AGS REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2022 RESULTS

Second Quarter 2022 Highlights:

• Domestic EGM Recurring Revenue Increased 1% Y/Y to a Record $46.2 Million
• Premium EGM Installed Base Nearly Doubled Y/Y and Grew by 15% Sequentially
• Domestic EGM RPD Increased 6% Sequentially; Topped $30 for the Fifth Consecutive Quarter
• Generated $1.5 Million of Net Income; First Net Profit Since Q4 2019
• Adjusted EBITDA Increased 6% Y/Y to $34.1 Million
• Table Products Adjusted EBITDA Reached a Record $2 Million
• On Pace to Achieve Year-End 2022 Net Leverage Target of less than 4.0x

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PlayAGS, Inc. (NYSE: AGS) ("AGS", "us", "we" or the "Company"), a designer and developer of equipment and services solutions for the global gaming industry, today reported operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.

In addressing the Company's second quarter financial performance, AGS President and Chief Executive Officer David Lopez said, "Our second quarter results reflect the growing returns we are realizing as a result of the significant investments made into our R&D, sales and product management teams over the past 24 months. These investments have accelerated the operating momentum we are seeing within the business, as reflected by the material year-over-year growth in our reported Q2 2022 net revenues, net income and Adjusted EBITDA."

Mr. Lopez continued, "Despite swirling uncertainty over the health of the consumer and the direction of the global economy, we have been encouraged by the incredible consistency demonstrated within our business through July. Ultimately, our recurring-revenue focused business model and strong liquidity position fortify the underlying resiliency within our business." 

Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

• Total revenue reached $76.6 million, representing a year-over-year increase of approximately 15%. Revenue growth within the EGM segment outpaced the broader company average, supported by continued successful execution of our premium game growth initiative, realization of early-stage returns on recent R&D investments, continued recovery in North American replacement unit demand, and further improvement in the Mexico macroeconomic environment. Table Product revenues advanced approximately 24% year-over-year to a record $3.5 million, reflecting outsized growth within our progressive installed base, initial installs of our PAX S single-deck card shuffler, a doubling of our AGS Arsenal site license customer account penetration, and the Q1 2022 Lucky Lucky side bet acquisition. Interactive revenues declined modestly year-over-year as we continue to strategically refocus our resources to better capitalize upon growth opportunities in the North American real-money gaming ("RMG") market. Total revenue improved approximately 5% over the $72.9 million delivered in Q1 2022, with revenues increasing sequentially in all three business segments. Q2 2022 marked the sixth consecutive quarter in which we were able to achieve quarterly sequential revenue growth.
• Gaming operations, or recurring revenue, increased to $56.6 million versus $55.0 million and $53.2 million in Q2 2021 and Q1 2022, respectively. Despite facing a challenging prior-year comparison that benefitted from considerable fiscal stimulus and the broad-based easing of COVID-related casino operating restrictions throughout the United States, domestic EGM gaming operations revenue increased approximately 1% year-over-year to a record $46.2 million. Table Products recurring revenue of $3.5 million also reached a new record, supported by organic growth throughout the installed base and Q1 2022 acquisition activity. In aggregate, recurring revenue accounted for approximately 74% of our consolidated Q2 2022 revenue.
• We generated $1.5 million of net income in Q2 2022 compared to a net loss of $3.9 million in the prior year period. The year-over-year increase in our reported net income reflects our improved operating performance and interest expense savings resulting from our Q1 2022 comprehensive debt refinancing. Q2 2022 marked the first quarter in which we were able to generate positive net income since Q4 2019.
• Total Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)(1) increased approximately 6% year-over-year to $34.1 million compared to $32.1 million in Q2 2021. Year-over-year Adjusted EBITDA growth within the Table Products and EGM segments of approximately 40% and 7%, respectively, was partially offset by a decline within the Interactive segment, as we elected to incur modest incremental expense in order to accelerate the flow of new AGS game content into the North American RMG channel. Adjusted EBITDA increased approximately 4% on a quarterly sequential basis versus the $32.8 million delivered in Q1 2022.
• Total Adjusted EBITDA margin (non-GAAP)(1) was 44.6%, relatively consistent with the 45.0% achieved in Q1 2022 and slightly below the 48.0% reached in Q2 2021. The year-over-year compression in our Adjusted EBITDA margin was predominantly driven by a greater mix of EGM unit sales revenues, which carry a lower gross margin as compared to EGM gaming operations revenues, and higher costs related to global supply chain and logistics disruption. 

