Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Net Revenue of $48.6 Million and Adjusted EBITDA of $12.0 Million

RENO, NV--(Marketwired - Oct 22, 2014) -  Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCRI) ("Monarch" or "the Company") today reported operating results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2014, as summarized below:

Amounts in thousands except per share data:

	Three Months Ended September 30,									Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2014			2013			Decrease			2014			2013			Decrease
Net revenue (1)	$	48,597		$	48,989		(0.8	%)		$	141,908		$	144,245		(1.6	%)
Adjusted EBITDA (1)(2)		11,987			12,783		(6.2	%)			33,939			39,682		(14.5	%)
Net income (1)	$	4,074		$	5,520		(26.2	%)		$	10,374		$	15,902		(34.8	%)
Basic EPS	$	0.24		$	0.34		(29.4	%)		$	0.62		$	0.98		(36.7	%)
Diluted EPS	$	0.24		$	0.32		(25.0	%)		$	0.61		$	0.95		(35.8	%)

(1)	Commencing with the 2014 first quarter, the Company is reporting consolidated results rather than results for each of its two facilities.
(2)	Definitions, disclosures and reconciliations of non-GAAP financial information are included later in the release.

CEO Comment
John Farahi, Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Monarch, commented: "Despite ongoing construction disruption at Monarch Black Hawk, total net revenue for the quarter was largely in line with the prior year's third quarter. Adjusted EBITDA of $12.0 million was 6.2% lower than in the prior year quarter, an improvement from the year-over-year performance reported in our first and second quarters. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter was due primarily to higher casino operating expense.

"The first phase of our three phase project to redesign and upgrade the existing Monarch Black Hawk facility was completed and opened in August and has been well received by our guests. Work on the second phase is currently underway and we remain on pace to complete all three phases of the work in the third quarter of 2015. 

"We continue to move forward with our city-approved master plan to expand and transform Monarch Black Hawk into a full-scale casino resort. While modifications to portions of the master plan aimed at both enhancing the project and reducing construction costs have delayed the finalization of our plans, timeline and budget, we believe these modifications will allow us to generate a more attractive return on our investment. We expect to complete construction plans late in the fourth quarter of 2014 and then commence the bidding process. This will position us to announce the project's timeline and budget in the first quarter of 2015.

"Finally, we are closely monitoring the upcoming November 4^th referendum vote that if passed would expand gaming into Denver, Black Hawk's primary feeder market. We continue to work with our industry partners in Black Hawk to ensure voters are fully informed on this issue as they head to the polls."

Summary of 2014 Third Quarter Operating Results
Consolidated net revenue of $48.6 million declined 0.8% year over year, as lower casino revenue at Monarch Black Hawk, and to a lesser extent Atlantis, drove a 1.4% decline in total casino revenue. Monarch Black Hawk casino revenue continues to be impacted by disruption from the ongoing redesign and upgrade of the property, which has caused a temporary 13% reduction in the number of slot machines on the gaming floor in order to accommodate the work. 

The Company's food and beverage revenue increased 6.1% while hotel revenue decreased 4.0% in the third quarter of 2014. The decline in hotel revenue is primarily attributable to lower convention and meeting business in the city of Reno. 

The Company generated consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of $12.0 million in the third quarter of 2014, a decline of $0.8 million, or 6.2%, from the same period a year ago.

Casino operating expense as a percentage of casino revenue increased to 42.0% for the third quarter of 2014 compared to 40.0% in the third quarter of 2013 due primarily to lower casino revenue and higher complimentaries expense. Food and beverage operating expense as a percentage of food and beverage revenue decreased to 38.8% from 40.4% in the 2013 third quarter. Hotel operating expense as a percentage of hotel revenue decreased to 25.1% for the third quarter of 2014 compared to 27.3% for the prior year due primarily to lower repairs and maintenance expense.

Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses for the 2014 third quarter decreased slightly to $13.4 million from $13.5 million in the 2013 third quarter. 

In the third quarter of 2014, the Company incurred $0.8 million of expense related to the campaign against the proposed 2014 ballot initiative in Colorado which would expand gaming to certain horse racing facilities in the state. The $0.8 million of expense is in addition to the $1.0 million incurred during the second quarter of 2014. Were the ballot initiative to succeed, the Company would reconsider its expansion plans at Monarch Black Hawk.

Depreciation expense in the third quarter of 2014 increased by $0.6 million from the prior year primarily due to accelerated depreciation on the existing garage structure at Monarch Black Hawk recognized in anticipation of its possible early removal from service as part of the master plan expansion project.

