AGS Reports Second Quarter 2021 Results

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AGS (NYSE: AGS) ("AGS", "us", "we" or the "Company") today reported operating results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2021.

AGS President and Chief Executive Officer David Lopez said, "We were able to leverage our over 15,000 unit domestic EGM installed base, our growing premium game footprint, and the revenue strength witnessed throughout the domestic gaming market to establish new Company records in both domestic EGM revenue per day ("RPD") and domestic EGM gaming operations revenue in the second quarter. Looking ahead, our improved execution and accelerating product momentum across all three of our business segments position us to deliver additional growth and share taking in the coming quarters."

Kimo Akiona, AGS' Chief Financial Officer, added, "The continuous improvement being achieved as a result of our enhanced game content development execution, upgraded product management capabilities, and refined capital deployment processes, sets us on a path to deliver more consistent financial performance, improving our capital returns and leverage profile, and, most importantly, strengthening shareholder value over time."  

Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

• During March and April and continuing through mid-to-late May 2020, nearly all our customers either closed their facilities or dramatically curtailed operations to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We believe these actions significantly limit the year-over-year comparability of our reported financial metrics, including revenues, income (loss) from operations, net (loss) income, and Adjusted EBITDA. Accordingly, we have included results from the 2019 second quarter in the tables included in this release, as we believe these comparisons provide more meaningful insight into the trajectory of our various business segments.  
• Consolidated revenue totaled $66.8 million compared to $16.8 million and $74.5 million in Q2 2020 and Q2 2019, respectively. Growth in Table Products and Interactive revenue, as compared to the levels achieved in the 2019 second quarter, was more than offset by a 13.8% decline in EGM segment revenue versus Q2 2019 levels. Although North American slot replacement demand has meaningfully improved over the past several months, operators' aggregated capital spend on new equipment purchases remains below pre-COVID-19 levels, pacing our reported EGM revenue decline versus Q2 2019.
• Gaming operations, or recurring revenue, reached a record $55.0 million versus $10.2 million and $53.6 million in Q2 2020 and Q2 2019, respectively. The growth achieved within our domestic EGM, Table Products, and Interactive recurring revenue businesses, versus the levels reached in Q2 2019, was partially offset by a decline in our international EGM recurring revenue business as our Mexico business continues to navigate COVID-19-related operating restrictions. In aggregate, recurring revenue accounted for 82.3% of our consolidated revenue compared to 60.7% in the prior year's quarter and 71.9% in the 2019 second quarter. 
• Our 2021 second quarter net loss of $3.9 million improved as compared to net losses of $42.6 million and $7.6 million realized in Q2 2020 and Q2 2019, respectively. The year-over-year decline in our reported net loss reflects our improved operating performance and lower depreciation and amortization ("D&A") expense, partially offset by slightly higher interest expense related to our incremental $95 million term loan, which we closed upon in May 2020. Additionally, net loss in the prior year period was negatively impacted by $3.1 million in one-time expenses related to the aforementioned debt financing transaction. The improvement in our reported net loss, as compared to the level reported in Q2 2019, was driven by fewer one-time charges and lower D&A expense, partially offset by slightly higher interest expense.   
• Total Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)(1) was $32.1 million compared to a $1.2 million Adjusted EBITDA loss in Q2 2020 and positive $35.7 million in Q2 2019. Interactive and Table Products Adjusted EBITDA increased sharply relative to the levels achieved in Q2 2019, supported by successful execution of our ongoing revenue growth initiatives in each of the segments. EGM Adjusted EBITDA decreased 17.1% versus Q2 2019 levels, as the upside from our record Q2 2021 EGM gaming operations performance was more than offset by the impact of the ongoing recovery in the North American slot replacement market from post-COVID-19 lows on our EGM unit sales.  
• Total Adjusted EBITDA margin (non-GAAP)(1) improved to 48.0% in the second quarter of 2021 compared to negative 6.9% in Q2 2020. Adjusted EBITDA margin was in line with the level reported in Q2 2019. We attribute the strong Q2 2021 margin performance to a favorable mix of higher-margin recurring revenues and the rate of our revenue recovery from post-COVID-19 lows exceeding the rate of normalization in our operating costs. 

EGM

EGM Quarterly Results

Domestic Gaming Operations(3)

• Domestic gaming operations, or recurring revenue, reached a record $45.9 million compared to $7.5 million and $43.7 million in Q2 2020 and Q2 2019, respectively. Our record-setting domestic gaming operations revenue performance reflects a uniquely healthy gaming macroeconomic backdrop, supported by the consumer's propensity to re-engage in social activities in response to the easing of COVID-19-related operating restrictions and ongoing vaccination efforts, and the continued growth in our higher-yielding premium game footprint.
• Our domestic EGM installed base was relatively flat on a quarterly sequential basis, as continued growth in our premium game installed base was offset by convert-to-sale activity.
• Domestic EGM revenue per day ("RPD") of $33.11, a new Company record, increased 26.6% versus the $26.16 achieved in Q2 2019. Domestic EGM RPD increased approximately 22% as compared to the $27.10 realized in the 2021 first quarter. We attribute the record domestic RPD performance to a supportive gaming macroeconomic environment, a greater mix of higher-yielding premium games within our domestic installed base and the opportunistic pruning of lower-yielding units. 

