NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(In millions, unless specified otherwise)
NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Description of business and organization
Playtika Holding Corp. (“Playtika”) and its subsidiaries (together with Playtika, the “Company”) is one of the world’s leading developers of mobile games creating fun, innovative experiences that entertain and engage its users. It has built best-in-class live game operations services and a proprietary technology platform to support its portfolio of games which enable it to drive strong user engagement and monetization. The Company’s games are free-to-play, and the Company seeks to provide novel, curated in-game content and offers to its users, at optimal points in their game journeys to drive user engagement and monetization.
Basis of presentation and consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and include Playtika and all subsidiaries in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. Control generally equates to ownership percentage, whereby (i) affiliates that are more than 50% owned are consolidated; (ii) investments in affiliates of 50% or less but greater than 20% are generally accounted for using the equity method where the Company has determined that it has significant influence over the entities; and (iii) investments in affiliates of 20% or less are generally accounted for using cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer.
The significant accounting policies referenced in the annual consolidated financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 2022 have been applied consistently in these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been recorded within the accompanying financial statements, consisting of normal, recurring adjustments, and all intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidation. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2023. For further information, reference is made to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Use of estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions. The Company’s management believes that the estimates, judgments and assumptions used are reasonable based upon information available at the time they are made. These estimates, judgments and assumptions can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Concentration of credit risk and significant customers
Financial instruments, which potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk, consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable and derivative contracts. The Company’s investment policy imposes certain maturity limits on the Company’s portfolio and restricts the permitted investments to the purchase of bank deposits and highly rated fixed income securities.
Apple, Facebook and Google are significant distribution, marketing, promotion and payment platforms for the Company's games. A significant portion of the Company’s revenues has been generated from players who accessed the Company's games through these platforms. Therefore, the Company's accounts receivable are derived mainly from sales through these
three platforms. Accounts receivable are recorded at their transaction amounts and do not bear interest. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers.
The following table summarizes the major accounts receivable of the Company as a percentage of the total accounts receivable as of the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| March 31, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
| |
Apple | 56% | | 43% |
Google | 29% | | 35% |
Facebook | 5% | | 7% |
Employee related benefits
Appreciation and retention plan
In August 2019, the Company adopted the Playtika Holding Corp. Retention Plan (the “2021-2024 Retention Plan”) in order to retain key employees and reward them for contributing to the success of the Company. Under the 2021-2024 Retention Plan, eligible employees may be granted retention awards that let them receive their pro rata portion of a retention pool of $25 million per year for each of the plan years, and may also be granted appreciation units which allow the employee to receive their pro-rata portion of an appreciation pool calculated as a specified percentage of Adjusted EBITDA for each of the plan years.
The value of each unit of the 2021-2024 Retention Plan has been amortized into compensation expense using the straight-line method, which will result in the recognition of compensation costs in the same years as the underlying EBITDA used in the plan measurement is earned. See Note 10, Appreciation and Retention Plan, for additional discussion.
Derivative instruments
The Company uses interest rate swap contracts to reduce its exposure to fluctuating interest rates associated with the Company’s variable rate debt, and to effectively increase the portion of debt upon which the Company pays a fixed interest rate. The Company’s interest rate swap agreements are designated as cash flow hedges under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”), involving the receipt of variable amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Company making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreement, without the exchange of the underlying notional amount. These hedges are highly effective in offsetting changes in the Company’s future expected cash flows due to the fluctuation of the Company’s variable rate debt.
The Company monitors the effectiveness of its hedges on a quarterly basis, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The Company performed a regression analysis at the inception of the hedging relationship and at period end in which it compared the change in the fair value of the swap transaction and the change in fair value of a hypothetical interest rate swap having terms that identically match the terms of the debt's interest rate payments based on 30 observations that are based on historical swap rates. Based on the regression results, the Company believes that, at inception and at period end, the hedging instrument is expected to be highly effective at offsetting changes in the hedged transactions attributable to the risk being hedged. For each future reporting period, the Company will continue performing retrospective and prospective assessments of hedge effectiveness in a single regression analysis by updating the regression analysis that was prepared at inception of the hedging relationship.
