Announces Sale of eOne Film and TV Business to Lionsgate

PAWTUCKET, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS), a leading toy and game company, today reported financial results for the second quarter 2023.

"The Hasbro team delivered a solid second quarter, with revenue ahead of our expectations, significant reduction of inventory, and meaningful progress toward our transformation and cost savings programs," said Chris Cocks, Hasbro chief executive officer. "New products are delighting our fans around the world, including the return of FURBY and the release of MAGIC: THE GATHERING's Universes Beyond set, The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, which is already the second largest set in MAGIC's history. TRANSFORMERS entertainment and innovation is driving strong growth in the brand.

"Importantly, we announced an agreement to sell our eOne Film and TV business to Lionsgate, where it will be in good hands, and expect to close the transaction by year end," continued Cocks. "Storytelling is part of our mission, and Hasbro will keep producing compelling entertainment that helps bring our beloved brands to life. The sale allows us to focus on our core toy and game expertise, partner with the industry's best, and strengthen our balance sheet as we invest to drive long-term growth and return cash to shareholders."

"Through the first six months, our results have been at or above our plan," said Gina Goetter, Hasbro chief financial officer. "Looking at our full year, our Consumer Products segment remains on track and our Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming segment is performing better than expected. Positive proof points are emerging across a variety of our transformation initiatives as we lower costs, improve productivity, and reset Hasbro for profitable growth. Selling our eOne Film and TV business will give us greater focus and financial flexibility moving forward, including paying down a minimum of $400 million in floating rate debt."

Highlights

• Q2 Hasbro, Inc. revenue declined 10%, ahead of expectations, driven by stronger than planned point of sale trends within Consumer Products.
• Announced sale of eOne Film & TV business enabling focus on core toy and game brands; expected to close in the back-half of 2023.
• Meaningful progress on transformation; delivered $84 million of cost savings under the Operational Excellence Program in the first half of 2023.
• Reduced owned inventory level by 16% versus prior year driven by Consumer Products; global Retail inventory down 16%.
• Reaffirming outlook on Consumer Products segment and increasing revenue growth guidance for Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming segment.
• Updating guidance on Entertainment segment to reflect the reality of the writers' and actors' strikes impact on production deliveries.
• Launched compelling innovation across toys and games: MAGIC: THE GATHERING Universes Beyond The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth; MONOPOLY NBA Prizm and Super Mario Brothers editions.

Second Quarter and First Half 2023 Financial Results

Second Quarter and First Half 2023 Segment Performance

Second Quarter 2023 Segment Commentary & FY 2023 Outlook

Consumer Products Segment

• Revenue decrease of 11% driven by business exits and a continued focus on inventory reduction; partially offset by growth of 18% in Consumer Products Licensing behind concerted efforts to leverage IP across new partnerships.
• Adjusted operating profit margin of 3.4% grew 3 margin points versus last year driven by cost savings, improved mix from licensing revenue growth and lower royalties.

Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming Segment

• Revenue decrease of 11% driven by tabletop revenue which, as expected, was impacted by one fewer MAGIC: THE GATHERING set release in Q2 compared to 2022.
• Digital and licensed gaming revenue increase of 33%, bolstered by the addition of D&D Beyond and growth in Magic: The Gathering Arena.
• Operating profit decline of 37% due to lower revenue, higher royalty expense associated with Universes Beyond and increased investments.

Entertainment Segment

• Revenue decline of 3% driven by exited businesses partially offset by growth across scripted TV and Family Brands.
• Operating loss includes $296 million non-cash Goodwill and Asset impairment charges for second quarter and six months; $231 million is related to the goodwill impairment of Film & TV due to the expected economic impact of industry factors and $65 million related to an intangible impairment of the eOne Trademark.
• Adjusted operating loss for the second quarter includes a $25.0 million Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves production asset impairment charge.

Second Quarter and First Half 2023 Brand Portfolio

Franchise Brands

• Franchise Brands revenue was down 5% in the quarter driven by macro trends and inventory reductions.
• Delivered significant Q2 revenue growth in TRANSFORMERS and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS.
• PEPPA PIG grew as a result of growth in entertainment and digital gaming.
• Hasbro Gaming was flat and the other Franchise Brands declined.

Partner Brands

• Total Partner Brand revenue was down 21% in the quarter due to license exits.
• Sales of Hasbro products for Spider-Man by Marvel are up with an over 100% increase in point-of-sale year-over-year since the release of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and further supported by the preschool series, evergreen marketing and new product releases.

Portfolio Brands

• The decline in Portfolio Brands is driven by the reprioritization of investment to support Franchise Brands, as well as discontinuances across the retail footprint.

Second Quarter and First Half 2023 MAGIC: THE GATHERING and Hasbro Total Gaming

1Hasbro’s Total Gaming Category includes all gaming revenue, most notably MAGIC: THE GATHERING, Hasbro Gaming and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS.

