March 7 (Reuters) - Paddy Power Betfair Plc PPB.I :
* UNDERLYING EBITDA UP 18% TO £473M, HIGHER THAN OURPREVIOUSGUIDANCE RANGE
* FINAL DIVIDEND OF 135P PER SHARE, RESULTING IN TOTALDIVIDENDSFOR YEAR UP 21 PERCENT
* CONTINUED STRONG CASH GENERATION, WITH UNDERLYING FREECASHFLOW UP 57% TO £395M
* EUROPEAN PLATFORM INTEGRATION COMPLETED IN JANUARY 2018ANDRESOURCES NOW FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING CUSTOMER FACING PRODUCTS
* TARGETING LEVERAGE OF BETWEEN 1X AND 2X NET DEBT TOEBITDA INMEDIUM TERM TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY OF GROUP'S CAPITAL STRUCTURE
* ADDITIONAL C.£20M INVESTMENT IN MARKETING AND CUSTOMERPROPOSITION PLANNED IN 2018 TO BOOST PADDY POWER BRAND IN UK,BETFAIR IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
* NEW FINANCIAL YEAR HAS STARTED AS 2017 ENDED, WITHSPORTINGRESULTS FAVOURING BOOKMAKERS
* SUSTAINED PERIOD OF BOOKMAKER FRIENDLY RESULTS HAS,HOWEVER,SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED CUSTOMER ACTIVITYFurther company coverage: PPB.I