The Company uses foreign currency derivative contracts to reduce its exposure to fluctuating exchange rates between the United States dollar (as the Company’s functional currency) and certain expense lines denominated in Israeli Shekels (“ILS”), Polish Zloty (“PLN”) and Romanian Leu (“RON”). The Company’s derivative contracts are designated as cash flow hedges under ASC 815. The Company monitors the effectiveness of its hedges on a quarterly basis, both qualitatively and quantitatively, and expects these hedges to remain highly effective at offsetting fluctuations in exchange rates through their respective maturity dates. See Note 5, Derivative Instruments, for additional discussion.
The fair value of derivative financial instruments is recognized as an asset or liability at each balance sheet date, with changes in fair value recorded in other comprehensive income on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income until the future underlying transactions occur. The fair value approximates the amount the Company would pay or receive if these contracts were settled at the respective valuation dates. The inputs used to measure the fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements are categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy as established by ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”). The inputs used to measure the fair value of the Company’s foreign currency derivative contracts are categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy as established by ASC 820.
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders
For all periods presented herein, basic net income per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average common shares outstanding. Diluted net income per share reflects the effect of all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding by dividing net income by the weighted-average of all common and potentially dilutive shares outstanding. Performance Stock Units (“PSUs”) are considered potentially dilutive as of the first day of the reporting period in which the underlying performance metric is achieved. In the event of a loss, diluted shares are not considered because of their anti-dilutive effect. The Company uses the treasury stock method on a grant-by-grant basis as the method for determining the dilutive effect of options, RSUs and PSUs. Under this method, it is assumed that the hypothetical proceeds received upon settlement are used to repurchase common shares at the average market price during the period.
Accounting standards recently adopted by the Company
In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805)(“ASU 2021-08”). ASU 2021-08 requires that an acquiring entity recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) and that at the acquisition date, the acquirer accounts for related revenue contracts in accordance with ASC 606 as if it had originated the contracts. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2023, and the adoption did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU No. 2022-06, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 484 (“ASU 2022-06”). The amendments of ASU No. 2020-06 apply only to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The Company will continue to monitor the effects of rate reform, if any, on its contracts. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2023, and the adoption did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 2. ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 were as follows (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| March 31, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
Accrued expenses | $ | 95.0 | | | $ | 110.1 | |
Employees and related expenses | 93.1 | | | 170.3 | |
Media buy | 47.4 | | | 41.3 | |
Deferred revenues | 39.6 | | | 38.6 | |
Tax accruals | 15.8 | | | 24.9 | |
| | | |
| | | |
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities | $ | 290.9 | | | $ | 385.2 |
NOTE 3. DEBT
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| March 31, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
(in millions, except interest rates) | Maturity | | Interest rate | | Book value | | Face value | | Book value |
| | | | | |
Term Loan | 2028 | | 7.380% | | $ | 1,827.9 | | | $ | 1,862.0 | | | $ | 1,831.2 | |
Senior Notes | 2029 | | 4.250% | | 592.7 | | | 600.0 | | | 592.4 | |
Revolving Credit Facility | 2026 | | n/a | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Total debt | | | | | 2,420.6 | | | 2,462.0 | | | 2,423.6 | |
Less: Current portion of long-term debt | | | | | (12.1) | | | (19.0) | | | (12.4) | |
Long-term debt | | | | | $ | 2,408.5 | | | $ | 2,443.0 | | | $ | 2,411.2 | |
Book value of debt in the table above is reported net of deferred financing costs and original issue discount of $41.4 million and $43.2 million at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
Credit Agreement
The Company has a $1.9 billion senior secured first lien term loan (the “Term Loan”) and a $600 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) (together, the “Credit Agreement”), maturing on March 11, 2028 and March 11, 2026, respectively. The Term Loan requires quarterly principal payments equal to 0.25% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Term Loan with balance due at maturity.