International Gaming Operations

• International gaming operations revenue totaled $3.5 million compared to approximately $0 in Q2 2020 and $6.4 million in Q2 2019. The decline relative to our Q2 2019 performance reflects the degree to which measures implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19, including the imposition of capacity restrictions upon our casino operator partners, have impacted our Mexico business. Additionally, in contrast to the United States, Mexico has not provided any type of fiscal stimulus to support its post-COVID-19 economic recovery.
• We estimate approximately 65% of our 7,879-unit international installed base was active as of June 30, 2021 compared to 36% as of December 31, 2020.
• International RPD was $4.66 compared to nearly $0 in Q2 2020 and $8.22 in Q2 2019. International RPD improved more than 58% on a quarterly sequential basis from the $2.94 achieved in Q1 2021, supported by an increase in the number of active playable games in casinos throughout the 2021 second quarter.  
• Our international installed base decreased by 106 units on a quarterly sequential basis, driven by COVID-19-related floor reconfigurations and early execution of a strategic capital efficiency initiative.

Equipment Sales

• We sold a total of 613 EGM units compared to 209 units and 1,181 units in Q2 2020 and Q2 2019, respectively. EGM unit sales more than doubled versus the 289 units sold in Q1 2021. We attribute the sequential growth in EGM unit sales to greater demand related to new casino openings and expansions, improved AGS game content, and further recovery in core North American replacement unit demand from post-COVID-19 lows.  
• Domestic average sales price ("ASP") was $16,902 versus $19,646 and $18,178 in Q2 2020 and Q2 2019, respectively. The decline in our Q2 2021 domestic ASP was predominantly driven by a higher mix of convert-to-sale and opening and expansion units. Excluding the convert-to-sale units, our domestic ASP would have been approximately $18,200, consistent with the level achieved in Q2 2019. 
• We sold units into 19 U.S. states throughout Q2 2021, with Washington, Kentucky and Arizona emerging as our top three sales markets.

Product Highlights

• Our premium, lease-only Starwall x Orion ("Starwall") installed base grew to over 520 games at quarter end. Starwall games continue to produce RPD's nicely above our company average. The Starwall's solid game performance and the introduction of additional configuration options have further strengthened operator interest in the product.
• We recently commenced the commercial launch of our Orion Curve Premium package featuring an extension of our player-favorite game theme, Rakin' Bacon!. Initial installs are delivering game performance nicely above house average, helping to accelerate operator demand. 
• We continue to leverage our exceptional game performance to cultivate additional demand in existing and soon-to-open Historical Horse Racing ("HHR") markets.
• Our Captain Riches game theme, a member of our Ultimate Choice Jackpots ("UCJ") family of games and available on our Orion Curve cabinet, achieved a top 15 ranking within the "New Core Video Reel" category of the July 2021 Eilers-Fantini Game Performance Report. Follow-on titles within the UCJ family are also delivering game performance above house average, helping to further stimulate demand for our for-sale products.    

Table Products

Table Products Quarterly Results

• Adjusted EBITDA increased 79.4% versus Q2 2019 and 2.6% on a quarterly sequential basis to a record $1.4 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 51.2% compared to 33.3% in Q2 2019 and flat sequentially.
• Gaming operations, or recurring revenue, increased 20.3% compared to Q2 2019 to a record $2.8 million, paced by continued customer adoption of our industry-leading table game progressive products and the growing appeal of our all-inclusive site license offering, the AGS Arsenal. Recurring revenue increased approximately 2% over the levels achieved in Q1 2021.
• Our installed base increased by 1,078 units versus Q2 2019 and 96 units on a quarterly sequential basis, with growth witnessed across all segments of our diversified Table Products portfolio, including side bets, progressives, premium games, and card shufflers.
• Operator interest in our industry-leading and expanding table game progressive product suite continues to build, pushing our progressive installed base to a record 1,638 units at quarter end. Customer demand for our Royal 9 Baccarat and Super 4 STAX progressive products remains strong, while the installed base of our highly anticipated Bonus Spin Xtreme ("BSX") progressive eclipsed 20 units as of June 30, 2021. We expect the receipt of additional regulatory approvals and the expansion of BSX to additional game types, including roulette, to accelerate BSX customer adoption in the quarters ahead.  
• We installed 11 additional Dex S poker shufflers in Q2 2021 increasing our total shuffler footprint to 190 units. We are currently undertaking steps to prepare our PAX S specialty game shuffler for a full-scale commercial launch later in the year. 
• We were live with 10 site licenses at the end of Q2 2021 compared to six at the end of Q1 2021. Interest in our AGS Arsenal site license offering continues to grow as our customers look for ways to further enhance the efficiency of their table game operations.