Credit Facility
During the 2014 third quarter, the Company made net principal payments of $5.5 million which reduced the amount outstanding on its credit facility to $43.4 million at September 30, 2014. Capital expenditures of $3.5 million in the third quarter of 2014 were funded from operating cash flows and primarily represent costs related to the Monarch Black Hawk master development plan, including the ongoing redesign and upgrade of the existing facility.

Interest expense for the 2014 third quarter decreased to $0.3 million from $0.4 million in the third quarter of 2013 due to a lower interest rate driven by our lower leverage and lower outstanding borrowings. 

Stock Repurchase Program
The Company announced that Monarch's Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 3,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock. This authorization provides the Company with the opportunity to repurchase stock as part of its overall long-term capital allocation strategy. 

Shares may be repurchased from time to time in the open market at prevailing market prices, in privately negotiated transactions, or by other means in accordance with federal securities laws. The actual timing, number and value of shares repurchased under the program will be determined by management at its discretion and will depend on a number of factors, including the market price of the Company's stock, general market and economic conditions and applicable legal requirements. This authorization does not obligate the Company to acquire any specific amount of common stock and the program may be suspended or delayed at the Company's discretion at any time.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which are subject to change, including, but not limited to, comments relating to (i) future operating performance; (ii) economic and market conditions; (iii) plans, objectives and expectations regarding Atlantis and/or Monarch Black Hawk; and (iv) plans, costs, financing, construction, completion and opening timelines of redesigned and/or expanded facilities at Monarch Black Hawk. Actual results and future events and conditions may differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statements. With respect to the Monarch Black Hawk redesign and expansion projects, important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation:

• construction factors, including delays, increased costs of labor and materials, availability of labor and materials, zoning issues, environmental restrictions, soil and water conditions, weather and other hazards, site access matters and building permit issues;
• access to available and reasonable financing on a timely basis, including the ability of the Company to restructure its credit facility on acceptable terms;
• changes in laws and regulations permitting expanded and other forms of gaming in our key markets;
• the outcome of the proposed 2014 ballot initiative in Colorado which would expand gaming into certain horse racing facilities in the state; and
• the effects of local and national economic, credit and capital market conditions on the economy, in general, and on the gaming industry, in particular.
  
  

Additional information concerning potential factors that could affect all forward looking statements, including the Company's financial results is included in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which are available on the Company's website at www.MonarchCasino.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Please see the separate Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (unaudited) below. 

Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an alternative to operating income (as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles), as an indicator of the Company's operating performance, as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities (as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) or as a measure of liquidity. This item enables comparison of the Company's performance with the performance of other companies that report Adjusted EBITDA, although some companies do not calculate this measure in the same manner and therefore, the measure as presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.

About Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.
Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc., through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, a hotel/casino facility in Reno, Nevada, and the Monarch Casino Black Hawk (formerly the Riviera Black Hawk Casino) in Black Hawk, Colorado, approximately 40 miles west of Denver. For additional information on Monarch, visit Monarch's website at www.MonarchCasino.com.

The Atlantis features approximately 61,000 square feet of casino space; 824 guest rooms; eight food outlets; two espresso and pastry bars; a 30,000 square foot health spa and salon with an enclosed year-round pool; two retail outlets offering clothing and traditional gift shop merchandise; an 8,000 square-foot family entertainment center; and approximately 52,000 square feet of banquet, convention and meeting room space. The casino features approximately 1,450 slot and video poker machines; approximately 37 table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, and others; a race and sports book; a 24-hour live keno lounge; and a poker room.

The Company acquired the Monarch Casino Black Hawk, the first casino encountered by visitors arriving from Denver on Highway 119, in April 2012. The property features approximately 32,000 square feet of casino space, approximately 710 slot machines, 9 table games, a 250 seat buffet-style restaurant, a snack bar and a parking structure with approximately 500 spaces. The slot machine count has been temporarily reduced to approximately 620 to accommodate redesign and upgrade work on the facility. Monarch owns a 1.5 acre land parcel contiguous to the Monarch Casino Black Hawk which is zoned for gaming and is included in the city approved master planned expansion. Once completed, the master plan will nearly double the casino space and will add a 22 story hotel tower with 507 guest rooms and suites, an upscale spa and pool facility, four restaurants, additional bars, a new parking structure and associated support facilities. The planned ten story parking structure will increase total parking on site from approximately 500 spaces to approximately 1,550 parking spaces.

