Caesars Entertainment Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2017

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR) ("CEC") today reported second quarter of 2017 results as summarized in the discussion below, which highlights certain GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures on a consolidated basis.

Second Quarter 2017

• Net revenues for CEC increased 1.0% year-over-year to $1.0 billion, mainly due to higher volumes across most properties, strong hotel performance in Las Vegas and incremental revenues from operational initiatives.
• Net loss for CEC, before including the effect of noncontrolling interest, was $1.4 billion, reflecting a $617 million improvement compared to the second quarter of 2016, primarily attributable to lower adjustments related to the restructuring of Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc. ("CEOC").
• Adjusted EBITDA for CEC was flat year-over-year at $289 million.
• Despite softness in Las Vegas and ongoing construction disruption year-over-year, continuing CEC occupancy improved 1.4%, and lodging revenues increased 1.3%.
• Received stockholder approval for the merger of CEC and Caesars Acquisition Company ("CAC") and continued to make progress with regulators in jurisdictions where approvals are required for CEOC's restructuring and emergence from bankruptcy, with approvals from Nevada, Missouri, and Louisiana still pending.

"In the second quarter, stronger gaming fundamentals across most of our properties were offset by expected unfavorable year-over-year hold, primarily in baccarat, and the impact of more hotel rooms off the market for renovation," said Mark Frissora, President and Chief Executive Officer.  "Despite these second-quarter headwinds, we have seen improved performance in the third quarter and believe we are on track to surpass our initially disclosed 2017 full-year EBITDAR projections by at least $40 million before the anticipated deconsolidation of Horseshoe Baltimore. We currently expect to complete the restructuring of CEOC and the merger of Caesars Entertainment and Caesars Acquisition in the first week of October, which will allow us increased flexibility to prudently invest in growth."

Summary Financial Data

The results of CEOC and its subsidiaries are no longer consolidated with Caesars subsequent to CEOC and certain of its United States subsidiaries (the "Debtors") voluntarily filing for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the "Bankruptcy Code") on January 15, 2015. In January 2017, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois approved CEOC's Plan of Reorganization.

Supplemental materials have been posted on the Caesars Entertainment Investor Relations website at http://investor.caesars.com/financials.cfm.

Second Quarter of 2017 Financial Results

We view each casino property as an operating segment and currently aggregate all such casino properties into two reportable segments, which aligns with their ownership and underlying credit structures: Caesars Entertainment Resort Properties ("CERP") and Caesars Growth Partners, LLC ("CGP"). On September 23, 2016, CIE sold its social and mobile games business ("SMG Business") while retaining its World Series of Poker ("WSOP") and regulated online real money gaming businesses. The SMG Business represented the majority of CIE's operations and is being classified as a discontinued operation for all periods presented.

Segment results in this release are presented consistently with the way Caesars management assesses these results and allocates resources, which is a consolidated view that adjusts for the impact of certain transactions between reportable segments within Caesars, as described below. Accordingly, the results of certain reportable segments presented in this filing differ from the financial statement information presented in their stand-alone filings. "Other" includes parent, consolidating, and other adjustments to reconcile to consolidated Caesars results. All comparisons are to the same period of the previous year.

CEC

Net revenues increased 1.0% year-over-year to $1.0 billion primarily attributable to improved volumes across most properties, strong hotel performance in Las Vegas and incremental revenues from our operational initiatives. This revenue growth was partially offset by the results of our Baltimore facility, which reflect the presence of a new competitor this year. Income from operations increased $46 million to $157 million in the second quarter of 2017. Net loss, before including the effect of non-controlling interest, was $1.4 billion compared with a net loss of $2.0 billion in the second quarter of 2016 mainly due to a lower accrual related to CEC's estimate of the amount it will pay to support the restructuring of CEOC. Property EBITDA increased 2.3% to $311 million in the second quarter of 2017 and adjusted EBITDA remained relatively unchanged in the second quarter of 2017 as higher revenues were offset by higher operating expenses.

CERP

CERP owns six casinos in the United States and The LINQ promenade, along with leasing Octavius Tower at Caesars Palace Las Vegas to CEOC and gaming space at The LINQ promenade to CGP.