EGM Quarterly Results

Domestic Gaming Operations(3)

• Domestic EGM gaming operations, or recurring revenue, increased approximately 1% year-over-year to a record $46.2 million. Growth within our domestic EGM installed base, supported by a near doubling of our premium EGM units, further execution upon continuous installed base optimization initiatives and a stable gaming macroeconomic backdrop drove our improved quarterly revenue performance versus the prior year. Importantly, we were able to achieve year-over-year revenue growth despite lapping a challenging Q2 2021 comparison, as the prior year period benefitted from meaningful fiscal stimulus and the relaxation of COVID-related casino operating restrictions throughout the United States. Domestic EGM recurring revenue accounted for approximately 71% of our total Q2 2022 domestic EGM revenue.
• Our domestic EGM installed base included 16,027 units at the end of Q2 2022, representing an increase of 581 units year-over-year and 112 units versus the prior sequential quarter. Installed base growth in both the year-over-year and quarterly sequential periods was paced by our ongoing successful penetration of the premium EGM segment, as we continue to benefit from our strong game performance, diverse array of cabinet configurations, enhanced complement of game mechanics, and deep portfolio of premium game content.
• Our premium EGM installed base nearly doubled year-over-year, accounting for 12% of our domestic EGM installed base at the end of Q2 2022 compared to 6% at Q2 2021 quarter end. Our premium EGM installed base increased by approximately 15% on a quarterly sequential basis, marking our tenth consecutive quarter of premium unit growth.
• Domestic EGM revenue per day ("RPD") of $32.55 increased approximately 6% sequentially, exceeding $30 for the fifth consecutive quarter. Outsized premium unit growth, continued improvement in our core content execution, further fleet optimization, and a stable gaming macroeconomic environment paced the sequential strength in our domestic EGM RPD performance. Domestic EGM RPD decreased approximately 2% year-over-year, as the prior year period benefitted from significant U.S. fiscal stimulus and the release of pent up consumer demand as COVID-related operating restrictions were eased throughout the domestic gaming market.

Domestic Equipment Sales

• We sold a total of 858 domestic EGM units in Q2 2022, an increase of 40% compared to the 613 units sold in Q2 2021. The increased depth and breadth of our core game content catalog, the strategic broadening of our customer account penetration, continued success in capturing an outsized share of Historical Horse Racing ("HHR") sales opportunities, and a steady recovery in core North American replacement unit demand combined to drive our improved domestic EGM unit sales performance versus the prior year.
• Domestic average sales price ("ASP") was $19,938 versus $16,902 in Q2 2021, topping $19,000 for the third consecutive quarter. Our improved domestic ASP reflects a greater mix of premium-priced Orion Curve cabinets, which accounted for over 70% of Q2 2022 total domestic units sold compared to 24% in Q2 2021, and continued successful implementation of our price integrity initiative. Domestic ASP increased approximately 4% on a quarterly sequential basis.
• We sold units into 26 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces throughout Q2 2022, as we continue to successfully implement strategic initiatives intended to broaden our customer account penetration.

International EGM's

• International EGM gaming operations, or recurring revenue, totaled $4.3 million compared to $3.5 million in Q2 2021 and improved approximately 6% over Q1 2022 levels, marking the eighth consecutive quarterly sequential increase.
• International EGM RPD increased approximately 44% year-over-year to $6.69 compared to $4.66 in Q2 2021 and improved approximately 8% on a quarterly sequential basis relative to the $6.17 achieved in Q1 2022. An increase in the number of active playable games in casinos and Mexico's continued post-COVID-19 macroeconomic recovery paced our improved International EGM RPD performance in both the year-over-year and quarterly sequential periods.
• Our international EGM installed base totaled 6,769 units at June 30, 2022, representing a quarterly sequential decrease of 428 units. The imposition of a new gaming tax in one Mexican state paced the quarterly sequential installed base decline. As previously disclosed, we made a strategic decision to exit the Philippines market at the end of calendar year 2021, which, combined with the Q2 2022 Mexico removals, drove the majority of the year-over-year decrease within our international EGM installed base. We estimate approximately 93% of our international EGM installed base was active and playable as of June 30, 2022 compared to approximately 80% as of March 31, 2022.
• We sold a total of 76 EGM units internationally in Q2 2022, bringing our year-to-date international EGM sales to 94 units. We have identified additional opportunities to further leverage our GLI-approved EGM products in a variety of international markets.

