Embracer Group publishes Interim Report Q2

SECOND QUARTER, JULY-SEPTEMBER 2022 (COMPARED TO JULY-SEPTEMBER 2021)

• Net sales increased by 190 % (35 % organic growth) to SEK 9,569 million (3,305). The sales split per operating segment was:
  • PC/Console Games: increased by 107 % to SEK 4,097 million (1,976).
  • Mobile Games: increased by 67 % to SEK 1,441 million (864).
  • Tabletop Games: amounted to SEK 3,247 million (-).
  • Entertainment & Services: increased by 69 % to SEK 784 million (465).
• EBIT[1] increased in the period to SEK 461 million (44), an EBIT margin of 5 % (1 %). Adjusted EBIT increased by 115 % to SEK 2,121 million (986), an Adjusted EBIT margin of 22 % (30 %).
• Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK 580 million (1,009). Net investments in intangible assets amounted to SEK –1,572 million (–916).
• Basic earnings per share was SEK 2.21 (2.26) and diluted earnings per share SEK 2.20 (2.24). Adjusted earnings per share was SEK 2.12 (0.95). Adjusted earnings per share after full dilution was SEK 1.95 (0.91).
• An Adjusted EBIT of SEK 8,000-10,000 million is forecasted for the financial year 2022/23. It is a downward adjustment compared to the previously communicated forecast. The forecast published previously for the financial year 2023/24 is reiterated, stating an Adjusted EBIT of SEK 10,300-13,600 million.

FIRST SIX MONTHS, APRIL–SEPTEMBER 2022 (COMPARED TO APRIL–SEPTEMBER 2021)

• Net sales increased by 148 % (10 % organic growth) to SEK 16,687 million (6,738). The sales split per operating segment was:
  • PC/Console Games: increased by 52 % to SEK 6,391 million (4,215).
  • Mobile Games: increased by 84 % to SEK 2,928 million (1,593).
  • Tabletop Games: amounted to SEK 5,911 million (-).
  • Entertainment & Services: increased by 56 % to SEK 1,456 million (931).
• EBIT[1] amounted to SEK 63 million (99), an EBIT margin of 0 %. Adjusted EBIT increased by 52 % to SEK 3,442 million (2,265), an Adjusted EBIT margin of 21 % (34 %).
• Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK 927 million (1,591). Net investments in intangible assets amounted to SEK –2,776 million (–1,745).
• Basic earnings per share was SEK 2.10 (2.33) and diluted earnings per share SEK 2.08 (2.31). Adjusted earnings per share was SEK 3.40 (1.92). Adjusted earnings per share after full dilution was SEK 3.13 (1.83).

 

Key performance indicators, Group	Jul-Sep 2022	Jul-Sep 2021	Apr-Sep 2022	Apr-Sep 2021	Apr 2021- Mar 2022
Net sales, SEK m	9,569	3,305	16,687	6,738	17,067
EBIT[1], SEK m	461	44	63	99	–1,126
EBIT margin	5%	1%	0%	1%	–7 %
Adjusted EBIT, SEK m	2,121	986	3,442	2,265	4,465
Adjusted EBIT margin	22%	30%	21%	34%	26%
Cash flow from operating activities, SEK m	580	1,009	927	1,591	4,266
Total investments in intangible assets, SEK m	1,572	916	2,776	1,745	3,713
Net sales growth	190%	39%	148%	51%	90%
Total game development projects	237	197	237	197	223
Total game developers	10,899	7,47	10,899	7,47	8,586
Total headcount	15,731	9,064	15,731	9,064	12,760

[1] EBIT equals Operating profit in the Consolidated statement of profit or loss.

All figures in brackets refer to the corresponding period of the previous year, unless otherwise stated.

CEO COMMENTS:

CAPITALIZING ON OUR STRONG POSITION IN A MORE CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT

We are pleased to announce another stable quarter for Embracer. The second quarter is the strongest quarter so far in terms of net sales and Adjusted EBIT for the Group, supported by a solid organic growth of 35 percent. As we are gearing up to meet an increasingly challenging market environment, we are working on a transformative content partnership and have separately also launched a special review of our business to further optimize our decentralized model, capture new opportunities and add strategic flexibility.

For the overall group, we now expect Adjusted EBIT of SEK 8.0-10.0 billion in FY 2022/23 while we reiterate the forecast SEK 10.3-13.6 billion for FY 2023/24. The reduced forecast for the financial year 2022/23 reflects a mixed reception to some of the key second quarter PC/console releases, estimated to impact catalog sales in the coming quarters, shifts in the PC/console pipeline, including Dead Island 2, now planned for release April 28, and a more cautious view on the current macroeconomic situation, particularly related to the Mobile Games and Tabletop Games segments. The forecast includes a range of outcomes from a partnership- and licensing deal with several industry partners expected to be completed during the financial year 2022/23.

