Keith Smith
Analyst · Deutsche Bank. Please go ahead
Thanks, Josh. Good afternoon, everyone. I hope that everyone staying safe during these extremely difficult times. It is times like these to do remind us what is truly important in life, our health, our families and our friends. The financial damage of COVID-19 can and will be repaired over time. The same cannot be said of lives lost to this tragedy. The human cost of COVID-19 has been terrible, but it could have been far worse. Over the last six weeks, the freeze and non-essential businesses across the country, there’s a lot of communities to start flattening the curve saving countless lives. While the mandated closure of our properties was a necessary part of the broader effort to stop COVID-19, the impact to our company, our team members and our communities has been significant. Before the crisis began in March, our company was on track to report strong first quarter results opening the year with two consecutive months of solid growth across the country. Prior to the closures, are Las Vegas Locals segment was well on its way to posting its 20th straight quarter of EBITDAR growth with year to date revenue, EBITDAR and margin improvement across our Southern Nevada properties. Our Downtown Las Vegas business was poised for another record quarter and we saw strong performances across our Midwest and south properties with 13 of our 17 properties producing double digit EBITDAR growth through the first two months of the year. During this period, all but one of our regional properties supposed to be year-over-year growth in both revenue and EBITDAR. Then came March and when the COVID-19 outbreak transformed our business, to the communities we operate in. In response to state orders aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19, Boyd Gaming closed every one of our 29 properties across the country over a six day period from March 12th through March 18th. In the initial days following these closures, our first priority is we are providing support to our team members and our communities. Our properties donated tens of thousands of pounds of food in cities across the country and we contributed significant quantities of gloves and masks to first responders in hospitals. We also supported our team members across the country, providing a full month of pay and benefits while their properties were closed. The first disclosures were meant to be short lived, but as the full extent of the crisis became apparent, stay at home orders were extended across the country. Today, six weeks after the closures began all of our properties across the country remain closed to the public and reopening day to remain uncertain. The results we reported today show the significant impact of these closures on our business. In order To ensure that our company is able to navigate through this crisis and resume operations in a strong position, we have made some difficult but necessary decisions. Our executive and management teams have taken significant pay cuts and our Board of Directors agreed to suspend their compensation. We have halted all non-essential spending, all major capital projects have been suspended as well our quarterly dividend payments and share repurchase activities. But by far the most difficult decision was placing most of our team members on furlough status in mid-April. This was the hardest choice we have ever made as a company, we care deeply about the wellbeing of our team members and we postpone this decision as long as we could. But without any clear visibility on when we would be able to reopen our business, this was a decision we had to make. We recognize the impact that these furloughs have on our team members and we have tried to mitigate this impact by continuing to provide benefits coverage. All furlough team numbers who are enrolled in our benefits program will remain covered through June 30th at no cost to the team member. And thanks to the approval of stimulus payments and enhanced unemployment benefits by Congress last month, our team members and our communities will receive much needed support to help them through these difficult times. As of today, we do not know when we will be permitted to resume operations and bring our team members back to work. It is likely that each of our 10 states will reopen on a different timeline, each with their own specific health and safety guidelines. We are currently working with state and local officials across the country to gain a better understanding of when we will be able to reopen and what reopening may look like. And while we do not have clear visibility regarding opening dates based on the actions we have taken to reduce expenses and strengthen our cash reserves, as well as the work we have done in recent years to strengthen our balance sheet, we are confident, we have sufficient liquidity to sustain our company until we can reopen our doors once again Once the reopening process begins protecting the health and safety of our team members and customers will be our utmost priority, and the safety protocols we put into place will meet or exceed the standards set forth by local state and federal health officials. As we look ahead and prepare for a return to business, we believe we will benefit from a business model that is largely focused on local and regional visitation. Across our nationwide portfolio the majority of our business comes from local customers, we are not reliant on destination or convention business for success. As a result as operations resume, we believe our local customer base will position us to lead the recovery of our industry. While these are certainly unprecedented times, we know that they will come to an end and we look forward to the start of the recovery. Before I turn the call over to Josh, I want to take a moment to recognize our team members who I know have been significantly impacted by this crisis. While our properties may be closed, you are still part of the Boyd team and we look forward to bringing you back to work as soon as we can. With those team members who have remained on the job throughout these closures, thank you for your hard work and keeping your property safe and secure, your dedication and efforts will help us reopen quickly when the time comes. To our customers, we look forward to welcoming you back when it is safe to do so. I know that many of you will be looking for entertainment when stay at home orders finally end and we look forward to hosting you again as much as you look forward to visiting us. And finally, we want to recognize the first responders and medical personnel who have been on the frontlines of this fight. You have worked countless hours and put your health and wellbeing at risk to save lives and protect our communities during this pandemic, I know I speak for everyone at this company and thanking you for your incredible service, you are an inspiration to all of us. Thank you for your time. I will now turn the call over to Josh.