Seneca
Gaming Reports Results
Seneca Gaming Corporation ("SGC",
or the "Company") today reported its
consolidated financial results for the three
and twelve months ended September 30, 2005.
SGC
is a wholly owned, tribally chartered corporation
of the Seneca Nation of Indians (the "Nation")
that operates all of the Nation's Class III
gaming operations on the Nation's territory
in Western New York. SGC, through its wholly
owned subsidiaries, Seneca Niagara Falls Gaming
Corporation ("SNFGC") and Seneca Territory
Gaming Corporation ("STGC"), operates
two gaming operations in Niagara Falls, New
York (Niagara Territory) ("Seneca Niagara
Casino") and Salamanca, New York (Allegany
Territory) ("Seneca Allegany Casino"),
respectively.
SGC
was chartered by the Nation in August 2002 and
opened its initial gaming operations on the
Niagara and Allegany Territories on December
31, 2002 and May 1, 2004, respectively. Since
the Seneca Allegany Casino was open for only
five months during the 12 months ended September
30, 2004, the comparisons discussed below between
the 12 months ended September 30, 2005 ("Fiscal
2005") and the 12 months ended September
30, 2004 ("Fiscal 2004"), are less
meaningful in some respects.
Fourth
Quarter Fiscal 2005 Financial Results Summary
SGC
-- Certain (Consolidated) Financial Results.
For the three months ended September 30, 2005
and 2004 (the "Fourth Quarter 2005"
and "Fourth Quarter 2004", respectively)
total consolidated net revenues were $119.9
million and $111.8 million, respectively, an
increase of $8.1 million, or 7%. The overall
increase was primarily due to an $8.1 million
increase in net gaming revenues from $105.4
million to $113.5 million for the Fourth Quarter
2004 and 2005, respectively, or an 8% increase.
SGC's consolidated earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA")
was $34.0 million compared to $41.4 million
for the Fourth Quarter 2005 and 2004, respectively,
a decrease of $7.4 million, or 18%. The primary
reason for the decrease was the Klewin Charges
discussed below.
Results
in the Fourth Quarter 2005 included a one time,
non-recurring $13.3 million charge to earnings
for amounts advanced to Klewin Gaming and Entertainment
("Klewin"), our previous construction
manager, principally in payment of work performed
by its subcontractors and professionals on the
luxury hotel at Seneca Niagara Casino and the
parking garage at Seneca Allegany Casino. As
previously reported, the $14.6 million that
SNFGC and STGC wired to Klewin for payment of
work done by its subcontractors and professionals
was never paid by Klewin to the appropriate
parties. In order to ensure continued construction
of the luxury hotel at the Seneca Niagara Casino
and the garage at the Seneca Allegany Casino,
SNFGC and STGC distributed another $14.6 million
to compensate the unpaid subcontractors and
professionals. The $13.3 million charge is net
of $1.3 million of management fees and retainage
otherwise payable to Klewin for services performed
but not billed. SNFGC and STGC are vigorously
pursuing legal action against Klewin and its
bank to recover these amounts. Although we believe
we have strong legal arguments to recover the
$14.6 million from Klewin and its bank (the
"Klewin Charges"), we can provide
no assurance that we will be successful in recovering
these amounts. Adjusting for the Klewin Charges,
consolidated EBITDA was $47.3 million, an increase
of $5.9 million, or 14%.
SGC
reported consolidated net income of $20.7 million
for the Fourth Quarter 2005 against consolidated
net income of $23.1 million in the Fourth Quarter
2004, a decrease of $2.4 million, or 10%. The
decrease in consolidated net income was primarily
due to the Klewin Charges, partially offset
by a $4.6 million decrease in interest expense
in the Fourth Quarter 2005 due to the prepayment
of SNFGC's Freemantle Term Loan in May 2005.
Seneca
Niagara Casino -- Certain Financial Results.
Net gaming revenues for the Seneca Niagara Casino
were $73.5 million and $74.5 million in the
Fourth Quarter 2005 and 2004, respectively,
or a 1% decrease. Total net revenues in the
comparative periods decreased from $79.2 million
to $78.1 million, or a 1% decrease. Seneca Niagara
Casino generated EBITDA of $20.9 million and
$30.5 million during the Fourth Quarter 2005
and 2004, respectively, or a decrease of $9.6
million, or 31%. This decrease was primarily
due to SNFGC's $10.0 million portion of the
Klewin Charges. Adjusting for SNFGC's portion
of the Klewin Charges, EBITDA for the Fourth
Quarter 2005 was $31.0 million, an increase
of $0.5 million, or 2%.
