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KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation ( EU ) 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union ( Withdrawal ) Act 2018 ( " UK MAR " ) , and is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of UK MAR . Upon the publication of this announcement via the Regulatory Information Service , this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain . CONTINUING OPERATIONS Revenue up 44 % Underlying operating profit * Underlying pre - tax profit * Underlying basic earnings per share * Underlying diluted earnings per share * Profit before tax Basic earnings per share Diluted earnings per share Dividend per share EBITDA ● Cash and cash equivalents increased substantially Net assets ● The Character Group plc Designers , developers and international distributor of toys , games , and giftware ● XX * i the CHARACTER ● * Excludes Mark to market ( loss ) adjustments on FX derivative positions Profit on sale of property Gain on buy back on loan ● -group plc . HALF YEARLY FINANCIAL REPORT for the six months ended 28 February 2021 Half - year ended 28 February 2021 £ 74.5m £ 6.1m £ 6.1m 23.0p 22.93p £ 7.6m 28.76p 28.67p 6.0p £ 7.9m £ 34.9m £ 39.6m £ ( 0.48 ) m £ 2.02m Half - year ended 29 February 2020 £ 51.7m £ 2.7m £ 2.5m 9.60p 9.58p £ 2.2m 8.57p 8.55p 2.0p £ 4.3m £ 16.8m £ 32.8m £ ( 0.27 ) m Year ended 31 August 2020 £ 108.9m Following the successful alignment of its product offering with the rest of the Group , Character's Scandinavian business returned a profit Sale of freehold property , Vernon Mill in January 2021 returned a gain of £ 2m The Group has one of the strongest portfolios that it has ever taken to both domestic and international markets and this performance is expected to continue through the second half of the financial year and beyond Christmas 2021 Character's top brands have all shown significant sales growth . Goo Jit Zu is now the Group's Number One brand and is penetrating all major international markets , with distribution so far achieved in over 40 countries . Other major brands ( Peppa Pig , Pokémon , Little Live Pets , Shimmer ' n Sparkle Instaglam , Stretch Armstrong , Fireman Sam , Scooby Doo ) are also all out - performing expectations Character appointed Master Toy Partner by Moonbug Entertainment , the creator of the My Magic Pet Morphle brand , to collaborate on the design and roll out of a full and sustainable toy products programme for this new brand Focus on developing a sustainable , Eco - friendly range of products over numerous brands as well as the Group's Eco Plush multi - licenced ranges ( products manufactured from recycled materials ) New product and range launches to build on the Group's success are scheduled to take place throughout the summer and into the autumn . Crucial to maintaining a fresh and vibrant portfolio , the planning and design of new concepts and developments for 2022 is now well advanced and close to fruition £ 5.4m £ 5.0m 18.12p 18.08p £ 3.9m 14.76p 14.73p 5.0p £ 8.2m £ 19.1m £ 34.0m £ ( 2.0 ) m £ 0.90m