SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

xQUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended: June 30,December 31, 2010

 

¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from            to            

Commission File Number: 1-9481

 

 

ARCHON CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Nevada 88-0304348

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

2200 Casino Drive, Laughlin, Nevada 89029

(Address of principal executive office and zip code)

(702) 732-9120

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

4336 Losee Road, Suite 5, North Las Vegas, Nevada 89030

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

Indicate by a check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by a check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.filer. See definition of “large“accelerated filer and large accelerated filer, accelerated filer” and “small reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer: ¨  Accelerated filer: ¨
Non-accelerated filer: ¨  Small reporting company: x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY

PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.    Yes  ¨    No  ¨

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

6,017,9445,792,944

  as of  August 13, 2010February 18, 2011

 

 

 


ARCHON CORPORATION

INDEX

 

      Page

PART I

  FINANCIAL INFORMATION  

Item 1

  

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements:

  
  

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30,December 31, 2010 (Unaudited) and September 30, 20092010 (Audited)

  1
  

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended June 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009 (Unaudited)

  3
  

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Three and Nine Months Ended June 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009 (Unaudited)

  5
  

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the NineThree Months Ended June 30,December 31, 2010 (Unaudited)

  6
  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the NineThree Months Ended June 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009 (Unaudited)

  7
  

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

  8

Item 2

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 21

Item 3

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

  34
31

Item 4

  

Controls and Procedures

  3532

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1

  

Legal Proceedings

  36
35

Item 2

  

Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 37

Item 3

  

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 37

Item 4

  

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 37

Item 5

  

Other Information

  38
37

Item 6

  

Exhibits

 38

 

i

-i-


PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

Archon Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

  June 30,
2010
(Unaudited)
 September  30,
2009
Audited
   December 31,
2010
(Unaudited)
 September  30,
2010

(Audited)
 

ASSETS

      

Current assets:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

  $14,173,633   $31,646,498    $9,575,570   $9,578,555  

Investment in marketable securities

   15,399,847    5,995,289     18,744,649    17,773,265  

Accounts receivable, net

   404,124    170,935     183,763    189,895  

Inventories

   154,805    231,689     156,141    152,437  

Prepaid expenses and other

   606,042    945,167     939,942    901,451  

Assets held for sale, current

   506,889    469,061  

Deferred tax assets

   761,367    512,695     166,555    472,916  
              

Total current assets

   31,499,818    39,502,273     30,273,509    29,537,580  
              

Property held for sale

   54,984,625    55,357,905  

Assets held for sale

   54,171,475    54,362,434  
       

Property and equipment:

      

Rental property held for investment, net

   88,248,498    89,511,868  

Rental property, net

   87,405,768    87,827,133  

Land used in operations

   3,960,589    3,925,589     3,960,589    3,960,589  

Buildings and improvements

   25,704,561    25,751,045     25,704,561    25,704,561  

Machinery and equipment

   8,255,038    8,264,373     8,389,044    8,331,826  

Accumulated depreciation

   (28,490,288  (28,103,429   (28,778,212  (28,621,442
              

Property and equipment, net

   97,678,398    99,349,446     96,681,750    97,202,667  
              

Other assets

   3,056,978    2,774,685     3,042,078    3,020,626  
              

Total assets

  $187,219,819   $196,984,309    $184,168,812   $184,123,307  
              

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

-1-


Archon Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets (continued)

 

  June 30,
2010
(Unaudited)
 September  30,
2009
Audited
   December 31,
2010
(Unaudited)
 September  30,
2010

(Audited)
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY      

Current liabilities:

      

Line of credit

  $7,971,114   $7,866,659    $9,812,500   $5,000,000  

Accounts payable

   857,760    2,099,581     933,241    1,277,560  

Accrued and other liabilities

   2,255,104    2,722,690     2,272,360    2,222,201  

Exchangeable redeemable preferred stock - unredeemed

   814,897    821,259     798,021    813,665  

Current liabilities – property held for sale

   3,620,736    3,342,837  

Current liabilities – assets held for sale

   3,821,027    3,718,020  

Current liabilities – deferred rent income

   3,426,648    3,426,648  
              

Total current liabilities

   15,519,611    16,853,026     21,063,797    16,458,094  

Long term liabilities – property held for sale

   34,475,787    37,114,921  

Non-recourse debt – less current portion

   31,199,288    31,199,288  

Long-term liabilities – assets held for sale

   32,583,853    33,541,444  

Nonrecourse debt

   31,199,288    31,199,288  

Deferred tax liabilities

   21,505,682    21,828,674     21,228,274    21,513,085  

Deferred rent income

   34,266,480    36,836,466     29,126,508    29,983,170  
              

Total liabilities

   136,966,848    143,832,375     135,201,720    132,695,081  
              

Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)

   

Stockholders’ equity:

      

Preferred stock, exchangeable, redeemable 16.0% cumulative $2.14 per share liquidation value, authorized - 10,000,000 shares; none issued and outstanding

   0    0  

Common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized - 100,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding – 6,316,576, and 6,316,576 shares

   63,166    63,166  

Preferred stock, exchangeable, redeemable 16.0% cumulative $2.14 per share liquidation value, authorized - 10, 000, 000 shares; none issued and outstanding

   0    0  

Common stock, $.01 par value; authorized - 100,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding – 6,316,576, and 6,316,576 shares

   63,166    63,166  

Additional paid-in capital

   63,247,158    62,982,941     63,247,158    63,247,158  

Accumulated deficit

   (7,849,194  (8,737,568   (7,395,085  (7,506,070

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

   (1,064,905  (1,044,883   (46,274  (286,655
              

Sub-total

   54,396,225    53,263,656  

Less: Notes receivable from stockholders

   (111,722  (111,722

Treasury stock – 298,632 and 0 common shares, at cost

   (4,031,532  0  
   55,868,965    55,517,599  

Less: notes receivable from principal stockholders

   (57,841  (57,841

Less: treasury common stock – 523,632 and 298,632 shares, at cost

   (6,844,032  (4,031,532
              

Total stockholders’ equity

   50,252,971    53,151,934     48,967,092    51,428,226  
              

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $187,219,819   $196,984,309    $184,168,812   $184,123,307  
              

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

-2-


Archon Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

 

  Three Months Ended
June 30,
 Nine Months Ended
June 30,
   Three Months Ended
December 31,
 
  2010 2009 2010 2009   2010 2009 

Revenues:

        

Casino

  $2,815,874   $3,814,896   $9,583,746   $12,759,506    $2,715,426   $3,226,752  

Hotel

   381,899    487,810    1,096,106    1,285,349     283,294    320,807  

Food and beverage

   1,027,374    1,515,505    3,425,678    4,472,409     876,144    1,214,213  

Investment properties

   1,910,180    2,413,481    5,703,040    7,954,243  

Rental properties

   1,835,680    1,882,680  

Other

   133,972    443,812    1,132,746    1,360,969     73,770    640,613  
                    

Gross revenues

   6,269,299    8,675,504    20,941,316    27,832,476     5,784,314    7,285,065  

Less casino promotional allowances

   (660,608  (951,046  (2,438,645  (3,018,179   (661,156  (909,358
                    

Net operating revenues

   5,608,691    7,724,458    18,502,671    24,814,297     5,123,158    6,375,707  
                    

Operating expenses:

        

Casino

   1,778,237    2,402,022    6,025,902    7,447,874     1,602,680    2,227,266  

Hotel

   187,359    224,083    466,551    586,833     149,930    135,655  

Food and beverage

   729,364    1,062,455    2,188,573    3,023,293     450,492    744,468  

Other

   80,317    136,830    244,641    520,329     70,962    80,625  

Selling, general and administrative:

        

Corporate expenses

   786,719    760,175    2,456,464    2,539,009  

Corporate

   745,640    832,644  

Other

   684,475    789,660    2,105,386    2,322,500     681,105    765,848  

Utilities and property expenses

   936,635    1,024,250    2,861,190    2,986,598     941,690    971,352  

Depreciation and amortization

   592,646    621,631    1,780,408    1,936,765  

Depreciation

   578,135    594,300  
                    

Total operating expenses

   5,775,752    7,021,106    18,129,115    21,363,201     5,220,634    6,352,158  
                    

Operating income (loss)

   (167,061  703,352    373,556    3,451,096     (97,476  23,549  

Other income and (expense):

        

Interest expense

   (1,182,095  (1,228,071  (3,361,903  (3,578,569   (1,025,837  (1,104,209

Gain (loss) on sale of marketable securities

   36,070    (16,520  (31,537  (111,509   99,865    (64,278

Interest and other income

   103,515    149,953    871,848    547,053     293,349    306,092  
                    

Income (loss) before income tax expense

   (1,209,571  (391,286  (2,148,036  308,071  

Federal income tax (expense) benefit from continuing operations

   1,019,477    136,969    1,372,913    (93,231

Loss before income tax benefit

   (730,099  (838,846

Federal income tax benefit, continuing operations

   364,506    318,570  
                    

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   (190,094  (254,317  (775,123  214,840  

Discontinued operations gain, net of tax expense of $178,856 and $137,611 QTD and $895,730 and $402,945 YTD, respectively

   332,160    255,563    1,663,497    748,327  

Loss from continuing operations

   (365,593  (520,276

Discontinued operations gain, net of tax expense of $256,619 and $480,778, respectively

   476,578    892,872  
                    

Net income

  $142,066   $1,246   $888,374   $963,167    $110,985   $372,596  
                    

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

-3-


Archon Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited) (continued)

 

  Three Months Ended
June 30,
 Nine Months Ended
June 30,
  Three Months Ended
December 31,
 
  2010 2009 2010 2009  2010 2009 

Average common shares outstanding

   6,316,576    6,370,176    6,316,576    6,356,510   5,792,944    6,316,576  
                   

Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding

   6,316,576    6,370,176    6,316,576    6,356,510   5,792,944    6,316,576  
                   

Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share

     

Net basic income (loss) per common share

  $(0.03 $(0.04 $(0.12 $0.03

Loss from continuing operations per common share

   

Net basic loss per common share

  $(0.06 $(0.08
                   

Diluted income (loss) per common share

  $(0.03 $(0.04 $(0.12 $0.03

Diluted loss per common share

  $(0.06 $(0.08
                   

Discontinued operations per share

     

Discontinued operations gain, net of tax per common share

   

Net basic income per common share

  $0.05   $0.04   $0.26    0.12  $0.08   $0.14  
                   

Diluted income per common share

  $0.05   $0.04   $0.26    0.12  $0.08   $0.14  
                   

Income per common share

        

Net basic income per common share

  $0.02   $0.00   $0.14   $0.15  $0.02   $0.06  
                   

Diluted income per common share

  $0.02   $0.00   $0.14   $0.15  $0.02   $0.06  
                   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

-4-


Archon Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(Unaudited)

 

  Three Months Ended
June 30,
  Nine Months Ended
June 30,
   Three Months Ended
December
 
  2010 2009  2010 2009   2010   2009 

Net income

  $142,066   $1,246  $888,374   $963,167    $110,985    $372,596  

Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities, net of income taxes

   (270,964  480,477   (20,022  (1,276,728   240,381     (65,741
                     

Comprehensive income (loss)

  $(128,898 $481,723  $868,352   $(313,561

Comprehensive income

  $351,366    $306,855  
                     

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

-5-


Archon Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity

For the NineThree Months Ended June 30,December 31, 2010

(Unaudited)

 

 Preferred
Stock $
 Common
Stock
 Common
Stock $
 Additional
Paid-In
Capital
 Accumulated
Deficit
 Accumulated
Other
Comprehen-
sive

Income
(Loss)
 Notes
Receivable
From
Stockholders
 Treasury
Stock
 Total   Preferred
Stock $
   Common
Stock
   Common
Stock $
   Additional
Paid-In
Capital
   Accumulated
Deficit
 Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 Notes
Receivable
From
Stockholders
 Treasury
Stock
 Total 

Balances,

October 1, 2009

 $0 6,316,576 $63,166 $62,982,941 $(8,737,568 $(1,044,883 $(111,722 $0   $53,151,934  

Balances, October 1, 2010

  $0     6,316,576    $63,166    $63,247,158    $(7,506,070 $(286,655 $(57,841 $(4,031,532 $51,428,226  

Net income

      888,374       888,374             110,985       110,985  

Additional Paid-In Capital

     264,217      264,217  

Purchase of treasury stock

         (4,031,532  (4,031,532              (2,812,500  (2,812,500

Unrealized gain on marketable securities

       (20,022    (20,022            240,381      240,381  
                                                       

Balances,

June 30, 2010

 $0 6,316,576 $63,166 $63,247,158 $(7,849,194 $(1,064,905 $(111,722 $(4,031,532 $50,252,971  

Balances, December 31, 2010

  $0     6,316,576    $63,166    $63,247,158    $(7,395,085 $(46,274 $(57,841 $(6,844,032 $48,967,092  
                                                       

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

-6-


Archon Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

 

  Nine Months Ended
June 30,
   Three Months Ended
December 31,
 
  2010 2009   2010 2009 

Cash flows from operating activities:

      

Net income

  $888,374   $963,167    $110,985   $372,596  

Discontinued operations, net of tax effect

   (1,663,497  (748,327

Less: discontinued operations gain, net of tax effect

   (476,578  (892,872
              

Net income (loss) from continuing operations -

   (775,123  214,840  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

��  

Depreciation and amortization

   1,780,408    1,936,765  

Net loss from continuing operations

   (365,593  (520,276

Adjustments to reconcile net loss from continuing operations to net cash used in operating activities:

   

Income tax benefit

   (364,506  (318,569

Depreciation

   578,135    594,300  

Interest expense from amortization of debt issuance costs

   275,524    355,679     (18,886  57,023  

Loss on sale of marketable securities

   31,537    111,509  

Change in assets and liabilities:

   

(Gain) loss on sale of marketable securities

   (99,865  64,278  

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

   

Accounts receivable

   (233,189  (404,110   6,132    (7,333

Inventories

   76,884    93,794     (3,704  18,110  

Prepaid expenses and other

   339,125    471,588     (38,491  (149,196

Deferred income taxes

   (1,456,613  496,176  

Other assets

   (557,817  85,617     (2,566  (87,596

Accounts payable

   (1,241,821  (1,002,782   (344,319  (403,311

Interest payable

   0    (8,539

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

   (203,369  (1,152,382

Other liabilities

   (2,569,986  (2,227,088

Accrued and other liabilities

   50,159    (7,650

Deferred rent

   (856,662  (856,662
              

Net cash used in operating activities

   (4,534,440  (1,028,933   (1,460,166  (1,616,882
              

Cash flows from investing activities:

      

Proceeds from sale or disposal of assets

   0    28,885  

Capital expenditures

   (109,360  (1,232,312   (57,218  (30,722

Marketable securities purchased

   (12,215,169  (2,779,199   (2,365,523  (2,190,324

Marketable securities sold or redeemed

   2,748,271    1,949,641     1,863,822    1,032,333  
              

Net cash used in investing activities

   (9,576,258  (2,061,870   (558,919  (1,159,828
              

Cash flows from financing activities:

      

Proceeds from line of credit

   104,455    0     5,812,500    0  

Payments on debt and obligation under capital lease

   0    (946,127

Payment on line of credit

   (1,000,000  0  

Common stock purchased and retired

   (4,031,532  (230,259   (2,812,500  0  

Preferred stock redeemed and retired

   (6,362  (13,086   (15,644  0  
              

Net cash used in financing activities

   (3,933,439  (1,189,472

Net cash provided by financing activities

   1,984,356    0  
              

Cash flows from discontinued operations

   571,272    5,420  

Cash flows from Discontinued Operations:

   

Cash flows from operating activities

   887,701    1,492,040  

Cash flows from financing activities

   (855,957  (845,954
       

Net cash provided by discontinued operations

   31,744    646,086  
              

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

   (17,472,865  (4,274,855   (2,985  (2,130,624

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

   31,646,498    37,973,564     9,578,555    31,646,498  
              

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

  $14,173,633   $33,698,709    $9,575,570   $29,515,874  
              

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

-7-


ARCHON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the Nine Months Ended June 30,quarters ended December 31, 2010 and 2009

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION

1.BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION

The primary business operations of Archon Corporation (the “Company” or “Archon”) are conducted through a wholly-owned subsidiary corporation, Pioneer Hotel Inc. (“PHI”), which operates the Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall (the “Pioneer”) in Laughlin, Nevada. In addition, the Company owns real estate on Las Vegas Boulevard South (the “Strip”) in Las Vegas, Nevada, currently rented.rented through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sahara Las Vegas Corp. (“SLVC”). It also owns rental properties in the Dorchester section of Boston, Massachusetts and in Gaithersburg, Maryland which are both currently rented.rented through its wholly-owned subsidiary, SFHI, Inc.

The consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by management of the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations under Regulation S-X of the SEC;SEC, although management believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of results for the interim periods have been made. The results for the current unaudited three and nine month periodsperiod ended June 30,December 31, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full fiscal year ended September 30, 2010.2011. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2009,2010, from which the balance sheet information as of that date is derived.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates that affect the reported amounts.amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates are based on historical information, information that is currently available to the Company and on various other assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differcould vary from estimates.

Income (Loss) Per Common Share. The Company computes net income (loss) per share in accordance with FASB ASC 260-10,Earnings per Share. FASB ASC 260-10 requires presentation of both basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) on the face of the income statement. Basic EPS is computed by dividing net loss available to common shareholders (numerator) by the weighted average number of shares outstanding (denominator) during the period. Diluted EPS gives effect to all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. In computing diluted EPS, the average stock price for the period is used in determining the number of shares assumed to be purchased from the exercise of stock options or warrants. Diluted EPS excludes all potentially dilutive shares if their effect is anti-dilutive. Dilutive stock options of approximately 741,000741,500 were not included in calculations of diluted income per common share for the three monthsfiscal quarters ended December 31, 2010, and nine months ended June 30, 2010,2009 as the options were out of the money and, therefore, would be anti-dilutive. The calculation would be anti-dilutive.

-8-


As of August 31, 2007, the Company called for the redemption of all outstanding shares of its Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock at a redemption price of $5.241 per share, which sum included earned and unpaid dividends to the date of redemption. From and after August 31, 2007, all shares of the Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock ceased to be outstanding and to earn dividends. As of the date of the preparation of these financial statements, the holders of 4,264,312 shares of the Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock have surrendered their shares and received payment of the redemption price.See Note 6

Uninsured Deposits. At various times during the period and subsequently, the Company maintained account balances that exceeded federally insured limits, and the risk of losses related to such concentrations of bank deposits may be increasing as a result of economic developments affecting financial institutions.

Investment in Marketable Securities. Debt securities available-for-sale are stated at fair market value with unrealized gains or losses determined by the specific identification method and reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. Debt securities available-for-sale at June 30,December 31, 2010 includes investments in corporate bonds.

ARCHON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

ForMarketable securities held by Merrill Lynch, MorganStanley SmithBarney, Contango Capital Advisors, UBS Financial Services, and Interactive Brokers LLC are held for an indefinite period of time and thus are classified as available-for-sale securities. Realized investment gains and losses are included in the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2010,consolidated statement of operations, as are provisions for other than temporary declines in the market value of available-for-sale securities. Unrealized gains and 2009

Equity securities available-for-saleunrealized losses deemed to be temporary are reported at fair value with unrealized gains or losses reportedexcluded from earnings (losses), net of applicable taxes, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. Realizedincome (loss). Factors considered in judging whether an impairment is other than temporary include the financial condition, business prospects and unrealized gainscreditworthiness of the issuer, the length of time that fair value has been less than cost, the relative amount of decline, and losses are determined by the specific identification method.Company’s ability and intent to hold the investment until the fair value recovers. During fiscal 2011, the Company did not record an impairment charge regarding its investment in marketable securities because, based on management’s evaluation of the circumstances, management believed that the decline in fair value below the cost of certain of the Company’s marketable securities was temporary. At June 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009, investments in equity securities available-for-sale included shares of common and preferred stocks.

Included in “Gain (loss) on sale of marketable securities” onin the consolidated statements of operations are approximately $36,070$99,865 and $64,278 of realized gains and $16,520 of realized lossesgain for the three monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010 and realized loss for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, respectively. The Company recorded approximately $(0.3)$0.1 million and $0.5 million and $(0.02) million and $(1.3)$(0.1) million of other comprehensive gainincome (loss), net of tax effect, associated with unrealized gains and losses on these investments during the three and nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Through June 30, 2010, the Company experienced a year-to-date $30,802 further decline in the value of these investments.

The following is a summary of available-for-sale marketable securities as of June 30,December 31, 2010 and September 30, 20092010 (amounts in thousands)to the nearest thousand):

 

  6/30/2010  12/31/10 
  Cost  Unrealized
Gain
  Unrealized
Losses
 Market or
Fair  Value
  Cost   Unrealized
Gain
   Unrealized
(Losses)
 Market or
Fair  Value
 

Debt securities

  $8,994  $217  $(28 $9,183  $8,259    $64    $(39 $8,284  

Equity securities

   8,044   288   (2,115  6,217   10,557     819     (915  10,461  
                           

Total

  $17,038  $505  $(2,143 $15,400  $18,816    $883    $(954 $18,745  
                           
  9/30/2009  09/30/10 
  Cost  Unrealized
Gain
  Unrealized
(Losses)
 Market or
Fair  Value
  Cost   Unrealized
Gain
   Unrealized
(Losses)
 Market or
Fair Value
 

Debt securities

  $3,261  $231  $(20 $3,472  $9,807    $429    $(27 $10,209  

Equity securities

   4,342   228   (2,047  2,523   8,407     616     (1,459  7,564  
                           

Total

  $7,603  $459  $(2,067 $5,995  $18,214    $1,045    $(1,486 $17,773  
                           

-9-


The following is a summary of the net unrealized gains and losses as presented in accumulatedAccumulated Other Comprehensive Income as of June 30,December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2009, respectively2010 (amounts in thousands)to the nearest thousand):

 

   6/30/2010 

Description

  Unrealized
Gains
  Unrealized
(Losses)
Short Term
  (Unrealized
Losses)
Long Term
  Deferred
Taxes
(Benefit)
  Accrued
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 

Debt Securities

  $217  $(23 $(6 $66   $122  

Equity Securities

   288   (447  (1,667  (639  (1,187
                     

Total

  $505  $(470 $(1,673 $(573 $(1,065
                     

ARCHON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

For the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2010, and 2009

  9/30/2009   12/31/10 

Description

  Unrealized
Gains
  Unrealized
(Losses)
Short Term
 (Unrealized
Losses)
Long Term
 Deferred
Taxes
(Benefit)
 Accrued
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
   Unrealized
Gains
   Unrealized
(Losses)
Short-Term
 Unrealized
(Losses)
Long-Term
 Deferred
Taxes
(Benefit)
 Acc. Other
Comprehensive
Income

(Loss)
 

Debt Securities

  $231  $(1 $(19 $74   $137    $64    $0   $(39 $9   $16  

Equity Securities

   228   (464  (1,583  (637  (1,182   819     0    (915  (34  (62
                                 

Total

  $459  $(465 $(1,602 $(563 $(1,045  $883    $0   $(954 $(25 $(46
                                 
  09/30/10 

Description

  Unrealized
Gains
   Unrealized
(Losses)
Short -Term
 Unrealized
(Losses)
Long-Term
 Deferred
Taxes
(Benefit)
 Acc. Other
Comprehensive
Income

(Loss)
 

Debt Securities

  $429    $(24 $(3 $141   $261  

Equity Securities

   616     (7  (1,452  (295  (548
                 

Total

  $1,045    $(31 $(1,455 $(154 $(287
                 

The Company recorded the combined total of unrealized gains and (losses) showndisclosed in the above table,tables, on the balance sheet as $1.1 million orwith 65% as retained earnings – other comprehensive loss,income, and $0.6 million or 35% as deferred income taxes.taxes, in the amounts shown in the above tables.

The following is a summary of the proceeds from the sale of marketable securities and the gains or losses reclassified (realized) from Other Comprehensive Income (“OCI”)(OCI) as of June 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009 (amounts in thousands)to the nearest thousand):

 

  6/30/2010   2010 

Description

  Proceeds
From
Sales
  Gross
Realized
Gains
  Gross
Realized
(Losses)
 Gain or (Loss
Reclassified
From OCI
   Proceeds
From

Sales
   Gross
Realized
Gains
   Gross
Realized
(Losses)
 Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified
From OCI
 

Debt securities

  $0  $0  $0   $0    $0    $0    $0   $0  

Equity securities

   2,748   53   (17  36     994     102     (2  100  
                            

Total

  $2,748  $53  $(17 $36    $994    $102    $(2 $100  
                            
  06/30/2009   2009 

Description

  Proceeds
From
Sales
  Gross
Realized
Gains
  Gross
Realized
(Losses)
 Gain or (Loss
Reclassified
From OCI
   Proceeds
From
Sales
   Gross
Realized
Gains
   Gross
Realized
(Losses)
 Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified
From OCI
 

Debt securities

  $0  $0  $0   $0    $0    $0    $0   $0  

Equity securities

   1,950   10   (27  (17   1,032     0     (64  (64
                            

Total

  $1,950  $10  $(27 $(17  $1,032    $0    $(64 $(64
                            

-10-


Revenue Recognition.. Casino revenue is recorded as the aggregate of gaming wins lessand losses. Hotel, food and beverage, entertainment and other operating revenues are recognized as the services are performed. Casino revenues are recognized net of certain sales incentives in accordance with FASB ASC 605-50,Revenue Recognition, Customer Payments and Incentives. Accordingly, cash incentives to customers for gambling, and the cash value of points and coupons earned by the slot club members totaling $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the three monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, have been recognized as a direct reduction of casino revenue.

ARCHON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

For the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2010, and 2009

Advance deposits on rooms, if any, are recorded as deferred revenue until services are provided to the customer. Revenues include

In accordance with industry practice, the retail amountvalue of room, food, beverage and other services provided gratuitouslyfurnished to customers totaling $2.4 millionthe Company’s guests without charge is included in gross revenue and $3.0 millionthen deducted as promotional allowances. The estimated retail value of such promotional allowances is included in revenues for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009 respectively. The estimated cost of providing these promotional services has been reported inas follows (amounts to the accompanying consolidated statements of operations as an expense of each department granting complimentary services. The table below summarizes the departments’ costs of such services (amounts in thousands)nearest thousand):

 

  6/30/2010  6/30/2009  2010   2009 

Food and beverage

  $2,145  $2,774  $551    $757  

Hotel

   301   383   109     150  

Other

   4   10   1     2  
              

Total

  $2,450  $3,167  $661    $909  
              

Rental revenue from the Dorchester rental property held for investmentproperties is recognized as earned on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. When rental payments received exceed rents earned and recognized, the difference is recorded as deferred rental income in the current liabilities section of the balance sheet, and conversely, when rents earned and recognized exceed rental payments received, the difference is recorded as other assets. Rental revenue from the Las Vegas Strip property is recognized as earned.

Concentrations. The Company’s primary operations are concentrated in the geographic area of Laughlin, Nevada and in the hotel and casino industry. As a result, the Company is at risk of unfavorable changes in general economic conditions including recession, economic slowdown, or higher fuel or other transportation costs. These factors may reduce disposable income of casino patrons or result in fewer patrons visiting casinos.

The Company owns real estate on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada and on the East Coast of the United States. Although the Company is presently not dependent on cash flows from these properties, a significant decline in real estate values in these markets could have an impact on the Company’s ability to readily generate cash flow from the real estate.

-11-


Concentrations of revenue by segment as of June 30,for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 follows (dollars in thousands)(amounts to the nearest thousand):

 

  6/30/2010   2010 

Pioneer

  $12,189  66  $3,287     64
               

Rental properties held for investment

  $5,704  31  $1,836     36
               

Other and eliminations

  $610  3  $0     0
               
  6/30/2009   2009 

Pioneer

  $16,110  65  $3,959     62
               

Rental properties held for investment

  $7,954  32  $1,883     30
               

Other and eliminations

  $750  3  $534     8
               

ReclassificationsRecent Accounting Pronouncements. Certain reclassificationsFASB ASC 820-10: In January 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-06 (ASU 2010-06),Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820): Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements. This amendment to Topic 820 has improved disclosures about fair value measurements on the basis of input received from the users of financial statements. This is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the provisions of ASU 2010-06 to have been made in prior year’s consolidateda material effect on the financial statements to conform to the classifications used in fiscal 2010.

Consolidated Statementsposition, results of Operations. A new line item was added allowing the separationoperations or cash flows of the gain or (loss) on sale of marketable securities from interest and other income. These changes did not change the net income or earnings per share. The property reclassified from rental property held for investment to property held for sale is reflected as discontinued operations net of tax in both years for comparison purposes.

Other minor reclassifications were made throughout the remaining schedules, all without any change to the overall total numbers

ARCHON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

For the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2010, and 2009Company.

 

2. FEDERAL INCOME TAX

2.FEDERAL INCOME TAX

Deferred income taxes are reported for timing differences between items of income or expense reported in the financial statements and those reported for income tax purposes in accordance with FASB ASC 740-10,Income Taxes, which requires the use of the asset/liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred income taxes and tax benefits are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and for tax loss and credit carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The Company provides for deferred taxes for the estimated future tax effects attributable to temporary differences and carryforwards when realization is more likely than not.