The
overall revenue decrease at the Seneca Niagara
Casino was primarily attributable to the transfer
of our Class II gaming operations to the Nation's
wholly owned entity, Seneca Gaming & Entertainment,
on January 1, 2005. For the Fourth Quarter 2004,
Class II revenue was $1.5 million. The overall
revenue decrease was partially offset by a $0.3
million or 1% increase in net Class III slot
revenue during the comparative periods.
Seneca
Allegany Casino -- Certain Financial Results.
During the Fourth Quarter 2005 and 2004, Seneca
Allegany Casino had net gaming revenues of $40.0
million and $30.9 million, respectively, an
increase of $9.1 million, or 29%. Total net
revenues for Seneca Allegany Casino during the
comparative periods were $41.8 million and $32.6
million, respectively, an increase of $9.2 million,
or 28%. Seneca Allegany Casino generated $14.4
million of EBITDA in the Fourth Quarter 2005,
compared to $11.4 million in the Fourth Quarter
2004, an increase of $3.0 million, or 26%. Included
in the 2005 Financial Results is STGC's $3.3
million portion of the Klewin Charges. Adjusting
for STGC's portion of the Klewin Charges, EBITDA
for the Fourth Quarter 2005 was $17.7 million,
an increase of $6.3 million, or 55%.
Twelve
Months Fiscal 2005 Financial Results Summary
SGC
-- Certain (Consolidated) Financial Results.
For Fiscal 2005 and 2004 consolidated net revenues
were $449.2 million and $356.4 million, respectively,
an increase of $92.8 million, or 26%. Consolidated
net gaming revenues during the comparative periods
also increased from $337.5 million to $433.9
million, an increase of $96.4 million, or 29%
increase. Consolidated EBITDA increased to $157.1
million from $134.5 million during the comparative
periods, an increase of $22.6 million, or 17%.
Adjusting for the Klewin Charges, EBITDA for
Fiscal 2005 was $170.4 million, an increase
of $35.9 million, or 27%. Consolidated net income,
however, was $45.6 million for Fiscal 2005,
a $39.1 million decrease from Fiscal 2004. The
decrease was primarily due to non-recurring
charges of (a) $49.2 million, included in Interest
Expense, related to the prepayment of SNFGC's
$80 million Freemantle Term Loan in May 2005
and (b) the $13.3 million Klewin Charges. The
non-recurring charges were partially offset
by a $26.1 million increase in net income for
Seneca Allegany Casino, due to having 7 additional
months of operations during Fiscal 2005.
Seneca
Niagara Casino -- Certain Financial Results.
Seneca Niagara Casino's total net revenues were
$306.0 million and $305.9 million for Fiscal
2005 and 2004, respectively. Net gaming revenues
were $288.5 million and $288.2 million during
the comparative periods, an increase of 1%.
Included in net gaming revenues for Fiscal 2005
and 2004 is $1.4 million and $2.2 million, respectively,
of Class II poker revenues. These Class II gaming
operations, as noted above, are no longer operated
by SGC but by the Nation directly, through Seneca
Gaming & Entertainment. Seneca Niagara Casino
generated EBITDA of $111.5 million and $121.8
million for Fiscal 2005 and 2004, respectively,
or a decrease of 8%. The decrease primarily
resulted from SNFGC's $10.0 million portion
of the Klewin Charges. Adjusting for SNFGC's
portion of the Klewin Charges, EBITDA for Fiscal
2005 for Seneca Niagara Casino was $121.5 million,
a decrease of $0.3 million, or less than 1%.
Seneca
Allegany Casino -- Certain Financial Results.
Seneca Allegany Casino total net revenues were
$143.2 million and $50.5 million for Fiscal
2005 and 2004, respectively. Net gaming revenues
for the same comparative periods were $136.4
million and $47.9 million, respectively. Included
in the net gaming revenues for Fiscal 2005 and
2004 is $2.4 million and $3.3 million, respectively,
of Class II poker, video lottery terminal, and
bingo revenues, which operations, as noted above,
are no longer operated by SGC but by the Nation
directly, through Seneca Gaming & Entertainment.
