Melco Crown Entertainment Announces Unaudited First Quarter 2014 Earnings

MACAU, May 8, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Melco Crown Entertainment Limited ("Melco Crown Entertainment" or "the Company" or "we") (SEHK:6883) (Nasdaq:MPEL), a developer, owner and operator of casino gaming and entertainment resort facilities in Asia, today reported its unaudited financial results for the first quarter of 2014.

Net revenue for the first quarter of 2014 was US$1,357.3 million, representing an increase of approximately 19% from US$1,144.9 million for the comparable period in 2013. The increase in net revenue was primarily attributable to improved group-wide revenues across all gaming segments, particularly in the mass market table games segment.

Adjusted property EBITDA^<1> was US$387.5 million for the first quarter of 2014, as compared to Adjusted property EBITDA of US$294.9 million in the first quarter of 2013. The 31% year-over-year improvement in Adjusted property EBITDA was driven by stronger mass market and rolling chip revenues together with our ongoing commitment to control costs.

On a U.S. GAAP basis, net income attributable to Melco Crown Entertainment for the first quarter of 2014 was US$239.5 million, or US$0.44 per ADS, compared with net income attributable to Melco Crown Entertainment of US$53.8 million, or US$0.10 per ADS, in the first quarter of 2013. The net loss attributable to non-controlling interests during the first quarter of 2014 of US$14.0 million related to Studio City and City of Dreams Manila.

Mr. Lawrence Ho, Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Melco Crown Entertainment, commented, "The Company delivered another strong performance in the first quarter of 2014, with net revenues and Adjusted property EBITDA increasing approximately 19% and 31%, respectively, on a year-over-year basis.

"Our group-wide profitability continues to be driven by the mass market segment at City of Dreams, a segment which is supported by the property's unique premium positioning and best-in-class gaming, hotel entertainment and other food and beverage amenities. We remain committed to our on-going table and room optimization strategy which has resulted in a shift of more resources to the mass market segment, positioning the property to take advantage of the expected growth in this higher margin segment in the future.

"City of Dreams Manila is due to open later this year, marking our first entrance outside of Macau. Our integrated resort in Entertainment City in Manila Bay brings together a collection of World-class brands, including three exciting hotel brands - Crown Towers hotel, Nobu Hotel and a hotel managed by the Hyatt group – as well as a range of other entertainment and food and beverage offerings. We believe this property will significantly enhance Manila's appeal to regional tourists who are seeking a unique and World-class entertainment and gaming experience.

"Studio City remains on track to open in mid-2015 and will represent the next standalone integrated resort to open in Macau. This exciting cinematically-themed integrated resort will bring a new level of entertainment to Macau and will substantially increase our already large exposure to the increasingly important mass market segments in Macau and fully capitalize on the planned development on Hengqin Island.

"In association with the award-winning, internationally renowned architect, Dame Zaha Hadid, we recently unveiled the design plan for the fifth and final hotel tower at City of Dreams, Macau. This newest addition to our flagship, premium-focused, integrated resort in Macau will add a new icon to Macau and the region. The development of the new tower is underway and is expected to open in early 2017.

"Macau delivered impressive growth in the first quarter of 2014, particularly in the mass market table games segment which expanded 38.9% on a year-over-year basis. We believe the mass market segment will be the long term driver of Macau's success which, given our significant current and future exposure to this higher margin segment, means we are well positioned to capitalize on this on-going trend.

"While we remain fully committed to optimizing our current operating assets in Macau and progressing our exciting development pipeline both in Manila and Macau, we also continue to further our goal of becoming a leading gaming and entertainment company in the region, with particular focus on new major markets, most notably Japan.

"The Company also declared a quarterly dividend for the first quarter of 2014 of US$0.1293 per ADS, or HK$0.3341 per ordinary share, representing the first dividend under our new ordinary dividend policy announced earlier this year."

City of Dreams First Quarter Results

For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, net revenue at City of Dreams was US$1,074.0 million compared to US$836.0 million in the first quarter of 2013. City of Dreams generated Adjusted EBITDA of US$341.4 million in the first quarter of 2014, representing an increase of 38% compared to US$246.9 million in the comparable period of 2013.

The strong year-over-year improvement in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily driven by the 44% year-over-year improvement in mass table games gross gaming revenue, together with an increase in rolling chip volumes and a higher rolling chip win rate.

Rolling chip volume totaled US$24.6 billion for the first quarter of 2014 versus US$23.8 billion in the first quarter of 2013. The rolling chip win rate was 3.0% in the first quarter of 2014 versus 2.7% in the first quarter of 2013. The expected rolling chip win rate range is 2.7%-3.0%.

