BCE Holdings Plc is now concentrating on computer game development. The Bristol-based company is split into two divisions, BCE Multimedia and BCE Leisure, and has changed its year-end to June 30, so a second interim set of figures has been released. It shows a move into the black at last, with ú556,000 pre-tax profits against a loss of ú796,000 for the comparable 12 months last time; turnover rose 72% to ú6.4m. The multimedia unit comprises Software Creations Ltd and Rage Software Ltd, both acquired in December. Together they have contributed ú1.0m pre-tax profits in three and a half months. Prominent in this contribution was proceeds from the macabre-sounding Maximum Carnage and further exploitation of the rights to Striker. In February, BCE was chosen by N intendo of America Inc to join its so-called Dream Team of software publishers supplying games for its Ultra 64 games system (CI No 2,599). Turnover from the sale of snooker and pool products stands at ú2.6m for the year, against ú2.1m from games development. But in the year to March 1994, games revenues were nil. BCE has sold its three arcades in the West Country and will sell its snooker club in Bristol, leaving 10 arcades in the London area. In December, BCE repaid a loan from the Royal Bank of Canada early, which combined with the writing down of some of the assets within the leisure division resulted in a net gain of ú1,000. The directors have promised to pay out a third of distributable profits at the year-end, so a dividend is likely for the 15-month period to June.
