Melco Announces Unaudited First Quarter 2022 Earnings

MACAU, May 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (Nasdaq: MLCO) (“Melco” or the “Company”), a developer, owner, and operator of integrated resort facilities in Asia and Europe, today reported its unaudited financial results for the first quarter of 2022.

Total operating revenues for the first quarter of 2022 were US$474.9 million, representing a decrease of approximately 8% from US$518.9 million for the comparable period in 2021. The decrease in total operating revenues was primarily attributable to heightened border restrictions in Macau related to COVID-19 which led to softer performance in the mass market table games segment.

Operating loss for the first quarter of 2022 was US$135.9 million, compared with operating loss of US$162.8 million in the first quarter of 2021.

Melco generated Adjusted Property EBITDA(1) of US$56.0 million in the first quarter of 2022, compared with Adjusted Property EBITDA of US$30.1 million in the first quarter of 2021.

Net loss attributable to Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited for the first quarter of 2022 was US$183.3 million, or US$0.39 per ADS, compared with net loss attributable to Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited of US$232.9 million, or US$0.49 per ADS, in the first quarter of 2021. The net loss attributable to non-controlling interests was US$38.6 million and US$44.6 million during the first quarters of 2022 and 2021, respectively, all of which were related to Studio City, City of Dreams Manila, and the Cyprus Operations.

Mr. Lawrence Ho, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Our results for the first quarter of 2022 continue to reflect the impact of the COVID pandemic. We saw a solid performance in Macau through the Chinese New Year holiday period, but COVID-related restrictions and tighter border controls led to Macau GGR falling more than 50% from February to March 2022, and negatively impacted our operating and financial performance for the remainder of the first quarter. Disciplined liquidity management remains a key area of focus. Total debt increased by US$1.3 billion year-on-year as we increased available liquidity to support our operations and ongoing development projects. We will be prudent in managing our balance sheet and liquidity profile as we manage the business through this challenging environment.

“We are pleased to see some easing of travel restrictions with the validity period for negative COVID tests increasing to 72 hours. We remain, as ever, confident in the pent-up demand for Macau as an international tourism destination and believe in a strong recovery once travel restrictions are further relaxed.

“In the Philippines, COVID-related restrictions have been relaxed under alert level 1, and we are starting to see international travel return with meaningful volume growth in our mass segment.

“We remain committed to our development plans in Macau and Cyprus. Construction of Studio City Phase 2 is progressing, and we continue our efforts to complete construction by the deadline set in the land concession of December 27, 2022. This project will complement Melco’s existing offering of ‘next-generation’ world-class entertainment and further enhance the Studio City brand. In Cyprus, construction of City of Dreams Mediterranean continues with a target to open by year-end. However, we are encountering difficulties with our contractor who has struggled with meeting its labor resourcing plans and maintaining progress, which has led to delays. We are actively dealing with these difficulties as we remain fully committed towards delivering Europe’s first integrated resort in Cyprus.

“Turning back to Macau, we look forward to the finalization of the new gaming law by the Macau Government and fully support the Macau Government’s initiatives in relation to the new legislation. We appreciate the Macau Government’s efforts to maintain a streamlined and transparent process. We are committed to participating in the public tender for the award of a new gaming concession and are dedicated to the continued development and diversification of Macau’s economy.

“Lastly, we remain steadfast in our efforts in environmental sustainability with a focus on energy and waste reduction. Melco’s 2021 Sustainability Report will be released in May this year, with new ambitious environmental Group targets included to align with our overarching 2030 goals. As our Scope 3 emissions comprise a significant portion of our impact, we have been actively working to gain a deeper understanding of these emissions and continue to refine our calculation methodology. This year, we will be disclosing Scope 3 Downstream-leased Assets and Fuel and Energy-related Activity (FERA). Moving forward, we are also focusing on aligning with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD).”

City of Dreams First Quarter Results

For the quarter ended March 31, 2022, total operating revenues at City of Dreams were US$256.7 million, compared to US$302.5 million in the first quarter of 2021. City of Dreams generated Adjusted EBITDA of US$44.4 million in the first quarter of 2022, compared with Adjusted EBITDA of US$40.0 million in the first quarter of 2021.

Rolling chip volume was US$2.45 billion for the first quarter of 2022 versus US$4.13 billion in the first quarter of 2021. The rolling chip win rate was 3.93% in the first quarter of 2022 versus 2.36% in the first quarter of 2021. The expected rolling chip win rate range is 2.85% - 3.15%.

