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Golden Entertainment, Inc. (GDEN)

Q2 2013 Earnings Call· Sat, Aug 10, 2013

$28.51

+0.32%

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Transcript

Operator

Operator

Good day, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Second Quarter 2013 Lakes Entertainment Earnings Conference Call. My name is Phillip, and I'll be your operator for today. (Operator Instructions) As a reminder, today's conference is being recorded for replay purposes. And with that, I'd now like to turn the conference over to your host for today, Mr. Tim Cope. Please proceed, sir.

Tim Cope

Management

Thank you, Phillip. Good afternoon, and welcome to Lakes Entertainment's second quarter 2013 earnings conference call. On the call with me is Lyle Berman, Lakes' Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. As we begin our prepared remarks, I would like to remind everyone that this call may contain forward-looking statements, including statements concerning business strategies and their intended results and similar statements concerning anticipated future events. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those risks described in our filings with the SEC, and actual results may differ materially. Lyle will begin our discussion today with the general overview and update on our projects. I'll then discuss the second quarter financial results and recent business events, and then we'll conduct a question-and-answer session. Now I'll turn the call over to Lyle Berman.

Lyle Berman

Management

Thanks Tim and welcome everyone to Lakes’ second-quarter 2013 earnings call. We officially opened the Rocky Gap casino resort on May 22, 2013. Rocky Gap is a AAA four-diamond resort that includes a casino, hotel, spa, four restaurants and the only Jack Nicklaus signature golf course in Maryland. The casino features 558 slot machines, 10 table games, a casino center bar and a new hotel lobby bar and food outlet. Although initial results in May and June were below expectations, operations have shown significant improvement in the month of July and August at Rocky Gap. We've implemented marketing initiatives which made the surrounding communities better aware of our offering and we commenced the [busing] program which has been well received. Hotel occupancy has also increased as we continue to focus on filling our hotel rooms with gaming customers. We look forward to a strong results through fall which has historically been a busy time of the year for the resort. We also look forward to the expected fourth quarter opening of our new event center at Rocky Gap which will allow us to book group events and various entertainment functions at the property. The total cost of the Rocky Gap project is currently expected to be approximately $35 million. As of June 30, 2013 we had drawn a total of 10.9 million on the 17.5 million financing facility for this project and during July we drew an additional 1.6 million. As we previously announced on July 17, 2013 we entered into a debt determination agreement with the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians relating to loans Lakes made to tribe for the development of the Red Hawk casino located near Sacramento, California. Upon satisfaction of certain conditions in the agreement Lakes will be paid a lump sum payment of 57.1…

Tim Cope

Management

Thank you, Lyle. Net earnings for the second of 2013 were $0.2 million compared to net earnings of $0.4 million in the second quarter of 2012. Loss from operations was $1.2 million for the second quarter of 2013 compared to a loss from operations of $1.1 million for the second quarter of 2012. Basic and diluted earnings were $0.01 per share for the second quarter of 2013 compared to $0.02 per share for the second quarter of 2012. Second quarter 2013 net revenues were $8.5 million compared to prior-year second quarter net revenues of $2.5 million. The increase was due primarily to the addition of $4.9 million in net revenue related to the operation of the Rocky Gap. Also contributing to the increase in revenues was an additional $1.1 million in management fees earned during the second quarter of 2013 compared to the second quarter of 2012 related to the Red Hawk Casino. The increase in fees was due to a decrease in operating expenses at the property related to a favorable state revenue share audit. During the second quarter of 2013, property operating expenses for Rocky Gap which primarily related to gaming operations, rooms, food and beverage and golf were $3.4 million. For the second quarter of 2013 selling, general and administrative expenses were $4.6 million compared to $1.9 million in the second quarter of 2012. Included in these amounts were Lakes corporate selling, general and administrative expenses of $2.0 million and $1.9 million during the second quarters of 2013 and 2012, respectively. The increase in Lakes corporate selling, general and administrative expenses were due primarily to an increase in professional fees which was partially offset by a decrease in payroll and related expenses and travel expenses. Rocky Gap selling, general and administrative expenses were $2.6 million during the…

