Exhibit 99.1
Contacts:
Judith Wilkinson / Eric Brielmann
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
212.355.4449
MORGANS HOTEL GROUP CO. REPORTS
THIRD QUARTER 2006 RESULTS
-Strong RevPAR Growth-
- -Significant EBITDA and Margin Growth-
NEW YORK, NY — November 7, 2006 — Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC) (“MHG”) today reported financial results for the third quarter 2006.
For the third quarter 2006, revenue per available room (RevPAR) for system-wide comparable hotels (excluding hotels under renovation) increased by 14.4% from the third quarter 2005. The increase was driven by growth in both average daily rate (ADR) and occupancy. ADR rose by 8.1% to $293.22 and occupancy grew by 5.9% to 81.6% for the third quarter. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA) increased by 7.2% to $18.0 million from the prior year period. Excluding the results of the Delano and the Mondrian Scottsdale, both of which were under renovation during the quarter, Adjusted EBITDA rose by 16.5%.
“Our strong third quarter operating results reflect the continued strength of our markets and our brands,” said Ed Scheetz, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We generated double digit RevPAR growth for our comparable hotels with increases in both ADR and occupancy, and improved our hotel operating margins by 150 basis points. We continue to be pleased with the performance of our individual properties and expect that our solid operating results will continue given the strength of our core business.”
“Through our recent debt refinancing, we have achieved greater financial flexibility and have established a strong financial platform to support our growth plan. We continue to be optimistic about our growth prospects, which include the launch of the rebranded Mondrian Scottsdale and the closing of the Hard Rock transaction, both expected to occur by early next year, the expansion of Delano and Mondrian South Beach, both projected to open in 2008, and the opening of the Delano and Mondrian in Las Vegas which are planned for 2010. Additionally, we expect to have the majority of the Delano’s rooms completely renovated by the start of this upcoming winter season and are planning renovations of other existing hotels.”
“We continue to be excited by the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino acquisition. As we have consistently said, the Hard Rock is a great strategic fit for us and we are pleased to have an immediate presence in one of the largest and fastest growing hotel markets in the world.
Importantly, today we are announcing that we entered into a definitive agreement with DLJ Merchant Banking Partners, under which DLJMB has agreed to invest up to $250 million in total equity in connection with the acquisition of the Hard Rock and related assets. Entering into an agreement with an equity partner has been a top priority for us in anticipation of our closing this transaction, and we are extremely pleased to have reached this agreement. We have also finalized a definitive lease agreement with Golden Gaming to be our casino operator. Upon closing, we will rapidly move to integrate the Hard Rock into our portfolio of brands and properties.”
Third Quarter Operating Results
RevPAR for system-wide comparable hotels (excluding hotels under renovation) was $239.27, an increase of 14.4% (13.4% using constant dollars) for the third quarter 2006, driven by both ADR and occupancy growth. All of the Company’s hotels achieved higher ADR; the Company’s London and New York hotels also generated higher occupancies. The increase in RevPAR was driven by strong performances by the Company’s London, New York and San Francisco hotels. RevPAR at MHG’s two London hotels increased by 37.8% (31.3% using constant dollars) reflecting strong demand and low supply growth. In addition, the comparison to the 2005 third quarter is affected by the terrorist bombings in July 2005 and a terrorist warning in August 2006. RevPAR for the Company’s New York hotels rose by 11.7% reflecting strong corporate and leisure demand and low supply. The Clift in San Francisco benefited from citywide conventions to post an 8.6% RevPAR increase. Operating margins at system-wide comparable hotels increased by 150 basis points as compared to the third quarter 2005, reflecting the strong increases in RevPAR and ADR.
The Company recorded a net loss of $0.7 million for the third quarter of 2006, compared to a net loss of $6.6 million in the third quarter of 2005. Interest expense decreased by $2.7 million for the third quarter 2006 reflecting the Company’s reduced leverage since its initial public offering in February 2006.
