Full House Resorts Announces Three and Six Months Results for the Period Ended June 30, 2011

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Full House Resorts (NYSE Amex US: FLL) today announced results for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011. Net income attributable to the Company for the three months ended June 30, 2011 was $1.4 million, or $0.08 per common share, compared to $1.5 million, or $0.08 per common share, in the prior-year period. Excluding $0.4 million of non-cash loss on financing swap derivatives and acquisition costs, net income attributable to the Company per common share in the second quarter of 2011 would have been $0.09.

Second Quarter 2011 Highlights

  • On April 1, 2011, the Company closed on the acquisition of the Grand Victoria Casino and Resort located in Rising Sun, Indiana. For the second quarter 2011, the Company recorded revenue of $23.2 million and EBITDA of $3.2 million at the property.
  • Management fees for Gaming Entertainment (Michigan), LLC (“GEM”), a 50%-owned joint venture that manages FireKeepers Casino, were $5.9 million in the second quarter of 2011, compared to management fees of $6.0 million for second quarter 2010.
  • EBITDA as defined below, and other items for the second quarter of 2011 was $6.0 million versus $3.1 million in the prior-year period.
  • As of June 30, 2011, Full House Resorts had $11.5 million in cash, $31.4 million in outstanding debt (inclusive of swap agreement liability) and approximately $4.8 million of availability on its revolving credit facility.
  • In May, subject to approval of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), the Company entered into a three-year management agreement with the Pueblo of Pojoaque for the operations of the Buffalo Thunder Casino and Resort in Santa Fe, New Mexico along with the Pueblo’s Cities of Gold and Sports Bar casino facilities. The Company will receive a base management fee of $100,000 per month plus a success fee based on achieving certain financial targets and expects to incur only minimal incremental operating costs related to the contract. The approval of the NIGC is expected in the third quarter.
  • In June, the Company entered into a five-year lease agreement with Hyatt Equities L.L.C. for the Grand Lodge Casino at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino in Incline Village, Nevada on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. In addition, the Company entered in an agreement with HCC Corp., an affiliate of HGMI Gaming Inc., to acquire the operating assets and certain liabilities related to the Grand Lodge Casino for approximately $0.6 million, exclusive of operating cash and working capital. The Grand Lodge Casino features approximately 260 slot machines, 25 table games and a sports book, and is integrated into Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino and had prior annual revenue of approximately $12.5 million. These agreements are conditioned on approval by the Nevada Gaming Control Board and Nevada Gaming Commission which is expected by the end of August.

“The second quarter of 2011 was successful and newsworthy for Full House, as we added the Grand Victoria Casino and Resort to our family and once again achieved solid earnings per share,” said Andre Hilliou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Full House. “We are very pleased with the hard work that the entire Grand Victoria team has accomplished to effect a smooth transition and an excellent quarter in Indiana. We believe the property will be a significant driver of long-term value in the months and years to come. In addition, despite weather disruptions in the quarter and increased competition, FireKeepers continues to perform strongly. Finally, subject to approvals, we entered into a management agreement with the Pueblo of Pojoaque which will provide for additional high margin revenue, and we are expanding our Nevada presence to Lake Tahoe. We will continue to seek and act upon value-added opportunities when they are presented.”

Second Quarter 2011 Results

For the quarter ended June 30, 2011, Full House reported casino, food and beverage, hotel and other revenue of $25.2 million, up from $2.0 million in the prior-year period, primarily due to the addition of the Grand Victoria Casino and Resort on April 1, 2011. In addition, during the second quarter of 2011, Full House recorded GEM management fees of $5.9 million for FireKeepers Casino, compared to management fees of $6.0 million for the second quarter of 2010. Both the Grand Victoria and FireKeepers Casino were negatively affected in the second quarter due to unusually inclement weather.

Full House recorded equity in net income from its Delaware operation of $0.7 million, an increase of 7% from the prior-year period. The equity in net income of unconsolidated joint venture represents Full House’s 50% ownership interest in Gaming Entertainment (Delaware), LLC (“GED”), the joint venture between the Company and Harrington Raceway, Inc. The agreement terminates at the end of August.

