Boyd Releases Third Quarter Results and Echelon Update

Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009.

For the quarter, we reported net income of $6.3 million, or $0.07 per share, compared to net income of $8.7 million, or $0.10 per share, in the same period last year. Adjusted Earnings(1) for the third quarter 2009 were $8.0 million, or $0.09 per share, compared to $14.0 million, or $0.16 per share, for the same period in 2008.

Certain pre-tax items resulted in a net increase in Adjusted Earnings of $1.3 million ($1.7 million, net of tax, or $0.02 per share) during the third quarter 2009, including a $13.5 million noncash, pre-tax impairment charge related to our joint venture with Morgans Hotel Group at Echelon, offset by a $14.4 million gain related to our share of an insurance settlement associated with the fire at The Water Club construction site in 2007. By comparison, the third quarter 2008 included certain pre-tax items that had a net effect of increasing Adjusted Earnings by $9.0 million ($5.3 million, net of tax, or $0.06 per share), primarily related to preopening expenses and write-downs and other charges. Pre-tax items in the third quarter 2009 and 2008 are listed in a table included in this press release.

Net revenues were $398.2 million for the third quarter 2009, compared to $426.5 million for the same quarter in 2008, a decrease of 6.6%. Total Adjusted EBITDA was $96.6 million for the quarter, a decrease of 4.5% from $101.2 million in the prior year.

Keith Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming, commented on the quarter, "We are encouraged that we were able to produce both increased EBITDA and operating margins in three of our four regions during the quarter. Improved results in our Downtown Las Vegas, Borgata and Midwest and South regions helped offset softness in the Las Vegas Locals market. While visitation levels remained fairly constant, spend per visitor continues to be down significantly year-over-year, as consumers are still being cautious with their spending. I am extremely proud of our management team's ability to produce strengthened operating results and improved margins in the face of declining revenues."

(1) See footnotes at the end of the release for additional information relative to non-GAAP financial measures.

Year-To-Date Results

We reported net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 of $5.3 million, or $0.06 per share. By comparison, we reported a net loss of $2.2 million, or $0.03 loss per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Our nine-month results in the period ended September 30, 2009 were primarily impacted by noncash, pre-tax impairment charges of $28.4 million related to Dania Jai-Alai, and $13.5 million related to our joint venture with Morgans Hotel Group at Echelon, offset by a $14.4 million gain related to the fire at The Water Club. Nine-month results in the period ended September 30, 2008 reflect a noncash, pre-tax impairment charge of $84.0 million related to Dania Jai-Alai.

Adjusted Earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were $31.4 million, or $0.36 per share, compared to $70.0 million, or $0.80 per share, for the nine-month period in 2008.

Net revenues were $1.26 billion and $1.36 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Total Adjusted EBITDA was $311.8 million for the current nine-month period. By comparison, total Adjusted EBITDA for the 2008 period was $348.5 million.

Echelon Update

Development of the Echelon master plan - including the resort, casino and retail project that is owned by Echelon Resorts, a subsidiary of the Company - remains suspended. Based on our current outlook, we do not anticipate that Echelon will resume construction for three to five years.

Smith said, "We continue to believe in the long-term viability of the Las Vegas market. But given the ongoing weak economic conditions, the significant new supply coming online and a difficult capital market environment for projects of this nature, resuming construction in the near term is not an option. We remain committed to having a significant presence on the Las Vegas Strip as part of our long-term growth strategy and we continue to view this site as a major strategic asset. We will use the time this ongoing suspension creates to ensure that the project that is ultimately built is appropriately positioned and competitive in the marketplace."

As a consequence of the uncertainty surrounding Echelon, we recorded an impairment charge of $13.5 million in the third quarter related to the joint venture at Echelon with Morgans Hotel Group. In addition, Echelon and Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts mutually agreed to terminate Shangri-La's management and technical services agreements.

Station Casinos Update

Commenting on Boyd Gaming's previously disclosed proposal to acquire some or all of the assets of Station Casinos, Smith said, "We remain very serious about acquiring Station's assets when permitted by the bankruptcy court. We believe an acquisition would deliver immediate value to our shareholders, and represents a very attractive and timely solution for Station, its creditors, employees and customers."

Key Operations Review

Las Vegas Locals

In our Las Vegas Locals segment, third quarter 2009 net revenues were $150.7 million versus $181.8 million for the third quarter 2008. Third quarter 2009 Adjusted EBITDA was $31.4 million, a 31.3% decrease from the $45.7 million in the same quarter 2008. Results in the region continue to be impacted by lower consumer spending and room rate pressures throughout the entire market, as Las Vegas remains one of the hardest-hit metropolitan areas.

Downtown

Our Downtown Las Vegas properties generated net revenues of $54.9 million versus $55.6 million in the third quarter 2008. Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter was $8.7 million, a 26.1% increase from the $6.9 million reported in the third quarter 2008. Continued strength in our Hawaiian customer segment driven by refinements in our targeted marketing efforts, as well as cost-control measures, contributed to gains in this region.

Midwest and South

In our Midwest and South region, we recorded $192.6 million in net revenues for the third quarter 2009, compared to $189.1 million for the same period in 2008. Adjusted EBITDA for the current period was $41.5 million, an increase of 6.2% from the $39.1 million reported in the third quarter of 2008. Regional results were boosted by a strong performance at our recently expanded Blue Chip property, as well as continued growth at Delta Downs.

Borgata

Net revenues for Borgata were $222.6 million for the third quarter 2009, compared to $239.9 million recorded in the same quarter in 2008. Operating income for the third quarter 2009 increased to $77.0 million, versus $39.5 million for the third quarter 2008, in part due to a $28.7 million gain on an insurance settlement related to the fire at The Water Club. Adjusted EBITDA increased to $67.6 million, up from $59.8 million for the third quarter 2008. Borgata continued to expand its leading market share during the third quarter, while improved efficiencies and cost-containment initiatives helped the property grow both operating income and Adjusted EBITDA.

Key Financial Statistics

The following is additional information as of and for the three months ended September 30, 2009:

* Debt balance: $2.65 billion
* Cash: $89.1 million
* Maintenance capital expenditures: $11.3 million
* Echelon expansion capital expenditures: $4.7 million
* Debt balance at Borgata: $595.1 million