IGT has highlighted new records for operating income and adjusted EBITDA excluding separation and divestiture costs in its financial results for the first half of 2024.
Despite second quarter revenue undergoing a slight dip, CEO Vince Sadusky stated that the company “delivered strong first half results”, adding that the recent sale of its Gaming & Digital business to Apollo Global is “an important step in unlocking the intrinsic value of IGT’s best-in-class businesses”.
In response to the sale to Apollo, IGT has also withdrawn its full-year 2024 financial outlook and will provide an updated outlook for full-year 2024 continuing operations “once the preparation of the discontinued operations reporting is complete”.
Meeting expectations
Publishing its Q2 financial results, IGT reported that its total revenue for the period of $1.05bn “meet expectations”, despite being slightly lower than the $1.06bn declared during the same period the previous year, as Gaming & Digital was offset by elevated prior year Global Lottery sales.
Split per vertical, Gaming & Digital Q2 revenue stood at $436m, up 1% year-over-year (Q2 2023: $432m), driven by “installed base growth with resilient yields and elevated intellectual property and software licence sales, offset by lower terminal unit shipments”.
Meanwhile, Global Lottery dropped by 2% YoY to $613m (2023: $624m) due to “a multi-year software licence sale in the prior year”.
For H1, revenue came in at $2.1bn (H1 2023: $2.1bn). By segment, Global Lottery had 60% of H1 revenue, while Gaming & Digital accounted for 40%.
By type, service had 81% of the revenue, while product sales accounted for 19%. By geography, 63% of revenue came from the US & Canada, 23% from Italy and 14% from the rest of the world.
Operating income for the quarter fell by 8% YoY to $230m (Q2 2023: $251m) with a margin of 21.9% (2023: 23.8%). When excluding separation and divestiture costs of $26m, operating income rose to $256m (2023: $254m) with a margin of 24.4% (2023: 24%).
Per vertical, Global Lottery’s operating income fell to $212m (2023: $229m) primarily due to “a multi-year software licence sale and resolution of a customer dispute in the prior-year period”.
“IGT delivered strong first-half results, including record operating income and Adjusted EBITDA net of separation and divestiture costs.”
IGT CEO Vince Sadusky
Gaming & Digital operating income improved to $103m (2023: $89m), following “high-margin intellectual property and software sales and easing of supply chain costs” being partially offset by lower terminal sales.
Corporate support and other expenses stood at $86m (2023: $68m), “driven by $26m in separation and divestiture costs”.
For H1, operating income stood at a record $486m (2023: $506m) with a 23% margin (2023: 23.9%). Excluding separation and divestiture costs, operating income stood at $530m (2023: $509m) with a margin of 25% (2023: 24.1%).
Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended at $420m, down 5% YoY (Q2 2023: $443m) with a margin of 40% (2023: 42%). Excluding separation and divestiture costs, adjusted EBITDA was $446m (2023: $446m) with a margin of 42.5% (2023: 42.2%).
For H1, adjusted EBITDA was $863m (H1 2023: $891m) with a margin of 40.8% (2023: 42.1%). Excluding separation and divesture costs, adjusted EBITDA was $906m (2023: $894m) with a margin of 42.8% (2023: 42.3%).
Cash from operations at the end of H1 stood at $463m, while free cash flow was $264m.
Sadusky commented: “IGT delivered strong first-half results, including record operating income and Adjusted EBITDA net of separation and divestiture costs.
“Consistent investments in technology, game content and other innovative solutions provide us a solid foundation to build from as we execute on our growth objectives. The recently announced sale of our Gaming & Digital business for $4.05bn in cash is an important step in unlocking the intrinsic value of IGT’s best-in-class businesses.”
Apollo sale and 2024 outlook
IGT noted that the sale of the Gaming & Digital business to Apollo “supersedes the spin and merger transaction with Everi Holdings“, with the $4.05bn being a “significant increase in cash received vs $2.59bn in IGT/Everi transaction”.
The firm noted there will also be a “quicker crystallisation of value upon closing; removes IGT shareholder exposure to execution risk”, while the clear separation of Global Lottery from Gaming & Digital for shareholders “eliminates tax impact to IGT shareholders from previously contemplated equity distribution”.
IGT added that there will be a “balanced allocation of proceeds”, repaying $2bn in debt, with a “significant portion” expected to be returned to shareholders and the remainder for “transaction-related expenses and general corporate purposes”.
Due to the planned Gaming & Digital business sale, IGT expects to report Gaming & Digital results as discontinued operations from Q3 2024.
As a result, the company has withdrawn its previously provided full-year financial outlook and “expects to provide an outlook for full year 2024 continuing operations once the preparation of the discontinued operations reporting is complete”.
Max Chiara, CFO at IGT, added: “We generated over $460m in cash from operations in the first half of the year and our balance sheet is as strong as ever.
“Our ample liquidity and manageable near-term debt maturities provide us significant flexibility in light of upcoming investments to extend and secure our long-term lottery contract portfolio for the coming years.”