Operating expenses for the second quarter 2011 were $25.0 million compared to $3.5 million in the prior-year period, primarily due to the addition of the Grand Victoria Casino & Resort. The Company also recorded $103,470 of stock compensation expense during the second quarter of 2011, while there was no stock compensation expense during the prior-year period.

Operating income for the second quarter 2011 was $6.8 million, compared to operating income of $5.2 million in the prior-year period. EBITDA was $6.0 million versus $3.1 million in the prior-year period.

The estimated effective annual income tax rate applied to the quarter was approximately 26%, compared to 24% for the same period in 2010. The estimated effective annual income tax rate considers pretax income from continuing operations and reflects a 16% benefit from income attributable to noncontrolling interest. The increase in the estimated effective annual income tax rate is primarily due to additional state taxes as a result of the acquisition of Grand Victoria, partially offset by a reduction in the effective tax rate for Michigan, as GEM’s filing status changed from filing as a stand-alone entity to filing unitarily with Full House Resorts, Inc.

Full House reported second quarter net income attributable to the Company per common share of $0.08 for the three months ended June 30, 2011, comparable with the prior-year period. Exclusive of $0.4 million of non-cash loss on financing swap derivatives and acquisition costs in the second quarter of 2011, net income per common share in the second quarter 2011 would have been $0.09.

Six Month 2011 Results

For the six months ended June 30, 2011, Full House reported casino, food and beverage, hotel and other revenue of $27.2 million, compared to revenue of $4.2 million in the prior-year period, primarily as a result of the addition of the Grand Victoria Casino and Resort on April 1, 2011. In addition, during the six months ended June 30, 2011, Full House recorded GEM management fees of $12.3 million for FireKeepers Casino, compared to management fees of $12.2 million for the prior-year period.

The Company recorded equity in net income from the Delaware operation of $2.2 million, a 5% increase from the prior-year period.

Operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2011 were $29.0 million compared to $7.2 million in the prior-year period, primarily due to the addition of the Grand Victoria Casino & Resort. The Company also recorded $103,470 of stock compensation expense for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011, compared to $16,683 in the six months ended June 30, 2010.

Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was $12.7 million, compared to operating income of $11.2 million in the prior-year period. EBITDA was $10.1 million versus $7.0 million in the prior-year period.

For the six months ended June 30, 2011, the estimated effective annual income tax rate applied for the current year was approximately 26%, compared to 24% for the same period in 2010. The estimated effective annual income tax rate considers pretax income from continuing operations and reflects a 16% benefit from income attributable to noncontrolling interest. The increase in the estimated effective annual income tax rate is primarily due to additional state taxes as a result of the acquisition of Grand Victoria, partially offset by a reduction in the effective tax rate for Michigan, as GEM’s tax filing status changed. Previously, GEM filed as a stand-alone partnership with all of its receipts subject to the Michigan Business Tax. Future taxes are expected to be filed on a unitary basis, with GEM being included in Full House Resorts’ tax reporting. The unitary filing should result in a reduction of receipts apportioned to Michigan.

The Company reported net income attributable to the Company per common share of $0.17 and $0.19 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Excluding $0.8 million in acquisition costs and a non-cash loss on financing swap derivatives, net income attributable to the Company per common share for the six months ended June 30, 2011 would have been $0.20.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of June 30, 2011, Full House had $11.5 million in cash, $31.7 million in outstanding debt (inclusive of swap agreement liability) and $4.8 million of availability on its revolving credit line with Wells Fargo.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call and webcast on Wednesday, August 10 at 4:00 PM EDT. Both the call and webcast are open to the general public.

The conference call number is 888-554-1419; international callers can access the call by dialing 1-719-325-2393. Please call five minutes in advance to ensure that you are connected prior to the presentation. Interested parties may also access the live call on the Internet at www.fullhouseresorts.com (select Investors and then Upcoming Events). Please log-on fifteen minutes in advance to ensure that you are connected prior to the call's initiation. Questions and answers will be reserved for call-in analysts and institutional investors. Following its completion, a replay of the call can be accessed for one week on the Internet at the above link or by calling either 877-870-5176 or 1-858-384-5517 and providing passcode 8394444.

