Gaming America speaks exclusively with Light & Wonder about its 100% acquisition of SciPlay, its omnichannel objectives, the impact the acquisition will have on its shareholders and more.
Was the acquisition made to boost your interactive sector?
Prior to this acquisition, Light & Wonder owned approximately 83% of the economic interest and 98% of the voting rights for SciPlay, so acquiring the remaining 17% equity interests made sense.
SciPlay has been an important part of the Light & Wonder portfolio through our majority ownership and is directly aligned with our vision to become a leading cross-platform global games company. We are excited to fully unite SciPlay with Light & Wonder, further accelerating our strategy and creating an even stronger and more efficient platform for growth.
Is omnichannel growth your main objective right now?
Our primary objective is to ensure our strategy and associated investments in the business are yielding results and align with our vision. Our second quarter results, consolidated revenue up 20% year-over-year to $731m, and an amazing ninth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth with each line of business (Gaming, SciPlay and iGaming) growing double-digits again this quarter, are all examples of the progress we continue to make.
What is the growth trajectory like for SciPlay now that Light & Wonder has acquired it?
We are very confident about SciPlay’s ability to continue to perform in this market, as it continues to invest in its core business, and drives game performance to enhance monetization and revenue growth.
What will happen to your shareholders as a result of this acquisition?
We negotiated a transaction that we believe is in the best interest of our shareholders. With complete ownership, our shareholders will be able to participate fully in the substantial value-creation opportunity that we see at SciPlay. For SciPlay public shareholders, we believe the transaction provides a compelling combination of value, speed and certainty.
How much value will SciPlay add to Light & Wonder?
SciPlay is a high-growth digital games business that plays an important role in our cross-platform strategy, and they bring with them a proven track record of developing engaging content. This acquisition will enable us to further streamline the organization, drive collaboration and create a seamless player experience across all channels.