Lyle Berman

Management

Thank you. Rocky Gap is open and currently exceeding budget as we head into the busy fall season. We anticipate receiving a 57.1 million payment from Shingle Springs within the next 30 to 60 days but of course, it could go to the end of the year, or even longer. Of the $21 million we currently have invested in Ohio properties, 18.2 million is earning 15% payment in kind interest. Although this interest has not been recorded on Lakes books, 18.2 million will be worth approximately 25 million by the end of the year. We also indirectly own approximately 8% of the Cleveland and Cincinnati casinos and the Thistledown Racino. Additionally our note with Jamul Tribe, which is capped at $60 million will become due and payable when and if the casino currently in the pre-development by Penn National opens and any third-party casino development funds have been repaid. We will begin receiving cash interest payments of 4.25% once the casino opens. This note was written off in prior years. In summary, we believe that if we received the 57.1 million payment from Shingle Springs, Rocky Gap performs to expectations and we have no other needs we will have a year-end cash balance of approximately $87 million. We believe our overall assets have substantial value that are not fully reflected in our balance sheet. And when considered with our cash position gives us flexibility when considering new opportunities that will enhance shareholder value. I’ll now turn the call over to the operator for questions.

Operator

Operator

(Operator Instructions) Our first question comes from the line of Roy Barry, an individual investor.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Dania is my question. Two years ago you wrote off $4 million as an impairment charge and the sale was completed during the second quarter, I believe you announced. Why was not that impairment charge reversed?

Tim Cope

Management

This is Tim. We can’t write off impairment charges at this point in time because the project has not yet been completely financed or has received the development approvals necessary to for us to put in type of other value on them.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

So it will happen in the next quarter or two?

Tim Cope

Management

We don’t think so because it’s just a cost investment, cost accounting investment. So once they start actually operating and distributing their cash to us in some form we will recognize that at that time.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Tim O'Brien from DG Capital.

Tim O'Brien - DG Capital

Analyst

Just first on Rocky Gap. So it looks like during the quarter you guys operated about a little bit over a $1 million loss. Is this just mainly a revenue issue, or is there anything obviously, you were just open for a portion of the quarter. I think there were some weather issues as well, but anything you could do from a cost side to improve the cost structure of Rocky Gap?

Lyle Berman

Management

Well, this is Lyle. Any time you open a new facility you do over-staff a little bit. I would say it was mainly a revenue issue but there are certainly efficiencies that we will start -- we will have implemented it, and we will continue implement, and of course, with the revenue increase we believe we will be in a profitable state.

Tim O'Brien - DG Capital

Analyst

In terms of marketing that's just started in the current quarter. Now do you guys have a budget for marketing?

Tim Cope

Management

So we prepare budgets in advance, we have an annual budget and obviously we allocate that to appropriate months in the particular markets that we are targeting.

Lyle Berman

Management

However remember that when you are in a tax state where you have a 50% tax, that does impact your ability to spend marketing dollars.

Tim O'Brien - DG Capital

Analyst

And you mentioned the bus program. Where are you guys running the bus programs from?

Tim Cope

Management

We are running them from within probably 100 miles of the facility right now. We have reached out to a little bit further west away such as Baltimore, Washington DC and Pittsburgh areas, but it’s interesting that we are getting a very favorable responses from the community that’s probably within 60 to 70 miles away.

Tim O'Brien - DG Capital

Analyst

And are these bus programs operating at others that are competitor casinos in close proximity to you guys, or are these new bus programs just set up for your casino?

Tim Cope

Management

Yes, some of it is, some clearly are going to other casinos, some go to Atlantic city and some go to the Hollywood casino in West Virginia, some go to the Pittsburgh area. But we are generally – at closest casino to those markets where they start from. So that does give us a little bit of a competitive advantage.

Tim O'Brien - DG Capital

Analyst

And then lastly obviously with the money expected to come back to you guys from the Shingle note, you mentioned it allows flexibility for new opportunities to enhance shareholder value. Could you just talk about sort of where a dividend to shareholders might sort of stack up in the things you're considering?