The Revolving Credit Facility includes a maximum first-priority net senior secured leverage ratio financial maintenance covenant of 6.25 to 1.0. At March 31, 2023, the Company’s first-priority net senior secured leverage ratio was 1.32 to 1.0.
The Company was in compliance with its financial and other covenants under the Credit Agreement as of March 31, 2023.
The significant terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement have not changed from what was disclosed in Note 12, Debt in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2023.
Offering of 4.250% Senior Notes due 2029
Indenture
On March 11, 2021, the Company issued $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.250% senior notes due 2029 (the “Notes”) under an indenture, dated March 11, 2021 (the “Indenture”), among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).
Maturity and Interest
The Notes mature on March 15, 2029. Interest on the Notes will accrue at a rate of 4.250% per annum. Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year.
The significant terms and conditions of the Notes have not changed from what was disclosed in Note 12, Debt in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2023.
NOTE 4. EQUITY TRANSACTIONS AND STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Overview of Stock Incentive Plan
On May 26, 2020, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the Playtika Holding Corp. 2020 Incentive Award Plan (the “Plan”).
The maximum number of shares of the Company’s common stock for which grants may be made under the Plan was 56,232,228 shares as of March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023, a total of 17,404,915 shares of the Company’s common stock remained available for grants of awards under the Plan.
Stock Options
The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activity during the three months ended March 31, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stock | | Weighted | | Weighted | | |
| Options | | Average | | Average | | Intrinsic |
| Outstanding | | Remaining | | Exercise | | Value |
| (in millions) | | Term (in years) | | Price | | (in millions) |
Outstanding at January 1, 2023 | 3.4 | | | 8.2 | | $ | 19.08 | | | |
Granted | * | | | | $ | 10.21 | | | |
Exercised | — | | | | | | | |
Cancelled | (1.1) | | | | | $ | 20.11 | | | |
Expired | — | | | | | $ | — | | | |
Outstanding at March 31, 2023 | 2.3 | | | 8.1 | | $ | 18.59 | | | $ | 0.4 | |
Exercisable at March 31, 2023 | 1.2 | | | 7.8 | | $ | 21.24 | | | $ | — | |
_______
* Represents an amount less than $0.1
The Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model for determining the estimated fair value of stock-based compensation related to stock options. The table below summarizes the assumptions used for the options granted in each respective period, as well as for options repriced during the first quarter of 2022:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three months ended March 31, |
| 2023 | | 2022 |
Risk-free interest rate | 3.79% | | 0.67% - 1.82% |
Expected dividend yield | — | | — |
Expected term in years | 6.1 | | 6.1 |
Expected volatility | 52.79% | | 38.19% - 38.60% |
RSUs
The following table summarizes the Company’s RSU activity during the three months ended March 31, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Weighted | | Total Fair |
| | | | | Average | | Value of |
| | | Shares | | Grant Date | | Shares Vested |
| | | (in millions) | | Fair Value | | (in millions) |
Outstanding at January 1, 2023 | | | 14.9 | | | $ | 18.69 | | | |
Granted | | | 0.7 | | | $ | 10.21 | | | |
Vested | | | (1.8) | | | $ | 17.12 | | | $ | 18.0 | |
Cancelled | | | (0.4) | | | $ | 19.78 | | | |
Outstanding at March 31, 2023 | | | 13.4 | | | $ | 18.43 | | | |
PSUs
As of March 31, 2023, the Company estimated achievement of a target less than 100% for the PSUs associated with the 2023 tranche, consistent with the Company's current forecasted performance for 2023, and a target of 100% for the PSUs associated with the 2024 and 2025 tranches.
The following table summarizes the Company’s PSU activity during the three months ended March 31, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Weighted | | Total Fair |
| | | | | Average | | Value of |
| | | Shares(1) | | Grant Date | | Shares Vested |
| | | (in millions) | | Fair Value | | (in millions) |
Outstanding at January 1, 2023 | | | 3.2 | | | $ | 9.72 | | | |
Granted | | | — | | | $ | — | | | |
Vested | | | (0.4) | | | $ | 9.72 | | | $ | 4.2 | |
Cancelled | | | (0.6) | | | $ | 9.72 | | | |
Outstanding at March 31, 2023 | | | 2.2 | | | $ | 9.72 | | | |
________
(1) The number of PSUs outstanding represent the total number of PSUs granted to each recipient eligible to vest if the Company meets its highest specified performance goals for the applicable period.