EBITDA for Fiscal 2005 and 2004 was $48.3 million
and $13.7 million, respectively, an increase
of $34.6 million, or 253%. Adjusting for STGC's
$3.3 million portion of the Klewin Charges,
EBITDA for Fiscal 2005 for Seneca Allegany Casino
was $51.5 million, an increase of $37.8 million,
or 276%. As noted above, Seneca Allegany Casino
opened on May 1, 2004 and thus was only open
for five months during fiscal 2004. Prior to
May 1, 2004, Seneca Allegany Casino was in the
development and construction phases.
John
Pasqualoni, President and Chief Executive Officer
of SGC, stated: "Our gaming operations
continue to generate excellent operating results.
Before reflecting non-recurring Klewin Charges,
in Fiscal 2005, we generated Adjusted consolidated
EBITDA (as defined below) and adjusted consolidated
EBITDA margin of $171.0 million and 38%, respectively.
I continue to be extremely pleased with both
our guests' acceptance and the operating results
of Seneca Allegany Casino. Its operating performance
has exceeded our expectations. All of this was
accomplished while continuing construction of
the 604-room luxury hotel at Seneca Niagara
Casino, finalizing development plans for our
220-room hotel at Seneca Allegany Casino, and
evaluating possible sites and breaking ground
for the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino. With the
partial opening of the luxury hotel at Seneca
Niagara Casino on December 15, 2005 and the
grand opening of the entire luxury hotel scheduled
for the end of March 2006, I believe we will
be able to attract more high value patrons and
therefore continue to increase our net revenues.
In a very short period, SGC has become the leading
gaming and entertainment operation in Western
New York."
Expansion
Projects
During
Fiscal 2005, SGC spent $171.0 million for construction
and the purchase of property and equipment,
including $117.0 million at Seneca Niagara Casino
and $54.0 million at Seneca Allegany Casino.
As
of this date, construction on Seneca Niagara
Casino's luxury hotel remains on schedule. We
continue to expect the hotel to be fully open
by March 31, 2006. While we previously estimated
the cost to construct and equip the luxury hotel
at $200.0 million, we have recently been informed
by our construction manager, the Seneca Construction
Management Corporation, that the cost to complete
the luxury hotel will exceed that amount. We
had based our $200.0 million estimate on the
guaranteed maximum contract sum of $153.0 million
provided by Klewin in February 2004. We expect
the final cost to equip and construct this luxury
hotel to be between $235.0 million and $240.0
million. We continue to evaluate our options
against the appropriate parties with respect
to the additional cost to complete the luxury
hotel.
The
Seneca Allegany Casino's 1,850-space parking
garage, excluding the valet portion, was opened
on July 1, 2005.
The
construction of the resort hotel and permanent
gaming facility at Seneca Allegany Casino commenced
on October 29, 2005. A partial opening is scheduled
for October 22, 2006 with a grand opening on
December 31, 2006. The estimated cost to construct
and equip the resort hotel is between $156.0
and $167.0 million.
The
ground breaking for the Seneca Buffalo Creek
Casino occurred on December 8, 2005. The Seneca
Buffalo Creek Casino is expected to open in
calendar year 2007.
As
of September 30, 2005, SGC had cash and cash
equivalents of $142.5 million and short-term
investments of $96.1 million.
Barry
E. Snyder, Sr., President of the Nation and
Chairman of the SGC Board of Directors commented:
"During Fiscal 2005, we continued to make
substantial commitments of capital to upgrade,
improve and expand our gaming operations. We
opened a portion of the luxury hotel at the
Seneca Niagara Casino, including gaming, retail
and dining venues on December 15, 2005. The
completion of the Seneca Niagara Casino &
Hotel is currently on schedule and is expected
to be completed by March 31, 2006. Construction
of our 220-room hotel and permanent gaming facility
at Seneca Allegany Casino has commenced and
we expect to have the permanent casino, restaurants
and two floors of rooms opened by October 22,
2006 and the resort hotel fully completed by
December 31, 2006. We recently completed the
acquisition of 9 acres of land in the Inner
Harbor area of the City of Buffalo for the construction
of our third Class III casino. Finally, we believe
SGC and the Nation's payment of subcontractors
was the correct action in response to the non-payment
by Klewin, with funds transferred to Klewin
by us, of subcontractors on our projects. Not
only did it ensure the continuity of construction
on our projects, but also paid subcontractors
for work performed. We intend to vigorously
litigate this matter against Klewin and their
bank to recover these funds."
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