3. RELATED PARTIES

3.RELATED PARTIES

The Company’s Chairman of the Board and CEO has personally guaranteed certain loans for which the Company has accrued a loan guarantee fee equal to 0.5% of the guaranteed loan balance per calendar quarter. These loan fees were disclosed inThere was no significant change during the annual report for fiscal year ended September 30, 2009. Mr. Lowden has agreed to forgo payment ofcurrent quarter from the loan fees which were accrued prior to the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009. Accordingly, loan guarantee fees accrued prior to the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, in the amount of $0.3$0.1 million has been transferred to additional paid in capital, with a corresponding reduction in the remaining amount accrued. The accrual increased slightlybalance during the quarter ended MarchDecember 31, 2010 with no significant change from the remaining $0.1 million in the quarter ended September 30,and, 2009.

The Company is subject to a Patent Rights and Royalty Agreement with the brother of the Company’s Chairman of the Board and CEO with respect to certain gaming technology for which he had been issued a patent. The Company agreed to pay certain royalty payments with respect to the technology incorporated into gaming devices placed in operation, as well as costs related to maintain the patent. The patentholder granted the Company an exclusive five-year royalty license that expired in January 2007 in the

-12-


United States with respect to the technology, but which automatically renewed until 2011 and will renewrenews for an additional two-year termterms unless the Company terminates the agreement. The Company also has an understanding with the related party patentholder that it will pay for the costs of commercial development of the technology. Through September 30, 2009,December 31, 2010, the Company had expended approximately $0.4 million for commercial development of the technology, and no additional costs have been expended. There were expendedno expenditures incurred during the nine-monththree month periods ended June 30, 2010.December 31, 2010 and 2009. No royalties were paid to the patentholder during the periods referenced above.presented.

4. PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT OF GAITHERSBURG PROPERTYOn January 14, 2008, nonqualified stock options were exercised by both the brother and son of the Company’s Chairman of the Board and CEO, which were granted under the Company’s 1993 Stock Option Plan. The date of the grants was January 21, 1998 and the exercise price was $1.00 per share. 58,425 shares were exercised by the brother and 54,425 shares were exercised by the son. Both the brother and son paid the par value of $0.01 for each share of stock exercised, and signed a promissory note for the remaining balance. The son paid his promissory note in full, in July 2010, and the remaining balance of $57,841, shown as Notes receivable from stockholders, in the Company’s December 31, 2010 balance sheet, is from the brother.

On October 13, 2007 the Company sold a 2005 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Short Bed vehicle owned by the Company and transferred under a promissory installment note to the son of the Company’s Chairman of the Board and CEO. The promissory installment note was amended on April 12, 2010 to have a payment period of twelve months with a payoff on or before April 15, 2011. The remaining balance of $19,575 is included in Accounts receivable, net, in the Company’s December 31, 2010 balance sheet.

4.PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT OF GAITHERSBURG PROPERTY

On May 28, 2009, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary SFHI, LLC (“SFHI”), entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Montgomery County, Maryland (the “County”) whereby the County will purchase SFHI’s 51.57 acre parcel of land together with an approximately 341,693 square feet office building erected thereon (the “Gaithersburg Property”), located at 100 Edison Park Drive in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The purchase price for the Property will be seventy-six million three hundred forty thousand dollars ($76,340,000).$76.3 million. The Agreement provided the County with a 90-day feasibility period during which the County determined that the Property is suitable for its intended use, and the County will now proceed to close escrow by notifying the Company of the closing date, which closing date may be no sooner than 90 days from the date of notice and no later than April 30, 2014.

ARCHON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

For the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2010, and 2009

SimultaneousSimultaneously with the execution of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the County entered into a sublease with the existing tenant of SFHI at this location, GXS, Inc., whereby the County, as of October 1, 2009, leased and occupied the entire Gaithersburg Property until the earlier of (i) completion of its purchase of the Gaithersburg Property or (ii) April 30, 2014. Pursuant to the applicable provisions of the existing lease with GXS, Inc., SFHI consented to the sublease. In addition, GXS, Inc. agreed to pay SFHI the sum of $2,125,000, $1,725,000$2.1 million, $1.7 million of which was paid on October 1, 2009, with the balance of $400,000 being$0.4 million paid on July 1, 2010. Due to the pending sale of this property, the related results of operations have been reported as discontinued operations.

-13-


Assets Held For SaleSale.. The Company reviewed the guidance provided by FASB ASC 360-10-45-11, and thus has classified the assets associated towith the Gaithersburg Propertyproperty as held for sale. The following table summarizes the asset components classified as held for sale as of June 30,December 31, 2010 and September 30, 20092010 (amounts in thousands)to the nearest thousand):

 

  6/30/2010 9/30/2009   12/31/10 09/30/10 

Gaithersburg - Warehouse:

   

Loan Issue Costs

  $774   $929  

Current portion of deferred rent

  $507   $469  
       

Long-term assets held for sale:

   

Loan Issue Cost

   671    723  

Deferred Rent

   2,464    2,683     1,754    1,893  

Property and equipment

   

Land

   23,000    23,000     23,000    23,000  

Buildings & Improvements

   36,600    36,600     36,600    36,600  

Machinery & Equipment

   3,000    3,000     3,000    3,000  

Allowance for depreciation

   (10,854  (10,854   (10,854  (10,854
              

Assets held for sale

   54,171    54,362  
       

Total

  $54,984   $55,358    $54,678   $54,831  
              

Liabilities On Assets Held For SaleSale.. The Company issued approximately $55.4 million of first mortgage debt with a 7.01% interest rate per annum in connection with its acquisition of a commercial office building located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The building is under lease through April 2014. The monthly lease payments are applied against the outstanding indebtedness. Monthly principal and interest payments amortize the debt to approximately $22.3 million by the end of the lease in April 20142014. The Company anticipates that the future tenant payments related to the net lease will be sufficient to fund required payments under the first mortgage notes and Internal Revenue Code of 1986 Section 467 debt. The principle balance as of December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2010 was $36.4 million and $37.3 million, respectively. The following debt table is related to assets held for sale (amounts to the building is subjectnearest thousand):

   12/31/10   9/30/10 

Interest payable

  $146    $145  

Current portion of debt

   3,675     3,573  
          

Total current liability

   3,821     3,718  

Long-term debt less current portion

   32,584     33,541  
          

Total

  $36,405    $37,259  
          

The monthly lease payments are applied against the outstanding indebtedness. Monthly principal and interest payments amortize the debt to acquisitionapproximately $22.3 million by the County before that date.end of the lease in April 2014. The Company anticipates that the future tenant payments related to the net leases will be sufficient to fund required payments under the first mortgage notes and IRC Section 467 debt. The principal balance due as of June 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009 was $38.0 million and $40.0 million, respectively. The following debt table isshows the debt related to assets held for salethe Gaithersburg Property to be paid by year until the property is sold (amounts in thousands)to the nearest thousand):

 

   6/30/2010  9/30/2009

Interest payable

  $148  $157

Current portion of debt

   3,473   3,186
        

Total current liability

   3,621   3,343

Long-term debt less current portion

   34,476   37,115
        

Total

  $38,097  $40,458
        

2011

  $2,718  

2012

   3,987  

2013

   4,448  

2014

   25,107  
     

Total

  $36,260  
     

-14-


Discontinued OperationsOperations.. As a result of the pending sale of the Gaithersburg Property, the result of operations related to the Gaithersburg Property has been reflected as discontinued operations. The prior year result of operations of this Property has also been reclassified and discontinued for comparative purposes.

The Gaithersburg Property in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is a building used for commercial office space. The Gaithersburg Propertyproperty is under a net lease through 2014 with a single tenant. Under the lease, the tenant is responsible for substantially all obligations related to the Property.property. The Gaithersburg Property

ARCHON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

For the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2010, and 2009

property was acquired for $62.6 million, plus debt issuance costs of $2.7 million. The Company paid $9.9 million in cash and issued $55.4 million in nonrecourse first mortgage indebtedness. The Company allocated approximately $23.0 million of the purchase price to land, $3.0 million to machinery and equipment and the balance to building and improvements.

The expenses incurredfollowing table shows the schedule of rent proceeds that will be used to acquiremeet future debt obligations related to the Gaithersburg Property (approximately $2.7 million) are recorded in other assets inuntil it is sold (amounts to the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and are being amortized over the remaining loan period.nearest thousand):

5. OPEN MARKET PURCHASES OF COMPANY COMMON STOCK

   2011   2012   2013   2014   Total 

Gaithersburg Property

  $4,602    $6,268    $6,425    $4,257    $21,552  
                         

During the fiscal years 2009 and 2010, the Company determined that as a result of the current difficult economic conditions and in light of low interest rates being paid on its deposit of surplus funds, that open market purchase(s) of the Company’s own shares, up to 5.0% of its outstanding common stock and 225,000 shares, respectively, represented a desirable use of its available and surplus cash.

5.OPEN MARKET PURCHASES OF COMPANY COMMON STOCK

In December 2008 and June 2010, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the Company’s adoption of plans, effective January 5, 2009 and June 30, 2010, for the Company to make periodic and ongoing open market purchases of up to 5.0% of its own common stock (up to 319,5390.3 million shares of common stock) and 225,0000.2 million shares, respectively, in accordance with Rule 10b-18 (the “Rule”) of the Rules and Regulations Promulgated Under The Securities Exchange Act Of 1934 (the “Act”), and, more specifically, in accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8335 (the “Release”). TheActing in compliance with the Release is a ‘safe harbor’ and approved method to make open market purchases of a company’s own common stock in compliance with the Rule without those purchases being deemed manipulative under the Act.

The Rule and Release impose certain specific restrictions on the Company as to purchases of its own common shares. These include specific restrictions as to timing of open market purchases, manner of purchases, pricing of purchases and when purchases will (and will not) be allowed.

The Rule and Release also mandate certain additional and periodic disclosures that the Company must make concerning the open market purchases in its Series 10 filings (Report on Forms 10-K and 10-Q).

On January 8, 2010, the Company purchased a grouping of shares of common stock of the Company sufficient to cause it to effectively reach the maximum shares allotted to be purchased pursuant to the Rule and Release referenced above (when combined with prior program purchases since December 2008). As a result, the Company, on January 13, 2010, announced the close of the common stock purchase program with an effective date of January 5,8, 2010.

The open market purchase(s) are intended to be voluntary and there areSince the announcement of the June 23, 2010 program, no assurances that the Company will actually purchase all or anypurchases of its common shares noted above.

Thestock had been made by the Company, is in possessionuntil November 3, 2010, at which time the Company became legally obligated to purchase a grouping of sufficient and available liquid funds to undertake any open market purchase(s)0.2 million shares of its owncommon stock, causing the Company to reach the maximum shares withoutallotted to be purchased pursuant to the need for additional borrowing. TheRule and Release referenced in the first paragraph above. As a result, on November 3, 2010, the Company will be utilizing licensed securities broker-dealers to effect any open market purchases.

ARCHON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

Forannounced the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2010, and 2009close of the common stock purchase program referenced above.

 

-15-


The table below summarizes the Company’s buy back of its common stock for the last 12-month period ended June 30, 2010:December 31, 2010 (amounts to the nearest thousand except for amounts reported per share):

 

Period

  (a) Total
Number of
Shares (or  Units)
Purchased
  (b) Average
Price  Paid per
Share (or
Unit)
  (c) Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased as Part
of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
  (d) Maximum Number
(or  Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares (or
Units) that May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs

Beginning balance

        316,215

January 2009

  3,996  $27.83  3,996  312,219

February 2009

  4,590   16.96  8,586  307,629

March 2009

  7,150   16.60  15,736  300,479

April 2009

  0   0  15,736  300,479

May 2009

  0   0  15,736  300,479

June 2009

  0   0  15,736  300,479

July 2009

  0   0  15,736  300,479

August 2009

  0   0  15,736  300,479

September 2009

  0   0  15,736  300,479

October 2009

  0   0  15,736  300,479

November 2009

  0   0  15,736  300,479

December 2009

  0   0  15,736  300,479

January 2010

  298,632   13.50  314,368  1,847

February 2010

  0   0  314,368  1,847

March 2010

  0   0  314,368  1,847

April 2010

  0   0  314,368  1,847

May 2010

  0   0  314,368  1,847

June 2010

  0   0  314,368  225,000

Ending balance

  314,368  $13.80  314,368  225,000

Period

  (a) Total
Number of
Shares (or
Units)
Purchased
   (b) Average
Price Paid per
Share (or
Unit)
   (c) Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased as Part
of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
   (d) Maximum Number
(or Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares (or
Units) that May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs
 

Beginning balance

   16    $19.56     16     301  

January 2010

   298     13.50     314     2  

February 2010

   0     0     314     2  

March 2010

   0     0     314     2  

April 2010

   0     0     314     2  

May 2010

   0     0     314     2  

June 2010

   0     0     314     2  

July 2010

   0     0     314     225  

August 2010

   0     0     314     225  

September 2010

   0     0     314     225  

October 2010

   0     0     314     225  

November 2010

   0     0     314     225  

December 2010

   225     12.50     539     225  

January 2011

   0     0     583     0  

Ending balance

   539    $13.26     539     0  

As of December 31, 2010, the Company is holding 0.5 million shares in treasury.

6.COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

6. REDEMPTION OF THE COMPANY’S PREFERRED STOCK AND REDEMPTION PRICE DISPUTES

Redemption Of The Company’s Preferred Stock And Redemption Price Disputes.The Company called all outstanding shares of its Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock for redemption on and as of August 31, 2007, at a redemption price of $5.241 per share, which sum included accrued and unpaid dividends to the date of redemption. From and after August 31, 2007, all shares of the Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock ceased to be outstanding and to accrue dividends. As of August 13, 2010,February 11, 2011, the holders of 4,261,0924.3 million shares of the Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock have surrendered their shares and received payment of the redemption price; while 155,4850.2 million shares have yet to be surrendered and still have the right to receive their payment due without interest. As of June 30,December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2009,2010, exchangeable redeemable preferred stock –unredeemed– unredeemed was $814,897$0.8 million and $821,259,$0.8 million, respectively.

On August 27, 2007, a group of institutional investors filed an action in Nevada, against the Company.Company in the United States District Court, entitledDE Shaw Laminar Portfolios et al. v. Archon Corporation, District of Nevada, Case No. 2:07-cv-1146. The Complaint was subsequently amended to add an additional party plaintiff (collectively, the “Plaintiffs”). The Amended Complaint: (i) seeks a finding by the Court that the Company has breached its obligations under the Company’s Certificate of Designation of the Preferred Stock, dated September 30, 1993 (the “Certificate”), and awarding the Plaintiffs full compensation of any and all available damages suffered by the Plaintiffs as a result of the Company’s breach of the Certificate; (ii) seeks a finding by the Court that the Company’s issuance of its redemption notice with an improper redemption price is an anticipatory breach of a material term of the Certificate and awarding the Plaintiffs full compensation of any and all available damages suffered as a result of the Company’s anticipatory breach of the Certificate; (iii) seeks a declaration by the Court that the dividends be properly calculated and

ARCHON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

For the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2010, and 2009

compounded per the terms of the Certificate in an amount not less than $7,235,351$7.2 million up through and including the date of final judgment; (iv) seeks an order from the Court calling for the Company to reimburse the Plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees, expenses and costs incurred in enforcing their rights; and (v) seeks such other and further relief as the Court may deem appropriate.

