Streamlined debt structure expected to reduce annual interest expense by $5 million
LAS VEGAS, June 23, 2017 /CNW/ - NYX Gaming Group Limited (TSXV:NYX) ("NYX Gaming Group" or the "Company"), today announced that it has entered into a commitment with ARES Management Limited to refinance its existing debt. The transaction is expected to close in July 2017, contemporaneously with the redemption of all of the Company's outstanding 11.0% Senior Secured Series A Debentures, 11.0% Senior Secured Series B Debentures and 11.0% Senior Secured Series C Debentures, each with a due date of December 31, 2019 (collectively, the "Debentures").
Additionally, the Company plans to repay its 6% unsecured convertible debentures and all outstanding amounts of its revolving credit facility. The revolving credit facility will be expanded to £15.0 million to provide increased financial flexibility. The resulting denomination of the Company's debt will now more closely match its geographical revenue concentration. It is expected that approximately 66% of the Company's debt will be denominated in British pound sterling, 31% in Euros and the remainder in Canadian dollars.
As previously reported, the Company has been focused on streamlining its capital structure through a refinancing of its existing indebtedness. "Over the prior twelve months, we have made meaningful strides toward accomplishing our strategic plan intended to significantly improve our operating model," said Matt Davey, Chief Executive Officer of NYX Gaming Group. "This includes enhancing our executive management team, integrating our recently acquired companies and exiting non-core businesses, and now reducing our cost of capital and simplifying our capital structure."
Eric Matejevich, Chief Financial Officer, added, "This transaction benefits NYX in several ways. In addition to extending the maturity of certain of our debt instruments, we expect approximately $5 million of annual interest expense savings, which is equivalent to a 16% decrease in annual cash interest payments. This will improve our liquidity position, benefit free cash flow and earnings per share in the coming years, and provide added financial flexibility to enhance shareholder value."
The Debenture redemption price has been determined in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture related to the Debentures. The redemption price will be paid in cash and is $1,070 per Debenture together with accrued and unpaid interest on the Debentures up to, but excluding the Redemption Date.
Notices of redemption are being delivered today, June 23, 2017, to registered holders, including CDS & Co. ("CDS") and the trustee, TSX Trust Company.
Non-registered holders (banks, brokerage firms or other financial institutions) who maintain their interests in the Debentures through CDS should contact their CDS customer service representative with any questions about the redemption. Alternatively, beneficial holders with any questions about the redemption should contact their respective brokerage firm or financial institution, which holds interests in the Debentures through CDS on their behalf.
The Series A Debentures currently trade on the TSX Venture Exchange and will be delisted immediately following close of the transaction.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements included herein, including those that express management's expectations or estimates of the Company's future performance, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "potential" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions regarding the Company's expected growth, results of operations, performance, industry trends and growth opportunities. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks, uncertainties and contingencies that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: credit, market, currency, operational, liquidity and funding risks, including changes in economic conditions, interest rates or tax rates, the impact of government regulation on the online gaming industry and the risk that such regulation is subject to change, competition from other providers of online gaming services, the possibility that the Company may be unable to successfully integrate the acquired businesses, the risks associated with international and foreign operations, the impact of consolidations in the online gaming industry and the other risks identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's final long form prospectus dated December 18, 2014 and final short form prospectuses dated July 9, 2015 and July 14, 2016, each as filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and in other filings that NYX Gaming Group may make with applicable securities authorities in the future. The forward-looking statements contained herein reflect NYX Gaming Group's current views with respect to future events, and except as required by law, NYX Gaming Group does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect, in particular, new information or future events, or otherwise.
About NYX Gaming Group Limited
NYX Gaming Group Limited is a leading digital gaming provider, headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, with a staff of more than 1,200 employees globally. NYX delivers value by adhering to the highest standards of customer service, probity, and responsibility. It has one of the broadest distribution bases in the industry, with over 200 unique customers.
The award-winning NYX OGS™ (Open Gaming System), which allows licensees to leverage the best-of-breed, multi-vendor casino content from around the world, is acknowledged to be the industry's market-leading gaming offering. From its own studios and a broad partner network of the most innovative third party suppliers, NYX offers customers a wide portfolio of content, with access to over 2,000 game titles, via OGS™.
In addition, NYX's award winning sports betting division OpenBet is utilized and trusted by leading sports book operators, with its scale and performance world-renowned. In 2016, the OpenBet sportsbook processed more than two billion bets and broke new records at the 2017 Grand National, where it processed 68,000 bets-per-minute.
NYX Gaming Group Limited is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol NYX. For more information about the group visit: www.nyxgaminggroup.com.
SOURCE NYX Gaming Group Limited
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