Interactive

Interactive Quarterly Results

• Total Interactive revenue increased 30.5% year-over-year to a record $2.8 million, supported by a more than doubling of RMG revenue.
• Interactive Adjusted EBITDA reached a new record of $1.2 million, marking the segment's sixth consecutive quarter of positive Adjusted EBITDA performance.
• RMG revenue increased 110.4% year-over-year and more than 60% on a quarterly sequential basis, reaching a record $2.2 million. RMG revenue benefitted from the successful launch of our RMG platform with 10 new iGaming operators across the globe, including our initial launch into the Canadian online market with Lotto Quebec and OLG, along with the continued strong performance of AGS game content. 
• We expect to launch our RMG platform with additional operators and further broaden the catalogue of AGS game content available for play online throughout the second half of 2021.
• Social gaming revenue declined 47.0% year-over-year and came in 34.8% below Q2 2019 levels. We believe our Q2 2020 B2C Social gaming revenue benefitted from the consumers' preference to stay at home as COVID-19 began to spread, creating a difficult year-over-year comparison for the business. Additionally, a back-end technological matter with one of our third-party platform providers, that has since been fixed, further dampened our Q2 2021 revenue performance. Ongoing implementation of cost efficiency measures helped to mitigate the impact of the Social gaming revenue decline on our reported Interactive Adjusted EBITDA.

Liquidity and Capital Expenditures

As of June 30, 2021, we had $118.7 million of total available liquidity, comprised of an $88.7 million available cash balance and $30.0 million of revolver availability, compared to total available liquidity of $111.7 million at December 31, 2020. The total principal amount of debt outstanding, as of June 30, 2021, was $619.2 million, predominantly comprised of $618.0 million in first lien term loans, which mature in February 2024. 

In May 2020, we issued an additional $95.0 million in secured term loans to increase the Company's cash position and strengthen our financial flexibility in response to the uncertain gaming industry operating environment that emerged following the global spread of the COVID-19 virus. In conjunction with the $95.0 million offering, the Company negotiated a financial covenant relief period through December 31, 2020 related to its net first lien leverage ratio financial covenant and implemented a revised calculation of Adjusted EBITDA to measure the net first lien leverage ratio for the first three quarters of 2021. As of June 30, 2021, our net first lien leverage ratio, measured in accordance with the revised calculation of Adjusted EBITDA described above, was 4.1 times, putting us in compliance with our 6.0 times financial covenant.   

Subsequent to quarter end, we successfully extended the maturity on our $30 million revolving credit facility to November 2023 from the prior maturity of June 2022.

Total net debt, which is the principal amount of debt outstanding less cash and cash equivalents, as of June 30, 2021 was approximately $530.5 million compared to approximately $540.8 million at December 31, 2020. Our Total Net Debt Leverage Ratio decreased from 7.5 times at December 31, 2020 to 5.0 times at June 30, 2021 (see Total Net Debt Leverage Ratio Reconciliation below(4)).

Second quarter 2021 capital expenditures totaled $11.5 million, primarily comprised of $6.8 million in growth capital expenditures, which reflect costs associated with the placement of additional units into our leased installed base, and $3.4 million in intangible capital expenditures, inclusive of capitalized internal software development costs. Capital expenditures decreased 23.5% relative to the $15.1 million incurred in the 2019 second quarter, in line with our plans to conservatively manage the use of our cash and only invest in those projects presenting the highest potential return on our investment. 

Conference Call and Webcast

AGS leadership will host a conference call to review the Company's second quarter 2021 results on August 5, 2021, at 5 p.m. EDT. Participants may access a live webcast of the conference call, along with a slide presentation reviewing the quarterly results, at the Company's Investor Relations website http://investors.playags.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on the website following the live event. U.S. and Canadian participants may access the call live by telephone by calling +1 (844) 200-6205, while international participants should call +1 (646) 904-5544 . The conference ID/access code is 715923.

Company Overview

AGS is a global company focused on creating a diverse mix of entertaining gaming experiences for every kind of player. Our roots are firmly planted in the Class II tribal gaming market, but our customer-centric culture and remarkable growth have helped us branch out to become one of the most all-inclusive commercial gaming equipment suppliers in the world. Powered by high-performing Class II and Class III slot products, an expansive table products portfolio, highly rated social casino, real-money gaming solutions for players and operators, and best-in-class service, we offer an unmatched value proposition for our casino partners. Learn more at playags.com.