Balance Sheet and Financing
As of September 30, 2006, adjusted debt was $576.4 million. Cash and cash equivalents were $30.0 million, and cash reserves were $32.2 million. The Company also has $50.0 million in escrow for the purchase of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, which represents approximately one-third of the equity requirement of the acquisition, and $11.5 million in deferred fees for a financing commitment on a $700.0 million credit facility to fund the acquisition. The Company’s weighted average debt maturity is six years and its weighted average interest rate was 6.1%. The Company has no outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility. On October 6, 2006, the Company refinanced the majority of its mortgage debt and its term loan with $370.0 million of new mortgage debt and increased its borrowing capacity by $100.0 million to $225.0 million under a new revolving credit facility. With this action, the Company has increased its financial flexibility, lowered its debt costs, and reduced its encumbered assets.
On August 4, 2006, a newly established trust subsidiary of the Company issued $50.0 million of trust preferred securities in a private placement. The securities have a 30 year maturity and are redeemable by the Company after five years at par. The securities bear interest at a fixed rate of 8.68% until October 2016 and thereafter will bear interest at a floating rate based on LIBOR plus
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3.25%. MHG used the majority of the proceeds to fund the Mondrian South Beach acquisition and to repay the outstanding balance under the Company’s revolving credit facility.
The Company’s strong cash flow and existing cash and cash reserves should be sufficient to fund its working capital needs and renovation plans. MHG intends to finance future acquisitions with equity partners and non-recourse mortgage debt. Furthermore, the Company plans to fund its equity component in new acquisitions with cash flow from operations, proceeds from the Company’s recent issuance of trust preferred securities and borrowings under its revolving credit line. Consistent with the Company’s capital investment strategy, MHG may consider accessing the significant equity in its existing hotels to finance further growth.
Development Activity
In August 2006, the Company entered into a 50/50 joint venture agreement with an affiliate of Hudson Capital, a leading condominium company that develops landmark high-rise residences, to purchase and renovate an apartment building on Biscayne Bay in South Beach, Miami, into a hotel to be operated under MHG’s Mondrian brand. The new luxury hotel is the fourth announced Mondrian, including Los Angeles, Scottsdale, and a property under development in Las Vegas, and will be operated by MHG under a long-term incentive management contract. Under the terms of the agreement, the joint venture acquired the existing building and land for a gross purchase price of $110.0 million and expects to spend approximately $60.0 million on renovations. The joint venture required an initial equity investment of $15.0 million from each of MHG and Hudson Capital and will receive financing of $124.0 million at a rate of LIBOR plus 300 basis points.
In May 2006, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, an adjacent 23 acre land parcel and the rights to use the Hard Rock name in certain locations for $770.0 million. The transaction is subject to applicable regulatory approvals and other conditions and is expected to close by early next year. Separately, the Company is announcing that it has entered into a definitive agreement with DLJ Merchant Banking Partners, under which DLJMB has agreed to invest up to $250 million in total equity in connection with the acquisition of the Hard Rock and related assets. Closing of the joint venture with DLJMB is subject to various conditions including obtaining necessary gaming approvals and financing, and is further subject to certain termination rights including if adequate financing is not arranged on terms that are acceptable to DLJMB.
On November 6, 2006, the Company executed a definitive lease agreement with an affiliate of Golden Gaming, Inc., a major gaming enterprise in Nevada whose principals have extensive experience in casino management. The Golden Gaming affiliate will operate the casino pursuant to the terms of the lease. The lease has a term of up to two years and will commence immediately upon the closing of the Hard Rock acquisition. The commencement of the lease is subject to customary conditions, including obtaining necessary gaming approvals.
Guidance For 2006
The statements below represent the Company’s outlook for its business for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006. The guidance is based upon the Company’s expectations for continued
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improvement in the U.S. economy, moderate supply growth, further rate improvement in the luxury lodging and consumer service sectors, and planned expense increases.
The Company expects its comparable hotel results to be consistent with its previously issued guidance. For the Mondrian Scottsdale, which is a new hotel in 2006 and not considered a comparable hotel, the Company expects EBITDA to be below its prior forecast as it has elected to temporarily close the majority of the hotel’s food and beverage operations in order to facilitate the renovation and minimize disruption to guests. As a result of the temporary impact from Scottsdale, the Company expects to achieve the lower end of its previously announced range of guidance for the year. MHG plans to be operating the Mondrian Scottsdale at full capacity beginning in January 2007.
