MACAU, April 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Studio City International Holdings Limited (NYSE:MSC) ("Studio City" or the "Company"), a world-class integrated resort located in Cotai, Macau, today reported its unaudited financial results for the first quarter of 2024. Total operating revenues for the first quarter of 2024 were US$150.2 million, compared with total operating revenues of US$51.5 million in the first quarter of 2023. The change was primarily attributable to the continued recovery in inbound tourism during the first quarter of 2024, and the opening of Studio City Phase 2 in April 2023, which led to an increase in revenue from casino contract and higher non-gaming revenues. Studio City Casino generated gross gaming revenues of US$318.4 million and US$146.7 million for the first quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively. Studio City Casino's rolling chip volume was US$525.8 million in the first quarter of 2024 versus US$718.5 million in the first quarter of 2023. The rolling chip win rate was 3.72% in the first quarter of 2024 versus 1.59% in the first quarter of 2023. The expected rolling chip win rate range is 2.85%-3.15%. Mass market table games drop increased to US$923.3 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared with US$480.6 million in the first quarter of 2023. The mass market table games hold percentage was 29.5% in the first quarter of 2024, compared with 24.7% in the first quarter of 2023. Gaming machine handle for the first quarter of 2024 was US$824.3 million, compared with US$431.7 million in the first quarter of 2023. The gaming machine win rate was 3.2% in the first quarter of 2024, compared with 3.8% in the first quarter of 2023. Revenue from casino contract was US$66.9 million for the first quarter of 2024, compared with revenue from casino contract of US$18.7 million for the first quarter of 2023. Revenue from casino contract is net of gaming taxes and the costs incurred in connection with the on-going operation of the Studio City Casino which are deducted by Melco Resorts (Macau) Limited, the gaming operator of the Studio City Casino (the "Gaming Operator"). Total gaming taxes and the costs incurred in connection with the on-going operation of the Studio City Casino deducted from gross gaming revenues were US$251.5 million and US$128.0 million in the first quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively. Total non-gaming revenues at Studio City for the first quarter of 2024 were US$83.3 million, compared with US$32.7 million for the first quarter of 2023. Operating income for the first quarter of 2024 was US$16.1 million, compared with operating loss of US$26.9 million in the first quarter of 2023. Studio City generated Adjusted EBITDA(1) of US$66.2 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared with Adjusted EBITDA of US$9.1 million in the first quarter of 2023. The change was mainly attributable to the increase in revenue from casino contract and higher non-gaming revenues. Net loss attributable to Studio City International Holdings Limited for the first quarter of 2024 was US$14.6 million, compared with net loss attributable to Studio City International Holdings Limited of US$38.0 million in the first quarter of 2023. The net loss attributable to participation interest was US$1.4 million and US$3.6 million in the first quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively. Other Factors Affecting Earnings Total net non-operating expenses for the first quarter of 2024 were US$32.0 million, which mainly included interest expense of US$34.8 million, partially offset by interest income of US$1.6 million. Depreciation and amortization costs of US$50.1 million were recorded in the first quarter of 2024, of which US$0.8 million was related to the amortization expense for the land use right. The Adjusted EBITDA for Studio City for the three months ended March 31, 2024 referred to in the earnings release of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited ("Melco") dated April 30, 2024 ("Melco's earnings release") was US$21.7 million more than the Adjusted EBITDA of Studio City contained in this press release. The Adjusted EBITDA of Studio City contained in this press release includes certain intercompany charges that are not included in the Adjusted EBITDA for Studio City contained in Melco's earnings release. Such intercompany charges include, among other items, fees and shared service charges billed between the Company and its subsidiaries and certain subsidiaries of Melco. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA of Studio City included in Melco's earnings release does not reflect certain gaming concession related costs and certain intercompany costs related to the table games operations at Studio City Casino. Financial Position and Capital Expenditures Total cash and bank balances as of March 31, 2024 aggregated to US$218.1 million (December 31, 2023: US$228.2 million), including US$0.1 million of restricted cash (December 31, 2023: US$0.1 million). Total debt, net of unamortized deferred financing costs and original issue premiums, at the end of the first quarter of 2024 was US$2.34 billion (December 31, 2023: US$2.34 billion). Capital expenditures for the first quarter of 2024 were US$10.8 million. Recent Developments On April 8, 2024, Studio City Finance Limited ("Studio City Finance") announced that it initiated a cash tender offer for up to an aggregate principal amount of US$100,000,000 of its outstanding 6.000% senior notes due 2025 (the "Notes" and such tender offer, the "Tender Offer"). The early tender period expired on April 19, 2024 (the "Early Tender Date") and at the Early Tender Date, valid tenders had been received (and not validly withdrawn) with respect to US$307,150,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes. An aggregate principal amount equal to US$100,029,000 of the tendered Notes have been accepted by Studio City Finance for repurchase and cancelled. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Studio City International Holdings Limited (the "Company") may also make forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to, (i) the pace of recovery from the impact of COVID-19 on our business, our industry and the global economy, (ii) risks associated with the amended Macau gaming law and its implementation by the Macau government, (iii) changes in the gaming market and visitations in Macau, (iv) capital and credit market volatility, (v) local and global economic conditions, (vi) our anticipated growth strategies, (vii) gaming authority and other governmental approvals and regulations, and (viii) our future business development, results of operations and financial condition. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "target", "aim", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "believe", "potential", "continue", "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law. Non-GAAP Financial Measures (1)   "Adjusted EBITDA" is defined as net income/loss before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, pre-opening costs, property charges and other and other non-operating income and expenses. Adjusted EBITDA is presented exclusively as supplemental disclosures because management believes it is widely used to measure the performance, and as a basis for valuation, of gaming companies. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA to measure our operating performance and to compare our operating performance with those of our competitors.            The Company also presents Adjusted EBITDA because it is used by some investors as a way to measure a company's ability to incur and service debt, make capital expenditures, and meet working capital requirements. Gaming companies have historically reported similar measure as supplements to financial measures in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, in particular, U.S. GAAP or International Financial Reporting Standards. However, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to operating income/loss as an indicator of the Company's performance, as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as measures of liquidity, or as an alternative to any other measure determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Unlike net income/loss, Adjusted EBITDA does not include depreciation and amortization or interest expense and, therefore, do not reflect current or future capital expenditures or the cost of capital. The Company recognizes these limitations and uses Adjusted EBITDA as only one of several comparative tools, together with U.S. GAAP measurements, to assist in the evaluation of operating performance.           Such U.S. GAAP measurements include operating income/loss, net income/loss, cash flows from operations and cash flow data. The Company has significant uses of cash flows, including capital expenditures, interest payments, debt principal repayments, taxes and other recurring and nonrecurring charges, which are not reflected in Adjusted EBITDA. Also, the Company's calculation of Adjusted EBITDA may be different from the calculation methods used by other companies and, therefore, comparability may be limited. The use of Adjusted EBITDA has material limitations as an analytical tool, as Adjusted EBITDA does not include all items that impact our net income/loss. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of the historical non-GAAP financial measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA with the most comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP are provided herein immediately following the financial statements included in this press release.         (2)   "Adjusted net income/loss" is net income/loss before pre-opening costs and property charges and other, net of participation interest. Adjusted net income/loss is presented as supplemental disclosure because management believes it provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our performance, in addition to income/loss computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Adjusted net income/loss may be different from the calculation methods used by other companies and, therefore, comparability may be limited. Reconciliations of adjusted net income/loss attributable to Studio City International Holdings Limited with the most comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP are provided herein immediately following the financial statements included in this press release. About Studio City International Holdings Limited The Company, with its American depositary shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:MSC), is a world-class integrated resort located in Cotai, Macau. For more information about the Company, please visit www.studiocity-macau.com. The Company is majority owned by Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited, a company with its American depositary shares listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (NASDAQ:MLCO). For the investment community, please contact:Jeanny KimSenior Vice President, Group TreasurerTel: +852 2598 3698Email: For media enquiries, please contact: Chimmy LeungExecutive Director, Corporate CommunicationsTel: +852 31513765Email:             Studio City International Holdings Limited and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (In thousands, except share and per share data)               Three Months Ended   March 31,   2024     2023               Operating revenues:           Revenue from casino contract $ 66,887     $ 18,724   Rooms   38,523       12,896   Food and beverage   18,922       9,265   Entertainment   8,392       1,677   Services fee   12,428       6,203   Mall   4,320       2,136   Retail and other   685       566   Total operating revenues   150,157       51,467               Operating costs and expenses:           Costs related to casino contract   (8,158 )     (6,859 ) Rooms   (11,416 )     (3,402 ) Food and beverage   (17,647 )     (8,240 ) Entertainment   (9,263 )     (1,393 ) Mall   (1,634 )     (376 ) Retail and other   (447 )     (373 ) General and administrative   (35,392 )     (21,735 ) Pre-opening costs   (59 )     (5,164 ) Amortization of land use right   (826 )     (824 ) Depreciation and amortization   (49,296 )     (29,747 ) Property charges and other   60       (290 ) Total operating costs and expenses   (134,078 )     (78,403 ) Operating income (loss)   16,079       (26,936 ) Non-operating income (expenses):           Interest income   1,588       2,554   Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized   (34,791 )     (21,099 ) Other financing costs   (104 )     (103 ) Foreign exchange gains, net   1,320