Mass market table games drop increased 25% to US$1,299.1 million compared with US$1,038.4 million in the first quarter of 2013. The mass market table games hold percentage was 37.5% in the first quarter of 2014, an increase from 32.5% in the first quarter of 2013.

Slot handle for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 was US$1,489.7 million, up 45% from US$1,026.6 million generated in the quarter ended March 31, 2013.

Total non-gaming revenue at City of Dreams in the first quarter of 2014 was US$70.6 million, up from US$63.3 million in the first quarter of 2013.

Altira Macau First Quarter Results

For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, net revenue at Altira Macau was US$229.8 million compared to US$265.0 million in the first quarter of 2013. Altira Macau generated Adjusted EBITDA of US$34.8 million in the first quarter of 2014 compared with Adjusted EBITDA of US$40.1 million in the first quarter of 2013, a decline of 13%. The year-over-year decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily driven by lower rolling chip volume, partially offset by higher mass market table games revenues.

Rolling chip volume totaled US$10.1 billion in the first quarter of 2014 versus US$11.8 billion in the first quarter of 2013. The rolling chip win rate remained stable at 2.9% in the first quarter of 2014 and 2013. The expected rolling chip win rate range is 2.7%-3.0%.

In the mass market table games segment, drop totaled US$203.8 million in the first quarter of 2014, an increase of 24% from US$164.8 million generated in the comparable period in 2013. The mass market table games hold percentage was 13.3% in the first quarter of 2014 compared with 15.0% in the first quarter of 2013.

Total non-gaming revenue at Altira Macau in the first quarter of 2014 was US$9.4 million, up from US$9.0 million in the first quarter of 2013.

Mocha Clubs First Quarter Results

Net revenue from Mocha Clubs totaled US$39.5 million in the first quarter of 2014, up 16% from US$34.0 million in the first quarter of 2013. Mocha Clubs generated US$11.3 million of Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2014, an increase of 32% when compared to Adjusted EBITDA of US$8.5 million in the same period in 2013.

The number of gaming machines in operation at Mocha Clubs averaged approximately 1,400 in the first quarter of 2014, compared to approximately 2,000 in the comparable period in 2013 due to the closure of three clubs offset by a new club opened in late 2013. The net win per gaming machine per day was US$316 in the quarter ended March 31, 2014, as compared with US$214 in the comparable period in 2013, an increase of 48%.

City of Dreams Manila First Quarter Results

On a fully consolidated basis, we incurred approximately US$8.8 million of operating expenses in the first quarter of 2014 at City of Dreams Manila, which primarily relate to pre-opening costs as well as share based compensation cost, and recorded a net loss of approximately US$21.8 million, as a result of approximately US$4.2 million interest on the PHP15 billion senior notes and US$8.2 million of capital lease charges relating to building lease payments, net of capitalized interest, incurred during the first quarter of 2014.

Other Factors Affecting Earnings

Total net non-operating expenses for the first quarter of 2014 were US$41.3 million, which included an interest income of US$3.9 million and interest expenses, net of capitalized interest, of US$31.9 million and other finance costs of US$11.7 million. We recorded US$16.4 million of capitalized interest during the first quarter of 2014, primarily relating to Studio City, City of Dreams Manila and the fifth hotel tower at City of Dreams. The year-on-year decrease of US$75.3 million in net non-operating expenses was primarily due to the one-off charge on extinguishment and modification of debt relating to the refinancing of the 10.25% senior notes in the first quarter of 2013 and higher capitalized interest in the current quarter.

Depreciation and amortization costs of US$94.8 million were recorded in the first quarter of 2014, of which US$14.3 million was related to the amortization of our gaming subconcession and US$16.1 million was related to the amortization of land use rights.

Financial Position and Capital Expenditure

Total cash and bank balances as of March 31, 2014 totaled US$3.5 billion, including US$0.4 billion bank deposits with original maturity over three months and US$1.0 billion of restricted cash, primarily related to Studio City. Total debt at the end of the first quarter of 2014 was US$2.8 billion.

Capital expenditures for the first quarter of 2014 were US$252.4 million, which predominantly related to Studio City and City of Dreams Manila, as well as various projects at City of Dreams.

Conference Call Information

Melco Crown Entertainment will hold a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2014 financial results on May 8, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (8:30 p.m. Hong Kong Time). To join the conference call, please use the dial-in details below:

An audio webcast will also be available at http://www.melco-crown.com.