MAGIC: THE GATHERING

• Revenue decrease of 15% due to the timing of set releases with one fewer release compared to prior year.
• The newest Universes Beyond set, The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, was the second biggest launch sell-in ever and is tracking to be the biggest selling MAGIC set of all time.
• Fans continue to return to organized play as MagicCon Barcelona just finished and the MAGIC World Championships return to Las Vegas from September 22 to 24.

Capital Priorities and Dividend

During the second quarter and year-to-date, Hasbro paid $97 million and $194 million, respectively, in cash dividends to shareholders. The next dividend of $0.70 per common share was previously declared and will be payable on August 15, 2023 to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 1, 2023.

The Company continues to target Debt to EBITDA ratio of 2.0 to 2.5 times. For 2023, progress is expected against this target. Pending the outcome of the sale of the eOne Film and TV business, the Company anticipates prioritizing the sale proceeds toward paying down debt. The Company remains committed to maintaining its investment grade rating.

Operational Excellence

In support of Hasbro's Blueprint 2.0 strategy, Hasbro implemented an Operational Excellence program to deliver $250-300 million in annualized run-rate cost savings by year-end 2025. In the first half 2023, the Company realized $84 million of savings and is on track to achieve $150 million of in-year cost savings for the full-year 2023

Company Outlook

The outlook across the Consumer Products Segment is unchanged and Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming Segment revenue outlook is higher than prior guidance. Entertainment Segment guidance is updated to reflect the reality of the writers' and actors' strikes on the eOne Film and TV business. The updated guidance assumes eOne Film and TV is included for the entire fiscal year and guidance will be updated once the eOne Film and TV sale transaction is complete.

The Company now expects:

• Revenue decline of 3-6% driven by the Entertainment Segment.
  • No change to Consumer Product guidance of down mid-single digits.
  • Increasing guidance on Wizards of the Coast Segment to up high-single digits.
  • Reducing outlook on Entertainment to down 25 to 30%.
• Adjusted operating margin up 20 to 50 basis points versus last year's adjusted operating margin1
  • Consumer Products segment and Wizards and Digital Gaming segment margin outlook unchanged from prior guidance.
  • Entertainment segment margin is now expected to decline as a result of the D&D film impairment and the ongoing industry strikes.

The Company continues to expect:

• Adjusted EBITDA approximately flat with 2022 adjusted EBITDA.
• Operating Cash Flow of $600 to $700 million.

1The Company is not able to reconcile its forward-looking non-GAAP adjusted operating profit margin, adjusted earnings per diluted share and adjusted EBITDA measures because the Company cannot predict with certainty the timing and amounts of discrete items such as charges associated with its cost-savings program, which could impact GAAP results. Guidance does not reflect the announced sale of select entertainment assets. The Company plans to update its outlook upon completion of the transaction.

Conference Call Webcast

Hasbro will webcast its second quarter 2023 earnings conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time today. To listen to the live webcast and access the accompanying presentation slides, please go to https://investor.hasbro.com. The replay of the call will be available on Hasbro’s website approximately 2 hours following completion of the call.

About Hasbro

Hasbro is a leading toy and game company whose mission is to entertain and connect generations of fans through the wonder of storytelling and exhilaration of play. Hasbro delivers engaging brand experiences for global audiences through toys, consumer products, gaming and entertainment, with a portfolio of iconic brands including MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, Hasbro Gaming, NERF, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH and PEPPA PIG, as well as premier partner brands.

Hasbro is guided by our Purpose to create joy and community for all people around the world, one game, one toy, one story at a time. For more than a decade, Hasbro has been consistently recognized for its corporate citizenship, including being named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media, one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute and one of the 50 Most Community-Minded Companies in the U.S. by the Civic 50. For more information, visit https://corporate.hasbro.com.

© 2023 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Forward Looking Statement Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this press release contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, which may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases, include statements relating to: our business strategies and plans; expectations relating to products, gaming and entertainment launches; anticipated cost savings; financial targets; anticipated financial performance for 2023; and expectations relating to the announced sale of the eOne Film and TV business, including the timing of completion and use of proceeds. Our actual actions or results may differ materially from those expected or anticipated in the forward-looking statements due to both known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to:

