Melco Crown Entertainment Announces Unaudited First Quarter 2015 Earnings

MACAU, May 7, 2015 (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 2015.

Net revenue for the first quarter of 2015 was US$1,054.3 million, representing a decrease of approximately 22% from US$1,357.3 million for the comparable period in 2014. The decline in net revenue was primarily attributable to lower group-wide rolling chip revenues and mass market table games revenues.

Adjusted property EBITDA⁽¹⁾ was US$253.3 million for the first quarter of 2015, as compared to Adjusted property EBITDA of US$387.5 million in the first quarter of 2014. The 35% year-over-year decline in Adjusted property EBITDA was attributable to lower group-wide rolling chip volumes and rolling chip win rate, together with a lower contribution from the mass market table games segment.

On a U.S. GAAP basis, net income attributable to Melco Crown Entertainment for the first quarter of 2015 was US$60.6 million, or US$0.11 per ADS, compared with net income attributable to Melco Crown Entertainment of US$239.5 million, or US$0.44 per ADS, in the first quarter of 2014. The net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests during the first quarter of 2015 of US$36.8 million related to Studio City and City of Dreams Manila.

Mr. Lawrence Ho, Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Melco Crown Entertainment, commented, "I am pleased to report a solid operating and financial performance for Melco Crown Entertainment in what continues to be a challenging period for Macau.

"While the demand environment in Macau remains challenging, we are firmly committed to maximizing customer experience and loyalty by leveraging our premium hotel rooms, food and beverage amenities and entertainment attractions. We are also firmly committed to maintaining a strict discipline on player reinvestment and operating costs, as demonstrated by our Macau Property EBITDA margins which remained flat sequentially despite declining revenues.

"With a market-leading array of premium non-gaming amenities, Melco Crown Entertainment once again received more Forbes-5 star awards than any other company in Macau. We believe this highlights City of Dreams and Altira's unique appeal to the most discerning and sophisticated customers in Macau.

"We have always strived to offer visitors a multi-faceted experience and have consistently supported the Macau Government's long term vision for Macau as a world-class leisure and tourism destination. Our support and commitment are highlighted by the diverse non-gaming amenities we offer, including our award winning The House of Dancing Water show which required an investment of over US$300 million to design and produce and has been viewed by over 3.2 million guests, Club Cubic, Macau's only cabaret show, Taboo, and our SOHO food and beverage and entertainment precinct.

"Studio City, which remains on budget and on schedule, signifies our Company's continued commitment to the diversification of Macau and it highlights our ability to bring unique, market-leading attractions to Macau. Studio City will provide a diverse and exciting mix of entertainment in Macau, including a Warner Bros. Batman-themed motion ride, a 40,000-square-foot family entertainment center, Asia's highest Ferris wheel, a TV production studio, a 5,000-seat multi-purpose live entertainment center, a live magic show precinct and Pacha nightclub.

"Studio City is conveniently located on Cotai and is directly adjacent to the Lotus Bridge immigration point connecting Hengqin Island and a future station-point for the Macau Light Rapid Transit. We believe that Studio City with its Hollywood-inspired design and exciting attractions will attract new customers and visitors to Macau.

"We remain firm believers in Macau's long term positioning as the leading leisure and tourism destination in the region. We believe that Macau's unique geographical position, the Macau and Central Government's forward-thinking and expansive infrastructure and development plan, and the diversification of the city's leisure and tourism offering all together provide a sustainable long term growth model. We look forward to continuing our leadership role as a provider of unique and world-class entertainment attractions and non-gaming amenities in Macau and our support for the long term vision for Macau.

"City of Dreams Manila continues to build on its early success, with its mass market gaming operations and non-gaming attractions delivering robust growth since its opening in December 2014. We believe that this growth, together with the junket business that is anticipated to develop over the coming months, positions the property to realize its potential as the leading integrated resort in the Philippines.

"City of Dreams Manila represents an important milestone for Melco Crown Entertainment as we embark on our plans to become the leading gaming, leisure and entertainment company in Asia. We are proud to be the first integrated resort operator in Entertainment City to be awarded a regular license from the Philippines government. We believe the Philippines offers a unique opportunity to participate in the expected strong consumer-led growth in Asia and we look forward to contributing to the expansion of the Philippines as a leading, multi-faceted tourist destination in the region."

Community Support and Investment

As an employer of choice with a strong and deep heritage in Macau, we have always maintained a steadfast commitment to the long term development of our employees and support of the local community. This is highlighted by the following initiatives we have recently instituted or expanded:

• We recently announced the "Foundation Acceleration Program," a new management development program for our local employees. It aims to enhance preparedness for management responsibilities through a structured program.

• In 2009, we established Macau's first "In-house Learning Academy," offering over 200 courses each year to all our employees who are wanting to expand their education and widen their career path. These programs will now be offered to employees of local business and SMEs as a commitment to developing a longer term sustainable economic model in Macau.

• Our "Back-to-School" program, which started in 2010 in partnership with the Department of Education, is Macau's first and only in-house high school diploma program, giving our employees a chance to complete high school education.

• Our "Dare to Dream" series, which began in 2012, offered Macau youths a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study with international maestros including Franco Dragone, the creator of The House of Dancing Water show, legendary piano master Yundi Li, and Dame Zaha Hadid, the world-renowned architect.

