MTR Gaming Group Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

CHESTER, W.Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MTR Gaming Group, Inc. (NasdaqGS: MNTG) today announced financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012.

Third Quarter 2012 Highlights

• Expansion of the video lottery terminal (“VLT”) gaming facility at Scioto Downs to 2,116 VLTs, as well as the opening of our 300-seat Grove Buffet and a sports bar.
• Net revenue growth of 26.8%, including revenue of $41.7 million for the first full quarter of operations at Scioto Downs.
• Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2012 was $31.4 million, an increase of 34.8% from the prior-year period.

“We were pleased with our third quarter performance, as the first full quarter of operations at the new Scioto Downs generated strong revenue and adjusted EBITDA,” said Jeffrey J. Dahl, President and Chief Executive Officer of MTR Gaming Group, Inc. “With the addition of Scioto Downs, we now have three strong regional gaming facilities that produced record quarterly revenues and adjusted EBITDA of $147 million and $31.4 million, respectively. We achieved this milestone with the addition of Scioto Downs and despite the addition of competition in the Cleveland market. While we understand there are additional gaming choices in our markets, we are confident that our efforts to provide the best gaming and entertainment value to our customers will help us retain our fair share of the market.”

For the third quarter of 2012, the Company’s total net revenues were $146.7 million, an increase of 26.8% compared to $115.6 million in the same period of 2011. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations in the third quarter of 2012 was $31.4 million, an increase of 34.8% from the prior-year period, and adjusted EBITDA margin from continuing operations was 21.4%, an increase of 130 basis points from the prior-year period.

The Company reported income from continuing operations of $5.3 million for the quarter, or $0.19 per diluted share, compared to loss from continuing operations of $41.5 million, or $1.49 per diluted share, in the same period of 2011. Excluding a $34.4 million pre-tax loss on debt extinguishment associated with MTR’s debt refinancing and $5.8 million in gaming assessment costs related to Presque Isle Downs & Casino in the third quarter of 2011, loss from continuing operations in the third quarter of 2011 would have been $1.4 million, or $0.05 per diluted share.

Net revenues at Scioto Downs were $41.7 million during the third quarter of 2012 compared to $1.4 million during the third quarter of 2011. The property generated adjusted EBITDA of $15.1 million (including $0.2 million of project-opening costs) compared to a loss of $0.2 million in the same quarter of 2011. The adjusted EBITDA margin for the third quarter of 2012 was 36.2%. The increase in net revenues and adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2012 was attributable to the opening of the VLT gaming facility on June 1, 2012.

Net revenues at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort decreased 3.4% to $57.4 million in the third quarter of 2012 compared to $59.4 million in the third quarter of 2011. Revenues from slots increased by $0.2 million, while revenue from table gaming decreased by $2.0 million, compared to the same quarter of 2011. The property saw adjusted EBITDA decrease to $11.2 million from $12.9 million in the comparable quarter of 2011, while the adjusted EBITDA margin at Mountaineer decreased to 19.6% compared to 21.7% in the prior-year quarter. The decrease in table gaming revenues and adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2012 was primarily attributable to increased competition from a new casino in Cleveland, Ohio.

Net revenues at Presque Isle Downs & Casino decreased 13.0% to $47.6 million during the third quarter of 2012 compared to $54.7 million during the third quarter of 2011. Revenues from slots and table gaming decreased by $5.4 million and $1.7 million, respectively, compared to the same quarter of 2011, while revenues from poker increased $0.4 million compared to the prior-year period due to the opening of the poker room in October 2011. The property generated adjusted EBITDA of $8.6 million compared to $12.7 million in the same quarter of 2011 (excluding $5.8 million in one-time gaming assessment costs), with the adjusted EBITDA margin decreasing to 18.0% compared to 23.3% in the prior-year period. The decrease in net revenues and adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2012 was primarily attributable to increased competition from a new casino in Cleveland, Ohio.

