Broad-based Strength in Games and FinTech Segment Operating Performance Provides Full Year 2021 Guidance, including Net Income of $87 Million to $95 Million and Adjusted EBITDA of $332 Million to $342 Million
LAS VEGAS – Aug. 4, 2021 – Everi Holdings Inc. (NYSE: EVRI) (“Everi” or the “Company”), a premier provider of land-based and digital casino gaming content and products, financial technology, and loyalty solutions, today reported record financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021. The 2021 second quarter revenue, net income, Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow are all slightly above the respective ranges the Company provided on June 21, 2021. The results are a quarterly sequential improvement from the 2021 first quarter, reflecting continued strength in casino patron demand, while still reflecting an ongoing, but reduced, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Second Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights Compared to the Second Quarter 2019
Because second quarter 2020 financial results were severely impacted by casino closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company believes it is more meaningful to compare 2021 second quarter results to those of the 2019 second quarter. Financial results for the 2021, 2020 and 2019 second quarter periods are presented in the Consolidated, Games and Financial Technology Solutions highlight tables below.
- Revenues rose 33% to a quarterly record $172.6 million, compared to $129.7 million in the 2019 second quarter.
- Net income improved 560% to a quarterly record $36.2 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, compared to $5.5 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, in the 2019 second quarter.
- Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, increased 44% to a quarterly record $92.5 million, compared to $64.1 million in the 2019 second quarter.
- Free Cash Flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, increased 462% to $39.2 million, compared to $7.0 million in the 2019 second quarter.
- Revenue, net income, Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow are all slightly above the respective ranges the Company provided on June 21, 2021.
- Subsequent to quarter-end, completed a successful refinancing that reduced total debt to $1.0 billion, decreased cash interest costs and extended maturities.
Michael Rumbolz, Chief Executive Officer of Everi, said, “The record 2021 second quarter results reflect the substantial benefit of our execution of our ongoing growth initiatives, as well as improvement in industry trends. The strong momentum to-date this year in revenues, earnings and cash flow is being driven by consistent improvements in our Games and FinTech segment operating performance, demonstrating yet again the substantial demand that exists for our high-value products.
“A key highlight of our significant growth compared to pre-pandemic periods is the strength of our recurring revenue streams, which comprise an increased percentage of our overall business mix. This revenue is a significant contributor to our growing Free Cash Flow, which in turn has allowed us to dramatically lower our net leverage,” added Rumbolz. “Accordingly, we are favorably positioned to prudently invest in both internal product innovation and complementary, high-return, accretive acquisitions that will support our future growth.”
Mark Labay, Chief Financial Officer of Everi, said, “Our improved performance positioned us to obtain a strong response from the capital markets for our recent debt refinancing, including credit rating agency upgrades of all our newly issued debt instruments. This resulted in lower borrowing rates and extended debt maturities. Upon completion of this successful refinancing, at current interest rates our annualized cash interest costs will now be approximately $23 million less than at June 30, 2021. We expect our lower annual interest will contribute to the sustainability and further growth of our Free Cash Flow.”
Second Quarter 2021 Results Overview
Results for the three-month period ended June 30, 2021 reflect the continued, albeit lesser, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results for the 2020 second quarter reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and results for the 2019 second quarter were unimpacted by the pandemic.
Randy Taylor, Everi’s Chief Operating Officer, said, “Our record quarterly revenue was up 33% over the pre-COVID 2019 second quarter, primarily driven by the strength in our recurring revenue operations in both our Games and FinTech segments. Our Games segment momentum reflects the continued growth in our installed base of gaming operations units, particularly increased placements of our higher-earning premium units that drove the increase in daily win per unit. In addition, slot machine sales increased by 49% sequentially from the 2021 first quarter, reflecting what we believe is another quarter of higher ship share of replacement units. Second quarter unit sales also benefited from a larger share of shipments to new casino openings and expansions than we have historically achieved together with a greater number of new casino openings and expansions than typically experienced in a quarter.
