FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read in connection with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this quarterly report. Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017. Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017, except for the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“New Revenue Standard”) on January 1, 2018 under the modified retrospective method. Amounts for the periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018 are presented under the New Revenue Standard, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the previous basis. The historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected in the future. Certain statements in this “Financial Condition and Results of Operations” are forward-looking statements.
Results of Operations
Studio City is a large-scale cinematically-themed integrated entertainment, retail and gaming resort which opened in October 2015. During the third quarter of 2018, Studio City Casino had approximately 288 gaming tables and approximately 938 gaming machines operating. The gaming operations of Studio City are focused on the mass market and target all ranges of mass market patrons. While Studio City focuses on the mass market segment for gaming, VIP rolling chip operations, including both junket and premium direct VIP offerings, were introduced at Studio City in early November 2016 and a VIP rolling chip area has been built at Studio City with 45 VIP tables as of September 30, 2018. Revenues from provision of gaming related services in relation to the Studio City Casino VIP gaming operations amounted to US$12.3 million in the third quarter of 2018, compared with US$16.8 million in the third quarter of 2017, representing a decrease of 27%. There is no assurance that VIP tables will continue to be operated at the Studio City Casino beyond November 2019.
Studio City also includes luxury hotel offerings and various entertainment, retail and food and beverage outlets to attract a diverse range of customers. Designed to focus on the mass market segment, Studio City offers cinematically-themed, unique and innovative interactive attractions, including the world’s firstfigure-8 and Asia’s highest Ferris wheel, a Warner Bros.-themed family entertainment center, a Batman film franchise digital ride, a 5,000 seat multi-purpose live performance arena and a nightclub, as well as approximately 1,600 hotel rooms, various food and beverage outlets and approximately 35,000 square meters (equivalent to approximately 377,000 square feet) of themed and innovative retail space.
Studio City Casino is operated by the Gaming Operator, one of the subsidiaries of Melco and holder of a gaming subconcession, and we operate thenon-gaming businesses of Studio City. Studio City will assess and evaluate its focus on different market segments from time to time and will adjust its operations as appropriate.
Studio City sits within a ring-fenced credit group separate from its shareholders and Studio City’s debt obligations are not guaranteed by its shareholders. In particular, Melco is not a guarantor under the 2021 Studio City Senior Secured Credit Facility, the Studio City Finance Notes or the Studio City Company Notes. As such, SCI and its shareholders are not contractually required to provide any additional financial support to Studio City with respect to the Studio City debt obligations.
Under our current plan for the remaining project, the remaining project is expected to consist of two hotel towers with a total of approximately 940 rooms and a gaming area of approximately 2,000 square meters. In addition, we currently envision the remaining project to also contain a waterpark with approximately 10,000 square meters indoors and approximately 2,000 square meters outdoors. Othernon-gaming attractions expected to be part of the remaining project include MICE space, retail and food and beverage outlets and a cineplex. Based on our current plan for the remaining project, we currently expect a project budget of approximately US$1.35 billion to US$1.40 billion for the development of the remaining project (exclusive of anypre-opening costs) and a construction period of approximately 32 months.
In February 2018, we announced that the Macau government granted an extension of the development period under the Studio City land concession contract. Pursuant to such extension, the development period for the land of Studio City has been extended to July 24, 2021. If we fail to fully develop our remaining project under the land concession contract by July 24, 2021, or receive a further extension of the development period from the Macau government, we may be forced to forfeit all or part of our investment in the granted land, along with our interest in Studio City.
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