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Amaya (AYA) Sees Higher 2016 Revs, EBITDA, EPS; CFO Daniel Sebag to Retire

January 20, 2017 7:33 AM EST

Amaya Inc. (Nasdaq: AYA) updated its previously announced guidance ranges for the full year 2016, provided related performance and operational highlights, and announced the retirement of its Chief Financial Officer, Daniel Sebag. All dollar ($) amounts are in U.S. dollars.

2016 Guidance and Related Highlights

Amaya has updated its full year 2016 guidance ranges, as previously announced on November 14, 2016, and currently expects the following:

  • Revenues at the high end of the previous range and between $1,153 and $1,158 million, as compared to the previous range of between $1,137 and $1,157 million, and as compared to approximately $1,072 million in 2015 (*** consensus is $1.16 billion);
  • Adjusted EBITDA above the previous range and between $521 and $526 million, as compared to the previous range of between $500 and $510 million, and as compared to approximately $459 million in 2015;
  • Adjusted Net Earnings above the previous range and between $364 and $374 million, as compared to the previous range of between $344 and $354 million, and as compared to approximately $291 million in 2015; and
  • Adjusted Net Earnings per Diluted Share above the previous range and between $1.87 and $1.92, as compared to the previous range of between $1.78 and $1.83, and as compared to $1.47 in 2015 (*** consensus is $1.67).

These estimates reflect management's view of current and future market conditions, including the assumptions used to determine the previously announced guidance. There were no material changes to such assumptions and they continue to apply to the update provided in this release. Such update is based on unaudited expected results and certain accounting assumptions, including, without limitation, as it relates to income tax. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Earnings and Adjusted Net Earnings per Diluted Share are non-IFRS and non-U.S. GAAP measures.

"We anticipate that 2016 will be a record year of revenues for Amaya," said Rafi Ashkenazi, Chief Executive Officer. "We also saw better than expected fourth quarter results from our casino offering, operational excellence program and a successful re-launch in Portugal, all while continuing to take an efficient and measured approach to marketing our product offerings.

"We built positive momentum in 2016 that accelerated throughout the year and which we believe was largely the result of the positive impact of our strategy to improve the poker ecosystem for recreational players and leverage our global competitive advantage in online poker to acquire new customers, cross-sell existing and new customers into our online casino and sportsbook offerings, and maximize the lifetime value of all of our customers.

"We expect to continue this momentum and execute on our strategy in 2017 despite anticipated further headwinds, including continued declines in the value of our customers' local currencies against the U.S. dollar, which has been significant over the past two years, and the previously announced potential cessation of our real-money online poker offering in Australia," noted Ashkenazi. "We anticipate that certain operational initiatives, including the introduction of a new cross-vertical customer loyalty program, the potential expansion into new markets, our continued focus on achieving product parity in our online casino and sportsbook, and our operational excellence program, will help to both drive our business forward and mitigate these and future headwinds."

Amaya intends to announce the date and time for release of its full year 2016 financial results along with related conference call and webcast details in early March.

Certain Fourth Quarter 2016 Operational Highlights

  • Quarterly Real-Money Active Uniques (QAUs) – Total combined QAUs were approximately 2.6 million, an increase of approximately 8% year-over-year. Approximately 2.5 million of such QAUs played online poker during the quarter, an increase of approximately 5% year-over-year, while Amaya's online casino offerings had approximately 648,000 QAUs, an increase of approximately 47% year-over-year, which Amaya continues to estimate is one of the largest casino player bases among its competitors. Amaya's emerging online sportsbook offerings had approximately 247,000 QAUs, an 88% increase year-over-year.
  • Customer Registrations – Customer Registrations increased by 2.6 million during the quarter to approximately 108 million at the end of the year.

Retirement of Chief Financial Officer and Certain Appointments

Daniel Sebag has advised Amaya that he will retire as Chief Financial Officer later this year once his successor is identified and appointed, and will assist Amaya in ensuring an orderly transition of his duties. The Board of Directors has retained Spencer Stuart, a leading executive recruiting firm, to advise the Board and launch a global CFO search.

Mr. Sebag joined Amaya in 2007 as its first CFO and managed its finances and accounting as a start-up through its initial public offering and its transformation to a consumer technology company through the $4.9 billion Rational Group acquisition in August 2014.

"Danny has been a passionate and dedicated steward of Amaya's growth into a global gaming leader and helping to position it for the future," said Divyesh (Dave) Gadhia, Chairman of the Board. "On behalf of the company, I would like to thank him for his contributions over the years. We wish him all the best in his retirement."

Rational Group also recently announced several new appointments to senior operational roles, including Guy Templer, as Chief Operating Officer of Rational Group (previously, Chief Strategy Officer of Rational Group), Bo Wänghammer as Managing Director of Casino Operations (previously, Business Development Director for Mr. Green & Co AB and CEO of Mr. Green's operating company, Mr. Green Ltd.), and Zeno Ossko as Managing Director of Sportsbook Operations (previously, CEO of MyBet Holding SE).



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