• our ability to successfully execute on our Blueprint 2.0 strategy, including to focus on and scale select business initiatives and brands to drive profitability and to achieve anticipated cost savings;
• our ability to design, develop, manufacture, and ship products on a timely, cost-effective and profitable basis;
• our ability to successfully compete in the play and entertainment industry;
• our ability to successfully evolve and transform our business and capabilities to address the global consumer landscape;
• risks relating to our ability to successfully complete the announced sale of the eOne Film and Television business, including uncertainty as to whether the transaction will be completed in a timely manner or at all; the conditions precedent to completion of the transaction will be satisfied, including the ability to secure applicable regulatory approvals in a timely manner or at all or on expected terms; risks of unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; the effect of ongoing writers’ and actors’ strikes; and the effect of the announcement, pendency or consummation of the transaction on customers, employees, actors, writers, producers and operating results;
• inflation and downturns in global and regional economic conditions impacting one or more of the markets in which we sell products, which can negatively impact our retail customers and consumers, result in lower employment levels, consumer disposable income, retailer inventories and spending, including lower spending on purchases of our products;
• our dependence on third party relationships, including with third party manufacturers, licensors of brands, studios, content producers and entertainment distribution channels;
• the risk that any prolonged strike by, or lockout of, one or more of the unions that provide personnel essential to the production of films or television programs, such as the ongoing strike by the writers’ and actors' unions in May 2023 and July 2023, could delay or halt our ongoing development, production and distribution activities; halts or delays, depending on the length of time, could cause a delay or interruption in our release of new films and television programs, which could impact our entertainment business;
• risks relating to the concentration of manufacturing for many of our products in the People’s Republic of China and our ability to successfully diversify sourcing of our products to reduce reliance on sources of supply in China;
• risks related to economic and public health conditions or regulatory changes in the markets in which we and our customers, partners, licensees, suppliers and manufacturers operate, such as inflation, rising interest rates, higher commodity prices, labor costs or transportation costs, the coronavirus or other outbreaks of illness or disease, the occurrence of which could create work slowdowns, delays or shortages in production or shipment of products, increases in costs or delays in revenue;
• risks associated with international operations, such as currency conversion, currency fluctuations, the imposition of tariffs, quotas, shipping delays or difficulties, border adjustment taxes or other protectionist measures, and other challenges in the territories in which we operate;
• the success of our key partner brands, including the ability to secure, maintain and extend agreements with our key partners or the risk of delays, increased costs or difficulties associated with any of our or our partners’ planned digital applications or media initiatives;
• risks related to our leadership changes;
• our ability to attract and retain talented and diverse employees;
• our ability to realize the benefits of cost-savings and efficiency and/or revenue and operating profit enhancing initiatives;
• risks relating to the impairment and/or write-offs of businesses, products and content we acquire and/or produce;
• the risk that acquisitions, dispositions and other investments we complete may not provide us with the benefits we expect, or the realization of such benefits may be significantly delayed. We may not achieve a successful or timely sale of non-core assets;
• our ability to protect our assets and intellectual property, including as a result of infringement, theft, misappropriation, cyber-attacks or other acts compromising the integrity of our assets or intellectual property;
• fluctuations in our business due to seasonality;
• the risk of product recalls or product liability suits and costs associated with product safety regulations;
• changes in tax laws or regulations, or the interpretation and application of such laws and regulations, which may cause us to alter tax reserves or make other changes which significantly impact our reported financial results;
• the impact of litigation or arbitration decisions or settlement actions;
• the concentration of our customers, potentially increasing the negative impact to our business of difficulties experienced by any of our customers or changes in their purchasing or selling patterns;
• the bankruptcy or other lack of success of one or more of our significant retailers, licensees and other partners; and
• other risks and uncertainties as may be detailed in our public announcements and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings.

The statements contained herein are based on our current beliefs and expectations. We undertake no obligation to make any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The financial tables accompanying this press release include non-GAAP financial measures as defined under SEC rules, specifically Adjusted operating profit, Adjusted net earnings and Adjusted net earnings per diluted share, which exclude, where applicable, acquisition and related costs, acquired intangible amortization, Operational Excellence and Blueprint 2.0 implementation charges; and certain non-cash asset impairment charges. Also included in this press release are the non-GAAP financial measures of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. EBITDA represents net earnings attributable to Hasbro, Inc. excluding interest expense, income tax expense, net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, depreciation and amortization of intangibles. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes Operational Excellence and Blueprint 2.0 implementation charges, certain non-cash asset impairment charges and the impact of stock compensation (including acquisition-related stock expense). As required by SEC rules, we have provided reconciliations on the attached schedules of these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Management believes that Adjusted net earnings, Adjusted net earnings per diluted share and Adjusted operating profit provide investors with an understanding of the underlying performance of our business absent unusual events. Management believes that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are appropriate measures for evaluating the operating performance of our business because they reflect the resources available for strategic opportunities including, among others, to invest in the business, strengthen the balance sheet and make strategic acquisitions. The impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates used to translate the consolidated statements of operations is quantified by translating the current period revenues at the prior period exchange rates and comparing this amount to the prior period reported revenues. The Company believes that the presentation of the impact of changes in exchange rates, which are beyond the Company’s control, is helpful to an investor’s understanding of the performance of the underlying business. These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, or superior to, net earnings or other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP as more fully discussed in our consolidated financial statements and filings with the SEC. As used herein, "GAAP" refers to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

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