Light & Wonder Statement on Dragon Train Litigation
September 23 2024 - 10:11PM
Business Wire
Reaffirms 2025 $1.4 Billion Targeted
Consolidated AEBITDA(1)
Light & Wonder, Inc. (NASDAQ and ASX: LNW) (together with
its subsidiaries “Light & Wonder,” “L&W” or the “Company”)
today received an order from the U.S. District Court for the
District of Nevada granting Aristocrat a preliminary injunction
relating to L&W’s Dragon Train game. We respectfully disagree
with the judge’s decision and will promptly file an appeal. We will
continue to vigorously defend against Aristocrat’s claims,
including presenting our defenses to a jury at a trial.
Light & Wonder reaffirms its 2025 $1.4 billion Targeted
Consolidated AEBITDA(1). We expect continued strong growth across
all our businesses. The Company is moving forward on a number of
key initiatives to mitigate the immediate impact and any continuing
business disruption from today’s order. Our pre-ruling estimate of
2025 Consolidated AEBITDA(1) for Dragon Train was less than 5%(2)
of the $1.4 billion.
We have a diversified portfolio of successful game franchises
that are driving our strong performance and growth, of which Dragon
Train is only one. Increased investment in our R&D engine has
and continues to deliver innovative, engaging content that gives us
a continuing competitive advantage not tied to any one game or
franchise.
Light & Wonder has the #1 share(3) and #1 performance
position overall for top new sold games and has the top performing
game in all 5 for sale categories in North America(4).
Additionally, Light & Wonder has 8 of the top 25 premium leased
and wide-area progressive parent theme games(4). Our chart-topping
game performance continues to be underpinned by our franchises such
as ULTIMATE FIRE LINK™, INVADERS, our hit Asian-themed games 88
FORTUNES® and DANCING DRUMS®, stepper favorites QUICK HIT™ and
TRIPLE BLAZING 7s™, and Huff N’ Puff®, where we recently launched a
new game extension Huff N’ Puff Money Mansion® as a leased game.
Our market-leading game franchises will continue to drive our
Company’s strong growth over the long term. We are also already
working on new iterations of the Dragon Train franchise consistent
with the terms of the Court’s ruling.
“We have the best game design talent in the industry, and they
are creating great games across all our channels,” said Matt
Wilson, President and CEO of Light & Wonder. “We are excited
about the new games we will be featuring at the Global Gaming Expo
in October. We expect our strong growth trajectory to continue,
notwithstanding this decision. We have built an amazing business
and a solid financial foundation over the last several years with
great teams driving our success and are highly confident in our
future of continuing innovation and ability to achieve our stated
2025 $1.4 billion Targeted Consolidated AEBITDA(1).”
Our robust capital management strategy remains unchanged. We
continue to allocate capital where we can achieve the best
shareholder returns, including share repurchases pursuant to our
recently approved $1 billion program along with value accretive
organic and inorganic investments.
(1) - Denotes a non-GAAP financial
measure, which is defined in our earnings release furnished to the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC") on August 7, 2024.
We are not providing a forward-looking quantitative reconciliation
of targeted Consolidated AEBITDA to the most directly comparable
GAAP measure because we are unable to do so without unreasonable
efforts or to reasonably estimate the projected outcome of certain
significant items. These items are uncertain, depend on various
factors out of our control and could have a material impact on the
corresponding measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.
(2) - This estimate was based on revenue
key performance indicators (“KPIs”) and historical contribution
margins.
(3) - Eilers & Krejcik – Gaming
Supplier KPIs (June 2024).
(4) - Eilers & Krejcik – Game
Performance Report (August 2024).
All ® and ™ notices signify marks registered by Light &
Wonder, Inc., or one of its subsidiaries.
About Light & Wonder, Inc.
Light & Wonder, Inc. is the leading cross-platform global
games company. Through our three unique, yet highly complementary
businesses, we deliver unforgettable experiences by combining the
exceptional talents of our 6,000+ member team, with a deep
understanding of our customers and players. We create immersive
content that forges lasting connections with players, wherever they
choose to engage. At Light & Wonder, it’s all about the games.
The Company is committed to the highest standards of integrity,
from promoting player responsibility to implementing sustainable
practices. To learn more visit www.lnw.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
In this press release, Light & Wonder makes "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements describe
future expectations, plans, results or strategies and can often by
identified by the use of terminology such as "will," "may,"
“estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “continue,” “believe,” “expect,”
“anticipate,” “target,” "should," “could,” “potential,”
“opportunity,” “goal,” or similar terminology. These statements are
based upon current Company management expectations, assumptions and
estimates and are not guarantees of timing, future results, or
performance. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these
forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Actual
results may differ materially from those contemplated in these
statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other
factors, including those factors described in our filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the Australian
Securities Exchange (“ASX”). Additional information regarding risks
and uncertainties and factors that could cause results to differ
materially from those contemplated in forward-looking statements is
included from time to time in our filings with the SEC and ASX,
including the Company’s current reports on Form 8-K, quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q and its latest annual report on Form 10-K
filed with the SEC and ASX for the year ended December 31, 2023 on
February 27, 2024 (including under the headings "Forward-Looking
Statements" and "Risk Factors"). Forward-looking statements speak
only as of the date they are made and, except for our ongoing
obligations under the U.S. federal securities laws, we undertake no
and expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240923020206/en/
Media Relations Andy Fouché +1 206-697-3678 Vice
President, Corporate Communications media@lnw.com
Investor Relations Nick Zangari +1 702-301-4378 Senior
Vice President, Investor Relations ir@lnw.com
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