                     

Selected unaudited Statements of Operations data for the three months ended June 30,

 
2011      

Casino Operations -
Nevada

   

Casino Operations -
Midwest

   

Development/
Management

    Corporate     Consolidated
Revenues $ 2,021,239 $ 23,190,637 $ 5,912,294 $ - $ 31,124,170
Selling, general and administrative expense 484,098 5,203,444 130,958 1,170,950 6,989,450
Depreciation and amortization 236,135 1,220,183 593,147 2,676 2,052,141
Operating gains -- -- 661,270 -- 661,270
Operating income (loss) 255,590 1,984,787 5,849,459 (1,259,685 ) 6,830,151
Net income (loss) attributable to Company 168,773 470,033 2,426,110 (1,668,396 ) 1,396,520
 
 
 
2010      

Casino Operations -
Nevada

   

Casino Operations -
Midwest

   

Development/
Management

    Corporate     Consolidated
Revenues $ 2,039,869 $ - $ 6,018,598 $ - $ 8,058,467
Selling, general and administrative expense 414,550 -- 155,416 945,966 1,515,932
Depreciation and amortization 240,990 -- 593,195 25,449 859,634
Operating gains -- -- 629,081 -- 629,081
Operating income (loss) 340,977 -- 5,897,734 (1,038,209 ) 5,200,502
Net income (loss) attributable to Company 225,724 -- 1,932,747 (687,356 ) 1,471,115
                     

Selected unaudited Statements of Operations data for the six months ended June 30,

 
2011      

Casino Operations -
Nevada

   

Casino Operations -
Midwest

   

Development/
Management

    Corporate     Consolidated
Revenues $ 4,001,078 $ 23,190,637 $ 12,276,681 $ - $ 39,468,396
Selling, general and administrative expense 946,062 5,203,444 283,197 2,210,455 8,643,158
Depreciation and amortization 474,950 1,220,183 1,186,343 22,409 2,903,885
Operating gains -- -- 2,181,167 -- 2,181,167
Operating income (loss) 539,421 1,984,787 12,988,307 (2,850,731 ) 12,661,784
Net income (loss) attributable to Company 356,184 470,033 5,035,078 (2,857,331 ) 3,003,964
 
 
 
2010      

Casino Operations -
Nevada

   

Casino Operations -
Midwest

   

Development/
Management

    Corporate     Consolidated
Revenues $ 4,188,993 $ - $ 12,180,704 $ - $ 16,369,697
Selling, general and administrative expense 860,826 -- 400,824 2,020,014 3,281,664
Depreciation and amortization 486,072 -- 1,186,389 48,515 1,720,976
Operating gains -- -- 2,060,433 -- 2,060,433
Operating income (loss) 775,809 -- 12,652,190 (2,202,599 ) 11,225,400
Net income (loss) attributable to Company 512,836 -- 4,418,869 (1,451,973 ) 3,479,732
 
                                         

Reconciliation of EBITDA before unrealized losses on notes receivable, tribal governments, and other items for the three months ended June 30,

 
 
Net of Non-Controlling Interest
2011          

Casino Operations -
Nevada

   

Casino Operations -
Midwest

   

Development /
Management

 

  Corporate     Consolidated GEM     50%    

Development /
Management

    Consolidated
   
Operating income (loss) $ 255,590 $ 1,984,787 $ 5,849,459 $ (1,259,685 ) $ 6,830,151 $ 5,350,940 $ 2,675,470 $ 3,173,989 $ 4,154,681
 
Add Back:
Grand Victoria expenses - - - 12,424 12,424 - - - 12,424
Unrealized loss on notes receivable, tribal governments - - 32,439 - 32,439 - - 32,439 32,439
Depreciation and amortization   236,135       1,220,183       593,147       2,676         2,052,141   431,120       215,560         377,587       1,836,581
$ 491,725     $ 3,204,970     $ 6,475,045     $ (1,244,585 )     $ 8,927,155 $ 5,782,060     $ 2,891,030       $ 3,584,015     $ 6,036,125
 