-16-


The Plaintiffs, thereafter, filed a motion for partial summary judgment, seeking a ruling from the court that the Company breached its obligations under the Certificate by calculating the redemption price as it did. The Court granted that motion on August 8, 2008, finding the language of the Certificate to be unambiguous and that the redemption price should have been calculated differently. The Court has not yet issued a monetary judgment against the Company. Subsequent to the Court’s ruling on the motion for partial summary judgment, Plaintiffs filed a motion for entry of final judgment, seeking entry of judgment that the redemption price for the preferred shares should have been $8.69 per share. AtOn December 22, 2010, the same time,District Court granted that motion and entered judgment against the Company in the amount of $9,5 million. The District Court based its decision primarily on its order from August of 2008. The Company has filed a requestmotion for certification askingreconsideration of the Court to certify its partial summary judgment orderDistrict Court’s December 22, 2010 order. That motion has been fully briefed and is pending before the District Court. In the event the motion for immediate interlocutory appeal. The Court granted the request for certification andreconsideration is denied, the request for entry of final judgment without prejudice. The Company filed a Petition for Permissionintends to Appeal withappeal the District Court’s decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Ninth Circuit declined to accept the matter for interlocutory review.

Recently, Plaintiffs have filed a second motion for entry of final judgment, again seeking entry of judgment that the redemption price for the preferred shares should have been $8.69 per share. The Company has substantively opposed that motion and has urged the Court to reconsider its August 8, 2008 order. Briefing on Plaintiffs’ second motion for entry of final judgment has been completed and a hearing was held before the Court and the parties are awaiting a ruling.Appeals.

The Company has initiated proceedings against a third-party law firm concerning that firm’s potential liability related to the drafting of the Certificate of Designation. This third-party action has subsequently been removed by the defendant law firm to Federal Court in April, 2009 and is at an early stage of resolution. The defendant law firm has moved to compel arbitration of the dispute. The Magistrate Judge issued an order that the matter be referred to arbitration and the District Court confirmed that order. The Company intends to pursue its claims against the defendant law firm in arbitration. The Company is also considering rights and remedies it may have with regard to other parties who participated in the issuance of the Preferred Stock in the event that the Company does not prevail on its interpretation of the Certificate.

Also, two other holders of the Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock filed Complaints, both alleging essentially the same claim as the first complaint related to the case set forth immediately above. The two other lawsuits brought by former holders of the Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock are entitledRainero v. Archon Corporation, District of Nevada, Case No. 2:07-cv-01553, andLeeward Capital, L.P. v. Archon Corporation, District of Nevada Case No. 2:08-cv-00007. If the plaintiffs in these two additional actions are correct, the redemption price as of August 31, 2007 should have been $8.69 per share and not $5.241 per share as calculated by the Company. If applied to all the then outstanding shares of Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock, including the shares held by the Company’s officers and directors, valuation of the redemption price at $8.69 per share would increase the redemption price in excess of $15.2 million.

ManagementIn theLeeward Capital matter, both theLeeward Plaintiffs and the Company have filed motions for summary judgment. The Leeward Plaintiffs made arguments similar to theLaminar Plaintiffs in their motion. On December 22, 2010, the District Court issued an order granting theLeeward Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on the same grounds as theLaminar order and denying Archon’s motion without analysis. Contemporaneous with the filing of the December 22, 2010 order, the District Court entered judgment in favor of theLeeward Plaintiffs and against the Company in the amount of $0.3 million. The Company has filed a motion for reconsideration of the District Court’s December 22, 2010 order. That motion has been fully briefed and is unablepending before the District Court. In the event the motion for reconsideration is denied, the Company intends to estimateappeal the minimum liability that mayDistrict Court’s decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

TheRainero action is purported to be incurred, if any,brought on behalf of David Rainero individually as well as a class of all former preferred shareholders, although a class has not yet been certified by the District Court. Plaintiff Rainero filed a motion for class certification in December of 2010 which the Company intends to oppose. The Company’s opposition brief to the motion for class certification is due February 15, 2011. Mr. Rainero was deposed in early January of 2011.

-17-


The Company plans to appeal the District Court’s decisions to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Company believes that it has valid bases in law and fact to overturn or appeal these verdicts. As a result, the Company believes that affirmation of the outcomejudgments is possible but not probable, and, accordingly, that the amount of each of these lawsuits and, therefore,any loss cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. Because the Company believes that this potential loss is not probable or estimable, it has made no provision in the financial statements for liabilitynot recorded any reserves or contingencies related to these cases.this legal matter. In the event that the Company’s assumptions used to evaluate this matter as neither probable nor estimable change in future periods, it will be required to record a liability for an adverse outcome, which may include post-judgment interest.

7. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

7.STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company’s Stock Option Plan (“Plan”) provides for the grant of up to 1.4approximately 1.3 million (net of options previously exercised) shares of its common stock to key employees. Currently there are approximately 0.5 million stock options available for grant. The Stock Option Plan provides for both incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options. Stock option grants generally vest over a three-year period from the employee’s hire date. DuringNo options were granted during the nine-month periodquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009, zero options were granted.2009. As of June 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009, there were approximately 741,5000.7 million options outstanding and exercisable under the Stock Option Plan. During the third quartersquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009, no options were exercised.

ARCHON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

For the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2010, and 2009

exercised or granted.

The outstanding options have expiration dates through 2018 and have an average remaining life of approximately 7.56.0 years. The average exercise price of the outstanding options at June 30,December 31, 2010 iswas approximately $28.09.

In December 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized and the shareholders approved at the June 15, 2009 annual meeting, an increase of 250,000 shares in the number of shares available for grant under the Plan.

SFHI Inc., SLVC and PHI (collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), have adopted subsidiary stock option plans (the “Subsidiary Plans”). The Subsidiary Plans provide for the grant of options by each of the Subsidiaries with respect to an aggregate of up to 10% of the outstanding shares of such Subsidiary’s Common Stock to employees, non-employee directors, consultants or affiliates of the Company or the Subsidiaries. The purpose of the Subsidiary Plans is to enable the Subsidiaries and the Company to attract, retain and motivate their employees, non-employee directors, consultants and affiliates by providing for or increasing the proprietary interest of such persons in the Subsidiaries. As of June 30,December 31, 2010, no options havehad been granted under any of the Subsidiary Plans.

The following table summarizes stock option activity during the nine months ended June 30, 2010first fiscal quarter 2011 under all plans:plans (amounts to the nearest thousand except for per share amounts):

 

  Number
of
Shares
(000’s)
  Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
Per Share
  Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
  Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
($000’s)
   Number
of
Shares
   Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price

Per Share
   Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
   Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 

Options outstanding at September 30, 2009:

  742  $28.09  8.3 yrs.  $(12,457

Options outstanding at September 30, 2010:

   742    $28.09     6.3 yrs    $(10,447

Granted

  0   N/A  N/A   N/A     0     N/A     N/A     N/A  

Exercised

  0   N/A  N/A   N/A     0     N/A     N/A     N/A  

Canceled

  0   N/A  N/A   N/A     0     N/A     N/A     N/A  

Options outstanding at June 30, 2010

  742  $28.09  6.5 yrs.  $11,901  

Exercisable at June 30, 2010

  742  $28.09  6.5 yrs.  $11,901  

Options outstanding at December 31, 2010

   742    $28.09     6.0 yrs    $(11,857

Options exercisable at December 31, 2010

   742    $28.09     6.0 yrs    $(11,857

As of June 30,December 31, 2010, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options.

8. SUPPLEMENTAL STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION

-18-


8.SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION

Supplemental statementdisclosure of cash flowsflow information for the nine-month periodsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009 respectively, is presented below (amounts in thousands).to the nearest thousand):

 

   6/30/2010  6/30/2009 

Operating activities:

   

Cash paid during the period for interest

  $5,320   $5,978  
         

Non cash:

   

Unrealized losses on securities

  $(31  (1,964
         

Adjustment to redeemable preferred

  $0   $139  
         

ARCHON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

For the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2010, and 2009

   12/31/10   12/31/09 

Operating activities:

  

Cash paid during the period for interest – continuing operations

  $1,044    $1,097  
          

Cash paid during the period for interest – discontinued operations

  $653    $710  
          

Non–cash investing and financing activities:

    

Unrealized gains (losses) on securities

  $364    $(101
          

 

9. SEGMENT INFORMATION

9.SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company’s operations are in the hotel/casino industry and the rental of commercial real estate properties. The Company’s hotel/casino operations are conducted at the Pioneer in Laughlin, Nevada. As discussed above, the Company owns rental properties held for investment in the Dorchester section of Boston, Massachusetts and Las Vegas Strip, Nevada. “Property“Assets Held for Sale” below includes a rental property in Gaithersburg, Maryland. “Other and Eliminations” below includes financial information for the Company’s corporate operations, adjusted to reflect eliminations upon consolidation.

-19-


Set forth below is the unaudited financial information for the segments, in which the Company operates, as of and for the three-month and nine-month periodsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009 (amounts in thousands)to nearest thousand).

 

   Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
   2010  2009 

Pioneer Hotel / Casino:

   

Net operating revenues

  $3,671   $5,021  

Operating loss

   (615  (813

Depreciation and amortization

   135    163  

Interest expense

   104    336  

Interest and other income

   0    1  

Loss before income taxes

   (719  (1,148

Capital expenditures / transfers

   20    45  

Rental Properties Held for Investment:

   

Net operating revenues

  $1,910   $2,413  

Operating income

   1,279    1,795  

Depreciation and amortization

   421    421  

Interest expense

   1,078    955  

Interest and other income

   0    2  

Income before income taxes

   201    842  

Capital expenditures / transfers

   0    0  

Property Held for Sale:

   

Net operating revenues

  $0   $0  

Operating income

   0    0  

Depreciation and amortization

   0    0  

Interest expense

   0    0  

Interest and other income

   0    0  

Discontinued operations, net of tax

   332    256  

Capital expenditures / transfers

   0    0  

Other and Eliminations:

   

Net operating revenues

  $28   $290  

Operating loss

   (831  (278

Depreciation and amortization

   37    38  

Interest expense

   0    (63

Interest and other income

   104    147  

Loss before income taxes

   (692  (85

Capital expenditures / transfers

   0    0  

Total:

   

Net operating revenues

  $5,609   $7,724  

Operating income (loss)

   (167  703  

Depreciation and amortization

   593    622  

Interest expense

   1,182    1,228  

Interest and other income

   104    150  

Loss before income taxes

   (1,210  (391

Discontinued operations, net of tax

   332    256  

Capital expenditures / transfers

   20    45  

ARCHON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

For the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2010, and 2009

  Nine Months Ended
June 30,
   2010 2009 
  2010 2009 

Pioneer Hotel / Casino:

   

Pioneer Hotel

   

Net operating revenues

  $12,189   $16,110    $3,287   $3,959  

Operating loss

   (1,378  (1,404   (496  (872

Depreciation and amortization

   407    561  

Depreciation

   134    137  

Interest expense

   104    854     0    0  

Interest and other income

   53    5     0    0  

Loss before income taxes

   (1,430  (2,253   (496  (872

Capital expenditures / transfers

   79    1,218     54    31  

Identifiable assets(1)

   11,777    16,491     11,158    11,896  

Rental Properties Held for Investment:

   

Rental Properties:

   

Net operating revenues

  $5,704   $7,954    $1,836   $1,883  

Operating income

   3,798    6,106     1,173    1,250  

Depreciation and amortization

   1,264    1,264  

Depreciation

   421    421  

Interest expense

   3,255    2,866     1,026    1,102  

Interest and other income

   5    34     0    4  

Income before income taxes

   547    3,274     148    152  

Capital expenditures / transfers

   0    0     0    0  

Identifiable assets(1)

   88,762    91,046     87,890    90,244  

Property Held for Sale:

   

Assets Held for Sale:

   

Net operating revenues

  $0   $0    $0   $0  

Operating income

   0    0     0    0  

Depreciation and amortization

   0    0  

Depreciation

   0    0  

Interest expense

   0    0     0    0  

Interest and other income

   0    0     0    0  

Discontinued operations, net of tax

   1,663    748     477    893  

Capital expenditures / transfers

   0    0     0    0  

Identifiable assets(1)

   55,149    55,926     54,171    55, 242  

Other and Eliminations:

      

Net operating revenues

  $610   $750    $0   $534  

Operating loss

   (2,046  (1,251

Depreciation and amortization

   109    112  

Operating income

   (774  (354

Depreciation

   23    36  

Interest expense

   3    (141   0    2  

Interest and other income

   814    508     293    302  

Loss before income taxes

   (1,265  (713   (382  (119

Capital expenditures / transfers

   0    15     3    0  

Identifiable assets(1)

   31,532    39,220     30,950    41,718  

Total:

      

Net operating revenues

  $18,503   $24,814    $5,123   $6,376  

Operating income

   374    3,451  

Depreciation and amortization

   1,780    1,937  

Operating income (loss)

   (97  24  

Depreciation

   578    594  

Interest expense

   3,362    3,579     1,026    1,104  

Interest and other income

   872    547     293    306  

Income (loss) before income taxes

   (2,148  308  

Income before income taxes

   (730  (839

Discontinued operations, net of tax

   1,663    748     477    893  

Capital expenditures / transfers

   79    1,233     57    31  

Identifiable assets(1)

   187,220    202,683     184,169    199,100  

 

(1)

Identifiable assets represent total assets less elimination for intercompany items.items

ARCHON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)-20-

For the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2010, and 2009

10. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On July 1, 2010, the Company paid $3.0 million including interest due on its line of credit to bring the outstanding balance to $5.0 million.

On July 1, 2010, the Company received $0.4 million which was due on that day from GXS related to the sale agreement for the Gaithersburg Property.

On July 23, 2010, Mr. Christopher Lowden, the son of Mr. Paul W. Lowden, CEO, paid off his portion of the note receivable from stockholders in the amount of $53,881 including interest due.

ARCHON CORPORATION


Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This discussion is intended to further the reader’s understanding of the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of Archon Corporation (the “Company” or “Archon”). It should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by, the financial statements and notes thereto and other information included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2009.2010. These historical financial statements may not be indicative of the Company’s future performance.

General

Overview of Business Operations and Trends:

Historically, the Company, has owned, managed and operated hotel/casino properties through a number of acquisitions or developments, and it has divested itself of certain of these properties. Presently, the Company operates the Pioneer in Laughlin, Nevada.