“Our FinTech segment continues to benefit from our comprehensive, integrated financial access services and RegTech software solutions, as well as our newer loyalty products such as our updated and upgraded self-service loyalty kiosks. Our strong FinTech industry position enables Everi to benefit from the widespread increase in casino player activity, which drove mid-teens percentage growth in the number of financial access transactions we processed as compared to 2019 second quarter volumes; a rate that was significantly above our historical rate of growth.
“The operating performance of our two segments, together with a continued focus on operating expenses, led to net income of $36.2 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, record quarterly Adjusted EBITDA of $92.5 million, up more than 40% over the comparable 2019 period, and Free Cash Flow generation of $39.2 million.
“Additionally, we continue to see a high level of interest by casino operators in our cashless digital wallet solution and our iGaming slot content. These are two important growth initiatives in which we’ve invested over a number of years given our expectation that they can both be additive to our core business momentum in the near- and long-term.”
2021 Second Quarter Games Segment Highlights
Games segment revenues increased to a quarterly record $99.3 million compared to $20.9 million in the 2020 second quarter and was up 43% over the $69.4 million in the 2019 second quarter. This reflects strong gaming operations performance as well as higher shipments of gaming machines.
Operating income increased to $30.6 million, compared to an operating loss of $41.8 million a year ago and operating income of $2.6 million in the second quarter of 2019. The increase in the 2021 second quarter operating income over the prior-year periods reflects the benefit of higher revenues, a greater proportion of higher-margin gaming operations revenue in the overall mix, the Company’s cost containment efforts, and lower amortization. Adjusted EBITDA increased to a quarterly record $60.4 million, from $3.0 million and $34.7 million in the second quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Gaming operations revenue grew to a quarterly record $73.2 million, compared to $13.9 million and $45.6 million in the second quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively.
- Reflecting the player popularity of the latest games and the growth in higher-earning premium unit placements, Daily Win per Unit (“DWPU”) rose to a quarterly record $45.66 in the second quarter of 2021, compared to $9.84 and $32.26 in the second quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively.
- The installed base as of June 30, 2021 increased by 9%, or 1,313 units, year over year and by 302 units on a quarterly sequential basis to a record 16,251 units.
- The premium portion of the installed base increased by 20%, or 1,165 units, year over year and by 264 units on a quarterly sequential basis to 6,961 units. Growth was driven primarily by incremental placements of the strong-performing The Vault™ game theme and premium mechanical reel games, as well as the continued solid performance of other themes including Smokin’ Hot Stuff Wicked Wheel® and Shark Week®. Premium units represented 43% of the total installed base at quarter-end compared to 39% a year ago and 25% as of June 30, 2019. Wide-area progressive (“WAP”) units, a subcategory of premium units, grew by 114 units year over year to 1,082 units as of June 30, 2021, partly reflecting the launch of the new Monsterverse™ game on the Empire DCX® cabinet and the installation of the first WAP into commercial casinos in Nevada and New Jersey.
- Digital revenue more than doubled to $3.6 million in the second quarter of 2021 compared to $1.5 million a year ago and increased 50% on a quarterly sequential basis, partially reflecting a full quarter of revenue from Michigan. Digital revenue growth also reflects increased B2B revenue from the expanded base of iGaming operator sites featuring the Company’s games – including in West Virginia, British Columbia and Manitoba that went live during the quarter – along with a growing library of available slot content.
- Revenues from the New York Lottery system business were $6.3 million in the second quarter of 2021, compared to $4.9 million in the second quarter 2019. There was no revenue in the second quarter of 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Gaming equipment and systems revenues generated from the sale of gaming units and other related parts and equipment totaled $26.1 million in the second quarter of 2021, compared to $7.0 million and $23.4 million in the second quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively.
- The Company sold 1,402 units, including several hundred units for new casino openings and expansions, at an average selling price (“ASP”) of $17,894 in the second quarter of 2021. This is an increase compared with 381 units at an ASP of $18,044 in the second quarter of 2020 and 1,270 units at an ASP of $17,338 in the second quarter of 2019.
2021 Second Quarter Financial Technology Solutions Segment Highlights
FinTech revenues for the 2021 second quarter increased to a record $73.2 million, compared to $17.8 million in the 2020 second quarter and were up 21% over the $60.3 million in the 2019 second quarter. The growth over both years reflects an increase in revenues from financial access services, lower-margin hardware sales and software and other.