City of Dreams First Quarter Results

For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, net revenue at City of Dreams was US$805.9 million compared to US$1,074.0 million in the first quarter of 2014. City of Dreams generated Adjusted EBITDA of US$235.8 million in the first quarter of 2015, representing a decrease of 31% compared to US$341.4 million in the comparable period of 2014. The decline in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily a result of lower rolling chip revenues and mass market table games revenues.

Rolling chip volume totaled US$13.5 billion for the first quarter of 2015 versus US$24.6 billion in the first quarter of 2014. The rolling chip win rate was 3.2% in the first quarter of 2015 versus 3.0% in the first quarter of 2014. The expected rolling chip win rate range is 2.7%-3.0%.

Mass market table games drop decreased to US$1,199.0 million compared with US$1,299.1 million in the first quarter of 2014. The mass market table games hold percentage was 35.9% in the first quarter of 2015 compared to 37.5% in the first quarter of 2014.

Gaming machine handle for the first quarter of 2015 was US$1,242.0 million, compared with US$1,489.7 million in the first quarter of 2014.

Total non-gaming revenue at City of Dreams in the first quarter of 2015 was US$66.7 million, compared with US$70.6 million in the first quarter of 2014.

Altira Macau First Quarter Results

For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, net revenue at Altira Macau was US$148.7 million compared to US$229.8 million in the first quarter of 2014. Altira Macau generated Adjusted EBITDA of US$6.8 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared with Adjusted EBITDA of US$34.8 million in the first quarter of 2014. The year-over-year decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily a result of lower rolling chip revenues.

Rolling chip volume totaled US$7.4 billion in the first quarter of 2015 versus US$10.1 billion in the first quarter of 2014. The rolling chip win rate was 2.5% in the first quarter of 2015 versus 2.9% in the first quarter of 2014. The expected rolling chip win rate range is 2.7%-3.0%.

In the mass market table games segment, drop totaled US$159.3 million in the first quarter of 2015, a decrease from US$203.8 million generated in the comparable period in 2014. The mass market table games hold percentage was 17.2% in the first quarter of 2015 compared with 13.3% in the first quarter of 2014.

Gaming machine handle for the first quarter of 2015 was US$7.2 million.

Total non-gaming revenue at Altira Macau in the first quarter of 2015 was US$8.5 million compared with US$9.4 million in the first quarter of 2014.

Mocha Clubs First Quarter Results

Net revenue from Mocha Clubs totaled US$34.9 million in the first quarter of 2015 as compared to US$39.5 million in the first quarter of 2014. Mocha Clubs generated US$8.3 million of Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2015 compared with US$11.3 million in the same period in 2014.

The number of gaming machines in operation at Mocha Clubs averaged approximately 1,200 in the first quarter of 2015, compared to approximately 1,400 in the comparable period in 2014. The reduction in gaming machines reported by Mocha Clubs was primarily due to the closure of one club in mid-2014 and the transfer of the reporting of one club to Altira Macau in 2015, partially offset by the opening of a new Mocha club in mid-2014. The net win per gaming machine per day was US$316 in both quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.

City of Dreams Manila First Quarter Results

City of Dreams Manila started operations on December 14, 2014 with its grand opening on February 2, 2015. For the first quarter of 2015, net revenue at City of Dreams Manila was US$52.7 million. City of Dreams Manila generated Adjusted EBITDA of US$2.9 million in the first quarter of 2015.

Rolling chip volume totaled US$185.5 million for the first quarter of 2015. The rolling chip win rate was negative 0.8% in the first quarter of 2015.

Mass market table games drop was US$101.8 million and the mass market table games hold percentage was 25.2% in the first quarter of 2015.

Gaming machine handle for the first quarter of 2015 was US$385.7 million.

Total non-gaming revenue at City of Dreams Manila in the first quarter of 2015 was US$20.2 million.

Other Factors Affecting Earnings

Total net non-operating expenses for the first quarter of 2015 were US$35.8 million, which mainly included interest income of US$1.8 million and interest expenses, net of capitalized interest, of US$27.0 million and other finance costs of US$12.4 million. We recorded US$36.2 million of capitalized interest during the first quarter of 2015, 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$5.5 million in net non-operating expenses was primarily due to higher capitalized interest in the current quarter, partially offset by higher interest expenses resulted from the drawdown of the Studio City US$1.3 billion term loan facility.

Depreciation and amortization costs of US$110.7 million were recorded in the first quarter of 2015, 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, 2015 totaled US$3.2 billion, including US$0.1 billion of bank deposits with original maturity over three months and US$1.6 billion of restricted cash, primarily related to Studio City. Total debt at the end of the first quarter of 2015 was US$3.8 billion.

Capital expenditures for the first quarter of 2015 were US$456.2 million, which predominantly related to Studio City and City of Dreams Manila, as well as various projects at City of Dreams, including the fifth hotel tower.

Conference Call Information

Melco Crown Entertainment will hold a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2015 financial results on Thursday, May 7, 2015 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 www.melco-crown.com.

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

Safe Harbor Statement

This 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, payments to the Philippine parties under the cooperative arrangement (the "Philippine Parties"), land rent to Belle Corporation, 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, payments to the Philippine Parties, land rent to Belle Corporation, 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 recurring and nonrecurring 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 and property charges and others. 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 "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 (www.studiocity-macau.com), 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, currently operates and manages City of Dreams Manila (www.cityofdreams.com.ph), 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 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.