Product & Market Highlights

• Our Orion Curve Premium installed base increased by over 65% on a quarterly sequential basis, with growth achieved in both Class II and Class III jurisdictions. Curve Premium continues to deliver RPD's nicely above our blended corporate average in both end markets. Looking ahead, we continue to assemble a diverse pipeline of new premium game content, complete with enhanced game play mechanics, and strategically broaden our portfolio of cutting-edge hardware to support our long-term growth initiatives within the higher-yielding premium game segment.
• We remain committed to investing in our R&D organization to strengthen our organizational foundation and support our longer-term growth initiatives in both Class II and Class III markets. These investments should allow us to produce a higher volume of game content with more diverse feature sets, further exploit key competitive Class II product and scale advantages, and strategically expand the reach of our game cabinet and content offerings into new market segments.
• In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of two Texas tribes, the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta Indian Tribe of Texas, paving the way for the tribes to continue exercising their sovereign rights to offer non-prohibited gaming on tribal lands within the state. The favorable ruling potentially creates an opportunity for AGS to further leverage its key Class II competitive advantages, including its extensive game content portfolio, unique development capabilities and deeply rooted customer relationships, to strategically broaden the scope of its Class II business within the state.

Table Products Quarterly Results

• Gaming operations, or recurring revenue, grew to a record $3.5 million, surpassing the prior record of $3.4 million, established in Q1 2022, by approximately 3%. Recurring revenue has increased sequentially for eight consecutive quarters, supported by growing customer demand for our industry-leading progressive products, greater customer adoption of our all-inclusive site license offering, the AGS Arsenal, and initial market penetration of our PAX S specialty game card shuffler.
• Our installed base expanded by over 380 units on a quarterly sequential basis to a record 5,765 units, led by a more than 12% increase in our progressive installed base. Our installed base increased by over 1,300 units year-over-year, supported by growth in all Table Product categories, including progressives, side bets, premium games, and shufflers, and the addition of units acquired in conjunction with the Q1 2022 Lucky Lucky side bet acquisition.
• Our average monthly lease price ("ALP") decreased approximately 3% year-over-year to $200. The modest decline in our ALP was predominantly driven by a higher mix of lower-yielding side bet units resulting from the Lucky Lucky acquisition.
• Our progressive installed base grew to over 1,975 units at June 30, 2022 compared to 1,614 units and 1,757 units at the end of Q2 2021 and Q1 2022, respectively. The installed base of our highly anticipated and differentiated Bonus Spin Xtreme ("BSX") progressive more than doubled on a sequential basis to over 235 units. Demand for BSX remains robust, supported by casino operators' growing interest in leveraging the product to activate progressives on latent roulette tables.
• As of June 30, 2022, we had 45 PAX S specialty game card shufflers installed across ten different jurisdictions. We continue to receive encouraging customer feedback on our initial PAX S installs and have started to see initial product adopters request additional units, a true testament to the product's consistency, efficiency and durability. Supported by the receipt of additional jurisdictional regulatory approvals and the product's successful launch-to-date, we expect PAX S demand to accelerate in the back half of 2022.
• We were live with 20 AGS Arsenal site licenses at the end of Q2 2022, a two-fold increase versus the prior year. The Arsenal's compelling value proposition and our organizational commitment to investing in Table Product innovation continues to stimulate interest in our site license offering amongst our casino operator partners.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased approximately 40% year-over-year to a record $2.0 million, supported by year-over-year revenue growth of approximately 24%, which was accompanied by strong flow through. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 57.5% compared to 51.2% in Q2 2021, with the increase largely attributable to the operating leverage we are achieving within the business.