Stock-Based Compensation
The following table summarizes stock-based compensation costs as reported by award type (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Three months ended March 31, |
| | | | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Stock options | | | | | $ | 0.3 | | | $ | 11.3 | |
RSUs | | | | | 27.1 | | | 24.8 | |
PSUs | | | | | 2.4 | | | 4.4 | |
Total stock-based compensation costs | | | | | $ | 29.8 | | | $ | 40.5 | |
The following table summarizes stock-based compensation costs, net of amounts capitalized, as reported on the Company’s consolidated statement of comprehensive income (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Three months ended March 31, |
| | | | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Research and development expenses | | | | | $ | 9.5 | | | $ | 13.8 | |
Sales and marketing expenses | | | | | 2.4 | | | 2.9 | |
General and administrative expenses | | | | | 17.3 | | | 23.1 | |
Total stock-based compensation costs, net of amounts capitalized | | | | | $ | 29.2 | | | $ | 39.8 | |
During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company capitalized $0.6 million and $0.7 million of stock-based compensation cost, respectively.
As of March 31, 2023, the Company’s total unrecognized stock-based compensation expenses related to stock options, RSUs and PSUs was approximately $9.4 million, $222.9 million and $14.8 million, respectively. The expense related to stock options, RSUs and PSUs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.3 years, 2.3 years and 2.0 years, respectively.
NOTE 5. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
Interest Rate Swap Agreements
In March 2021, the Company entered into two interest rate swap agreements, each with a notional value of $250 million. Each of these swap agreements is with a different financial institution as the counterparty to reduce the Company’s counterparty risk. Each swap requires the Company to pay a fixed interest rate of 0.9275% in exchange for receiving one-month LIBOR. The interest rate swap agreements settle monthly commencing in April 2021 through their termination dates on April 30, 2026. The estimated fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements is derived from a discounted cash flow analysis.
In January 2023, the Company entered into two interest rate swap agreements, each with a notional value of $250 million. Each of these swap agreements is with a different financial institution, and each swap requires the Company to pay a fixed interest rate of 3.435% in exchange for receiving one-month LIBOR for six months and one-month Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) afterwards. The interest rate swap agreements settle monthly commencing in February 2023 through their termination dates on February 28, 2028. The estimated fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements is derived from a discounted cash flow analysis.
The aggregate fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements was an asset of $38.2 million as of March 31, 2023 and was recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets, other non-current assets and other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets based upon the timing of the underlying expected cash flows.
Foreign currency hedge agreements
At March 31, 2023, the Company had outstanding derivative contracts to purchase certain foreign currencies, including ILS, RON, and PLN at future dates. The amount of future salary expenses the Company had hedged was approximately $175.4 million, and all contracts are expected to mature during the upcoming 12 months. The aggregate fair value of the Company’s derivative contracts was a net liability of $4.7 million as of March 31, 2023 and was recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
The following table summarizes the volume of derivative instrument activity (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Three months ended March 31, |
| | | | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Derivative instruments - foreign currency derivative contracts | | | | | $ | 38.7 | | | $ | 159.3 | |
Derivative instruments - interest rate swaps | | | | | 500.0 | | | — | |
Derivative instruments - others (non-hedging) | | | | | 1.9 | | | — | |
NOTE 6. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The Company accounts for fair value in accordance with ASC 820. Fair value is defined under ASC 820 as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value under ASC 820 must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The Company uses a three-tier hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:
Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 - Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
The carrying value of accounts receivable and payables and the Company's cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash approximates fair value due to the short time to expected payment or receipt of cash.