Lyle Berman

Management

This is Lyle again. We are considering any and all, we are looking at opportunities, I would say certainly a share buyback as an opportunity. A special dividend would be an opportunity, looking at other companies to invest in both within and without the gaming industry are our opportunities. We have been reluctant to making firm plans until such time as we actually get the money – after all we just signed that agreement a little while ago, we thought we would probably be getting the money perhaps a later in the year. It appears that we’re probably going to get it sooner. So we and the board are starting to focus on those things.

Tim O'Brien - DG Capital

Analyst

I mean Shingle is out right now with looking to refi those bonds or their capital structure, and obviously that includes paying your money back. So just how do you guys think about buybacks versus a dividend? Obviously your stock doesn't trade very much or isn't very liquid. I think maybe doing a stock buyback might be more difficult instead of providing value to shareholders in maybe a dividend. do you guys [think as well]?

Lyle Berman

Management

I would agree with both of those that it’s very hard to do a share buyback if you trade by appointment. All I can say at this point because we don’t have any concrete analysis to make but all I will say there is a list of opportunities that we’re looking at, and they are certainly all under consideration. We have talked to a number of our shareholders who have indicated that they very much look at the dividend as a very favorable use of funds.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Carl Hanson from Feltl. Carl Hanson - Feltl & Company : Just wondered on the $57 million that you will be getting, some of it will represent the remainder of the contract, and some repayment of the notes. I think the notes have -- you've taken a write-down on them in the past but of the $57 million, how much will apply to the notes and will that be at a gain or a loss?

Lyle Berman

Management

100% of the payback is regarding to the notes. The notes had a face value of approximately $70 million. So when we receive the $57 million we will be incurring approximately a $15 million tax loss carry forward coupled with our write-down of the Jamul note, we will have on our book of approximately $65 million tax loss carry forward. But 100% of the 57.1 million relates to the cancellation of the note. Carl Hanson - Feltl & Company : Different subject, on the Jamul Tribe matter, has there been any movement as far as resolving the roads issues?

Lyle Berman

Management

We are not really – you understand that it’s Penn Gaming that’s their sponsor now and going to be their management company, and we are not privy to any of that, we don’t know any more than what we read in the newspapers and haven’t heard anything about that lately. So we just don’t know the status. I do know that they announced some time ago they were planning to start construction by the end of this year. However we speculate that was a little bit optimistic and probably won't happen but that’s just the guess on our part.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of [Frank Janecky], a private investor.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Hello, gentlemen. I thought it was a nice quarter. I expected a lot of expense inside Rocky Gap, and at least you broke even for the quarter. I have a question concerning the new convention center that you're building. That's going to be open, I understand, sometime in the fourth quarter. Do I have that right?

Tim Cope

Management

That’s correct.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Have you started doing any marketing for that? Because it occurs to me that that convention center could bring in a lot of people as soon as the word gets around that it's available. Can you give me a little thought on how you're going to go about marketing this?

Tim Cope

Management

Frank, this is Tim. Nice to hear from you again. We have started that process, when we purchased the property, we didn’t – we were able to maintain all the prior group contacts they had, and we started reaching out to those groups that had been there previously, as well as now starting to market to new groups that, may have they have more of a gaming customer related to more of corporate groups versus say wedding as an example. So we have started the process, we had to wait a little bit to know for sure when the facility was going to be available. It looks like it certainly is planned to be available now in the November timeframe. So we are starting to ramp up the marketing efforts.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

It just occurs to me that that could, I mean if you get a decent size convention, that could bring a lot of people into the hotel, the food business, the gaming business, everything else that you do here, besides them having their meetings?

Tim Cope

Management

That’s the intent and I think that’s the main purpose of having that additional space.

Operator

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes the question-and-answer session of today’s conference. I would now like to turn the call back over to Lyle Berman for closing remarks.

Lyle Berman

Management

Thank you very much operator, for all of your questions. We will focus on continuing to execute on our strategy of generating shareholder value. Thank you once again for your interest in Lakes and we will speak with you again on our next earnings call. Thank you.

Operator

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes conference thank you for your participation and you cannot wonderful day him or her