Global slot machine giant Aristocrat Leisure Limited has suspended staff travel throughout the region in response to the outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19, but isn’t expecting any major disruption to its business operations, according to CEO and Managing Director Trevor Croker.
“Aristocrat has no direct operations in mainland China and relatively small exposure to the Asian region generally,” Croker told shareholders at the company’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday.
“However, we have been closely monitoring developments with a focus on our people, customers and supply chain. We have temporarily suspended travel in the region, and are supporting our staff in Macau and Hong Kong.
“We are also proactively monitoring and managing potential supply chain impacts. At this stage we do not foresee any material adverse impacts on our business, but we will keep the market updated as appropriate.”
Aristocrat is coming off another record year in 2019, with revenue rising 22.7% to AU$4.4 billion and profit by 22.6% to AU$894.4 million. The company also issued guidance in November anticipating further gains in 2020.
Discussing the latest trading outlook at Thursday’s AGM, Croker said nothing had changed on that front and, “We expect continued growth over the 2020 fiscal full year.”
Incremental gains in land-based outright sales to North America, expansion of its installed base of land-based gaming operations and further growth in digital segment bookings would be the key drivers through 2020, he added.
Aristocrat shares reached an all-time high of AU$38.23 in ASX trading shortly after conclusion of the AGM.