 
       
Net of Non-Controlling Interest
2010          

Casino Operations -
Nevada

   

Casino Operations -
Midwest

   

Development /
Management

    Corporate     Consolidated GEM     50%    

Development /
Management

    Consolidated
 
Operating income (loss) $ 340,977 $ - $ 5,897,734 $ (1,038,209 ) $ 5,200,502 $ 5,460,664 $ 2,730,332 $ 3,167,402 $ 2,470,170
 
Add Back:
Unrealized loss on notes receivable, tribal governments - - 20,354 - 20,354 - - 20,354 20,354
Depreciation and amortization   240,990       -       593,195       25,449         859,634           431,169       215,585         377,610       644,049
$ 581,967     $ -     $ 6,511,283     $ (1,012,760 )     $ 6,080,490 $ 5,891,833     $ 2,945,917       $ 3,565,366     $ 3,134,573
 
                                                     

Reconciliation of EBITDA before unrealized gains on notes receivable, tribal governments, and other items for the six months ended June 30,

 
 
Net of Non-Controlling Interest
2011          

Casino Operations -
Nevada

     

Casino Operations -
Midwest

     

Development /
Management

      Corporate       Consolidated GEM       50%      

Development /
Management

      Consolidated
     
Operating income (loss) $ 539,421 $ 1,984,787 $ 12,988,307 $ (2,850,731 ) $ 12,661,784 $ 11,133,091 $ 5,566,546 $ 7,421,761 $ 7,095,238
 
Add Back:
Grand Victoria acquisition costs expensed - - - 482,079 482,079 - - - 482,079
Unrealized loss on notes receivable, tribal governments - - 7,864 - 7,864 - - 7,864 7,864
Depreciation and amortization 474,950 1,220,183 1,186,343 22,409 2,903,885 862,290 431,145 755,198 2,472,740
                                                           
$ 1,014,371       $ 3,204,970       $ 14,182,514       $ (2,346,243 )       $ 16,055,612 $ 11,995,381       $ 5,997,691         $ 8,184,823       $ 10,057,921
 
 
         
Net of Non-Controlling Interest
2010          

Casino Operations -
Nevada

     

Casino Operations -
Midwest

     

Development /
Management

      Corporate       Consolidated GEM       50%      

Development /
Management

      Consolidated
 
Operating income (loss) $ 775,809 $ - $ 12,652,190 $ (2,202,599 ) $ 11,225,400 $ 11,046,274 5,523,137 $ 7,129,053 $ 5,702,263
 
Add Back:
Unrealized loss on notes receivable, tribal governments - - 31,118 - 31,118 - - 31,118 31,118
Depreciation and amortization 486,072 - 1,186,391 48,515 1,720,978 862,338 431,169 755,222 1,289,809
                                                           
$ 1,261,881       $ -       $ 13,869,699       $ (2,154,084 )       $ 12,977,496 $ 11,908,612       $ 5,954,306         $ 7,915,393       $ 7,023,190
 
       

FULL HOUSE RESORTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 
Three months

ended June 30,

Six months

ended June 30,

2011

 

2010

2011

 

2010

 

Revenues
Casino $ 23,212,583 $ 1,574,987 $ 24,753,635 $ 3,286,999
Food and beverage 1,373,777 445,254 1,786,360 862,445
Hotel 207,173 -- 207,173 --
Management fees 5,912,434 6,018,598 12,276,676 12,180,704
Other operations   418,203     19,628   444,552 39,549
  31,124,170     8,058,467   39,468,396 16,369,697
Operating costs and expenses

Casino

13,011,458 547,475 13,533,914 1,083,382
Food and beverage 1,366,867 495,879 1,839,641 982,904
Hotel 180,707 -- 180,707 --
Other operations 1,268,607 -- 1,268,607 --
Project development and acquisition costs 86,059 68,126 617,867 135,804
Selling, general and administrative 6,989,450 1,515,932 8,643,158 3,281,664
Depreciation and amortization   2,052,141     859,634   2,903,885 1,720,976
  24,955,289     3,487,046   28,987,779 7,204,730
Operating gains (losses)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated joint venture, and related guaranteed payments