Interactive Quarterly Results

• Interactive segment revenue totaled $2.6 million, representing quarterly sequential growth of over 5% compared to the $2.5 million achieved in Q1 2022. The positive sequential revenue trend reflects the growing momentum within our North American RMG business and stable social gaming revenue performance. Ongoing efforts to strategically refocus our Interactive resources to better capitalize upon growth opportunities within the regulated North American RMG market, including further rationalization and optimization of our international RMG exposure, has led to anticipated compression in our rest of world RMG revenue performance, pushing segment-level revenues slightly lower versus the prior year.
• Real-money gaming revenue increased approximately 7% as compared to the $2.0 million delivered in Q1 2022, supported by sequential North American RMG revenue growth of over 15%. North American-sourced RMG revenues accounted for approximately 85% of our Q2 2022 total RMG revenue mix compared to 66% in Q2 2021 and 78% in Q1 2022. Our growing North American revenue mix reflects early returns from our efforts to strategically refocus our RMG business on North American growth opportunities, the strong performance of player-favorite AGS game themes in the North American RMG channel, distribution of our content into new North American jurisdictions, and broadening of our B2C operator partner relationships.
• Social gaming revenue of $515 thousand was relatively consistent with the prior sequential quarter, as we continue to prioritize stability and profitability within this segment of our business. The year-over-year revenue decline reflects the impact of our strategic decision to moderate player marketing spend, consistent with our profitability focus within the segment.
• Interactive Adjusted EBITDA was $545 thousand, marking the segment's tenth consecutive quarter of positive Adjusted EBITDA performance. Adjusted EBITDA was impacted by a modest increase in our segment-level costs, as we incurred incremental expense to accelerate the flow of new AGS content into North American RMG channel. Although we have increased investments into our RMG operation, we remain fully committed to scaling the business in an Adjusted EBITDA positive manner.
• We achieved our sixth consecutive top-five supplier slot indexing ranking in the July 2022 Eilers and Krejcik Online Game Performance Report, with two AGS game themes achieving a top-20 ranking within the slots category. Our online game content catalog, consisting of over 30 AGS titles, is live in the majority of the most prominent regulated North American online jurisdictions, including PA, MI, NJ, Ontario, and Quebec, and we continue to prepare for scheduled upcoming launches into additional jurisdictions, including CT, WV, British Columbia, and Alberta.

Liquidity and Capital Expenditures

As of June 30, 2022, the Company had an available cash balance of $38.9 million and $40.0 million of availability under its undrawn revolving credit facility, resulting in total available liquidity of $78.9 million. 

The total principal amount of debt outstanding, as of June 30, 2022, was $574.3 million compared to $615.7 million at December 31, 2021. Total net debt, which is the principal amount of debt outstanding less cash and cash equivalents, was approximately $535.4 million as of June 30, 2022, conveying a Total Net Debt Leverage Ratio of 4.1 times. (4)  

Second quarter 2022 capital expenditures totaled $18.7 million, bringing year-to-date capital expenditures through June 30, 2022 to $30.3 million. Gaming equipment-related investments into our EGM and Table Product installed bases accounted for over 60% of capital expenditures incurred year-to-date. Driven by the accelerating demand we are seeing for our high-performing premium EGM products and the emergence of incremental placement opportunities into the Texas Class II market following the favorable Supreme Court ruling in June, we now expect to incur full-year capital expenditures of $62 to $67 million.

2022 Net Leverage Target

Supported by our solid financial performance through the first six months of 2022, the product momentum building within multiple segments of our business, and the consistency we continue to observe within our day-to-day operations, we remain on pace to deliver upon our previously issued year-end 2022 net leverage target of less than 4.0x.

Conference Call and Webcast

AGS leadership will host a conference call to review the Company's second quarter 2022 results on August 8, 2022, 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 (929) 526-1599. The conference call access code is 403415.

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, Senior Vice President Corporate Operations and Investor Relations
[email protected] 

Julia Boguslawski, Chief Marketing Officer
[email protected]

©2022 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 (loss), income from operations, 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 income (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 revenues.

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

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.

SOURCE AGS

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