The following table summarizes the fair value measurement of the Company’s long-term debt (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| March 31, 2023 |
| Face Value | | Fair Value | | Fair Value Hierarchy |
Term Loan | $ | 1,862.0 | | | $ | 1,845.7 | | | Level 2 |
Senior Notes | 600.0 | | | 501.0 | | | Level 2 |
Total debt | $ | 2,462.0 | | | $ | 2,346.7 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2022 |
| Face Value | | Fair Value | | Fair Value Hierarchy |
Term Loan | $ | 1,866.8 | | | $ | 1,794.5 | | | Level 2 |
Senior Notes | 600.0 | | | 468.0 | | | Level 2 |
Total debt | $ | 2,466.8 | | | $ | 2,262.5 | | | |
The estimated fair value of the Company’s term loan is based upon the prices at which the Company’s debt traded in the days immediately preceding the balance sheet date. As the trading volume of the Company’s debt is low relative to the overall debt balance, the Company does not believe that the associated transactions represent an active market, and therefore this indication of value represents a level 2 fair value input.
The following table sets forth the assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Fair Value at |
| | | | | Pricing Category | | March 31, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
Cash and cash equivalents | | | | | | | | | |
Cash | | | | | Level 1 | | $ | 121.3 | | | $ | 150.7 | |
Money market funds | | | | | Level 1 | | 268.0 | | | 294.8 | |
Term deposits | | | | | Level 1 | | 192.9 | | | 243.3 | |
Commercial papers | | | | | Level 2 | | 185.0 | | | 79.9 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative instruments - foreign currency derivative contracts | | | | | Level 2 | | $ | 3.3 | | | $ | 2.2 | |
Derivative instruments - interest rate swaps | | | | | Level 2 | | 24.8 | | | 19.5 | |
Derivative instruments - other | | | | | Level 2 | | 0.1 | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Other non-current assets | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative instruments - interest rate swaps | | | | | Level 2 | | $ | 22.7 | | | $ | 29.3 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative instruments - foreign currency derivative contracts | | | | | Level 2 | | $ | 8.1 | | | $ | 7.5 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Other long-term liabilities, including employee related benefits | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative instruments - interest rate swaps | | | | | Level 2 | | $ | 9.3 | | | $ | — | |
The carrying values of the Company’s cash equivalents approximate fair value because of the short duration of these financial instruments.
The Company estimates the fair value of interest rate swap contracts by discounting the future cash flows of both the fixed rate and variable rate interest payments based on market yield curves. The inputs used to measure the fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap contracts are categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy as established by ASC 820.
The fair value of the Company’s foreign currency contracts approximates the amount the Company would pay or receive if these contracts were settled at the respective valuation dates. The inputs used to measure the fair value of the Company’s foreign currency contracts are categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy as established by ASC 820.
The Company has not elected the fair value measurement option available under U.S. GAAP for any of its assets or liabilities that meet the option for these criteria.
NOTE 7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
In December 2016, a copywriter lawsuit was filed against Wooga GmbH (a subsidiary of the Company) in the regional court of Berlin, Germany. The Plaintiff is suing for additional remuneration to his contributions for a storyline provided for one of Wooga's games and alleged reuse of parts of that storyline in one of Wooga’s other games. A court hearing is scheduled for September 27, 2023. As of March 31, 2023, the Company has recorded in its financial statements a reserve based upon its best estimate outcome. It is possible that any final amounts payable in connection with this lawsuit could exceed the Company’s currently reserved best estimate. The Company has defended this case vigorously and will continue to do so.