Mass market table games drop decreased to US$552.5 million in the first quarter of 2022, compared with US$730.9 million in the first quarter of 2021. The mass market table games hold percentage was 30.6% in the first quarter of 2022, compared to 31.7% in the first quarter of 2021.

Gaming machine handle for the first quarter of 2022 was US$380.1 million, compared with US$510.2 million in the first quarter of 2021. The gaming machine win rate was 3.4% in the first quarter of 2022 versus 3.3% in the first quarter of 2021.

Total non-gaming revenue at City of Dreams in the first quarter of 2022 was US$37.8 million, compared with US$47.1 million in the first quarter of 2021.

Altira Macau First Quarter Results

For the quarter ended March 31, 2022, total operating revenues at Altira Macau were US$13.9 million, compared to US$14.3 million in the first quarter of 2021. Altira Macau generated negative Adjusted EBITDA of US$9.4 million in the first quarter of 2022, compared with negative Adjusted EBITDA of US$29.6 million in the first quarter of 2021. The year-over-year improvement in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily a result of the repositioning of the property toward the premium mass segment and the shutdown of VIP rolling chip operations since the third quarter of 2021, as well as a reversal of bad debt provisions in the first quarter of 2022.

In the first quarter of 2021, rolling chip volume was US$1.10 billion and the rolling chip win rate was 1.60%. The expected rolling chip win rate range is 2.85% - 3.15%.

In the mass market table games segment, drop was US$44.4 million in the first quarter of 2022 versus US$51.4 million in the first quarter of 2021. The mass market table games hold percentage was 26.3% in the first quarter of 2022, compared with 19.1% in the first quarter of 2021.

Gaming machine handle for the first quarter of 2022 was US$50.5 million, compared with US$60.2 million in the first quarter of 2021. The gaming machine win rate was 4.1% in the first quarter of 2022 versus 3.9% in the first quarter of 2021.

Total non-gaming revenue at Altira Macau in the first quarter of 2022 was US$2.4 million, compared with US$3.1 million in the first quarter of 2021.

Mocha Clubs First Quarter Results

Total operating revenues from Mocha Clubs were US$21.2 million in the first quarter of 2022, compared to US$17.8 million in the first quarter of 2021. Mocha Clubs generated Adjusted EBITDA of US$4.4 million in the first quarter of 2022, compared with Adjusted EBITDA of US$1.8 million in the first quarter of 2021.

Gaming machine handle for the first quarter of 2022 was US$478.1 million, compared with US$415.2 million in the first quarter of 2021. The gaming machine win rate was 4.4% in the first quarter of 2022 versus 4.3% in the first quarter of 2021.

Studio City First Quarter Results

For the quarter ended March 31, 2022, total operating revenues at Studio City were US$71.1 million, compared to US$97.9 million in the first quarter of 2021. Studio City generated negative Adjusted EBITDA of US$17.3 million in the first quarter of 2022, compared with negative Adjusted EBITDA of US$5.2 million in the first quarter of 2021. The year-over-year decline in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily a result of softer performance in the mass market table games segment and non-gaming operations.

Studio City’s rolling chip volume was US$439.3 million in the first quarter of 2022 versus US$505.0 million in the first quarter of 2021. The rolling chip win rate was 1.66% in the first quarter of 2022 versus 0.29% in the first quarter of 2021. The expected rolling chip win rate range is 2.85% - 3.15%.

Mass market table games drop decreased to US$191.8 million in the first quarter of 2022, compared with US$309.3 million in the first quarter of 2021. The mass market table games hold percentage was 31.6% in the first quarter of 2022, compared to 29.1% in the first quarter of 2021.

Gaming machine handle for the first quarter of 2022 was US$233.0 million, compared with US$278.3 million in the first quarter of 2021. The gaming machine win rate was 3.1% in the first quarter of 2022, compared to 2.5% in the first quarter of 2021.

Total non-gaming revenue at Studio City in the first quarter of 2022 was US$13.3 million, compared with US$19.4 million in the first quarter of 2021.

City of Dreams Manila First Quarter Results

For the quarter ended March 31, 2022, total operating revenues at City of Dreams Manila were US$86.9 million, compared to US$79.5 million in the first quarter of 2021. City of Dreams Manila generated Adjusted EBITDA of US$33.0 million in the first quarter of 2022, compared with Adjusted EBITDA of US$29.4 million in the comparable period of 2021.