The Pioneer has experienced a decline of its revenues over the last few years after experiencing strong revenue and profit growth in the early 1990’s. Management believes the increase in the number of casino properties on Native American lands in such nearby locations as California and Arizona within the last decade has caused revenue declines. In response, the Company has focused on market definition and development in the local Laughlin area to maintain profitability. Unexpectedly difficult economic conditions impacting customers, including relatively high fuel costs, has significantly reduced disposable income, and limited customer travel and gaming activity. Management believes Laughlin is a mature market with marginal growth forecasted for the next few years based on its current development plans. Management believes the recent revenue and expense trends in its Laughlin hotel/casino property may not change significantly over the next few years, or until the current economic conditions and trends begin to materially improve.

The Company also owns rental properties on the East Coast and on the Las Vegas Strip, but revenues from these rental properties are used to meet their related mortgages and thus do not contribute significant net cash flow to the Company.

PropertyAssets Held for Sale

During fiscal year 2001, the Company acquired certain properties as part of an IRS Section 1031 exchange. The property held for sale is located in Gaithersburg, Maryland (the “Gaithersburg Property”). The Company acquired the Gaithersburg Property and nonrecourse debt associated with the Gaithersburg Property which is subject to a long-term lease. A tenant remits payment to the bank according to the terms of the lease and note. The payments are used to liquidate the nonrecourse debt obligations. Rental income is recorded by the Company on a straight-line basis and totals approximately $5.6 million annually and will remain at this level until approximately 2014 or until the asset is sold, otherwise disposed of or becomes impaired. The buildings on the Gaithersburg Property are no longer being depreciated subsequent to the classification being changed from a rental property held for investment to a propertyassets held for sale. Interest expense is also recorded based on the outstanding nonrecourse debt remaining to be paid and based on unamortized loan issue costs and remaining debt

amortization timetables. At any time during the term of the lease and debt amortization, the fair market value of the Gaithersburg Property may be different from its book values. Interest is presently being expensed at approximately $2.9$2.5 million annually and will decrease in relation to debt principal reductions through 2014 or until the asset is sold, otherwise disposed of or becomes impaired.

-21-


On May 28, 2009, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary SFHI, LLC (“SFHI”), entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Montgomery County, Maryland (the “County”) whereby the County will purchase SFHI’s 51.57 acre parcel of land together with an approximately 341,693 square feet office building erected thereon comprising the Gaithersburg Property, located at 100 Edison Park Drive in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The purchase price for the Gaithersburg Property will be seventy-six million three hundred forty thousand dollars ($76,340,000).$76.3 million. The Agreement provided the County with a 90-day feasibility period during which the County determined that the Gaithersburg Property is suitable for its intended use, and the County will now proceed to close escrow by notifying the Company of the closing date, which date may be no sooner than 90 days from the date of notice and no later than April 30, 2014.

Simultaneous with the execution of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the County entered into a sublease with the existing tenant of SFHI at this location, GXS, Inc., whereby the County, as of October 1, 2009, leased and occupied the entire Gaithersburg Property until the earlier of (i) completion of its purchase of the Gaithersburg Property or (ii) April 30, 2014. Pursuant to the applicable provisions of the existing lease with GXS, Inc., SFHI consented to the sublease. In addition, GXS, Inc. agreed to pay SFHI the sum of $2,125,000, $1,725,000$2.1 million, $1.7 million of which was paid on October 1, 2009, with the balance of $400,000 being$0.4 million paid on July 1, 2010. Due to the pending sale of the Gaithersburg Property, the related results of operations have been reported as discontinued operations. SeeNotes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 4, Purchase and Sale Agreement of Gaithersburg Property

Rental Properties Held for Investment

During fiscal year 2001, the Company acquired certain rental property as part of an IRS Section 1031 exchange. The rental property is located in the Dorchester section of Boston, Massachusetts (the “Dorchester Property”). The Company acquired the Dorchester Property with improvements and nonrecourse debt associated with the Dorchester Property which is subject to a long-term lease. A tenant remits payments to a bank according to the terms of the lease and note. The payments are used to liquidate the nonrecourse debt obligations. Rental income is recorded by the Company on a straight-line basis and totals approximately $6.7 million annually and will remain at this level until approximately 2020 or until the asset is sold, otherwise disposed of or becomes impaired. The buildings on the Dorchester Property are also being depreciated on a straight-line basis and the depreciation expense is approximately $1.7 million annually and will remain at this level until approximately 2041 or until the asset is sold, otherwise disposed of or becomes impaired. Interest expense is also recorded based on the outstanding nonrecourse debt remaining to be paid based on unamortized loan issue costs and remaining debt amortization timetables. At any time during the term of the lease and debt amortization, the fair market values of the Dorchester Property may be different from its book value. Interest is presently being expensed at approximately $4.5$3.8 million annually and will decrease in relation to debt principal reductionson a straight-line basis through 2020 or until the asset is sold, otherwise disposed of or becomes impaired.

The Company owns, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Sahara Las Vegas Corp. (“SLVC”), an approximately 27-acre parcel of land (the “Strip Property”) located on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard South, to the south of Sahara Avenue. The Company presently leases portions of the Strip Property to threetwo different lessees for an aggregate amount of $35,000$9,500 per month. The leases may be terminated in the event the Strip Propertyproperty is sold or developed by the Company.

On December 22, 2008, SLVC, entered into an Option Agreement with Las Vegas Towers, LLC (“LVT”), a Delaware limited liability company, in which SLVC granted LVT an option to purchase SLVC’s approximately 27-acre parcel of land located at 2600 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Option Agreement designated In addition, the purchase price to acquireCompany leased the land at $618.0 million.

Simultaneous with the executionbalance of the Option Agreement, SLVC executedproperty on a Contingent Warrant (the “Warrant”) to Purchase Series A Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”), entitling LVT to purchase 60,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock of SLVC upon termsshort-term basis for $25,000 per month for the four month period commencing December 1, 2010 and conditions set forth in the Warrant. The designation and amount of the Preferred Stock as well as the powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of the series of this Preferred Stock and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are set forth in the Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of the Series A Preferred Stock also dated December 22, 2008. Had LVT exercised the Warrant prior to its expiration on April 1, 2009, the Option Agreement would have remained valid untilending March 31, 2010. LVT failed to exercise the Warrant before its expiration, and the Option Agreement terminated on March 31, 2009.2011.

-22-


Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptionsjudgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those related to customer incentives, bad debts, inventories, investments, estimated useful lives for depreciable and amortizable assets, valuation reserves and estimated cash flows in assessing the recoverability of long-lived assets, estimated liabilities for slot club bonus point programs, income taxes, contingencies and litigation. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experienceinformation that is currently available to the Company and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptionsjudgments or conditions.

Management believes the following critical accounting policies, among others, affects its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements:

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts:Accounts. The Company allows for an estimated amount of receivables that may not be collected. The Company estimates its allowance for doubtful accounts using a specific formula applied to aged receivables as well as a specific review of large balances. Historical experience is considered, as are customer relationships, in determining specific reserves.

Long-Lived Assets:Property and Equipment. TheAt December 31, 2010, the Company has a significant investment in long-livedhad net property and equipment.equipment of $96.7 million, representing 52.6% of total assets. Management reviewsdepreciates property and equipment on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The estimated useful lives are based on the nature of the assets as well as current operating strategy and legal considerations such as contractual life. Future events, such as property improvements, technological obsolescence, new competition, or new regulations, could result in a change in the manner in which the Company uses certain assets requiring a change in the estimated useful lives of such assets.

For assets to be held and assesses commercial viabilityused, fixed assets are reviewed for impairment whenever indicators of theseimpairment exist. If an indicator of impairment exists, the Company first groups its assets periodically,with other assets and liabilities at least annually. Based on these reviews,the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities (the “asset group”). Secondly, management estimates that the undiscounted future cash flows that are directly associated with and expected to resultarise from the use of these assets exceedsand eventual disposition of such asset group. Management then estimates the currentundiscounted cash flows over the remaining useful life of the primary asset within the asset group. If the undiscounted cash flows exceed the carrying value, of these assets. Any adverse change inno impairment is indicated. If the estimate of these undiscounted cash flows do not exceed the carrying value, then an impairment is measured based on fair value compared to carrying value, with fair value typically based on a discounted cash flow model. If an asset is still under development, future cash flows could necessitate an impairment chargeinclude remaining construction costs.

For assets to be held for sale, the fixed assets (the “property held for sale”) are measured at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Losses are recognized for any initial or subsequent write-down to fair value less cost to sell, while gains are recognized for any subsequent increase in fair value less cost to sell, but not in excess of the cumulative loss previously recognized. Any gains or losses not previously recognized that would adversely affect operating results. Management also estimates useful lives for its assets based on historical experience, estimates of assets’ commercial lives, and the likelihood of technological obsolescence. Should the actual useful life of a class of assets differresult from the estimated useful life,sale of the Company would record an impairment charge. We review useful lives and obsolescence and we assess commercial viabilitydisposal group shall be recognized at the date of thesesale. Fixed assets periodically.are not depreciated while classified as held for sale.

Income Taxes:Taxes. The Company has recorded deferred tax assets related to net operating losses as the Company is able to offset these assets with deferred tax liabilities. Realization of the net deferred tax assets is dependent on the Company’s ability to generate profits from operations or from the sale of long-lived assets that would reverse the temporary differences which established the deferred tax liabilities. There can be no assurance that the Company will generate profits from operations or sell those assets or

-23-


will generate profits from sales if they were to occur in the future. In the event the Company does generate profits from sales of long-lived assets in the future a valuation allowance may need to be recorded, which would impact the Company’s future results of operations. Annualized effective income tax rates for calculating interim period provisions and benefits have been estimated to be not significantly different fromthan the estimated annual effective rate and the statutory rate. Although Financial Accounting Standards Board, Accounting Standard Codification (FASB ASC) 740-10,Income Taxes, became effective for the year ending September 30, 2008, based on its evaluation, management determined that FASB ASC 740-10 did not have a material effect on the financial statements or the net operating loss carryovers or the related deferred tax assets or valuation allowance.

Revenue Recognition:Recognition. Casino revenue is recorded as the aggregate of gaming wins minusand losses. Hotel, food and beverage, entertainment and other operating revenues are recognized as the services are performed. Casino revenues are recognized net of certain sales incentives in accordance with FASB ASC 605-50Revenue Recognition, Customer Payments and Incentives. Accordingly, cash incentives to customers for gambling, and the cash value of points and coupons earned by the slot club members totaling approximately $0.1 million and $0.2$0.1 million for the quarters ended MarchDecember 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, have been recognized as a direct reduction of casino revenue.

Advance deposits on hotel rooms, if any, are recorded as deferred revenue until services are provided to the customer. Hotel, food and beverage revenues are recognized as the services are performed.

Rental revenue from rental properties is recognized as earned on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. When rental payments received exceed rents earned and recognized, the difference is recorded as deferred rental income in the current liabilities section of the balance sheet, and conversely, when rents earned and recognized exceed rental payments received, the difference is recorded as other assets.

Recently IssuedRecent Accounting StandardsPronouncements

See related disclosure atItem 1 – Financial Statements – Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 1 Basis of Presentation and General Information – Recent Accounting Pronouncements.

FASB ASC 810-10: In June 2009, the FASB issued FASB ASC 810-10,Consolidation. The amendments include: (1) the elimination of the exemption for qualifying special purpose entities, (2) a new approach for determining who should consolidate a variable-interest entity, and (3) changes to when it is necessary to reassess who should consolidate a variable-interest entity. FASB ASC 810-10 is effective for the first annual reporting period beginning after November 15, 2009 and for interim periods within that first annual reporting period. The Company will adopt FASB ASC 810-10 during fiscal year 2010. The Company does not expect that the adoption of FASB ASC 810-10 will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASC 860-10: In June 2009, the FASB issued FASB ASC 860-10,Transfers and Servicing. FASB ASC 860-10 eliminates the concept of a “qualifying special-purpose entity,” changes the requirements for derecognizing financial assets, and requires additional disclosures in order to enhance information reported to users of financial statements by providing greater transparency about transfers of financial assets, including securitization transactions, and an entity’s continuing involvement in and exposure to the risks related to transferred financial assets. FASB ASC 860-10 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009. The Company will adopt FASB ASC 860-10 during fiscal year 2010. The Company does not expect that the adoption of FASB ASC 860-10 will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASC 815-10: In March 2008, the FASB issued FASB ASC 815-10, Derivative Instruments and Hedging. FASB ASC 815-10, which will require enhanced disclosures regarding the impact on financial position, financial performance, and cash flows, is effective for the Company beginning on October 1, 2009. However, since the Company does not now have, nor does it contemplate issuing or obtaining any derivative instruments, or engaging in any hedging activities, in the foreseeable future, we do not currently expect any effect on our future financial statements by adopting FASB ASC 815-10.

FASB ASC 810-10: In December 2007, the FASB issued FASB ASC 810-10,Consolidation. It requires that a noncontrolling (minority) interest in a subsidiary, including a consolidatable variable interest entity should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements. FASB ASC 810-10 will not likely have any effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements since we do not presently have and are not contemplating investing in, establishing or acquiring a subsidiary with a noncontrolling interest. FASB ASC 810-10 is effective, if applicable, for the Company’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2009.

FASB ASC 820-10 and 825-10: In September 2006, the FASB issued FASB ASC 810-10,Fair Value Measurements. FASB ASC 810-10 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. In February 2007, the FASB issued FASB ASC 810-10,Financial Instruments, which will permit the option of choosing to measure certain eligible items at fair value at specified election dates and report unrealized gains and losses in earnings. We have no present intention of opting to adopt FASB ASC 810-10. FASB ASC 810-10 is effective for the Company for financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value for fiscal year ended September 30, 2009 but will not become effective for nonfinancial assets until fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 (including interim periods within those years). We do not now expect any other effects of FASB ASC 810-10 since it is unlikely that we will choose to value assets or liabilities at fair value.

Results of Operations – NineThree Months Ended June 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009

General

During the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010, the Company’s net operating revenues decreased $6.3$1.3 million and operating expenses decreased $3.2$1.2 million, resulting in a decrease in operating income of $3.1$0.1 million from the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2009. The changedecline in operating results was primarily due to a decreaseunfavorable changes in general economic conditions including recession and economic slowdown. Net operating revenues at the investment properties.rental properties decreased $0.1 million from the quarter ended December 31, 2009. The operating results atdecline in the Pioneer andrevenue of the rental properties were unchanged.is substantially due to the decrease in rental revenue associated with the Strip Property.