NEW INITIATIVES TO CAPITALIZE ON OUR STRONG POSITION
Over the past several years, we have invested significantly in creating one of the largest providers of PC/Console content in the industry. We have close to 10,000 developers creating games, many based on Embracer's deep and growing catalog of IPs. Our efforts in this regard have created significant collective value which we are now starting to realize. One result of such efforts to capitalize on the value we have created is a transformative partnership and licensing deal, that we have worked on with several industry partners. This deal covers a range of large-budget upcoming games over the coming six years. We expect the whole or parts of this deal will close during this financial year, thereby, it would improve predictability, lower business risk and provide a positive impact on our cash flow and profits. It would also enable further investments into making even greater games based on both established and new IPs. The impact of the above-mentioned deal will be a factor in our forecasted Adjusted EBIT range for this and next financial year.

The increasingly challenging market environment has proven to be another factor year-to-date. In early November, Newzoo cut its forecasts for the video games market from 2 % growth to a 4 % decline in 2022. The global economy has seen a slowdown and might be moving toward a recession. Games offer good value for money for consumers. Consequently, games are historically less affected by the general fluctuations in consumer purchasing power. Regardless it is fair to assume that all industries, including the games industry, will see some impact from weaker consumer sentiment.

CONTINUOUSLY DEVELOPING OUR DECENTRALIZED OPERATING MODEL
The organic growth during the quarter of 35 % was, as expected, primarily driven by new releases within PC/console, in particular supported by the reboot of Saints Row, which was released on August 23. The reception of Saints Row did not meet the full expectations and left the fanbase partially polarized. The game development studio, Volition, has been working hard to improve the player experience.

Financially, Saints Row has performed in line with management expectations in the quarter. Going forward, Volition will transition to become part of Gearbox which has all the tools, including an experienced management team in the US, to create future success at Volition. This is the first internal group transfer where we transfer a major studio between operative groups, but it is not necessarily the last.

Asmodee continues to deliver a solid performance and has outgrown the tabletop market in both EU and the US this financial year. The performance is, in particular, driven by strong demand for trading cards, which brought certain pressure on the gross margin. Asmodee is currently tying up excess levels of working capital and management actions have been taken to enable a decrease over the coming 12 months in the inventory levels to the historical average. We expect a substantial improvement post the peak-season already by end of this financial year.

The business segment Mobile Games is favorably positioned, with a primarily ad revenue-based model. The ad markets are impacted by the looming recession and likely some lingering effects from the changes to IDFA. We consider our mobile businesses within ads as leading in the industry, and they adapt quickly to new conditions, constantly balancing profit and growth for the best long-term performance.

TURBULENT TIMES CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES
We continue our long-term mindset in building enduring, innovative and profitable businesses in a creative industry. I have a firm belief in our decentralized operating model, which is built around experienced and successful creators and entrepreneurs. That said, the world has changed for the worse in many areas, becoming darker in recent months. We need to adapt to the challenges of geopolitical and social issues around the world and the new macroeconomic reality. The increased cost of capital will impact our business going forward. The adjustments in the cost of capital will, compared to before, require current and future investments, both organic and in-organic, to have a higher minimum hurdle with a safety margin to justify the capital allocation. We need to continue our sharp focus on the execution of our ongoing business around the world.

Therefore, the Board of Directors decided on November 16 to launch a special review of our business to navigate the new market conditions and how we both make sure all businesses have all the tools to succeed and maximize long-term shareholder value creation. The outcome of this review may, for example, lead to board recommendations to make spin-off/s (under Lex Asea) into separate publicly listed companies in the future, if that is deemed to be the best for its employees, create higher shareholder value and improve our strategic flexibility.

In the current financial environment, it is important to retain a strong balance sheet. We expect to reach our financial leverage target by the end of this financial year, and we had substantial headroom in relation to financial covenants already at the end of September. During the quarter we made a voluntary debt repayment of SEK 6.2 billion and at the end of the quarter we had access to SEK 10 billion in available cash and credit facilities. There are no material loans that will expire prior to June 2024.

Our ongoing project to change listing venue to Nasdaq Stockholm Main Market is on track to be concluded before the year-end, further strengthening transparency, governance and liquidity in our shares. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Cecilia Driving, elected at the annual general meeting, to the board of directors of the parent company and as chair of the Audit and Sustainability Committee. Business ethics and governance is the foundation for our sustainability strategy. During the quarter, we adopted and implemented new Group-wide policies and several important steps to enhance information security throughout the group.

To conclude, I would like to send my thanks to all our shareholders, employees, customers, business partners and industry colleagues for contributing to the prosperity and success of Embracer Group.
 

About Embracer Group
Embracer Group is a parent company of businesses led by entrepreneurs in PC, console, mobile and board games and other related media. The Group has an extensive catalog of over 850 owned or controlled franchises.

With its head office based in Karlstad, Sweden, Embracer Group has a global presence through its eleven operative groups: THQ Nordic, Koch Media, Coffee Stain, Amplifier Game Invest, Saber Interactive, DECA Games, Gearbox Entertainment, Easybrain, Asmodee, Dark Horse and Embracer Freemode. The Group has 127 internal game development studios and is engaging more than 12,750 employees and contracted employees in more than 40 countries.

Embracer Group's shares are publicly listed on Nasdaq First North Growth Market Stockholm under the ticker EMBRAC B with FNCA Sweden AB as its Certified Adviser; info@fnca.se +46-8-528 00 399.

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