City of Dreams Manila’s rolling chip volume was US$647.9 million in the first quarter of 2022 versus US$272.3 million in the first quarter of 2021. The rolling chip win rate was 1.09% in the first quarter of 2022 versus 7.00% in the first quarter of 2021. The expected rolling chip win rate range is 2.85% - 3.15%.

Mass market table games drop increased to US$127.3 million in the first quarter of 2022, compared with US$100.0 million in the first quarter of 2021. The mass market table games hold percentage was 29.8% in the first quarter of 2022, compared to 34.0% in the first quarter of 2021.

Gaming machine handle for the first quarter of 2022 was US$776.7 million, compared with US$568.9 million in the first quarter of 2021. The gaming machine win rate was 6.0% in the first quarter of 2022 versus 5.7% in the first quarter of 2021.

Total non-gaming revenue at City of Dreams Manila in the first quarter of 2022 was US$22.3 million, compared with US$14.2 million in the first quarter of 2021.

Cyprus Operations First Quarter Results

The Company is licensed to operate a temporary casino, the first casino in the Republic of Cyprus, and four satellite casinos. Upon the completion and opening of City of Dreams Mediterranean, the Company will continue to operate the satellite casinos while operation of the temporary casino will cease.

Our casinos remained open during the quarter ended March 31, 2022, with total operating revenues at Cyprus Casinos of US$16.1 million, compared to insignificant operating revenues in the first quarter of 2021. Cyprus Casinos generated Adjusted EBITDA of US$0.9 million in the first quarter of 2022, compared with negative Adjusted EBITDA of US$6.4 million in the first quarter of 2021. The year-over-year increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily a result of the relaxation in COVID-19 related restrictions while casinos were closed during the entire first quarter of 2021 due to government mandated restrictions.

Rolling chip volume was US$2.2 million and the rolling chip win rate was negative 3.40% in the first quarter of 2022. The expected rolling chip win rate range is 2.85% - 3.15%.

Mass market table games drop was US$26.8 million and the mass market table games hold percentage was 16.5% in the first quarter of 2022.

Gaming machine handle was US$247.1 million and the gaming machine win rate was 4.9% in the first quarter of 2022.

Other Factors Affecting Earnings

Total net non-operating expenses for the first quarter of 2022 were US$84.0 million, which mainly included interest expenses of US$87.1 million, net of amounts capitalized.

Depreciation and amortization costs of US$141.3 million were recorded in the first quarter of 2022, of which US$14.3 million related to the amortization expense for our gaming subconcession and US$5.7 million related to the amortization expense for the land use rights.

The negative Adjusted EBITDA for Studio City for the three months ended March 31, 2022 referred to above is US$9.4 million less than the negative Adjusted EBITDA of Studio City contained in the earnings release for Studio City International Holdings Limited (“SCIHL”) dated May 5, 2022 (the “Studio City Earnings Release”). The Adjusted EBITDA of Studio City contained in the Studio City Earnings Release includes certain intercompany charges that are not included in the Adjusted EBITDA for Studio City contained in this press release. Such intercompany charges include, among other items, fees and shared service charges billed between SCIHL and its subsidiaries and certain subsidiaries of Melco. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA of Studio City included in this press release does not reflect certain intercompany costs related to the table games operations at Studio City Casino.

Financial Position and Capital Expenditures

Total cash and bank balances as of March 31, 2022 aggregated to US$1.90 billion, including US$0.4 million of restricted cash. Total debt, net of unamortized deferred financing costs and original issue premiums, was US$7.07 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2022.

Approximately 3.9 million ADSs were repurchased in the first quarter of 2022, for a total consideration of US$27 million.

Capital expenditures for the first quarter of 2022 were US$151.5 million, which primarily related to the construction projects at Studio City Phase 2 and City of Dreams Mediterranean.

Recent Developments

Uncertainty around COVID-19 outbreaks and related restrictions continue to have a material effect on our operations, financial position, and future prospects into the second quarter of 2022.

In Macau, our operations remain impacted by travel restrictions and quarantine requirements. A stream of COVID-19 outbreaks in China in mid-January 2022 led to a tightening of border controls for entry from Guangdong province and a reduction in the validity period of a negative COVID test from 7 days to 48 hours. Shortly thereafter, the validity period was further reduced to 24 hours until the end of January. The validity period increased to 48 hours until mid-March when it was reduced back to 24 hours in response to increasing COVID-19 cases in China. This restriction remained in place until April 20, 2022, when the Macau government increased the negative COVID test validity period for entry from Guangdong province back up to 48 hours, and then to 72 hours on April 25, 2022.