Consolidated

Net Operating Revenues. Consolidated net operating revenues for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010 were $18.5$5.1 million, a $6.3$1.3 million, or 20%, decrease or 25%, as compared to $24.8from $6.4 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2009. The changeIncome from the rental properties in net operating revenuesthe quarter ended December 31, 2010 was primarily related to lower revenues at$1.8 million, a $0.1 million, or 5%, decrease from $1.9 million for the Pioneer and the investment properties.quarter ended December 31, 2009. Revenues at the Pioneer for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 were $12.2 million, a $3.9 million decrease or 24%, as compared to $16.1of $3.3 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30, 2009. RevenuesDecember 31, 2010, decreased $0.7 million or 18%, from the investment properties for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 were $5.7 million, a $2.3 million decrease or 29%, as compared to $8.0$4.0 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30, 2009. Revenues at corporate for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 decreased $0.1 million as compared to the nine months ended June 30,December 31, 2009.

-24-


Operating Expenses. Total operating expenses for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 were $18.1decreased $1.2 million, a $3.2 million decrease or 15%19%, as compared to $21.3$5.2 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010 from $6.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2009. The change in operating expenses resulted from an increase in corporate expense of $0.7 million, combined with a $3.9 million reduction in operating expenses at the Pioneer. Total operating expenses as a percentage of net revenue increased to 98% in102% for the current year period2010 quarter from 86% in100% for the prior year period, as a result of the revenues reducing more than the operating expenses.2009 quarter. Operating expenses at the Pioneer for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 were $13.6 million, a $3.9 million decrease or 22%, as compared to $17.5of $3.8 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010 decreased $1.0 million or 21%, from $4.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2009.

Operating Income.Income. Consolidated operating incomeloss for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010 was approximately $0.4$0.1 million, a $3.1decrease of $0.1 million decrease or 89%, as compared to approximately $3.5from $0.0 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2009. This decrease was due to the aforementioned changechanges in corporatenet operating revenues and Pioneer operating income and expenses. Operating income atattributable to the Dorchester Property and the Strip Propertyrental properties of $1.2 million for quarter ended December 31, 2010 decreased by $2.3$0.1 million to $3.8or 8%, from $1.3 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30, 2010.December 31, 2009. Operating loss at the Pioneer remained unchanged at $1.4of $0.5 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30, 2010. The operating loss at corporate increased by $0.8December 31, 2010 decreased $0.4 million to $2.0or 44%, from $0.9 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30, 2010.December 31, 2009.

Interest Expense. Consolidated interest expense for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010 was $3.4$1.0 million, a $0.2$0.1 million, or 9%, decrease or 6%, as compared to $3.6from $1.1 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2009. The decrease was primarily due to the reduction of nonrecourse debt associated with the rental properties.

Interest and Other Income. Consolidated interest and other income for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010, was $0.9$0.3 million, unchanged from the quarter ended December 31, 2009.

Gain (loss) on Sale of Marketable Securities. The gain on the sale of marketable securities for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 was $0.1 million, a $0.4$0.2 million, or 200%, increase or 80%, as compared to $0.5from the loss of $0.1 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2009. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in cash flows from operating and investing activities.

Federal Income Tax. The Company recorded a net federalFederal income tax benefit for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010 was $0.4 million, a less than $0.1 million increase, or 33%, from the quarter ended December 31, 2009, based on federal statutory rates.

Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax. The gain on discontinued operations associated with the property held for sale during the quarter ended December 31, 2010 was $0.5 million, based on estimated annual effective rates. The Company recorded a net federal income tax expensedecrease of $0.5$0.4 million from $0.9 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2009. These net taxes are a combination of the federal income tax on both continuing and discontinued operations.

Net Income (Loss) Applicable to Common Shares. Consolidated net income attributable to common shares for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 was $0.9 million, or $0.14 per common share, as compared to net income attributable to common shares of $1.0 million, or $0.15 per common share, for the nine months ended June 30, 2009.

Pioneer

Net Operating Revenues. Net operating revenues at the Pioneer for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 were $12.2 million, a $3.9 million decrease or 24%, as compared to $16.1approximately $3.3 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30, 2009 primarily dueDecember 31, 2010, a decrease of $0.7 million, or 18%, compared to $4.0 million in the reasons set forth below.quarter ended December 31, 2009.

Casino revenues for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010 were $9.6$2.7 million, a decrease of $0.5 million, or 16%, compared to $3.2 million decrease or 25%, as compared to $12.8 million forin the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2009. Slot and video poker revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 were $8.8$2.5 million, a $2.7decrease of $0.4 million, decrease or 23%14%, as compared to $11.5 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2009.$2.9 million. Other gaming revenues, including table games, for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 were $0.8$0.2 million, a $0.5decrease of $0.1 million, decrease or 38%33%, as compared to $1.3 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2009.$0.3 million. Casino promotional allowances were $2.4$0.7 million compared to $3.0$0.9 million, a decrease of $0.6 million.approximately $0.2 million, or 22%.

Hotel revenues for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010 were $1.1$0.3 million, a $0.2 million decrease or 15%, asrelatively unchanged from the quarter ended December 31, 2009. Hotel occupancy was 25% compared to $1.3 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2009. A29%, a decrease in rooms occupiedof 4%, but was compoundedoffset by a decreasean 8% increase in the average room rate. Competitive pressures continue in the Laughlin market. Food and beverage revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 were $3.4decreased $0.3 million, a $1.1or 25%, to $0.9 million decrease or 24%, as compared to $4.5 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2009.from $1.2 million. Other revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 were $0.5 million, a $0.1 million, decrease or 17%, as compared to $0.6 million forunchanged from the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2009.

Operating Expenses. Operating expenses for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 were $13.6 million a $3.9 million decrease or 22%, from $17.5$3.8 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30, 2009. TheDecember 31, 2010, a decrease was primarily associated with the reductionof $1.0 million, or 21%, from $4.8 million in the operating revenues.quarter ended December 31, 2009. Operating expenses as a percentage of net revenue increaseddecreased to 111%115% in the current year periodquarter from 109%120% in the prior year period.quarter ended December 31, 2009.

-25-


Casino expenses for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 were $6.0$1.6 million, a $1.4decrease of $0.6 million, or 27%, from $2.2 million, primarily due to the decrease or 19%, as compared to $7.4 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2009.in casino revenues. Casino expenses as a percentage of casino revenue increasedrevenues decreased to 63% in the current year period59% from 58% in the prior year period.69%.

Hotel expenses forwere $0.1 million, unchanged from the nine monthsquarter ended June 30, 2009December 31, 2009. Food and beverage expenses were $0.5 million, a $0.1decrease of $0.2 million decrease or 17%29%, as compared to $0.6from approximately $0.7 million, for the nine months ended June 30, 2009, due to thea decrease in occupied rooms and associated expenses. Hotel expenses as a percentagethe number of hotel revenue decreased to 45% in the current year period from 46% in the prior year period. Foodfood and beverage expenses for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 were $2.2 million, a $0.8 million decrease or 27%, as compared to $3.0 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2009.covers sold. Food and beverage expenses as a percentage of food and beverage revenuerevenues decreased to 65% in the current year period56% from 67% in the prior period.58%. Other expenses forwere $0.1 million, unchanged from the nine monthsquarter ended June 30, 2010 were $0.2 million, a $0.3 million decrease or 60%, as compared to $0.5 million for the nine months ended June 30,December 31, 2009. Other expenses as a percentage of other revenue decreased to 40% in the current year period from 83% in the prior year period.revenues was also unchanged at 100%.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 were $2.1$0.7 million, a $1.0decrease of $0.1 million, decrease or 32%13%, as compared to $3.1 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2009.$0.8 million. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue decreasedrevenues increased to 17% in the current year period21% from 19% in the prior year period.20%. Pioneer’s selling, general and administrative expenses are greater than the consolidated total due to the elimination of intercompany transactions in consolidation. Utilities and property expenses forwere $0.7 million, unchanged from the nine monthsquarter ended June 30, 2010 were $2.2 million, a $0.2 million decrease or 8%, as compared to $2.4 million for the nine months ended June 30,December 31, 2009. Utilities and property expenses as a percentage of revenueoperating revenues increased to 18% in the current year period21% from 15% in the prior year period.18%. Depreciation and amortization expenses for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 were $0.4 million, a $0.1 million decrease or 20%, as compared to $0.5 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2009.

Results of Operations – Three Months Ended June 30, 2010 and 2009

General

During the quarter ended June 30, 2010, the Company’s net operating revenues decreased $2.1 million and operating expenses decreased $1.2 million, resulting in a decrease in operating income of $0.9 million as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2009. The change in operating results was primarily due to a greater decrease in revenues than the offsetting decreases in associated expenses.

Consolidated

Net Operating Revenues. Consolidated net operating revenues were $5.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, a $2.1 million or 27% decrease, from $7.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2009. Revenues at the Pioneer of $3.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010 decreased $1.3 million, or 26%, from $5.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. Income from the rental properties was approximately $1.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, a $0.5 million or 21% decrease, from $2.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. Revenues at corporate decreased $0.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010 as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2009.

Operating Expenses. Total operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2010 were $5.8 million, a $1.2 million decrease or 17%, as compared to $7.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. Total operating expenses as a percentage of revenue increased to 104% in the current period from 91% in the prior year period.

Operating Income. Consolidated operating loss for the three months ended June 30, 2010 was $0.2 million, a $0.9 million decrease, as compared to operating revenue of $0.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. The decrease was due to the aforementioned decrease in operating revenues and expenses. Operating income at the rental properties for the three months ended June 30, 2010 was $1.3 million, a $0.5 million decrease, as compared to $1.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. Operating loss at the Pioneer for the three months ended June 30, 2009 was $0.6 million, a $0.2 million decrease, or 25%, as compared to $0.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. The operating loss at corporate increased by $0.5 million to $0.8 million. Operating income changes are a result of the aforementioned changes in operating revenues and expenses.

Interest Expense. Consolidated interest expense was unchanged from the prior year period at $1.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010.

Interest and Other Income. Consolidated interest and other income for the three months ended June 30, 2010 was $0.1 million, no change as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2009.

Income (Loss) Before Income Tax (Expense) Benefit and Discontinued Operations. Consolidated loss before income tax and discontinued operations for the three months ended June 30, 2010 was $1.2 million, a $0.8 million decrease, as compared to a $0.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009.

Federal Income Tax. The Company recorded a net federal income tax benefit for the three months ended June 30, 2010 of $0.8 million based on estimated annual effective rates. The Company recorded a minimal net federal income tax expense for the three months ended June 30, 2009. These net taxes are a combination of the federal income tax on both continuing and discontinued operations.

Net Income (Loss) Applicable to Common Shares. Consolidated net income attributable to common shares for the three months ended June 30, 2010 was $0.2 million, or $0.02 per common share, as compared to $0.0 million, or $0.00 per common share, for the three months ended June 30, 2009.

Pioneer

Net Operating Revenues. Net operating revenues at the Pioneer for the three months ended June 30, 2010 were $3.7 million, a $1.3 million decrease or 26%, as compared to $5.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009, primarily for the reasons set forth below.

Casino revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2010 were $2.8 million, a $1.0 million decrease or 26%, as compared to $3.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. Slot and video poker revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2010 were $2.6 million, a $0.8 million decrease or 24%, as compared to $3.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. Management believes the lower slot handle was a direct result of the weaker economic conditions impacting the Laughlin market. Other gaming revenues, including table games, for the three months ended June 30, 2010 were $0.2 million, a $0.2 million decrease or 50%, as compared to $0.4 million, for the three months ended June 30, 2009. Casino promotional allowances for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 were $0.7 million, a $0.3 million decrease or 30%, as compared to $1.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009.

Hotel revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 were $0.4 million, a $0.1 million decrease or 20%, as compared to $0.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. Food and beverage revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 were $1.0 million, a $0.5 million decrease or 33%, as compared to $1.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. Other revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2010 were $0.1 million, a $0.1 million decrease or 50%, as compared to $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009.

Operating Expenses. Operating expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 were $4.3 million, a $1.5 million decrease or 26%, as compared to $5.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. Operating expenses as a percentage of revenue remained unchanged from the prior year period at 116%.

Casino expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2010 were $1.8 million, a $0.6 million decrease or 25%, as compared to $2.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. Casino expenses as a percentage of casino revenue increased to 64% from 63% resulting from the more rapid decline in revenues than expenses.

Hotel expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2010 were $0.2 million, unchanged from the prior year period. Hotel expenses as a percentage of hotel revenue increased to 50% for the three months ended June 30, 2010 from 40% for the three months ended June 30, 2009. Food and beverage expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2010 were $0.7 million, a $0.4 million decrease or 36%, as compared to $1.1 million in the three months ended June 30, 2009. Food and beverage expenses as a percentage of food and beverage revenue decreased to 70% for the three months ended June 30, 2010 from 73% for the three months ended June 30, 2009. Other expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2010 were $0.1 million, unchanged from the prior year period. Other expensesquarter ended December 31, 2009. Depreciation and amortization as a percentage of other revenue increased to 100% for the three months ended June 30, 2010 from 50% in the three months ended June 30, 2009.operating revenues remained at 3%.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2009 were $0.7 million, a $0.3 million decrease or 30%, as compared to $1.0 million in the three months ended June 30, 2009. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased to 19% for the three months ended June 30, 2010 from 20% for the three months ended June 30, 2009. Pioneer’s selling, general and administrative expenses are greater than the consolidated total due to the elimination of intercompany transactions in consolidation. Utilities and property expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2010 were $0.7 million, a $0.1 million decrease or 13%, as compared to $0.8 million in the three months ended June 30, 2009. Utilities and property expenses as a percentage of revenue increased to 19% for the three months ended June 30, 2010 from 16% for the three months ended June 30, 2009. Depreciation and amortization expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2010 were $0.1 million, a $0.1 million decrease or 50%, as compared to $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009.

