Monarch Casino & Resort Reports Second Quarter Net Revenue of $50.0 Million and Adjusted EBITDA of $12.5 Million

RENO, NV--(Marketwired - Jul 22, 2015) - Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCRI) ("Monarch" or "the Company") today reported operating results for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2015, as summarized below:

($ in thousands, except per share data and percentages)			Three Months Ended June 30,									Six Months Ended June 30,
			2015			2014			Increase			2015			2014			Increase
	Net revenue		$	50,013		$	47,803		4.6	%		$	97,184		$	93,311		4.2	%
	Adjusted EBITDA (1)			12,483			11,665		7.0	%			23,358			21,952		6.4	%
	Net income		$	5,099		$	3,024		68.6	%		$	9,142		$	6,300		45.1	%
	Basic EPS		$	0.30		$	0.18		66.7	%		$	0.54		$	0.38		42.1	%
	Diluted EPS		$	0.29		$	0.18		61.1	%		$	0.53		$	0.37		43.2	%

(1)		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: "Our strong second quarter 2015 results reflect further improvement at both of our properties, particularly at Monarch Black Hawk which generated solid top-line growth. Consolidated net revenue for the quarter increased 4.6% and drove a 7.0% rise in Adjusted EBITDA as we benefited from our ongoing diligent focus on operating expense management and margin growth.

"In Reno, our business continues to gradually improve as the overall market shows signs of growth. While the promotional environment in Reno remains elevated, we intend to maintain our disciplined approach to marketing spending that attracts profitable play to Atlantis.

"In Black Hawk, we are very excited by the upgrade of the existing facility which will be fully completed and open to the public before the end of the current quarter. Visitors to the property can also see the progress we are making in construction of the new nine story parking structure.

"Despite the nearly 20% reduction in the number of slot machines on the casino floor to accommodate the ongoing construction, Monarch Black Hawk continues to deliver strong operating results which reflect both the healthy Denver market and our efforts to optimize the player experience. Moreover, the property is benefiting from the positive guest response to the facility enhancements completed as part of the first two phases of the upgrade. Upon completion of the third and final phase of the upgrade later this quarter, we plan to increase the number of slot machines on the floor from 565 to 705 and we'll also expand our table game count from 9 to 14.

"The estimated total cost of the Monarch Black Hawk expansion, including the cost of the acquired land, new parking structure, hotel tower, expanded casino and additional restaurants remains projected at approximately $285-$295 million, of which $229-$234 million represents the expected cost to complete the hotel tower, expanded casino and additional restaurants. Through June 30, 2015, we have spent approximately $31 million on the expansion, primarily on the new parking structure, leaving remaining completion costs of approximately $254-$264 million. We expect to fund the remaining cost of the expansion from a combination of cash flow from operations and an increase in, or replacement of, our current credit facility.

"We believe that our 2015 second quarter results reflect Monarch's overall disciplined approach toward attracting profitable play while managing costs and promotional activity. In addition, our results benefited from the efforts of our Black Hawk team as they successfully managed the ongoing challenge of construction disruption, which lead to improved operating results and market share growth."

Summary of 2015 Second Quarter Operating Results
For the 2015 second quarter, consolidated net revenue of $50.0 million represented an increase of 4.6% year-over-year, driven primarily by solid revenue growth at Monarch Black Hawk. Revenue from the Company's casino operations rose 6.3% on a year-over-year basis and food and beverage revenue rose 5.8% while hotel revenue declined 3.4%. Consolidated promotional allowance increased by $0.9 million or 8.4%.

The Company generated consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of $12.5 million in the second quarter of 2015, an increase of $0.8 million, or 7.0%, over the same period a year ago.

Casino operating expense as a percentage of casino revenue increased to 42.1% for the second quarter of 2015 compared to 41.7% in the second quarter of 2014. Food and beverage operating expense as a percentage of food and beverage revenue for the 2015 second quarter decreased to 39.5% from 42.0% in the 2014 second quarter. Hotel operating expense as a percentage of hotel revenue increased to 28.8% for the second quarter of 2015 compared to 28.2% for the same period in the prior year. The increase in casino operating expense as a percentage of revenue is due primarily to an increase in complimentaries expense while the increase in hotel operating expense as a percentage of hotel revenue is due primarily to lower hotel revenue.

Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses for the 2015 second quarter were essentially flat with the 2014 second quarter.

Monarch Black Hawk Expansion Update
Summarized below is an update on the Company's ongoing upgrade and expansion of Monarch Black Hawk, including the expected costs and completion dates for the project as well as the amounts spent through June 30, 2015:

$ in millions				Cost		Total Spent Through June 30, 2015		Left to Spend		Estimated Completion Date
I. Existing Facility
	Riviera Black Hawk Casino (1)			$76		$76		-		Complete
	Existing Facility Upgrade (2)(3)			$34 - $36		$17		$17 - $19		Interior Q3 2015; Exterior 2015-2016
		Total Existing Facility		$110 - $112		$93		$17 - $19
II. Expansion
	Acquired Land Parcels			$10		$10		-		Complete
	Parking Structure (3)			$38 - $41		$14		$24 - $27		Late 2015
	Hotel Tower & Casino (4)			$229 - $234		-		$229 - $234		Late 2017
	Other (3)			$8 - $10		$7		$1 - $3		2016-2017
		Total Expansion		$285 - $295		$31		$254 - $264
		Total Cost		$395 - $407		$124		$271 - $283

(1)		Company paid $76.0 million cash or $69.2 million net of acquired working capital and NOLs when it acquired Riviera Black Hawk.
(2)		Includes upgrade to interior and exterior of existing facility to match the design of the master planned expansion.
(3)		The Company expects to fund the amount left to spend primarily from operating cash flow and, to a lesser extent, from its credit facility.
(4)		The Company anticipates funding the hotel tower and casino expansion from a combination of operating cash flow and an expansion or replacement of its credit facility.

During the second quarter of 2015, Monarch made further progress on the third and final phase of its existing facility upgrade, which is expected to be opened to the public in the current quarter. The Company also made further progress on construction of the facility's new parking structure.

Credit Facility
The amount outstanding on the Company's credit facility at June 30, 2015 of $42.2 million remained relatively flat with the $42.0 million balance outstanding as of the end of the first quarter. Capital expenditures of $7.4 million in the second quarter of 2015 were funded from operating cash flows and primarily represent costs related to the ongoing redesign and expansion project at Monarch Black Hawk.

Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized for the 2015 second quarter decreased to $0.2 million from $0.3 million in the second quarter of 2014 due to lower outstanding borrowings in the 2015 second quarter compared to the 2014 second quarter. 

