Woolworths Gambling
Woolworths Group has been under serious scrutiny in the public eye and behind the door of shareholder meetings for more than a few months. The company and its pokies have been the target of much consternation, most notably Woolworths’s ties to the Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH).
Woolworths Group Investigation
Internal investigations have been ongoing since 2018. That’s when a whistleblower alleged that staff at Woolworths supermarkets across nearly two dozen locations had been offering special service, including free drinks to gambling customers in order to keep them at the slot machines longer.
ALH Group, the company that operates tens of thousands of pokies and of which Woolworths owns 75%, admitted to mismanagement. Some employees were fired, others were disciplined, and new training was offered to all staff.
Woolworths Gambling Money
But it wasn’t enough.
One of Woolworths’ primary shareholders, Perpetual Investments, pressured the company to remove all pokies from Woolworths-associated establishments. The investment firm called the pokies a threat to Woolworths’ entire brand and reputation.
Another investigation ensued due to complaints stemming from 2017. The New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority subsequently stepped in to conduct its own investigation. It was a far-reaching and comprehensive one that inquired about pokies at numerous venues.
Jul 3rd, 2019 Supermarket giant Woolworths is combining its liquor and hospitality businesses ahead of a divestment next year but insists it is not trying to. Woolworths' pokies business is facing heavy penalties or the cancellation of gaming licences after investigations uncovered evidence it has been providing patrons with free alcohol to keep them. Woolworths Online supports the Responsible Service of Alcohol. As per Liquor Act 2007, it is against the law to sell or supply alcohol to, or to obtain alcohol on behalf of, a person under the age of 18 years. For more specific legislation in your state. Woolworths said it expected to retain minority ownership of the new business, to be called the Endeavour Group. The supermarket chain has come under constant pressure from anti-gambling campaigners over its 75 per cent stake in ALH, which is Australia's largest operator of poker machines with more than 12,000 across its 323 pubs and clubs. Woolworths Group Limited, a major Australian company, has extensive retail interests throughout Australia and New Zealand. It is the largest company in Australia by revenue and the second-largest in New Zealand. In addition, Woolworths Group is the largest takeaway liquor-retailer in Australia, the largest hotel and gaming poker-machine operator in Australia, and was the 19th.
Big Woolworths Group Decision
The pressure did work.
Reuters reported last week that Woolworths will combine its drinks and pubs units as a spin-off and focus more intently on its core business.
In what it is calling a demerger, the company will offer a standalone operator called Endeavor Group for investment that will operate 1,500 liquor stores and 327 pubs. That figure represents approximately 30% of its business. The worth of that business will be approximately A$10 billion. The purpose is to reduce Woolworths’ reliance on slot machine revenue, resorting back to the family-focussed brand it once was.
The company also has the option to pursue a “value accretive alternative,” such as a trade sale, which would happen – if pursued – sometime in 2020.Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci said:
“We did it to unlock potential, not to avoid issues.” He added that the intention is to simplify both businesses to better compete with competition from internet retailers. “There will be more simplicity, which will lead to more agility”.
Banducci claims the move has nothing to do with investor concerns over gambling. Or the NSW Liquor and Gaming Authority investigation, for that matter. He says those issues have been and continue to be addressed responsibly and within the inner workings of the business.
Problem Not Solved?
Many analysts do not believe the move is enough. They also believe investors will not respond in the way Woolworths is likely hoping they will. Clime Asset Management Portfolio Manager David Walker noted: “A significant proportion of the world’s funds under management that would invest in this stock is concerned about its ownership of hotels and poker machines. Whether that’s the intention or not, it just removes a hurdle”.
ABC News reported that the move is a start in the eyes of the Alliance for Gambling Reform. This is one of the primary organizations pushing for changes at Woolworths. Spokesperson Stephen Mayne, who is also a shareholder activist, said: “This is a globally significant development for the gambling divestment movement, not until Rio Tinto getting out of coal.”
Mayne pointed to statistics that show Australians as the world’s biggest gamblers. They reportedly lose $24 billion each year in various forms of gambling. He said Woolworths “is responsible for about $1.5 billion of this through its 12,000 gaming machines in 286 hotels across Australia.”
Woolworths Gambling Winnings
Market Approves
The Australian Securities Exchange tells a different story than wary investors. Stock prices have gone up consistently, especially so after the news of the demerger.
The price dipped as low as $28.35 in February, before briefly climbing up to $34.82 in May. However, Woolworths Group Limited jumped from $32.92 to $34.03 upon this announcement. Since July 2, it has not dipped below $33.90.
It is unclear as to how much longer the NSW Liquor and Gaming Authority will continue its investigation. When and if it releases its results, this may prompt more action from Woolworths. Still, the demerger might be enough to satisfy most investors and much of the general public.
If the stock market response is any indication, Woolworths made a smart move. It should thus keep its pokies and groceries separate and apart going forward.