In the Philippines, the government announced a re-opening of the Philippines’ borders to fully vaccinated international tourists with a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours of departure of their country of origin, effective February 10, 2022, and lowered COVID-19 restrictions to alert level 1 starting from March 1, 2022 which has allowed casinos to operate at 100% capacity, subject to certain guidelines.

In Cyprus, with a surge in COVID-19 cases, authorities stepped up COVID-19 restrictions from the end of December 2021 by reducing the capacity at certain venues and increasing restrictions for unvaccinated people. However, such restrictions were eased from February 21, 2022 and travel restrictions into Cyprus were further eased on April 18, 2022. Our casinos remained open during the period and are currently still subject to certain COVID-19 health and safety measures.

Conference Call Information
Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited will hold a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2022 financial results on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (or 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-resorts.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. Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (the “Company”) may also make 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) the global COVID-19 outbreak, caused by a novel strain of the coronavirus, and the continued impact of its consequences on our business, our industry and the global economy, (ii) growth of the gaming market and visitations in Macau, the Philippines and the Republic of Cyprus, (iii) capital and credit market volatility, (iv) local and global economic conditions, (v) our anticipated growth strategies, (vi) gaming authority and other governmental approvals and regulations, (vii) proposed amendments to the gaming law in Macau, the extension of current gaming concessions and subconcessions and tender for new gaming concessions, and (viii) 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 press 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 net income/loss before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, pre-opening costs, development costs, property charges and other, share-based compensation, payments to the Philippine parties under the cooperative arrangement (the “Philippine Parties”), land rent to Belle Corporation and other non-operating income and expenses. “Adjusted Property EBITDA” is net income/loss before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, pre-opening costs, development costs, property charges and other, share-based compensation, payments to the Philippine Parties, land rent to Belle Corporation, Corporate and Other expenses and other non-operating income and expenses. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Property EBITDA are presented exclusively as supplemental disclosures because management believes 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/loss 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/loss, 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/loss, net income/loss, 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/loss” is net income/loss before pre-opening costs, development costs, property charges and other and loss on extinguishment of debt, net of noncontrolling interests and taxes calculated using specific tax treatments applicable to the adjustments based on their respective jurisdictions. Adjusted net income/loss attributable to Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited and adjusted net income/loss attributable to Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited per share (“EPS”) are presented as supplemental disclosures because management believes 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/loss 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/loss attributable to Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited and adjusted net income/loss attributable to Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited per share may be different from the calculation methods used by other companies and, therefore, comparability may be limited. Reconciliations of adjusted net income/loss attributable to Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited 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 Resorts & Entertainment Limited

The Company, with its American depositary shares listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (Nasdaq: MLCO), is a developer, owner and operator of integrated resort facilities in Asia and Europe. The Company currently operates Altira Macau (www.altiramacau.com), an integrated resort located at Taipa, Macau and City of Dreams (www.cityofdreamsmacau.com), an integrated resort located in Cotai, Macau. Its 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 also majority owns and operates Studio City (www.studiocity-macau.com), a cinematically-themed integrated resort in Cotai, Macau. In the Philippines, a Philippine subsidiary of the Company currently operates and manages City of Dreams Manila (www.cityofdreamsmanila.com), an integrated resort in the Entertainment City complex in Manila. In Europe, the Company is currently developing City of Dreams Mediterranean (www.cityofdreamsmed.com.cy) in the Republic of Cyprus, which is expected to be the largest and premier integrated destination resort in Europe. The Company is currently operating a temporary casino, the first authorized casino in the Republic of Cyprus, and is licensed to operate four satellite casinos (“Cyprus Casinos”). Upon the opening of City of Dreams Mediterranean, the Company will continue to operate the satellite casinos while operation of the temporary casino will cease. For more information about the Company, please visit www.melco-resorts.com.

The Company is strongly supported by its single largest shareholder, Melco International Development Limited, a company listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and is substantially owned and led by Mr. Lawrence Ho, who is the Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

For the investment community, please contact:
Jeanny Kim
Senior Vice President, Group Treasurer
Tel: +852 2598 3698
Email: jeannykim@melco-resorts.com

For media enquiries, please contact:
Chimmy Leung
Executive Director, Corporate Communications
Tel: +852 3151 3765
Email: chimmyleung@melco-resorts.com