Ainsworth Secures US$2.7M Tariff Refund, Lifts 1H26 Outlook
Ainsworth Game Technology Limited has received refunds worth US$2.7 million from tariffs paid in the United States under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Ainsworth Game Technology Limited, which is an Australia-based manufacturer of the slots machines, stated that the refunds have enhanced the company’s outlook for the first half of 2026, where the company now expects high levels of income and profit.
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Refunds Support Updated Forecast
In a Friday filing to the Australian Securities Exchange, Ainsworth said it now expects first-half calendar-year 2026 total revenue of about AUD116 million, or US$80.4 million. The company said the reimbursement, which was credited to its U.S. subsidiary Ainsworth Game Technology Inc on Tuesday, represented substantially all of the tariffs it had previously paid under IEEPA.
The refund followed a February 20 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court saying IEEPA does not authorise the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump to impose tariffs. Ainsworth said the tariffs were therefore declared unlawful, prompting it to apply for refunds of amounts already paid.
The company did not state the value of any remaining balance after the reimbursement. It also said the refund had not been included in its trading update released on May 22 because there was uncertainty around both the timing of recovery and the amount that could ultimately be reclaimed.
Profit And Cash Flow Improve
The refund will result in Ainsworth Game Technology having expectations of the profit before tax for the first half-year of 2026 of AUD5 million. The other expectation includes having an EBITDA of AUD17 million. Both figures exclude currency impacts and one-off items.
The company further expects positive cash flows from operations of about AUD8 million for the same period. As a result, net debt is now expected to fall to roughly AUD8 million, compared with AUD11.8 million as at December 31, 2025.
Ainsworth said the reduction in net debt was driven by the IEEPA tariff refunds and stronger cash collection than anticipated. The update suggests the tariff reimbursement has had a direct effect on the company’s balance-sheet position as well as its profit and revenue outlook.
Results Still Under Review
The slot maker said its actual results remain subject to review. It added that its first-half calendar-year 2026 numbers are expected to be released on or around August 25.
The revised guidance gives a clearer view of the company’s interim position after a period in which the tariff issue had created uncertainty around recoveries. With the refund now received, Ainsworth has updated several of its key financial expectations for the half-year.
Operational Changes Still A Factor
In May, Ryan Comstock, who was recently confirmed as Ainsworth’s permanent chief executive, said organisational changes implemented in the latter part of 2025 were likely to have affected results for the 6 months to June 30 this year.
That comment provides additional context for the company’s half-year performance, which is now being shaped by both internal changes and the tariff refund. The latest update does not alter the fact that the results are still pending formal review, but it does indicate that Ainsworth expects a stronger financial outcome than it had previously signalled.
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Source: GGR Asia
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