 68% 78% 78% 88% 79% 80% 75% 69% 85% 64% 68% The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, which measures the relationship between league position and total wage cost rank, was Revenue Wage costs Wages/revenue ratio Source: Deloitte analysis. 0.54 in 2015/16, with only four clubs finishing within one place either side of where one would expect given their wage bill. This was down from Indeed, had Leicester City not won the league Leicester City, who 0.74 (and ten clubs) in the previous season, and and incurred bonuses as a result, their wage Future wages trends is the lowest level of correlation we have ever seen in our analysis of Premier League finances. costs would have been even lower, which makes their achievement even more remarkable. ranked 15th in wage The agreement by Premier League clubs The remarkable success of Leicester City, who Two of the three promoted clubs, AFC costs, outperformed to continue the Short Term Cost Control Rules, albeit under a slightly revised ranked 15th in wage costs, outperforming their wage spending to an extent never before Bournemouth and Watford, successfully avoided relegation despite recording the lowest wage their wage spending to format, will continue to help restrict wage inflation and should, together with achieved in Premier League history, and the relative on-pitch struggles of defending costs in the division. This illustrates that there are other factors beyond wage spend which an extent never before the broadcast revenue growth, lead to a reduction in the wages/revenue ratio in champions Chelsea heavily contributed to this figure, with the latter finishing tenth, eight contribute to clubs’ on-pitch performance. achieved in Premier 2016/17. The 2016/17 results will also restore a much stronger correlation places lower than their wage costs rank of second. Relegated Aston Villa also finished League history. between wage costs and league position. The division’s top six wage twelve places lower than their wage costs rank spenders in 2015/16 were also its top six of eighth, further contributing to the low level of spenders on transfers in the summer correlation in 2015/16. 2016 window, and filled the top six league positions in 2016/17. 19
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 | Premier League clubs Premier League clubs recorded a third Chart 11: Premier League clubs’ profitability – 2011/12-2015/16 (£m) consecutive season of operating profits Premier League clubs’ 1,000 in excess of £500m in 2015/16. However, due to the impact of exceptional, one-off pre-tax profits 19 accounting adjustments, the division At pre-tax level, which includes the 800 17 17 31 returned to cumulative pre-tax losses impact of player trading and finance 618 27 26 following two consecutive seasons of costs, Premier League clubs returned 549 600 511 pre-tax profits. We expect a return to to collective losses (of £111m) after two record-breaking profits in 2016/17, with the years of pre-tax profitability. However, 14 400 11 13 14 possibility that it may be the first season’s this result is attributable to one-off 9 results to show every Premier League club accounting adjustments at Chelsea 4 4 187 6 generating an operating profit. (£67m in relation to a compensation fee 200 84 82 112 12 arising from the early termination of the (6) club’s kit sponsorship deal with adidas), 0 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 Premier League clubs’ operating profits and Aston Villa (£45m in relation to the 7 Premier League clubs generated combined impairment of tangible assets following (111) operating profits (which excludes items such relegation). Excluding these two items, -200 (16) (246) as player trading and finance costs) of £511m. Premier League clubs would have been (316) Despite falling for the second successive year, very narrowly collectively profitable in 8 -400 this is still the third highest aggregate operating 2015/16, albeit significantly less so than (12) profit ever recorded by Premier League clubs. in 2013/14 and 2014/15. 12 clubs Over the three year broadcast rights cycle recorded pre-tax profits in 2015/16, the Operating profit/(loss) from 2013/14 to 2015/16, Premier League clubs largest of which was recorded by Future outlook generated combined operating profits of over Manchester United (£49m). Profit/(loss) before tax £1.6 billion; more than they managed in total The return to pre-tax losses in 2015/16 over the previous 16 seasons. Number of clubs generating is likely to be a one-off for the operating profit/pre-tax foreseeable future, driven by Of the 17 consistent clubs year-on-year, ten operating loss (Aston Villa and Swansea City) profit exceptional costs. With central suffered a reduction in operating profitability had the two highest wages/revenue ratios in the distributions to Premier League clubs in 2015/16. However, as was the case in the Premier League (88% and 85% respectively). Average club operating in 2016/17 £760m (46%) higher than in previous year, 17 clubs recorded an operating result/pre-tax result 2015/16, increasing matchday and profit. Manchester United (£173m) and commercial revenues and Premier Manchester City (£97m) together accounted for Despite falling for the second Note: The operating result is the net of revenues less wage costs League clubs generating net transfer over 50% of Premier League operating profits. successive year, this is still and other operating costs. The operating result excludes player receipts for the first time ever in a The three promoted clubs generated combined transfer window in January 2017, we operating profits of £28m, a year after recording the third highest aggregate trading and certain exceptional items, which are included in the fully expect that Premier League clubs a combined operating loss of £47m in the operating profit ever recorded pre-tax result, along with other will collectively achieve record levels of Championship. This starkly illustrates the costs such as financing costs. profitability in the seasons to come. difference in profitability between the two by Premier League clubs. Source: Deloitte analysis. divisions. Two of the three clubs to record an 20
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