Corporate overhead costs totaled $3.5 million during the third quarter of 2012 compared to $2.2 million in the prior-year period, with the increase due primarily to corporate marketing costs and additional compensation-related expenses.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, MTR’s total net revenues increased 15.2% to $373.7 million from $324.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations increased 15.9% to $72.6 million (including $2.7 million of project-opening costs) from $62.6 million (including $1.8 million received from a mineral rights lease bonus payment and $0.2 million of project-opening costs) in the same period last year. The 2012 year-to-date income from continuing operations was breakeven on a dollar and diluted share basis, and included $2.7 million of project-opening costs, $7.6 million of incremental interest expense associated with the Company’s debt refinancing in the third quarter of 2011 (net of $1.3 million of capitalized interest), and approximately $2.1 million attributable to additional valuation allowances on deferred tax assets. In the same period last year, the Company reported a loss from continuing operations of $44.4 million, or $1.60 per diluted share, which included income tax expense of approximately $2.7 million attributable to an increase in the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, a $34.4 million pre-tax loss on debt extinguishment associated with MTR’s refinancing and $5.8 million of gaming assessment costs. Absent the $34.4 million pre-tax loss on debt extinguishment and the $5.8 million gaming assessment costs, loss from continuing operations would have been $4.3 million, or $0.15 per diluted share.

See attached tables, including a reconciliation of net income (loss), a GAAP financial measure, to adjusted EBITDA, as well as the calculation of adjusted EBITDA margin, each of which are non-GAAP financial measures.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of September 30, 2012, MTR had $88.5 million in cash and cash equivalents, $9.2 million of funds that are held for further construction of the VLT facility at Scioto Downs, and $556.2 million in total debt, net of discount. In addition, the Company has $20 million available for borrowing under its revolving credit facility.

Reconciliation of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures

Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings (losses) before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, gain (loss) on the sale or disposal of property, other regulatory gaming assessment costs, loss on asset impairment, loss on debt modification and extinguishments and equity in loss of unconsolidated joint venture, to the extent that such items existed in the periods presented. Adjusted EBITDA margin represents the calculation of adjusted EBITDA divided by net revenues. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin are not measures of performance or liquidity calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), are unaudited and should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income (loss) or operating margin as indicators of our operating performance, or cash flows from operating activities, as a measure of liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin have been presented as supplemental disclosures because they are widely used measures of performance and basis’ for valuation of companies in our industry. Management of the Company uses adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin as primary measures of the Company’s operating performance and as components in evaluating the performance of operating personnel. Uses of cash flows that are not reflected in adjusted EBITDA include capital expenditures, interest payments, income taxes, debt principal repayments, and certain regulatory gaming assessments which can be significant. Moreover, other companies that provide EBITDA and/or adjusted EBITDA information may calculate EBITDA and/or adjusted EBITDA differently than we do. A reconciliation of GAAP net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDA, as well as the calculation of adjusted EBITDA margin, is included in the financial tables accompanying this release.

Conference Call

Management will conduct a conference call focusing on the financial results and corporate developments today at 4:30 p.m. EDT. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing (888) 765-5554. Please call in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and ask for the MTR Gaming call (conference ID #5884568).

The conference call will be webcast live via the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.mtrgaming.com. To listen to the live webcast please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. If you are unable to listen to the live call, the conference call will be archived on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website.

A replay of the call will be available two hours following the end of the call through midnight EST on Thursday, November 8, 2012 at www.mtrgaming.com and by telephone at (877) 870-5176; passcode 5884568.

About MTR Gaming Group

MTR Gaming Group, Inc. is a hospitality and gaming company that through subsidiaries owns and operates Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort in Chester, West Virginia; Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Erie, Pennsylvania; and Scioto Downs in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, please visit www.mtrgaming.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information, this press release contains forward-looking statements concerning, among other things the prospects for improving the results of our operations at Mountaineer, Presque Isle Downs and Scioto Downs, including the successful operation of video lottery terminals at Scioto Downs. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the statements made to be incorrect and/or for actual results to differ materially. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact of new competition for Mountaineer, Presque Isle Downs and Scioto Downs (including casino gaming and video lottery terminals in Ohio), the successful integration and operation of video lottery terminals at Scioto Downs, the effectiveness of our marketing programs, the enactment of future gaming legislation in the jurisdictions in which we operate, changes in, or failure to comply with, laws, regulations or the conditions of our gaming licenses, accounting standards or environmental laws, including adverse changes in the gaming tax rates that the Company currently pays in its various jurisdictions, general economic conditions, disruption (occasioned by weather conditions or work stoppages) of our operations, our ability to maintain or improve our operating margins, our continued suitability to hold and obtain renewals of our gaming and racing licenses, our ability to fulfill our obligations and comply with the covenants associated with our various debt instruments and/or our ability to obtain additional debt and/or equity financing, if and when needed, and other factors described in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. The cautionary advice in this paragraph is permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

The following tables set forth a reconciliation of income (loss) from continuing operations and income (loss) from discontinued operations, each of which are GAAP financial measures, to adjusted EBITDA, as well as the calculation of adjusted EBITDA margin, each of which are non-GAAP financial measures.