In November 2013, the Company’s subsidiary, Playtika, Ltd., sent an initial demand letter to Enigmatus s.r.o., a game developer in the Czech Republic, which owns various U.S. trademark registrations that resemble the Company’s Sloto-formative trademark names, demanding that it cease use of the trademark Slotopoly. In response, Enigmatus s.r.o. asserted
that it was the owner of the Sloto-formative trademarks and denied that its game title infringed the Company’s trademarks. Enigmatus s.r.o. applied to register one of the Company’s trademarks in the United Kingdom and European Union, and the Company successfully opposed its applications. In December 2016, Enigmatus s.r.o., filed a trademark infringement lawsuit, Enigmatus, s.r.o. v. Playtika LTD and Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc., against Playtika, Ltd. and Caesars Interactive Entertainment LLC in the Federal Court of Canada asserting that the Company’s use of the Slotomania trademarks violates its proprietary and trademark rights. The plaintiff sought injunctive relief and monetary damages. Pleadings have been exchanged and the lawsuit is in the discovery stage. A hearing date for summary trial has been scheduled for June 27-29, 2023. The Company has defended this case vigorously and will continue to do so. As the case is in preliminary stages, the Company cannot estimate what impact, if any, the litigation may have on its results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
On November 23, 2021, the Company, its directors and certain of its officers were named in a putative class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (Bar-Asher v. Playtika Holding Corp. et al.). The complaint is allegedly brought on behalf of a class of purchasers of the Company’s securities between January 15, 2021 and November 2, 2021, and alleges violations of federal securities laws arising out of alleged misstatements or omissions by the defendants during the alleged class period. On March 10, 2022, the court appointed LBMotion Ltd as lead plaintiff, and the plaintiff filed an amended complaint on May 6, 2022. The amended complaint alleges violations of Section 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 and seeks, among other things, damages and attorneys’ fees and costs on behalf of the putative class. The amended complaint also added the companies that served as underwriters for the Company’s IPO as defendants in the lawsuit. On September 15, 2022, in accordance with local rules of the Court, the Company and other defendants in the case filed a letter notifying the Court of defendants’ service upon plaintiffs of, among other things, a notice of motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ amended complaint and memorandum of law in support of the defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ amended complaint, and on November 30, 2022, the Company filed with the Court the motion to dismiss. As the case is in preliminary stages, the Company cannot estimate what impact, if any, the litigation may have on its results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. The Company has defended this case vigorously and will continue to do so.
On May 17, 2022, Guy David Ben Yosef filed a motion for approval of a class action lawsuit in district court in Tel Aviv-Jaffa Israel against Playtika Group Israel Ltd. (“PGI”), on behalf of all of PGI’s customers who made game token purchases in Israel as part of games marketed by PGI during the seven years preceding the filing of the motion and for all subsequent customers of such games who purchase tokens until the resolution of the claim. The motion alleges that certain of the Company’s slot, poker and solitaire-themed games, including Slotomania, Caesars Slots, Solitaire Grand Harvest, House of Fun and Poker Heat, constitute illegal gambling and are prohibited under Israeli law and are misleading under Israeli consumer protection laws and alleges unjust enrichment. The motion asserts damages of NIS 50 million. On January 12, 2023, PGI filed its response to the Motion for Approval. On March 5, 2023, the Applicant has submitted his reply to PGI’s response. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for May 4, 2023. As the case is in preliminary stages, the Company cannot estimate what impact, if any, the litigation may have on its results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. The Company will defend this case vigorously.
The Company has received a number of demand letters pursuant to Section 220 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), seeking disclosure of certain of the Company’s books and records. The Company has responded to those demands, stating its belief that the demand letters fail to fully comply with the requirements of Section 220 of the DGCL. However, in the interest of resolution and while preserving all rights, the Company has engaged in negotiations with certain of the shareholders and has produced materials in relation to the demands.
On April 10, 2023, Playtika Holding UK II Limited, the Company’s controlling shareholder, and certain officers of the Company were sued (Kormos v Playtika Holding UK II Limited, et al.) in Delaware Chancery Court. The lawsuit alleges generally that the defendants breached fiduciary duties owed to the Company and its stockholders with respect to the controlling shareholder’s indication of an interest in selling some or all of its shares, and the resulting strategic review process and self-tender offer.
The Company received seven demands for arbitration in late 2022 and early 2023 alleging that its games constitute illegal gambling under applicable state law. As the arbitrations are in preliminary stages, the Company cannot estimate what impact, if any, the arbitrations may have on its results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. The Company will defend these matters vigorously.