Net revenues for the second quarter of 2017 was $570 million, up 1.4% primarily due to increased revenues associated with operational initiatives, higher gaming volumes and increased hotel cash revenues. Rooms revenues rose 2.8% in the quarter to $148 million mainly due to higher hotel rates, improved hotel yield, and resort fees. Hotel performance benefited as room nights off the market in the second quarter of 2017 dropped to 2,000 compared with 10,000 off the market in the second quarter of 2016.  Casino revenues was relatively unchanged from the prior year with higher gaming volumes offset by unfavorable year-over-year hold.

Income from operations increased $7 million to $118 million, net income increased to $15 million from $8 million in the second quarter of 2016. Adjusted EBITDA remained relatively unchanged at $178 million, mainly due to higher revenues offset by an increase in operating expenses.  Hold was estimated to have an unfavorable effect on operating income in the quarter relative to expected hold and an unfavorable effect of between zero and $5 million when compared with the prior year period.

CGP

CGP owns six casinos in the United States, primarily in Las Vegas, as well as CIE. CIE owns and operates regulated online real money gaming and the WSOP tournaments and brand.

Net revenues for the second quarter of 2017 was $435 million, relatively unchanged year-over-year. CGP gross gaming revenues decreased primarily due to weaker gaming volumes in Baltimore, despite favorable hold in New Orleans.  Rooms revenues declined 1.1% as a result of the impact of rooms off the market. Planet Hollywood was impacted by 25,000 room nights off the market during the quarter related to renovations versus none in the year ago quarter. Food and beverage revenues was $64 million, down 4.5% versus the second quarter of 2016.

Income from operations increased $27 million to $63 million mainly due to a 6.8% reduction in operating expenses. Net income increased from $16 million to $21 million primarily attributable to higher interest income on CIE restricted cash and lower interest expense supported by our debt repricing actions.  Adjusted EBITDA increased 3.4% to $120 million due to favorable year-over-year hold, which was partially offset by weakness in Baltimore. Hold was estimated to have a favorable effect on operating income relative to expected hold and a favorable effect of between zero and $5 million when compared with the prior year period.

CES

Caesars Enterprise Services ("CES") is a joint venture among CERP, CEOC, and a subsidiary of CGP. CES provides certain corporate and administrative services to their casino properties. In addition, effective October 2014, most of the properties owned by CERP and CGP are managed by CES.

Cash and Available Revolver Capacity

CEC is primarily a holding company with no independent operations, employees, or material debt issuances of its own. CEC's primary assets as of June 30, 2017, consist of $125 million in cash and cash equivalents and its ownership interests in CEOC, CERP and CGP. CEC's cash includes $93 million held by insurance captives. Each of the subsidiary entities comprising Caesars Entertainment's consolidated financial statements have separate debt agreements with restrictions on usage of the respective entity's capital resources. CGP is a variable interest entity that is consolidated by Caesars Entertainment, but is controlled by its sole voting member, CAC. CAC is a managing member of CGP and therefore controls all decisions regarding liquidity and capital resources of CGP.

CEC has limited unrestricted cash available to meet its financial commitments, primarily resulting from significant expenditures made to defend against litigation related to the CEOC restructuring and to support a plan of reorganization for CEOC. The completion of the merger with CAC is expected to allow CEC to fulfill its financial commitments in support of the restructuring, both under the terms of the restructuring and commitments entered into prior thereto. CEC is permitted to use a portion of the proceeds from the sale of CIE's SMG Business to fund certain expenses incurred related to the restructuring. If CEC is unable to obtain additional sources of cash when needed, in the event of a material adverse ruling on one or all of our ongoing litigation matters, or if CEOC does not emerge from bankruptcy on a timely basis on terms and under circumstances satisfactory to CEC, it is likely that CEC would seek reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Conference Call Information

Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR) will host a conference call at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time Thursday, August 3, 2017, to discuss its second quarter results, certain forward-looking information and other matters related to Caesars Entertainment Corporation, including certain financial and other information regarding CEC's deconsolidated subsidiary CEOC. The press release, webcast, and presentation materials will be available on the Investor Relations section of www.caesars.com.

Participants may access the call by dialing 877-637-3676, or 832-412-1752 for international callers, and enter Conference ID 53352519 approximately 10 minutes before the call start time. A recording of the live call will be available on the Company's website for 90 days after the event.

Supplemental materials have been posted on the Caesars Entertainment Investor Relations website at http://investor.caesars.com/financials.cfm.

About Caesars

Caesars Entertainment is the world's most diversified casino-entertainment provider and the most geographically diverse U.S. casino-en