2006 Guidance: | | | |
RevPAR Growth: | 8.0% to 10.0% | |
Total Revenues: | $280 million to $290 million | |
Adjusted EBITDA: | $85 million to $90 million | |
| | | | | |
Adjusted EBITDA for 2006 excludes non-cash stock compensation expense which is estimated to be approximately $7.5 million in 2006.
The Company anticipates renovation spending at the Delano and Mondrian Scottsdale to be approximately $15.0 to $17.0 million and maintenance capital expenditures to be approximately $10.0 to $12.0 million in 2006. All of these expenditures will be funded from existing cash and cash reserves, and so will not affect the Company’s free cash flow.
Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call to discuss the third quarter financial results today at 5:00 PM Eastern time.
The call will be webcast live over the Internet at www.morganshotelgroup.com under the About Us, Investor Overview section. Participants should follow the instructions provided on the website for the download and installation of audio applications necessary to join the webcast.
The call can also be accessed live over the phone by dialing 800-811-8830 or 913-981-4904 for international callers. A replay of the call will be available two hours after the call and can be accessed by dialing 888-203-1112 or 719-457-0820 for international callers; the password is 7759497. The replay will be available from November 7, 2006 through November 14, 2006.
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Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as the term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “expects,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “believes,” “guidance,” and similar expressions that do not relate to historical matters. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which can cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated, due to a number of factors which include, but are not limited to, downturns in economic and market conditions, particularly levels of spending in the business, travel and leisure industries; hostilities, including future terrorist attacks, or fear of hostilities that affect travel; risks related to natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes; the completion of transactions, including the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino acquisition, the joint venture with DLJ Merchant Banking Partners, and the obtaining of all required financing in connection with such transactions, and the integration of properties with our existing business; the seasonal nature of the hospitality business; changes in the tastes of our customers; increases in real property tax rates; increases in interest rates and operating costs; general volatility of the capital markets and our ability to access the capital markets; and changes in the competitive environment in our industry and the markets where we invest, and other risk factors discussed in Morgans Hotel Group Co.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of today, based upon information known to management as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligations to update or revise any of its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes show that indicated results or events will not be realized.
About Morgans Hotel Group
Morgans Hotel Group Co. (Nasdaq: MHGC), which is widely credited with establishing and developing the rapidly expanding boutique hotel sector, owns and operates Morgans, Royalton and Hudson in New York, Delano and The Shore Club in Miami, Mondrian in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Clift in San Francisco, and Sanderson and St Martins Lane in London. MHG has other property transactions in various stages of completion including projects in Miami Beach, Florida, and Las Vegas, Nevada, and continues to vigorously pursue its strategy of developing unique properties at various price points in international gateway cities in the United States, Europe, South America, Asia and around the world. For more information, please visit www.morganshotelgroup.com.
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EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
We believe that earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) is a useful financial metric to assess our operating performance before the impact of investing and financing transactions and income taxes. It also facilitates comparison between us and our competitors. Given the significant investments that we have made in the past in property, plant and equipment, depreciation and amortization expense comprises a meaningful portion of our cost structure. We believe that EBITDA will provide investors with a useful tool for assessing the comparability between periods because it eliminates depreciation and amortization expense attributable to capital expenditures.
We disclose Adjusted EBITDA because we believe it provides a meaningful comparison to our EBITDA as it excludes other non-operating (income) expenses that do not relate to the on-going performance of our assets and excludes the operating performance of assets in which we do not have a fee simple ownership interest.
The use of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA has certain limitations. Our presentation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may be different from the presentation used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. Depreciation expense for various long-term assets, interest expense, income taxes and other items have been and will be incurred and are not reflected in the presentation of EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA. Each of these items should also be considered in the overall evaluation of our results. Additionally, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not consider capital expenditures and other investing activities and should not be considered as a measure of our liquidity. We compensate for these limitations by providing the relevant disclosure of our depreciation, interest and income tax expense, capital expenditures and other items both in our reconciliations to the GAAP financial measures and in our consolidated financial statements, all of which should be considered when evaluating our performance. The term EBITDA is not defined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP, and EBITDA is not a measure of net income, operating income, operating performance or liquidity presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In addition, EBITDA is impacted by reorganization of businesses and other restructuring-related charges. When assessing our operating performance, you should not consider this data in isolation, or as a substitute for, our net income, operating income or any other operating performance measure that is calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In addition, our EBITDA may not be comparable to EBITDA or similarly titled measures utilized by other companies since such other companies may not calculate EBITDA in the same manner as we do.