Liquidity and Capital Resources; Trends and Factors Relevant to Future Operations

Contractual Obligations and Commitments:Commitments

The following table summarizestables summarize the Company’s September 30th fiscal year contractual obligations and commitments and cash interest payments, respectively, as of June 30,December 31, 2010 (for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2010)2011 and for the fiscal years ending September 30, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and thereafterthereafter) (amounts in thousands).to nearest thousand):

 

  Payments Due By Period  Payments Due by Period 
  2010  2011  2012  2013  2014  2015 and
Thereafter
  Total  2011   2012   2013   2014   2015   2016 and
Thereafter
   Total 

Continuing Operations

                            

Nonrecourse debt:

                            

Dorchester

  $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $31,199  $31,199  $0    $0    $0    $0    $0    $31,199    $31,199  

Long-term debt:

                            

Mortgage obligation

��  7,971   0   0   0   0   0   7,971

Line of credit

   6,813     0     0     0     0     0     6,813  

Stock margin loan

   0     0     0     3,000     0     0     3,000  

Operating leases:

                            

Ground lease

   98   392   392   392   392   25,090   26,756   294     392     392     392     392     24,698     26,560  

Corporate offices

   6   24   25   19   0   0   74

Corporate warehouse

   18     25     19     0     0     0     62  
                                                 

Total Continuing Operations

  $8,075  $416  $417  $411  $392  $56,289  $66,000  $7,125    $417    $411    $3,392    $392    $55,897    $67,634  
                     
                            

Discontinued Operations

                            

Gaithersburg

  $834  $3,573  $3,987  $4,448  $25,107  $0  $37,949  $2,718    $3,987    $4,448    $25,107    $0    $0    $36,260  
                                                 
  Cash Interest Payments by Period 
  2011   2012   2013   2014   2015   2016 and
Thereafter
   Total 

Continuing Operations

              

Nonrecourse debt:

              

Dorchester

  $2,850    $3,800    $3,800    $3,800    $3,800    $21,850    $39,900  

Long-term debt:

              

Line of credit

   307     0     0     0     0     0     307  

Stock margin loan

   68     68     68     68     0     0     272  

Operating leases:

              

Ground lease

   0     0     0     0     0     0     0  

Corporate warehouse

   0     0     0     0     0     0     0  
                            

Total Continuing Operations

  $3,225    $3,868    $3,868    $3,868    $3,800    $21,850    $40,479  
                            

Discontinued Operations

              

Gaithersburg

  $1,871    $2,263    $1,958    $1,122    $0    $0    $7,214  
                            

The Company is required to make the following cash interest payments related to the foregoing debt obligations: (i) Non-recourse debt – $1.0 million (2010), $3.8 million (2011), $3.8 million (2012), $3.8 million (2013), $3.8 million (2014) and $21.9 million (2015 and thereafter); and (ii) Long-term debt – $0.1 million (2010), $0 million (2011), $0 million (2012), $0 million (2013), $0 million (2014) and $0 million (2015 and thereafter); and (iii) Discontinued Operations debt – $0.7 million (2010), $2.5 million (2011), $2.3 million (2012), $2.0 million (2013), $1.1 million (2014) and $0 million (2015 and thereafter).

-26-


The Company has no significant purchase commitments or obligations other than those included in the above table.schedule.

The Company’s ability to service its contractual obligations and commitments, other than the nonrecourse debt, will be dependent on the future performance of the Pioneer, which will be affected by, among other things, prevailing economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, including competitive pressure from the expansion of Native American gaming facilities in the southwestSouthwest United States, certain of which factors are beyond the Company’s control. In addition, the Company will be dependent on the continued ability of the tenants in the rental propertyproperties in Gaithersburg, Maryland and in the Dorchester Sectionsection of Boston, Massachusetts and the property held for sale in Gaithersburg, Maryland, to make payments pursuant to the leases with the Company. The payments under the leases are contractually committed to be used to make payments on the Company’s nonrecourse debt obligations related to the Dorchester Property and Gaithersburg Property, respectively.properties

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Mortgage Note Obligation.Line of Credit. The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, SLVC, secured and maintains a $15.0 million line of credit loan granted by a Nevada bank. The loan and promissory note are secured by deed of trust on SLVC’s approximate 27 acre parcel of land on Las Vegas Boulevard South (the “Strip

Property”), are for a period of one year commencing November 15, 2009, and ending November 14, 2010.. The line of credit loan is revolving and is subject to additional lending requirements. The line of credit loan balance in the amount of $7.9$6.8 million at the end of the fiscal yearquarter ended December 31, 2010 is reported as a current liability.liability, and any outstanding balance under the line of credit will become due in February 2011. The initial advance under the line of credit loan was used to pay in full the previous line of credit loan secured by the Strip Property. The SLVC line of credit loan is guaranteed by SLVC and the Company, as well as, personally guaranteed by Paul W. Lowden, President of SLVC, and by Suzanne Lowden, Secretary/Treasurer of SLVC.

Stock Margin Loan Obligation. The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, SFHI, secured and maintains a $3.0 million stock margin loan granted by Merrill Lynch. The stock margin loan is secured by marketable securities held by Merrill Lynch. The stock margin loan balance in the amount of $3.0 million at the end of the three months ended December 31, 2010 is reported as a current liability and included in the line of credit balance.

-27-


As of June 30,December 31, 2010, the Company held cash and cash equivalents of approximately $14.2$9.6 million compared to $31.6$9.6 million at September 30, 2009.2010. The Company had $15.4$18.7 million in investment in marketable securities at June 30,December 31, 2010 compared to $6.0$17.8 million at September 30, 2009.2010. The Dorchester Property and the Strip Propertyrental properties are structured such that future tenants’ payments cover future required mortgage payments including any balloon payments. Management believes that the Company will have sufficient available cash and cash resources to meet its cash requirements for a reasonable period of time.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities. The Company’s cash used for operating activities was $4.5$1.5 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010, as compared to $1.0$1.6 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2009.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities. Cash used infor investing activities was $9.5approximately $0.6 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010, as compared to $2.1$1.2 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2009. In the current year period, the company paid $0.1Company used $0.5 million for capital improvements at the Pioneer, and $12.2 million forpurchase of marketable securities which were offset by the salenet of $2.8 million in marketable securities.sales. In the prior year period, the Company paidused $1.2 million for capital improvements at the Pioneer, and $2.8 million forpurchase of marketable securities which were offset by the salenet of $1.9 million in marketable securities.purchases.

Cash Used in Financing Activities. Cash used in financing activities was $3.9approximately $2.0 million for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010, as compared to $1.2 million$0.0 for the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2009. In the current year period, $0.1the Company received $5.8 million was provided byas proceeds from lines of credit, used $1.0 million to pay down the line of credit, and $4.0 million was used $2.8 for the purchase of common stock for retirement.treasury stock. In the prior year period $0.9 millionthe cash used was used for debt payments, and approximately $0.3 million for the purchase of common stock for retirement.relatively insignificant.

The Company’s primary source of operating cash is from the Pioneer operations, from interest income on available cash and cash equivalents and investments in marketable securities and, to a lesser extent, from net cash generated from the leasing of Strip Property.certain land owned on the Las Vegas Strip. Rental income from the Company’s Dorchester Propertyrental property and Gaithersburg Propertyproperty held for sale is contractually committed to reducing the nonrecourse indebtedness issued or assumed in connection with the acquisition of the rental properties. Under the two leases, the tenants are responsible for substantially all obligations related to the respective property. SLVC, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of theleased properties.

The Company owns, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Sahara Las Vegas Corp. (“SLVC”), an approximately 27-acre parcel of land (the “Property”) located on the 27-acre Strip Property oneast side of Las Vegas Boulevard South, which is subject to a lease with the adjacent property owner to facilitate developmentjust south of Sahara Avenue. The Company presently leases portions of the adjacent property.Property to two different lessees for an aggregate amount of $9,500 per month. The leases may be terminated in the event the property is sold or developed by the Company. In addition, the Company-short-term leased the balance of the property for $25,000 per month for the four month period commencing December 1, 2010 and ending March 31, 2011.

Pioneer

Pioneer’s principal uses of cash are for payments of slot machine debt obligations, ground lease rent and capital expenditures to maintain the facility. The Company has implemented changes in personnel and promotional programs and installed new slot equipment to address the decreases in revenues and operating income. One of management’s main focuses is to recapture market share in the Laughlin market. Management, however, can give no assurance that market share will be recaptured in theits Laughlin market sinceas its competition in the market typically has greater capital resources than does the Pioneer.

Payments of rent were approximately $0.03$0.1 million infor each of the nine monthsquarter ended June 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.2009. Capital expenditures to maintain the facility in fiscal 20102011 are expected to be approximately $0.3less than $1.0 million.

-28-


PropertyAssets Held for Sale

The Gaithersburg Property in Gaithersburg, Maryland is located on 51.57 acres and includes one building with approximately 342,000 square feet of commercial office space. The Gaithersburg Property was acquired for $62.6 million, plus debt issuance costs of $2.7 million. The Company paid $9.9 million in cash and issued $55.4 million in nonrecourse first mortgage indebtedness. The Gaithersburg Property is under a net lease through 2014 with a single tenant with an investment grade credit rating. Under the lease, the tenant is responsible for substantially all obligations related to the Gaithersburg Property. The Gaithersburg Property is under contract to be sold.See Note 4,Purchase and Sale Agreement of Gaithersburg Property

Rental Properties Held for Investment

The Company acquired commercial rental property in the Dorchester section of Boston, Massachusetts in March 2001. The Dorchester Property is located on 12 acres and includes several buildings with approximately 425,000 square feet of commercial office space. The Dorchester Property was acquired for approximately $82.4 million plus $0.5 million in debt issuance costs. The Company paid $5.6 million in cash and assumed $77.3 million in nonrecourse debt associated with the Dorchester Property. The Dorchester Property is under a net lease through 2020 with a single tenant with an investment grade credit rating. Under the lease, the tenant is responsible for substantially all obligations related to the Dorchester Property.

Termination of Option to Purchase Las Vegas Boulevard Land

On December 22, 2008, SLVC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Archon Corporation, entered into an Option Agreement with Las Vegas Towers, LLC (“LVT”), a Delaware limited liability company, in which SLVC granted LVT an option to purchase SLVC’s approximately 27-acre parcel of land located at 2600 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada, the Strip Property.

The Option Agreement designated the purchase price to acquire the Strip Property at $618.0 million.

Simultaneous with the execution of the Option Agreement, SLVC executed a Contingent Warrant (the “Warrant”) to Purchase Series A Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”), entitling LVT to purchase 60,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock of SLVC upon terms and conditions set forth in the Warrant. The designation and amount of the Preferred Stock as well as the powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of the series of this Preferred Stock and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are set forth in the Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of the Series A Preferred Stock (the “Certificate”) also dated December 22, 2008. Had LVT exercised the Warrant prior to its expiration on April 1, 2009, the Option Agreement would have remained valid until March 31, 2010. LVT failed to exercise the Warrant before its expiration, thus the Option Agreement terminated on March 31, 2009.

Redemption of the Company’s Preferred Stock and Redemption Price Disputes

The Company called all outstanding shares of its Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock for redemption on and as of August 31, 2007, at a redemption price of $5.241 per share, which sum included accrued and unpaid dividends to the date of redemption. From and after August 31, 2007, all shares of the Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock ceased to be outstanding and to accrue dividends. As of August 7, 2010,February 11, 2011, the holders of 4,261,0924.3 million shares of the Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock have surrendered their shares and received payment of the redemption price; while 155,4850.2 million shares have yet to be surrendered and still have the right to receive their payment due without interest. As of June 30,December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2009,2010, exchangeable redeemable preferred stock –unredeemed– unredeemed was $814,897$0.8 million and $821,259,$0.8 million, respectively.

On August 27, 2007, a group of institutional investors filed an action in Nevada, against the Company.Company in the United States District Court, entitledDE Shaw Laminar Portfolios et al. v. Archon Corporation, District of Nevada, Case No. 2:07-cv-1146. The Complaint was subsequently amended to add an additional party plaintiff (collectively, the “Plaintiffs”). The Amended Complaint: (i) seeks a finding by the Court that the Company has breached its obligations under the Company’s Certificate of Designation of the Preferred Stock, dated September 30, 1993 (the “Certificate”), and awarding the Plaintiffs full compensation of any and all available damages suffered by the Plaintiffs as a result of the Company’s breach of the Certificate; (ii) seeks a finding by the Court that the Company’s issuance of its redemption notice with an improper redemption price is an anticipatory breach of a material term of the Certificate and awarding the Plaintiffs full compensation of any and all available damages suffered as a result of the Company’s anticipatory breach of the Certificate; (iii) seeks a declaration by the Court that the dividends be properly calculated and compounded per the terms of the Certificate in an amount not less than $7,235,351$7.2 million up through and including the date of final judgment; (iv) seeks an order from the Court calling for the Company to reimburse the Plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees, expenses and costs incurred in enforcing their rights; and (v) seeks such other and further relief as the Court may deem appropriate.

The Plaintiffs, thereafter, filed a motion for partial summary judgment, seeking a ruling from the court that the Company breached its obligations under the Certificate by calculating the redemption price as it did. The Court granted that motion on August 8, 2008, finding the language of the Certificate to be unambiguous and that the redemption price should have been calculated differently. The Court has not yet issued a monetary judgment against the Company. Subsequent to the

-29-


Court’s ruling on the motion for partial summary judgment, Plaintiffs filed a motion for entry of final judgment, seeking entry of judgment that the redemption price for the preferred shares should have been $8.69 per share. AtOn December 22, 2010, the same time,District Court granted that motion and entered judgment against the Company in the amount of $9.5 million. The District Court based its decision primarily on its order from August of 2008. The Company has filed a requestmotion for certification askingreconsideration of the Court to certify its partial summary judgment orderDistrict Court’s December 22, 2010 order. That motion has been fully briefed and is pending before the District Court. In the event the motion for immediate interlocutory appeal. The Court granted the request for certification andreconsideration is denied, the request for entry of final judgment without prejudice. The Company filed a Petition for Permissionintends to Appeal withappeal the District Court’s decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Ninth Circuit declined to accept the matter for interlocutory review.

Recently, Plaintiffs have filed a second motion for entry of final judgment, again seeking entry of judgment that the redemption price for the preferred shares should have been $8.69 per share. The Company has substantively opposed that motion and has urged the Court to reconsider its August 8, 2008 order. Briefing on Plaintiffs’ second motion for entry of final judgment has been completed and a hearing was held before the Court and the parties are awaiting a ruling.Appeals.

The Company has initiated proceedings against a third-party law firm concerning that firm’s potential liability related to the drafting of the Certificate of Designation. This third-party action has subsequently been removed by the defendant law firm to Federal Court in April, 2009 and is at an early stage of resolution. The defendant law firm has moved to compel arbitration of the dispute. The Magistrate Judge issued an order that the matter be referred to arbitration and the District Court confirmed that order. The Company intends to pursue its claims against the defendant law firm in arbitration. The Company is also considering rights and remedies it may have with regard to other parties who participated in the issuance of the Preferred Stock in the event that the Company does not prevail on its interpretation of the Certificate.

Also, two other holders of the Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock filed Complaints, both alleging essentially the same claim as the first complaint related to the case set forth immediately above. The two other lawsuits brought by former holders of the Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock are entitledRainero v. Archon Corporation, District of Nevada, Case No. 2:07-cv-01553, andLeeward Capital, L.P. v. Archon Corporation, District of Nevada Case No. 2:08-cv-00007. If the plaintiffs in these two additional actions are correct, the redemption price as of August 31, 2007 should have been $8.69 per share and not $5.241 per share as calculated by the Company. If applied to all the then outstanding shares of Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock, including the shares held by the Company’s officers and directors, valuation of the redemption price at $8.69 per share would increase the redemption price in excess of $15.2 million.

