Monarch Casino Reports 2011 Third Quarter Results


RENO, NV--(Marketwire - Oct 19, 2011) - Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCRI) (the "Company"), owner of the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa (the "Atlantis") in Reno, Nevada, today announced results for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.

The Company reported net revenue of $36.2 million which is $1.5 million, or 4.0%, lower than the $37.7 million reported for the comparative quarter in 2010. After giving effect to a one-time, non-cash charge, quarterly income from operations was $151 thousand, Adjusted EBITDA(1) was $7.8 million and diluted EPS was $0.00 which represent decreases of 96.6%, 4.2% and 100%, respectively, when compared to the prior year's third quarter. The Company incurred a $3.5 million one-time, non-cash charge related to the demolition of a free standing building on a parcel it owns near the Atlantis. Without that charge, quarterly income from operations would have been $3.7 million and diluted EPS would have been $0.14 which represent decreases compared to prior year's third quarter of 16.7% and 17.6%, respectively. Revenue from the casino, hotel and other operating departments decreased by 7.3%, 0.5% and 3.8%, respectively, while revenue from the food and beverage operating department increased by 4.5%.

Casino operating expense decreased to $9.6 million for the third quarter of 2011 as compared to $9.8 million for prior year's third quarter. However, because of the lower casino revenue, casino operating expense as a percentage of casino revenue increased to 39.6% from 37.7% in prior year's third quarter.

Food and beverage operating expense as a percentage of food and beverage revenue increased slightly to 47.2% in the current year's third quarter from 46.8% in prior year's third quarter due primarily to higher commodity costs. Hotel operating expense was flat compared to the prior year's third quarter at $1.6 million. Hotel operating expenses as a percentage of hotel revenue decreased slightly to 24.5% from 24.7% in prior year's third quarter.

The Company reported that selling, general and administrative expense decreased by approximately $676 thousand, or 5.3%, due primarily to reductions in marketing and bad debt expense, partially offset by $437 thousand of professional fees incurred during the third quarter in connection with the recently announced definitive stock purchase agreement to acquire Riviera Black Hawk, Inc. (the "Acquisition").

During the third quarter, the Company paid down the balance outstanding under its credit facility by $1.0 million, on a net basis, which was comprised of $4.8 million of payments against the credit facility partially offset by a $3.8 million borrowing related to a deposit required for the Acquisition. As a result, the outstanding balance of the credit facility was decreased from $17.0 million at June 30, 2011 to $16.0 million at September 30, 2011. Lower borrowing levels drove interest expense down from $334 thousand in prior year's third quarter to $160 thousand in the third quarter of 2011.

Monarch's CEO and Co-Chairman John Farahi commented on the Company's performance: "The weakness in our national and local economy, and a lower than average gaming win percentage, combined to drive our casino revenues down compared to the third quarter of 2010. The reductions we achieved in sales, general and administrative expense, were not enough to overcome the impact of the lower casino revenue that drove Adjusted EBITDA lower than prior year's third quarter." Mr. Farahi continued: "In late September we announced an agreement to acquire the Riviera Black Hawk and in early October we announced that we entered into a purchase option on a 1.5 acre land parcel contiguous to the Riviera Black Hawk. This is our first acquisition and an exciting milestone for our company. We expect to close the transaction before the end of the second quarter of 2012."

Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc., through its subsidiary, Golden Road Motor Inn, Inc., owns and operates the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, a hotel/casino facility in Reno, Nevada which features approximately 61,000 square feet of casino space; 824 guest rooms; eight food outlets; two espresso and pastry bars; an approximate 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 38 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 and its predecessors have operated a facility on the Atlantis site since 1972.

The Riviera Black Hawk, which opened in 2000, is located on a 1.6 acre parcel in Black Hawk, Colorado, approximately 40 miles west of Denver. The property is the first casino encountered by visitors arriving from Denver on Highway 119 and features approximately 48,000 square feet of casino space, 750 slot machines, 8 table games, a 250 seat buffet-style restaurant and a parking structure with approximately 500 spaces. On October 5, 2011, Monarch announced that it entered into an option to purchase a 1.5 acre land parcel contiguous to the Riviera Black Hawk.

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) the liquidity requirements of the Company, (iv) completion of the Acquisition, (v) plans, objectives and expectations regarding the Acquisition, and (vi) integration of the acquired company's business. Actual results and future events and conditions may differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results is included in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which are available on the Company's web site at www.monarchcasino.com.

For additional information visit Monarch's web site at MonarchCasino.com.

Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
2011 2010 2011 2010
Revenues
Casino $ 24,147,082 $ 26,039,912 $ 73,436,721 $ 75,214,951
Food and beverage 11,071,950 10,595,591 32,097,706 30,949,116
Hotel 6,332,818 6,361,763 16,827,480 17,471,295
Other 1,997,541 2,075,795 5,827,587 5,910,951
Gross revenues 43,549,391 45,073,061 128,189,494 129,546,313
Less promotional allowances (7,375,005 ) (7,392,963 ) (21,569,419 ) (21,358,767 )
Net revenues 36,174,386 37,680,098 106,620,075 108,187,546
Operating expenses
Casino 9,573,416 9,822,885 28,639,455 28,676,670
Food and beverage 5,228,370 4,955,400 14,820,495 13,976,186
Hotel 1,554,277 1,570,286 4,551,768 4,621,108
Other 723,890 745,261 2,177,067 2,151,185
Selling, general and administrative 12,109,242 12,785,043 34,290,477 35,757,641
Depreciation and amortization 3,314,598 3,394,258 10,144,999 9,919,984
Adventure Inn demolition 3,519,148 - 3,519,148 -
Total operating expenses 36,022,941 33,273,133 98,143,409 95,102,774
Income from operations 151,445 4,406,965 8,476,666 13,084,772
Interest expense (160,237 ) (334,028 ) (643,505 ) (1,142,303 )
(Loss) income before income taxes (8,792 ) 4,072,937 7,833,161 11,942,469
Benefit (provision) for income taxes 20,071 (1,407,000 ) (2,724,600 ) (4,174,055 )
Net income $ 11,279 $ 2,665,937 $ 5,108,561 $ 7,768,414
Earnings per share of common stock
Net income
Basic $ 0.00 $ 0.17 $ 0.32 $ 0.48
Diluted $ 0.00 $ 0.17 $ 0.31 $ 0.48
Weighted average number of common shares and potential common shares outstanding
Basic 16,138,158 16,132,531 16,138,158 16,129,017
Diluted 16,234,443 16,209,724 16,226,844 16,194,332
Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
September 30, December 31,
2011 2010
ASSETS (Unaudited)
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 10,900,776 $ 13,800,604
Receivables, net 2,481,418 3,269,250
Federal income tax receivable 799,681 99,202
Inventories 1,907,343 1,883,816
Prepaid expenses 6,652,113 2,553,341
Deferred income taxes 999,908 1,384,443
Total current assets 23,741,239 22,990,656
Property and equipment
Land 13,172,522 13,172,522
Land improvements 4,026,175 3,891,990
Buildings 135,643,299 139,843,299
Building improvements 10,973,521 10,766,414
Furniture and equipment 116,313,681 112,847,107
Leasehold improvements 1,346,965 1,346,965
281,476,163 281,868,297
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (134,789,021 ) (125,437,458 )
Net property and equipment 146,687,142 156,430,839
Other assets, net 359,278 312,043
Total assets $ 170,787,659 $ 179,733,538
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable $ 7,919,016 $ 10,216,495
Accrued expenses 13,202,003 14,077,344
Total current liabilities 21,121,019 24,293,839
Long-term debt, less current maturities 16,000,000 28,600,000
Deferred income taxes 3,224,762 3,384,218
Other long term liabilities 873,872 873,872
Total liabilities 41,219,653 57,151,929
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; 16,138,158 outstanding at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 190,963 190,963
Additional paid-in capital 32,797,664 31,558,693
Treasury stock, 2,958,142 shares at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, at cost (48,541,663 ) (48,541,663 )
Retained earnings 145,121,042 139,373,616
Total stockholders' equity 129,568,006 122,581,609
Total liability and stockholder's equity $ 170,787,659 $ 179,733,538
Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.
Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA (1)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2011 2010 2011 2010
Net income $ 11,279 $ 2,665,937 $ 5,108,561 $ 7,768,414
Adjustments
(Benefit) provision for income taxes (20,071 ) 1,407,000 2,724,600 4,174,055
Interest expense 160,237 334,028 643,505 1,158,303
Depreciation & amortization 3,314,598 3,394,258 10,144,999 9,919,984
Other income - - - (16,000 )
EBITDA 3,466,043 7,801,223 18,621,665 23,004,756
Stock based compensation 361,131 320,707 1,238,972 1,221,371
Adventure Inn demolition 3,519,148 - 3,519,148 -
Acquisition expense 437,400 - 437,400 -
Adjusted EBITDA (1) $ 7,783,722 $ 8,121,930 $ 23,817,185 $ 24,226,127

(1) "Adjusted EBITDA" consists of net income plus provision for income taxes, stock based compensation expense, other one-time non-cash 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.

Contact Information:

Contacts:
Ron Rowan
CFO
(775) 825-4700


John Farahi
CEO
(775) 825-4700