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A reconciliation of net income (loss) and operating income (loss), the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures, to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for each of the respective periods indicated is as follows:
EBITDA Reconciliation
| | 3rd Qtr | | Year to date | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 | | 2005 | |
Net income (loss) | | (762 | ) | (6,581 | ) | (13,166 | ) | (29,145 | ) |
Interest expense, net | | 12,584 | | 15,301 | | 35,537 | | 59,458 | |
Income tax expense | | (760 | ) | 172 | | 12,064 | | 574 | |
Depreciation and amortization expense | | 4,563 | | 6,749 | | 15,323 | | 20,295 | |
Proportionate share of interest expense | | | | | | | | | |
from unconsolidated joint ventures | | 516 | | 2,245 | | 3,813 | | 6,478 | |
Proportionate share of depreciation expense | | | | | | | | | |
from unconsolidated joint ventures | | 1,157 | | 1,291 | | 3,598 | | 4,785 | |
Proportionate share of depreciation expense | | | | | | | | | |
of consolidated joint ventures | | (115 | ) | (123 | ) | (369 | ) | (367 | ) |
EBITDA | | 17,183 | | 19,054 | | 56,800 | | 62,078 | |
Add : Other non-operating (income) loss | | 299 | | (432 | ) | 653 | | (1,298 | ) |
Less : Clift | | (1,647 | ) | (1,854 | ) | (3,887 | ) | (3,819 | ) |
Add : Stock based compensation | | 2,134 | | — | | 5,294 | | — | |
Adjusted EBITDA | | 17,969 | | 16,768 | | 58,860 | | 56,961 | |
Reconciliation of Operating Income to Adjusted EBITDA
| | 3rd Qtr | | Year to date | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 | | 2005 | |
Operating Income | | 10,334 | | 10,809 | | 36,774 | | 37,296 | |
Depreciation | | 4,563 | | 6,749 | | 15,323 | | 20,295 | |
EBITDA from joint ventures | | 3,294 | | 2,008 | | 8,904 | | 6,694 | |
Minority interest | | (709 | ) | (944 | ) | (3,548 | ) | (3,505 | ) |
Other non-operating income (loss) | | (299 | ) | 432 | | (653 | ) | 1,298 | |
EBITDA | | 17,183 | | 19,054 | | 56,800 | | 62,078 | |
Add : Other non-operating (income) loss | | 299 | | (432 | ) | 653 | | (1,298 | ) |
Less : Clift | | (1,647 | ) | (1,854 | ) | (3,887 | ) | (3,819 | ) |
Add : Stock based compensation | | 2,134 | | 0 | | 5,294 | | 0 | |
Adjusted EBITDA | | 17,969 | | 16,768 | | 58,860 | | 56,961 | |
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Room Revenue Analysis
| | 3rd Qtr | | % | | Year to date | | % | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | Change | | 2006 | | 2005 | | Change | |
Morgans | | 2,577 | | 2,385 | | 8 | % | 7,532 | | 7,045 | | 7 | % |
Royalton | | 4,286 | | 3,886 | | 10 | % | 12,624 | | 11,607 | | 9 | % |
Hudson | | 16,818 | | 14,873 | | 13 | % | 46,082 | | 42,220 | | 9 | % |
Mondrian LA | | 5,544 | | 5,469 | | 1 | % | 16,748 | | 16,046 | | 4 | % |
Clift | | 6,266 | | 5,770 | | 9 | % | 16,509 | | 15,125 | | 9 | % |
Total Owned Comparable | | 35,491 | | 32,383 | | 10 | % | 99,495 | | 92,043 | | 8 | % |
Delano | | 3,550 | | 4,184 | | -15 | % | 18,452 | | 18,811 | | -2 | % |