ManagementIn theLeeward Capital matter, both theLeeward Plaintiffs and the Company have filed motions for summary judgment. The Leeward Plaintiffs made arguments similar to theLaminar Plaintiffs in their motion. On December 22, 2010, the District Court issued an order granting theLeeward Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on the same grounds as theLaminar order and denying Archon’s motion without analysis. Contemporaneous with the filing of the December 22, 2010 order, the District Court entered judgment in favor of theLeeward Plaintiffs and against the Company in the amount of $0.3 million. The Company has filed a motion for reconsideration of the District Court’s December 22, 2010 order. That motion has been fully briefed and is unablepending before the District Court. In the event the motion for reconsideration is denied, the Company intends to estimateappeal the minimum liability that mayDistrict Court’s decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

TheRainero action is purported to be incurred, if any,brought on behalf of David Rainero individually as well as a class of all former preferred shareholders, although a class has not yet been certified by the District Court. Plaintiff Rainero filed a motion for class certification in December of 2010 which the Company intends to oppose. The Company’s opposition brief to the motion for class certification is due February 15, 2011. Mr. Rainero was deposed in early January of 2011.

The Company plans to appeal the District Court’s decisions to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Company believes that it has valid bases in law and fact to overturn or appeal these verdicts. As a result, the Company believes that the likelihood that affirmation of the outcomejudgments is possible but not probable, and, accordingly, that the amount of each of these lawsuits and, therefore,any loss cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. Because the Company believes that this potential loss is not probable or estimable, it has made no provision in the financial statements for liabilitynot recorded any reserves or contingencies related to these casesthis legal matter. In the event that the Company’s assumptions used to evaluate this matter as neither probable nor estimable change in future periods, it will be required to record a liability for an adverse outcome, which may include post-judgment interest.

Effects of Inflation

The Company has been generally successful in recovering costs associated with inflation through price adjustments in its hotel operations. Anyroom rates. Expenses of operating the Company’s rental properties are generally borne by the tenants. Primarily due to competitive market and other economic pressures any such future increases in costs associated with casino operations and maintenance of properties may not be completely recovered by the Company.

-30-


Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Certain statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q which are not historical facts aremay be considered forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, such as statements relating to future operating results, existing and expected competition, financing and refinancing sources and availability and plans for future development or expansion activities, capital expenditures and expansion of business operations into new areas. Such forward-looking statements are based upon a number of assumptions concerning future conditions that ultimately may prove to be inaccurate and that may involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may significantly affect the Company’s liquidity and results in the future and, accordingly, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to,without limitation, those related to effects of competition, leverage and debt service, general economic conditions, changes in gaming laws or regulations (including the legalization of gaming in various jurisdictions) and risks related to development activities and the startup of non-gaming operations.

 

Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk is the risk of loss arising from changes in market rates and prices, such as interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and commodity process. Excluding its nonrecourse debt, the Company has total interest-bearing debt at June 30,December 31, 2010 of approximately $8.0$9.8 million, of which approximately $8.0 million bears interest at a variable rate (approximately 6%6.25% at June 30,December 31, 2010). Therefore, the Company maintains certain market rate risk related to this debt. A change in the interest rates of 1% per annum would cause an approximate $0.1 million change in the amount of interest the Company would incur based on the amount of variable-interest rate debt outstanding for any current or future year in which this debt is outstanding. Future borrowings related to this debt will be exposed to this same market rate risk.

The Company holds investments in various available-for-sale securities; however, management believes that exposure to price risk arising from the ownership of these investments is not material to the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flow as historically price fluctuations of these securities have not been material.

-31-


Item 4.Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures:Procedures

Our management, with the participation of the Company’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Accounting Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Accounting Officer have concluded that as of December 31, 2010, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective, at the reasonable assurance level, in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act and in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Accounting Officer, as appropriate to allow timely discussions regarding required disclosure; due to the material weaknesses described below.

In light of the material weaknesses described below, we performed additional analysis and other post-closing procedures to ensure that our financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Accordingly, we believe that the financial statements included in this report fairly present, in all material respects, our financial condition, results of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the periods presented.

Management Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). The Company’sof 1934. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and board of directors regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Ouraccounting principles. The Company’s internal controlscontrol over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.that:

As of the end of the period covered by this report, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Principal Accounting Officer, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting was conducted based on the framework inInternal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management concluded that the Company’s control over financial reporting was effective.

1.Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;

Changes in Internal Controls:

2.Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and

As part of our normal operations, we update our internal controls as necessary to accommodate any modifications to our business processes or accounting procedures. There have not been any significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect these internal controls as of the end of the period covered by this report.

3.Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.

Limitations on the Effectiveness of Internal Controls:

Because of its inherent limitations, internal controls over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention of overriding controls. Accordingly,limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective internal controls over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation.preparation and reporting. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deterioratedeteriorate.

-32-


A material weakness is a control deficiency (within the meaning of Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) Auditing Standard No. 5) or combination of control deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

ARCHON CORPORATIONUnder the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Accounting Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the period covered by this report based on the framework inInternal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on the results of management’s assessment and evaluation, our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Accounting Officer concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective due to the material weaknesses described below.

Material Weaknesses

1.The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010. In making this assessment, the Company’s management used the framework set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in “Internal Control – Integrated Framework.” Based on this assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2010, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was not effective based on this framework.

Management evaluated the impact of ineffective control over financial reporting and concluded that the control deficiency represented a material weakness.

2.In connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2010, our independent registered accounting firm, DeJoya Griffith & Company, LLC, reported to the audit committee of the Company’s Board of Directors that they observed inadequate review and approval of certain aspects of the accounting process that they considered to be a material weakness in internal control.

After a review of the Company’s current review and approval of certain aspects of the accounting process, management concluded that the inadequate review and approval process represented a material weakness.

Remediation of Material Weaknesses

To remediate the material weaknesses identified above, we have done the following subsequent to September 30, 2010, which correspond to the two material weaknesses identified above.

1.In connection with the ineffective assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, management plans to hire an additional independent public accounting firm to perform our internal audit and assist with SEC compliance for purposes of all future reporting.

Management believes this remediation will remediate the corresponding material weakness described in Item 1, immediately above.

2.In connection with the reported inadequate review and approval of certain aspects of the accounting process, management has reiterated the Company’s current review and approval processes, to insure that all accounting reconciliations and journal entries are reviewed and approved on a timely basis.

Management believes this remediation has remediated the corresponding material weakness described in Item 2, immediately above.

-33-


Inherent Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls

Management does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control systems are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, no evaluation of internal control over financial reporting can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been or will be detected.

These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

-34-


PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.Legal Proceedings

Mercury Real Estate Securities Fund, LP and Mercury Real Estate Securities Offshore Limited v. Archon Corporation:

The Company called all outstanding shares of its Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock for redemption on and as of August 31, 2007, at a redemption price of $5.241 per share, which sum included accrued and unpaid dividends to the date of redemption. From and after August 31, 2007, all shares of the Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock ceased to be outstanding and to accrue dividends. As of August 7, 2010,February 9, 2011, the holders of 4,261,0924.3 million shares of the Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock have surrendered their shares and received payment of the redemption price; while 155,4850.2 million shares have yet to be surrendered and still have the right to receive their payment due without interest. As of June 30,December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2009,2010, exchangeable redeemable preferred stock –unredeemed– unredeemed was $814,897$0.8 million and $821,259,$0.8 million, respectively.

On August 27, 2007, a group of institutional investors filed an action in Nevada, against the Company.Company in the United States District Court, entitled DE Shaw Laminar Portfolios et al. v. Archon Corporation, District of Nevada, Case No. 2:07-cv-1146. The Complaint was subsequently amended to add an additional party plaintiff (collectively, the “Plaintiffs”). The Amended Complaint: (i) seeks a finding by the Court that the Company has breached its obligations under the Company’s Certificate of Designation of the Preferred Stock, dated September 30, 1993 (the “Certificate”), and awarding the Plaintiffs full compensation of any and all available damages suffered by the Plaintiffs as a result of the Company’s breach of the Certificate; (ii) seeks a finding by the Court that the Company’s issuance of its redemption notice with an improper redemption price is an anticipatory breach of a material term of the Certificate and awarding the Plaintiffs full compensation of any and all available damages suffered as a result of the Company’s anticipatory breach of the Certificate; (iii) seeks a declaration by the Court that the dividends be properly calculated and compounded per the terms of the Certificate in an amount not less than $7,235,351$7.2 million up through and including the date of final judgment; (iv) seeks an order from the Court calling for the Company to reimburse the Plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees, expenses and costs incurred in enforcing their rights; and (v) seeks such other and further relief as the Court may deem appropriate.

The Plaintiffs, thereafter, filed a motion for partial summary judgment, seeking a ruling from the court that the Company breached its obligations under the Certificate by calculating the redemption price as it did. The Court granted that motion on August 8, 2008, finding the language of the Certificate to be unambiguous and that the redemption price should have been calculated differently. The Court has not yet issued a monetary judgment against the Company. Subsequent to the Court’s ruling on the motion for partial summary judgment, Plaintiffs filed a motion for entry of final judgment, seeking entry of judgment that the redemption price for the preferred shares should have been $8.69 per share. AtOn December 22, 2010, the same time,District Court granted that motion and entered judgment against the Company in the amount of $9.5 million. The District Court based its decision primarily on its order from August of 2008. The Company has filed a requestmotion for certification askingreconsideration of the Court to certify its partial summary judgment orderDistrict Court’s December 22, 2010 order. That motion has been fully briefed and is pending before the District Court. In the event the motion for immediate interlocutory appeal. The Court granted the request for certification andreconsideration is denied, the request for entry of final judgment without prejudice. The Company filed a Petition for Permissionintends to Appeal withappeal the District Court’s decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Ninth Circuit declined to accept the matter for interlocutory review.Appeals.

Recently, Plaintiffs have filed a second motion for entry of final judgment, again seeking entry of judgment that the redemption price for the preferred shares should have been $8.69 per share. The Company has substantively opposed that motion and has urged the Court to reconsider its August 8, 2008 order. Briefing on Plaintiffs’ second motion for entry of final judgment has been completed and a hearing was held before the Court and the parties are awaiting a ruling.

The Company has initiated proceedings against a third-party law firm concerning that firm’s potential liability related to the drafting of the Certificate of Designation. This third-party action has subsequently been removed by the defendant law firm to Federal Court in April, 2009 and is at an early stage of resolution. The defendant law firm has moved to compel arbitration of the dispute. The Magistrate Judge issued an order that the matter be referred to arbitration and the District Court confirmed that order. The

-35-


Company intends to pursue its claims against the defendant law firm in arbitration. The Company is also considering rights and remedies it may have with regard to other parties who participated in the issuance of the Preferred Stock in the event that the Company does not prevail on its interpretation of the Certificate.

Also, two other holders of the Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock filed Complaints, both alleging essentially the same claim as the first complaint related to the case set forth immediately above. The two other lawsuits brought by former holders of the Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock are entitledRainero v. Archon Corporation, District of Nevada, Case No. 2:07-cv-01553, andLeeward Capital, L.P. v. Archon Corporation, District of Nevada Case No. 2:08-cv-00007. If the plaintiffs in these two additional actions are correct, the redemption price as of August 31, 2007 should have been $8.69 per share and not $5.241 per share as calculated by the Company. If applied to all the then outstanding shares of Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock, including the shares held by the Company’s officers and directors, valuation of the redemption price at $8.69 per share would increase the redemption price in excess of $15.2 million.

ManagementIn theLeeward Capital matter, both theLeeward Plaintiffs and the Company have filed motions for summary judgment. The Leeward Plaintiffs made arguments similar to theLaminar Plaintiffs in their motion. On December 22, 2010, the District Court issued an order granting theLeeward Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on the same grounds as theLaminar order and denying Archon’s motion without analysis. Contemporaneous with the filing of the December 22, 2010 order, the District Court entered judgment in favor of theLeeward Plaintiffs and against the Company in the amount of $0.3 million. The Company has filed a motion for reconsideration of the District Court’s December 22, 2010 order. That motion has been fully briefed and is unablepending before the District Court. In the event the motion for reconsideration is denied, the Company intends to estimateappeal the minimum liability that mayDistrict Court’s decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

TheRainero action is purported to be incurred, if any,brought on behalf of David Rainero individually as well as a class of all former preferred shareholders, although a class has not yet been certified by the District Court. Plaintiff Rainero filed a motion for class certification in December of 2010 which the Company intends to oppose. The Company’s opposition brief to the motion for class certification is due February 15, 2011. Mr. Rainero was deposed in early January of 2011.

The Company plans to appeal the District Court’s decisions to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Company believes that it has valid bases in law and fact to overturn or appeal these verdicts. As a result, the Company believes that affirmation of the outcomejudgments is possible but not probable, and, accordingly, that the amount of each of these lawsuits and, therefore,any loss cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. Because the Company believes that this potential loss is not probable or estimable, it has made no provision in the financial statements for liabilitynot recorded any reserves or contingencies related to these cases.this legal matter. In the event that the Company’s assumptions used to evaluate this matter as neither probable nor estimable change in future periods, it will be required to record a liability for an adverse outcome, which may include post-judgment interest.

 

-36-


Item 2.Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

None

 

Item 3.Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None

 

Item 4.Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

Stockholders and investors may obtain a free copy of the information statement (when available) and other related documents filed by the Company with the SEC at its website atwww.sec.gov.

At the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on June 14, 2010, common stockholders elected two directors, Suzanne Lowden and Richard H. Taggart and voted on a proposal to ratify the selection of De Joya Griffith & Company LLC (“De Joya”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 and approval of the financial statements for fiscal year ended September 30, 2009.

The Directors whose terms in office continued after the meeting are as follows:None

 

Term
Expires

Paul W. Lowden

2011

William J. Raggio

2011

John W. Delaney

2012

Howard E. Foster

2012

Suzanne Lowden

2013

Richard H. Taggart

2013

There were6,017,944shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the 2010 Annual Meeting. A total of6,136,377 stockholders votes(97.2%) were represented at the meeting.

The result of the vote taken on the election of Directors elected by the common stockholders to hold office until the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are elected and have qualified are as follows:

   For  Withheld

Suzanne Lowden

  5,487,191  266,707

Richard H. Taggart

  5,189,955  563,943

The result of the vote taken for ratification of the selection of De Joya as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 and approval of the financial statements for fiscal year ended September 30, 2009 are as follows:

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker

Non-Vote

6,083,724

 52,437 216 0

Item 5.Other Information

None

 

-37-


Item 6.Exhibits

 

a.Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description of Exhibit

31.1  Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2  Certification of Principal Accounting Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32     Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

-38-


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

ARCHON CORPORATION,

Registrant

By: 

/S/    PAULs/    Paul W. LOWDEN        Lowden

 

Paul W. Lowden

Chairman of the Board, President and

ChiefPrincipal Executive Officer

Date: August 13, 2010February 18, 2011

 

39-39-