- financial tables follow -

MONARCH CASINO & RESORT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited)
				Three months ended September 30,								Nine months ended September 30,
				2014				2013				2014				2013
Revenues
	Casino			$	37,512			$	38,038			$	109,810			$	114,825
	Food and beverage				13,573				12,791				39,043				37,176
	Hotel				6,339				6,603				17,014				18,283
	Other				2,553				2,446				7,487				7,091
		Gross revenues			59,977				59,878				173,354				177,375
	Less promotional allowances				(11,380	)			(10,889	)			(31,446	)			(33,130	)
		Net revenues			48,597				48,989				141,908				144,245
Operating expenses
	Casino				15,743				15,201				45,882				44,630
	Food and beverage				5,267				5,163				15,781				15,002
	Hotel				1,589				1,802				4,673				4,935
	Other				867				817				2,654				2,382
	Selling, general and administrative				13,444				13,518				39,855				38,432
	Depreciation and amortization				4,180				3,549				13,504				12,572
	Loss on disposition of assets				-				-				249				-
	Colorado ballot initiative costs				841				-				1,845				-
		Total operating expenses			41,931				40,050				124,443				117,953
		Income from operations			6,666				8,939				17,465				26,292
Other expenses
	Interest expense				(255	)			(411	)			(816	)			(1,493	)
		Total other expenses			(255	)			(411	)			(816	)			(1,493	)
		Income before income taxes			6,411				8,528				16,649				24,799
Provision for income taxes					(2,337	)			(3,008	)			(6,275	)			(8,897	)
	Net income			$	4,074			$	5,520			$	10,374			$	15,902
Earnings per share of common stock
	Net income
		Basic		$	0.24			$	0.34			$	0.62			$	0.98
		Diluted		$	0.24			$	0.32			$	0.61			$	0.95
Weighted average number of common shares and potential common shares outstanding
		Basic			16,800				16,389				16,709				16,244
		Diluted			17,016				17,180				17,113				16,799

MONARCH CASINO & RESORT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except shares)
				September 30,				December 31,
				2014				2013
				(unaudited)
ASSETS
	Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents			$	17,510			$	19,330
	Receivables, net				3,518				2,628
	Income taxes receivable				200				608
	Inventories				2,616				2,675
	Prepaid expenses				3,496				2,830
	Deferred income taxes				5,909				5,909
		Total current assets			33,249				33,980
Property and equipment
	Land				28,680				28,680
	Land improvements				6,701				6,562
	Buildings				150,828				150,828
	Buildings improvements				20,013				15,897
	Furniture and equipment				136,610				134,425
	Construction in progress				9,582				4,891
	Leasehold improvements				1,347				1,347
					353,761				342,630
	Less accumulated depreciation and amortization				(178,069	)			(166,993	)
		Net property and equipment			175,692				175,637
Other assets
	Goodwill				25,111				25,111
	Intangible assets, net				7,657				8,531
	Deferred income taxes				350				350
	Other assets, net				685				914
		Total other assets			33,803				34,906
			Total assets	$	242,744			$	244,523
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
	Accounts payable			$	7,871			$	8,666
	Construction accounts payable				766				-
	Accrued expenses				18,005				18,177
		Total current liabilities			26,642				26,843
Long-term debt					43,400				53,800
			Total liabilities		70,042				80,643
Stockholders' equity
	Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued				-				-
	Common stock, $.01 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized; 19,096,300 shares issued; 16,803,129 outstanding at September 30, 2014; 16,482,768 outstanding at December 31, 2013				191				191
	Additional paid-in capital				22,706				30,926
	Treasury stock, 2,293,171 shares at September 30, 2014; 2,613,532 shares at				(33,129	)			(39,797	)
	December 31, 2013
	Retained earnings				182,934				172,560
		Total stockholders' equity			172,702				163,880
		Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	242,744			$	244,523

MONARCH CASINO & RESORT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATIN OF ADJUSTED EBITDA TO NET INCOME
(in thousands, unaudited)
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, to net income, a GAAP financial measure:
					Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
					2014				2013				2014				2013
		Adjusted EBITDA (1)			$	11,987			$	12,783			$	33,939			$	39,682
Expenses:
	Stock based compensation					(300	)			(295	)			(876	)			(818	)
	Depreciation and amortization					(4,180	)			(3,549	)			(13,504	)			(12,572	)
	Colorado ballot initiative costs					(841	)			-				(1,845	)			-
	Interest expense					(255	)			(411	)			(816	)			(1,493	)
	Loss on disposition of assets					-				-				(249	)			-
	Provision for income taxes					(2,337	)			(3,008	)			(6,275	)			(8,897	)
			Net Income		$	4,074			$	5,520			$	10,374			$	15,902

(1)

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, consists of net income plus provision for income taxes, stock based compensation expense, other one-time charges, interest expense, depreciation and amortization less interest income and any benefit for income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an alternative to operating income (as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) as an indicator of the Company's operating performance, as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities (as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) or as a measure of liquidity. This item enables comparison of the Company's performance with the performance of other companies that report Adjusted EBITDA, although some companies do not calculate this measure in the same manner and therefore, the measure as presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.