693,709

649,435

2,189,031 2,091,551
Unrealized losses on notes receivable, tribal governments (32,439 )  

(20,354

)

  (7,864 ) (31,118

)

  661,270     629,081   2,181,167 2,060,433
Operating income 6,830,151 5,200,502 12,661,784 11,225,400

Other income (expense)

Interest expense (917,844

)

 

(3,655 ) (1,128,478 ) (7,311

)

Fair value adjustment of derivative instrument (350,343

)

 

-- (350,343 ) --
Other income (expense), net   (1,889

)

 

  1,443   (1,502 ) 114,284
Income before income taxes 5,560,075 5,198,290 11,181,461 11,332,373
Income taxes   1,457,134     1,229,760   2,863,997 2,768,409
Net income 4,102,941 3,968,530 8,317,464 8,563,964
Income attributable to noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint venture   (2,706,421 )   (2,497,415 )   (5,313,500 ) (5,084,232

)

Net income attributable to the Company $ 1,396,520   $ 1,471,115 $ 3,003,964 $ 3,479,732
 
Net income attributable to the Company per common

share

$ 0.08   $ 0.08 $ 0.17 $ 0.19
 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding   18,223,081     18,004,414   18,115,381 18,003,048
 

Disclosures necessary to conform to GAAP and SEC Regulations S-X have been omitted.

About Full House Resorts, Inc.

Full House owns, develops and manages gaming facilities. The Company owns the Grand Victoria Casino and Resort in Rising Sun, Indiana. The Grand Victoria Riverboat Casino has 40,000 square feet of gaming space with almost 1,300 slot and video poker machines and 37 table games. The property includes a 201-room hotel, a pavilion with five food and beverage outlets an 18-hole Scottish links golf course and a large, multi-purpose Grand Theater for concerts and performance events as well as meetings and conventions. In addition, Full House owns Stockman’s Casino in Fallon, Nevada which has 8,400 square feet of gaming space with approximately 260 gaming machines, four table games and a keno game.

The Company has a management agreement with the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians for FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Michigan with approximately 2,700 gaming devices, 78 table games and a 120-seat poker room. Full House also receives a guaranteed fee, through termination of the agreement in August 2011, from the Harrington Raceway and Casino at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington, Delaware. The Company recently announced a consulting agreement, conditioned on approval of the National Indian Gaming Commission, with the Pueblo of Pojoaque to advise on the operations of the Buffalo Thunder Casino and Resort in Santa Fe, New Mexico along with the Pueblo’s Cities of Gold and Sports Bar casino facilities. The Company has also entered into a five-year lease agreement, conditioned on approval, for the Grand Lodge Casino at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino in Incline Village, Nevada on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, as well as an agreement to acquire the operating assets and certain liabilities related to the Grand Lodge Casino.

Further information about Full House Resorts can be viewed on its website at www.fullhouseresorts.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Some of the statements made in this release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Full House’s current expectations and projections about future events and generally relate to Full House’s plans, objectives and expectations for Full House’s business. Although Full House’s management believes that the plans and objectives expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, the outcome of such plans, objectives and expectations involve risks and uncertainties including without limitation, regulatory approvals, including the ability to maintain a gaming license in Indiana and Nevada, financing sources and terms, integration of acquisitions, competition and business conditions in the gaming industry, including the opening of the Gun Lake casino in Michigan, plans for other and new competition in Michigan, competition from Ohio casinos and any possible authorization of gaming in Kentucky. Additional information concerning potential factors that could affect Full House’s financial condition and results of operations is included in the reports Full House files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, it’s Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.

Full House Resorts, Inc.
Mark Miller, 702-221-7800
Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer
www.fullhouseresorts.com
or
Integrated Corporate Relations
William R. Schmitt, 203-682-8200
investors@fullhouseresorts.com

Source: Full House Resorts