Mondrian Scottsdale | | 1,040 | | 0 | | | | 2,005 | | — | | | |
Total Owned | | 40,081 | | 36,567 | | 10 | % | 119,952 | | 110,854 | | 8 | % |
Hotel Revenue Analysis
| | 3rd Qtr | | % | | Year to date | | % | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | Change | | 2006 | | 2005 | | Change | |
Morgans | | 5,243 | | 5,105 | | 3 | % | 15,686 | | 15,389 | | 2 | % |
Royalton | | 5,566 | | 5,006 | | 11 | % | 16,623 | | 15,350 | | 8 | % |
Hudson | | 21,689 | | 19,637 | | 10 | % | 60,098 | | 56,173 | | 7 | % |
Mondrian LA | | 11,718 | | 11,582 | | 1 | % | 33,906 | | 33,129 | | 2 | % |
Clift | | 9,953 | | 9,254 | | 8 | % | 27,373 | | 25,394 | | 8 | % |
Total Owned Comparable | | 54,169 | | 50,584 | | 7 | % | 153,686 | | 145,435 | | 6 | % |
Delano | | 7,986 | | 9,317 | | -14 | % | 37,628 | | 38,014 | | -1 | % |
Mondrian Scottsdale | | 1,831 | | — | | | | 3,618 | | — | | | |
Total Owned | | 63,986 | | 59,901 | | 7 | % | 194,932 | | 183,449 | | 6 | % |
EBITDA Analysis
| | 3rd Qtr | | % | | Year to date | | % | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | Change | | 2006 | | 2005 | | Change | |
Morgans | | 1,107 | | 1,013 | | 9 | % | 3,317 | | 3,130 | | 6 | % |
Royalton | | 1,561 | | 1,210 | | 29 | % | 4,395 | | 4,113 | | 7 | % |
Hudson | | 9,332 | | 8,200 | | 14 | % | 24,529 | | 22,626 | | 8 | % |
Mondrian | | 4,519 | | 4,472 | | 1 | % | 13,024 | | 12,551 | | 4 | % |
Clift | | 1,647 | | 1,854 | | -11 | % | 3,887 | | 3,819 | | 2 | % |
Total Owned Comparable | | 18,166 | | 16,749 | | 8 | % | 49,152 | | 46,239 | | 6 | % |
St Martins Lane | | 1,803 | | 1,070 | | 69 | % | 4,903 | | 3,735 | | 31 | % |
Sanderson | | 1,442 | | 878 | | 64 | % | 3,441 | | 2,365 | | 45 | % |
Shore Club | | 49 | | 60 | | -18 | % | 560 | | 594 | | -6 | % |
Total Joint Venture | | 3,294 | | 2,008 | | 64 | % | 8,904 | | 6,694 | | 33 | % |
Total Comparable Hotels | | 21,460 | | 18,757 | | 14 | % | 58,056 | | 52,933 | | 10 | % |
Delano | | 1,329 | | 2,010 | | -34 | % | 13,173 | | 13,427 | | -2 | % |
Mondrian Scottsdale | | (560 | ) | 0 | | | | (889 | ) | 0 | | | |
Hotels Under Renovation | | 769 | | 2,010 | | | | 12,284 | | 13,427 | | | |
Management Fees | | 1,974 | | 1,977 | | 0 | % | 6,345 | | 6,798 | | -7 | % |
Corporate Expenses | | (6,721 | ) | (4,122 | ) | 63 | % | (19,232 | ) | (12,378 | ) | 55 | % |
Other non-operating (income) loss | | (299 | ) | 432 | | -169 | % | (653 | ) | 1,298 | | -150 | % |
EBITDA | | 17,183 | | 19,054 | | -10 | % | 56,800 | | 62,078 | | -9 | % |
Add : Other non-operating (income) loss | | 299 | | (432 | ) | -169 | % | 653 | | (1,298 | ) | -150 | % |
Less : Clift | | (1,647 | ) | (1,854 | ) | -11 | % | (3,887 | ) | (3,819 | ) | 2 | % |
Add : Stock Based Compensation | | 2,134 | | — | | | | 5,294 | | — | | | |
Adjusted EBITDA | | 17,969 | | 16,768 | | 7 | % | 58,860 | | 56,961 | | 3 | % |
Adjusted EBITDA excl. hotels in renovation | | 17,200 | | 14,758 | | 17 | % | 46,576 | | 43,534 | | 7 | % |
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