Light & Wonder Earns ‘BB’ Credit Grade in Initial Fitch Rating
Light & Wonder (NASDAQ:SGMS), the troupe formerly known as Scientific Games, earned a “BB” credit entry stigma in its number 1 tier from Fitch Ratings, putting the expansion slot simple machine manufacturing business in non-investment mark territory.
The accompany reported debt of $8.8 billion as of September 30, 2021. That’s comfortably in nimiety of its securities industry capitalization of $5.68 billion, as of Apr 1.
The company’s ‘BB(EXP)’ rating reflects its improved credit entry profile pro forma for the planned debt paydown with proceeds from the sale of its drawing and sports betting segments,” says Fitch Ratings. “Gross leverage is expected to decline to the low-3x straddle with FCF perimeter sustaining inward the high-teens percent, both unanimous for a gaming supplier and peregrine developer.”
Prior to rebranding as Light & Wonder, Scientific Games proclaimed multiple transactions aimed at reducing its debt burden.
The accompany is generating proceeds of to a greater extent than $7.2 1000000000000 by marketing its OpenBet sports betting business and its SG Lottery unit. Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EDR), the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), said late finally Sept it’s acquiring OpenBet for $1.2 1000000000000 inward hard currency and stock. Last October, Brookfield Business Partners L-P (NYSE:BBU) proclaimed it’s purchasing SG Lottery for upward to $6.05 billion.
Light & Wonder Metamorphosis
While disposing of the aforementioned drawing byplay removes a profitable, cash-generating endeavor from the Light & Wonder equation, analysts mostly favour the make a motion as will spell a long right smart toward reducing leveraging and firming the company’s equilibrate sheet.
It’s also division of a broader contrive past the Las Vegas-based society to hone its centering on gaming machines and tabular array games inward land-based casinos as wellspring as iGaming, societal gaming and perfunctory roving gaming. Last July, Scientific Games offered an 11 percent premium to gain the 19 percent of SciPlay it doesn’t own to boost its digital exposure, but the suitor dropped that call lastly December.
“The company’s digital adjacencies counterbalance the traditional expansion slot industry’s mellow competitiveness, tepid replacing cycle, and undependable new casino opening night schedule,” adds Fitch. “The company’s leading slot systems business organisation (~10 percent of pro forma revenues) provides a comparatively dependable cash current and its tabulate game stage business (~9 percent) is unfirm more toward a rent modelling with operators.”
The search strong notes Light & Wonder’s social gaming business swarm to a greater extent than $50 gazillion inward earnings before interest, taxes, wear and tear and amortisation (EBITDA) cobbler's last year, upwards from just now $10 zillion inwards 2015.
Cash Flow Potential
Fitch highlights Light & Wonder’s potency to generate robust levels of liberate hard cash flow (FCF) — an enviable trait at a clip when investors are prioritizing companies with such capabilities.
“Strong FCF Generation: Fitch expects the company’s FCF generation and border will attain $500 gazillion and 15 percent, respectively, by 2023 thanks to fully recovered EBITDA, reduced interestingness expense, and rock-bottom great strength following lottery’s divestiture, concludes the search firm. “FCF is strong congener to the broader gaming industry and inwards product line with other ‘BB’ and ‘BBB’ category suppliers.”
If Light & Wonder tin sustain leverage to a lower place 3x, show stableness in digital gaming marketplace percentage and contain or expand upon current expansion slot share, it could be positioned for a credit entry upgrade.