On March 8, 2023, plaintiff Gayla Hamilton Mills filed a lawsuit against the Company and its subsidiary, Playtika Ltd., in the Circuit Court of Franklin County, Alabama, alleging that the Company’s casino-themed social games are unlawful gambling under Alabama law. The lawsuit seeks to recover all amounts paid by Alabama residents to the Company from its games during the period beginning one year before the filing of the lawsuit until the case is resolved. On April 11, 2023, the Company removed the case to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. On April 27, 2023, the plaintiff filed a motion to remand the case back to the Franklin County Circuit Court. The Company’s opposition to the motion to remand is due May 19, 2023. As the case is in preliminary stages, the Company cannot estimate what impact, if any, the litigation may have on its results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. The Company intends to defend this case vigorously.
NOTE 8. REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS
The following table provides information about disaggregated revenue by geographic location of the Company’s players and type of platform (in millions):
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| | | Three months ended March 31, |
| | | | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Geographic location | | | | | | | |
USA | | | | | $ | 461.3 | | | $ | 474.4 | |
EMEA | | | | | 105.0 | | | 104.2 | |
APAC | | | | | 46.1 | | | 52.3 | |
Other | | | | | 43.8 | | | 46.0 | |
Total | | | | | $ | 656.2 | | | $ | 676.9 | |
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Revenues through third-party platforms and through the Company’s own direct-to-consumer platforms were as follows (in millions):
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| | | Three months ended March 31, |
| | | | | 2023 | | 2022 |
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Third-party platforms | | | | | $ | 504.7 | | | $ | 524.5 | |
Direct-to-consumer platforms | | | | | 151.5 | | | 152.4 | |
Total revenues | | | | | $ | 656.2 | | | $ | 676.9 | |
Contract balances
Payments from players for virtual items are collected by platform providers or payment processors and remitted to the Company (net of the platform or clearing fees) generally within 45 days after the player transaction. The Company’s right to receive the payments collected by the platform providers or payment processors is recorded as an accounts receivable as the right to receive payment is unconditional. Deferred revenues, which represent a contract liability, represent mostly unrecognized fees billed for virtual items which have not yet been consumed at the balance sheet date. Platform fees paid to platform providers or payment processors and associated with deferred revenues represent a contract asset.
Balances of the Company’s contract assets and liabilities are as follows (in millions):
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| March 31, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
Accounts receivable | $ | 176.5 | | | $ | 141.1 | |
Contract assets (1) | 10.9 | | | 10.8 | |
Contract liabilities (2) | 39.6 | | | 38.6 | |
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(1) Contract assets are included within prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
(2) Contract liabilities are included within accrued expenses and other current liabilities as “deferred revenues” in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recognized $21.8 million of its contract liabilities that were outstanding as of December 31, 2022.
Unsatisfied performance obligations
Substantially all of the Company’s unsatisfied performance obligations relate to contracts with an original expected length of one year or less.
NOTE 9. SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company operates its business as one operating segment and one reportable segment.
The Company’s long-lived assets, net, by country of domicile are as follows (in millions):
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| March 31, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
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Israel | $ | 98.6 | | | $ | 100.9 | |
USA | 57.6 | | | 62.0 | |
Ukraine | 25.5 | | | 26.1 | |
Other | 40.8 | | | 40.9 | |
Total long-lived assets, net | $ | 222.5 | | | $ | 229.9 | |
NOTE 10. APPRECIATION AND RETENTION PLAN
The Company recognized compensation expenses in respect of retention bonus and appreciation unit awards under its appreciation and retention plans of $29.8 million and $24.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The Company has also granted retention awards to key individuals associated with acquired companies as an incentive to retain those individuals on a long-term basis. The Company recognized compensation expenses associated with these development-related retention payments of $1.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022. There were no such expenses in the three months ended March 31, 2023.