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 and outlooks; (iii) plans, objectives and expectations regarding Monarch Black Hawk; and (iv) plans, costs, financing, construction, completion and opening timelines of redesigned and 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; 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 Monarch 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 705 slot machines (temporarily reduced to approximately 565 to accommodate redesign and upgrade work on the facility), 9 table games, a 250 seat buffet-style restaurant, a snack bar and a parking structure with approximately 500 spaces. Once completed, the Monarch Black Hawk expansion will nearly double the casino space and will add a 23 story hotel tower with approximately 500 guest rooms and suites, an upscale spa and pool facility, three restaurants (bringing the total to four restaurants), additional bars, a new parking structure and associated support facilities. The planned nine story parking structure will increase total parking on site from approximately 500 spaces to approximately 1,500 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 June 30,								Six months ended June 30,
				2015				2014				2015				2014
Revenues
	Casino			$	38,551			$	36,264			$	75,990			$	72,298
	Food and beverage				13,975				13,205				27,078				25,470
	Hotel				5,828				6,031				10,565				10,675
	Other				2,668				2,455				5,268				4,934
		Gross revenues			61,022				57,955				118,901				113,377
	Less promotional allowances				(11,009	)			(10,152	)			(21,717	)			(20,066	)
		Net revenues			50,013				47,803				97,184				93,311
Operating expenses
	Casino				16,228				15,117				32,564				30,139
	Food and beverage				5,524				5,543				10,743				10,514
	Hotel				1,676				1,700				3,195				3,084
	Other				1,114				912				2,048				1,787
	Selling, general and administrative				13,317				13,180				25,896				26,411
	Depreciation and amortization				4,108				4,630				8,239				9,324
	Loss (gain) on disposition of assets				(2	)			249				(20	)			249
	Colorado ballot initiative costs				-				1,004				-				1,004
		Total operating expenses			41,965				42,335				82,665				82,512
		Income from operations			8,048				5,468				14,519				10,799
Other expenses
	Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized				(181	)			(274	)			(400	)			(561	)
		Total other expense			(181	)			(274	)			(400	)			(561	)
		Income before income taxes			7,867				5,194				14,119				10,238
Provision for income taxes					(2,768	)			(2,170	)			(4,977	)			(3,938	)
		Net income		$	5,099			$	3,024			$	9,142			$	6,300
Earnings per share of common stock
	Net income
		Basic		$	0.30			$	0.18			$	0.54			$	0.38
		Diluted		$	0.29			$	0.18			$	0.53			$	0.37
Weighted average number of common shares and potential common shares outstanding
		Basic			16,894				16,788				16,858				16,663
		Diluted			17,302				17,104				17,250				17,165

Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except shares)
				June 30,				December 31,
				2015				2014
				(unaudited)
ASSETS
	Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents			$	19,848			$	21,583
	Receivables, net				3,095				3,047
	Income taxes receivable				1,937				1,139
	Inventories				2,588				2,846
	Prepaid expenses				4,064				4,021
	Deferred income taxes				1,626				1,626
		Total current assets			33,158				34,262
Property and equipment
	Land				29,415				29,415
	Land improvements				6,701				6,701
	Buildings				150,771				150,821
	Buildings improvements				20,027				18,142
	Furniture and equipment				127,285				125,671
	Construction in progress				26,040				15,672
	Leasehold improvements				1,347				1,347
					361,586				347,769
	Less accumulated depreciation and amortization				(173,773	)			(167,498	)
		Net property and equipment			187,813				180,271
Other assets
	Goodwill				25,111				25,111
	Intangible assets, net				6,783				7,366
	Deferred income taxes				4,682				4,682
	Other assets, net				457				609
		Total other assets			37,033				37,768
		Total assets		$	258,004			$	252,301
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
	Accounts payable			$	6,434			$	7,933
	Construction accounts payable				2,232				1,790
	Accrued expenses				18,497				19,327
		Total current liabilities			27,163				29,050
Long-term debt					42,200				46,300
		Total liabilities			69,363				75,350
Stockholders' equity
	Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued				-				-
	Common stock, $.01 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized;				191				191
	19,096,300 shares issued; 16,976,356 outstanding at June 30, 2015; 16,812,794 outstanding at December 31, 2014
	Additional paid - in capital				22,853				22,985
	Treasury stock, 2,119,944 shares at June 30, 2015; 2,283,506 shares at December 31, 2014				(30,290	)			(32,970	)
	Retained earnings				195,887				186,745
		Total stockholders' equity			188,641				176,951
		Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	258,004			$	252,301

Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation 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 June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
				2015				2014				2015				2014
Adjusted EBITDA (1)				$	12,483			$	11,665			$	23,358			$	21,952
Expenses:
	Stock based compensation				(329	)			(314	)			(620	)			(576	)
	Depreciation and amortization				(4,108	)			(4,630	)			(8,239	)			(9,324	)
	Colorado ballot initiative costs				-				(1,004	)			-				(1,004	)
	Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized				(181	)			(274	)			(400	)			(561	)
	Gain (loss) on disposition of assets				2				(249	)			20				(249	)
	Provision for income taxes				(2,768	)			(2,170	)			(4,977	)			(3,938	)
		Net income		$	5,099			$	3,024			$	9,142			$	6,300

(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.