AGS Investor & Media Contacts:

Brad Boyer, Vice President of Investor Relations, Corporate Development and Strategy
[email protected]  

Julia Boguslawski, Chief Marketing Officer
[email protected]

©2021 PlayAGS, Inc. Products referenced herein are sold by AGS LLC or other subsidiaries of PlayAGS, Inc. Solely for convenience, marks, trademarks and trade names referred to in this press release appear without the ® and  TM and SM  symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that PlayAGS, Inc. will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights or the rights of the applicable licensor to these marks, trademarks and trade names.

Forward-Looking Statement

This release contains, and oral statements made from time to time by our representatives may contain, forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations and projections, which are intended to qualify for the safe harbor of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the proposed public offering and other statements identified by words such as "believe," "will," "may," "might," "likely," "expect," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "estimates," "believes," "continues," "projects" and similar references to future periods, or by the inclusion of forecasts or projections. All forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections of future events.

These forward-looking statements reflect the current views, models, and assumptions of AGS, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that cannot be predicted or qualified and could cause actual results in AGS's performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability of AGS to maintain strategic alliances, unit placements or installations, grow revenue, garner new market share, secure new licenses in new jurisdictions, successfully develop or place proprietary product, comply with regulations, have its games approved by relevant jurisdictions, the effects of COVID-19 on the Company's business and results of operations and other factors set forth under Item 1. "Business," Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in AGS's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements made herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements and there can be no assurance that the actual results, events or developments referenced herein will occur or be realized. Readers are cautioned that all forward-looking statements speak only to the facts and circumstances present as of the date of this press release. AGS expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To provide investors with additional information in connection with our results as determined by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"), we disclose the following non-GAAP financial measures: total Adjusted EBITDA, total Adjusted EBITDA margin, total net debt leverage ratio, and Free Cash Flow. These measures are not financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash flows, or any other measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Total Adjusted EBITDA

This press release and accompanying schedules provide certain information regarding Adjusted EBITDA, which is considered a non-GAAP financial measure under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

We believe that the presentation of total Adjusted EBITDA is appropriate to provide additional information to investors about certain material non-cash items that we do not expect to continue at the same level in the future, as well as other items we do not consider indicative of our ongoing operating performance. Further, we believe total Adjusted EBITDA provides a meaningful measure of operating profitability because we use it for evaluating our business performance, making budgeting decisions, and comparing our performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures. It also provides management and investors with additional information to estimate our value.

Total Adjusted EBITDA is not a presentation made in accordance with GAAP. Our use of the term total Adjusted EBITDA may vary from others in our industry. Total Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to operating income or net income. Total Adjusted EBITDA has important limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for the analysis of our results as reported under GAAP.

Our definition of total Adjusted EBITDA allows us to add back certain non-cash charges that are deducted in calculating net income and to deduct certain gains that are included in calculating net income. However, these expenses and gains vary greatly, and are difficult to predict. They can represent the effect of long-term strategies as opposed to short-term results. In addition, in the case of charges or expenses, these items can represent the reduction of cash that could be used for other corporate purposes. Due to these limitations, we rely primarily on our GAAP results, such as net loss, (loss) income from operations, EGM Adjusted EBITDA, Table Products Adjusted EBITDA or Interactive Adjusted EBITDA and use Total Adjusted EBITDA only supplementally.

The total Adjusted EBITDA discussion above is also applicable to its margin measure, which is calculated as total Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of Total Revenue.

The following table presents a reconciliation of total Adjusted EBITDA to net loss, which is the most comparable GAAP measure:

Total Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

Total Net Debt Leverage Ratio Reconciliation

The following table presents a reconciliation of total net debt and total net debt leverage ratio:

Free Cash Flow

This schedule provides certain information regarding Free Cash Flow, which is considered a non-GAAP financial measure under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

We define Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by operating activities less cash outlays related to capital expenditures. We define capital expenditures to include purchase of intangible assets, software development and other expenditures, and purchases of property and equipment. In arriving at Free Cash Flow, we subtract cash outlays related to capital expenditures from net cash provided by operating activities because they represent long-term investments that are required for normal business activities. As a result, subject to the limitations described below, Free Cash Flow is a useful measure of our cash available to repay debt and/or make other investments.

Free Cash Flow adjusts for cash items that are ultimately within management's discretion to direct, and therefore, may imply that there is less or more cash that is available than the most comparable GAAP measure. Free Cash Flow is not intended to represent residual cash flow for discretionary expenditures since debt repayment requirements and other non-discretionary expenditures are not deducted. These limitations are best addressed by using Free Cash Flow in combination with the GAAP cash flow numbers.

The following table presents a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow:

SOURCE AGS

Related Links

http://www.playags.com