NOTE 11. INTEREST AND OTHER, NET
Interest and other, net are as follows (in millions):
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| | | Three months ended March 31, |
| | | | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Interest expense | | | | | $ | 38.0 | | | $ | 23.7 | |
Interest income | | | | | (7.8) | | | (0.8) | |
Foreign currency translation differences, net | | | | | (1.8) | | | 3.5 | |
Other | | | | | 0.2 | | | 1.1 | |
Total interest and other, net | | | | | $ | 28.6 | | | $ | 27.5 | |
NOTE 12. INCOME TAXES
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| | | Three months ended March 31, |
(in millions, except tax rate) | | | | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Income before income taxes | | | | | $ | 123.8 | | | $ | 92.9 | |
Provision for income taxes | | | | | $ | 39.7 | | | $ | 9.7 | |
Effective tax rate | | | | | 32.1 | % | | 10.4 | % |
The effective tax rates were determined using a worldwide estimated annual effective tax rate and took discrete items into consideration. The primary differences between the effective tax rate and the 21% U.S. federal statutory rate for the three months ended March 31, 2023 were due to tax positions that do not meet the more likely than not standard and the inclusion of Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income. The primary difference between the effective tax rate and the 21% U.S. federal statutory rate for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was due to a discrete tax benefit for the release of a valuation allowance on certain foreign deferred tax assets resulting from changes to the Company’s organizational structure.
NOTE 13. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
The following tables show a summary of changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, by component for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 (in millions):
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| Foreign Currency Translation | | Interest Rate Swaps | | Foreign Currency Derivative Contracts | | Total |
Balance as of January 1, 2023 | $ | (15.6) | | | $ | 37.7 | | | $ | (4.5) | | | $ | 17.6 | |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | 3.1 | | | (4.0) | | | (2.0) | | | (2.9) | |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | — | | | (4.2) | | | 2.4 | | | (1.8) | |
Balance as of March 31, 2023 | $ | (12.5) | | | $ | 29.5 | | | $ | (4.1) | | | $ | 12.9 | |
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| Foreign Currency Translation | | Interest Rate Swaps | | Foreign Currency Derivative Contracts | | Total |
Balance as of January 1, 2022 | $ | (1.9) | | | $ | 4.2 | | | $ | 0.9 | | | $ | 3.2 | |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | (3.3) | | | 17.7 | | | 0.3 | | | 14.7 | |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | — | | | 0.8 | | | (0.1) | | | 0.7 | |
Balance as of March 31, 2022 | $ | (5.2) | | | $ | 22.7 | | | $ | 1.1 | | | $ | 18.6 | |
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For the three months ended March 31, 2023 interest rate swaps and foreign currency derivative contracts were net of $9.1 million of tax expense and $0.8 million of tax benefit, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, interest rate swaps were net of $5.5 million of tax expense.
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income for interest rate swaps and foreign currency derivative contracts were reclassified to interest expense and operating expenses, respectively, in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.
NOTE 14. NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per share attributable to common stockholders (in millions, except per share data):
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| | | Three months ended March 31, |
| | | | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Numerator: | | | | | | | |
Net income | | | | | $ | 84.1 | | | $ | 83.2 | |
Denominator: | | | | | | | |
Weighted-average shares used in computing net income per share attributable to common stockholders, basic | | | | | 364.6 | | | 412.0 | |
Stock-based compensation awards | | | | | 0.5 | | | 0.5 | |
Weighted-average shares used in computing net income per share attributable to common stockholders, diluted | | | | | 365.1 | | | 412.5 | |
Net income per share, basic | | | | | $ | 0.23 | | | $ | 0.20 | |
Net income per share, diluted | | | | | $ | 0.23 | | | $ | 0.20 | |
The Company uses the treasury stock method on a grant-by-grant basis as the method for determining the dilutive effect of options and RSUs. Under this method, it is assumed that the hypothetical proceeds received upon settlement are used to repurchase common shares at the average market price during the period. The following outstanding employee equity awards were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per share because their effect would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented (in millions):
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| | | Three months ended March 31, |
| | | | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Stock options | | | | | 3.2 | | | 17.3 | |
RSUs | | | | | 12.9 | | | 9.8 | |
Total | | | | | 16.1 | | | 27.1 | |
In addition, 2.2 million PSUs were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per share for the three months ended March 31, 2023 because the minimum performance measures were not yet met.
NOTE 15. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company performed a review for subsequent events through the date of these financial statements. No material items were noted for disclosure.