Operating income in the 2021 second quarter rose to $23.8 million, compared to an operating loss of $10.9 million a year ago and operating income of $22.3 million in the 2019 second quarter. The increase primarily reflects the benefit of higher revenues partially offset by an increase in research and development expense as a result of an acceleration of new product development efforts, including development of new and enhanced loyalty products and the Company’s CashClub Wallet® digital technology offering. Adjusted EBITDA was $32.1 million, compared to $0.3 million and $29.4 million in the second quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively.
- Financial access services revenues, which include both cashless and cash dispensing debit and credit card transactions and check services, increased 16% on a quarterly sequential basis to $44.8 million, reflecting continued improvements in casino activity, and grew 13% from the second quarter of 2019.
- Throughout the 2021 second quarter, growth in transactional activity on a same-store basis was up at a consistent mid-teens rate compared to the second quarter of 2019.
- Software and other revenues, which include loyalty and regulatory compliance (RegTech) software, product subscriptions, kiosk maintenance services, and other revenue, were $15.6 million, of which approximately 80% were of a recurring nature. This compares to total revenue of $4.4 million in the second quarter of 2020, of which 79% were of a recurring nature, and $12.8 million in the second quarter of 2019, of which 66% were of a recurring nature.
- Hardware sales revenues were $12.8 million, inclusive of significant shipments of self-service kiosks and other loyalty and financial access equipment for new casino openings and major expansions, in the second quarter of 2021, compared to $3.4 million and $7.8 million in the second quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity
- Subsequent to the 2021 second quarter-end, the Company entered into a series of refinancing transactions that reduced interest cost, extended debt maturities and resulted in $1.0 billion of total indebtedness. The new total debt comprises $600.0 million of senior secured term loan priced at LIBOR plus 2.50% with a LIBOR Floor of 50 basis points due 2028, $400.0 million of 5.000% senior unsecured notes due 2029, and a $125.0 million revolving credit facility due 2026 which is undrawn. At current market interest rates, the refinancing resulted in annual cash interest savings of approximately $23 million compared to June 30, 2021.
- As of June 30, 2021, the Company had $340.4 million of cash and cash equivalents. Pro forma for the debt repayment, early redemption fees and transaction costs of the refinancing transactions completed in the third quarter, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $155.1 million.
- In the 2021 second quarter, the Company paid $9.9 million in total earned contingent consideration for its 2019 acquisition of certain assets of Atrient and paid the remaining $5.0 million purchase price installment related to the 2019 acquisition of certain assets of Micro Gaming Technology.
Outlook
With industry conditions stabilizing, and assuming that conditions continue to trend without additional setbacks due to pandemic or other macro-economic effects, Everi is providing annual guidance of selected expected financial results, a practice consistent with its custom prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. For the full year 2021, the Company expects revenue of $615 million to $635 million, net income of $87 million to $95 million, Adjusted EBITDA of $332 million to $342 million, and Free Cash Flow of $168 million to $177 million. Factors considered in Everi’s 2021 outlook include:
- Capital expenditures (inclusive of placement fees) will be $105 million to $113 million;
- The Company expects to incur a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $32 million to $35 million in the 2021 third quarter, in conjunction with the early redemption of its 7.50% senior unsecured notes due 2025, the repayment of the incremental term loan and the refinancing of its senior secured credit facility due 2024, including the revolving credit facility due 2022. Approximately $11 million to $14 million is expected to be non-cash related to the write-off of existing debt issuance costs and unamortized discount on the existing borrowings; and
- Shipments for new casino openings and expansions in the 2021 second half are expected to be lower, reflecting fewer new opening and expansions compared to the first half of 2021.
- Assumes no significant change or reversal of the Company’s deferred tax asset valuation allowances during the year.
- The Company’s 2021 full year outlook does not contemplate any additional meaningful potential impact from any macroeconomic or pandemic-related setback; but does reflect the likelihood of receding government stimulus benefits and an increase in pressure on consumer discretionary spending.