To access the replay, please use the dial-in details below:

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to, (i) growth of the gaming market and visitation in Macau and the Philippines, (ii) capital and credit market volatility, (iii) local and global economic conditions, (iv) our anticipated growth strategies, and (v) our future business development, results of operations and financial condition. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "target", "aim", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "believe", "potential", "continue", "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(1) "Adjusted EBITDA" is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, pre-opening costs, development costs, property charges and others, share-based compensation, gain on disposal of assets held for sale and other non-operating income and expenses. "Adjusted property EBITDA" is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, pre-opening costs, development costs, property charges and others, share-based compensation, gain on disposal of assets held for sale, corporate and others expenses and other non-operating income and expenses. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted property EBITDA are presented exclusively as a supplemental disclosure because management believes that they are widely used to measure the performance, and as a basis for valuation, of gaming companies. Management uses adjusted EBITDA and adjusted property EBITDA as measures of the operating performance of its segments and to compare the operating performance of its properties with those of its competitors. The Company also presents adjusted EBITDA and adjusted property EBITDA because they are used by some investors as ways to measure a company's ability to incur and service debt, make capital expenditures, and meet working capital requirements. Gaming companies have historically reported adjusted EBITDA and adjusted property EBITDA as supplements to financial measures in accordance with U.S. GAAP. However, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted property EBITDA should not be considered as alternatives to operating income as indicators of the Company's performance, as alternatives to cash flows from operating activities as measures of liquidity, or as alternatives to any other measure determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Unlike net income, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted property EBITDA do not include depreciation and amortization or interest expense and therefore do not reflect current or future capital expenditures or the cost of capital. The Company compensates for these limitations by using adjusted EBITDA and adjusted property EBITDA as only two of several comparative tools, together with U.S. GAAP measurements, to assist in the evaluation of operating performance.

Such U.S. GAAP measurements include operating income, net income, cash flows from operations and cash flow data. The Company has significant uses of cash flows, including capital expenditures, interest payments, debt principal repayments, taxes and other non-recurring charges, which are not reflected in adjusted EBITDA or adjusted property EBITDA. Also, the Company's calculation of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted property EBITDA may be different from the calculation methods used by other companies and, therefore, comparability may be limited. Reconciliations of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted property EBITDA with the most comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP are provided herein immediately following the financial statements included in this press release.

(2) "Adjusted net income" is net income before pre-opening costs, development costs, property charges and others, loss on extinguishment of debt and costs associated with debt modification. Adjusted net income attributable to Melco Crown Entertainment and adjusted net income attributable to Melco Crown Entertainment per share ("EPS") are presented as supplemental disclosures because management believes that they are widely used to measure the performance, and as a basis for valuation, of gaming companies. These measures are used by management and/or evaluated by some investors, in addition to income and EPS computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as an additional basis for assessing period-to-period results of our business. Adjusted net income attributable to Melco Crown Entertainment and adjusted net income attributable to Melco Crown Entertainment per share may be different from the calculation methods used by other companies and, therefore, comparability may be limited. Reconciliations of adjusted net income attributable to Melco Crown Entertainment with the most comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP are provided herein immediately following the financial statements included in this press release.

About Melco Crown Entertainment Limited

Melco Crown Entertainment, with its shares listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Stock Exchange") (SEHK:6883) and its American depositary shares listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (Nasdaq:MPEL), is a developer, owner and operator of casino gaming and entertainment casino resort facilities in Asia. Melco Crown Entertainment currently operates Altira Macau (www.altiramacau.com), a casino hotel located at Taipa, Macau and City of Dreams (www.cityofdreamsmacau.com), an integrated urban casino resort located in Cotai, Macau. Melco Crown Entertainment's business also includes the Mocha Clubs (www.mochaclubs.com), which comprise the largest non-casino based operations of electronic gaming machines in Macau. The Company is also developing the planned Studio City Project, a cinematically-themed integrated entertainment, retail and gaming resort in Cotai, Macau. In the Philippines, Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corporation's subsidiary, MCE Leisure (Philippines) Corporation, has been cooperating with SM Group's Belle Corporation to develop and operate City of Dreams Manila, a casino, hotel, retail and entertainment integrated resort in the Entertainment City complex in Manila. For more information about Melco Crown Entertainment, please visit www.melco-crown.com.

Melco Crown Entertainment has strong support from both of its major shareholders, Melco International Development Limited ("Melco") and Crown Resorts Limited ("Crown"). Melco is a listed company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and is substantially owned and led by Mr. Lawrence Ho, who is Co-Chairman, an Executive Director and the Chief Executive Officer of Melco Crown Entertainment. Crown is a top-50 company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and led by Chairman Mr. James Packer, who is also Co-Chairman and a Non-executive Director of Melco Crown Entertainment.