Due to the magnified impact on MPEL's bottom line of low hold given its junket mix, MPEL may disppoint whisper EBITDA expectations of $145 million. However, volumes were strong. Here is what they said last Q.
YOUTUBE FROM Q4 EARNINGS RELEASE AND CALL
- “We will have some incremental expense associated with new amenities such as Cubic...and the full impact of our labor rate increase, which took place in the middle of the fourth quarter. But net-net, we think we can keep a very tight lid on expenses and FTE increase in 2011.”
- “We also opened two new junket rooms at City of Dreams.”
- 1Q11 guidance:
- “Depreciation and amortization costs is expected to be approximately US$85 million...
- Corporate expense is expected to come in at US$17 million to US$18 million...
- Net interest expense is expected to be approximately US$28 million...
- We do not expect any meaningful pre-opening or capitalized interest in the first quarter of 2011.”
- “Our first quarter results are off to a good start. We experienced a strong Chinese New Year holiday period, with visitation and gaming volumes well in excess of last year’s results.”
- “Our marketing grip has generated significant results through its destinational sales strategy, building relationships with travel trade operators throughout China, and the APAC region, as they continue their 20-city roadshow tour in the first half of 2011.”
- “We believe the introduction of another integrated resort on Cotai will benefit City of Dreams.”
- “We expect to continue to reduce our debt balance in 2011 through scheduled amortization payments and cash flow from operations.”
- “I think usually after Chinese New Year, which is 15 days after the first day of Chinese New Year, we tend to expect much slower volumes in Macau.”
- “For the full year of calendar 2011, we’re expecting about US$60 million of total CapEx, the vast majority of that will be growth rather than maintenance.”
- “In terms of the overall representation from the premium direct, the business represents about 15% to 20% during fourth quarter. And basically, Altira is a junket play.”
- “I think in the last quarter (3Q), and currently, we stick with the commission cap low 1.25% to the junkets and also we count religiously a significant type idea whereby our revenue share more though in junket and COD stick with the same level of our neighbors. So we didn’t see any changes in terms of rebate to the market in the last couple of months.”
- “We haven’t seen any need to change our overall provisioning policy and we’ll continue to follow our existing policy. At this point, we think we’re in good shape as far as our reserve and adequately reserved in light of our business volumes.”
- “It is very clear that tourism promotion and also the fact that China is trying to move into a consumption spending economy is definitely the case, and therefore that benefits Macau and tourism sectors in general. So all in all, we are not concerned about these tightening measures. But with regard to the banking system, I think it provides a solid platform for the Chinese economy to continue to grow at a steady pace for years to come.”
- [Altira growth] “I think it is a combination of both visitation numbers as well as our growing number of membership, and the reason is quite mixed in terms of the growth story. But we did a lot of looking to the opportunity in a lot of direct marketing and also in different tier of the alignment with the customer with the different tiers of customer, including premium mass and mass. I would think that that our premium mass is doing a little bit better than the mass, purely because we put a lot of effort in looking to opportunity going forward to in terms of direct marketing.”
- “That additional hotel tower together with the podium is a 1.5 million square feet development. So, when we do build it, it’s going to be a significant addition to City of Dreams, not just on the hotel inventory side, but also in addition on the overall proposition being subject to regular government’s approval on additional gaming space or retail restaurant proposition.”
- “We still have a management contract for Macau Studio City, and we continue to have discussions with the partners of Macau Studio City to hopefully have that project start in one way or the other.”
- [Cubic opening] “I think we are looking at a end of first quarter, early second quarter date."
- “Hard Rock Cafe is certainly a lease that we have with a licensee from Hard Rock International. They plan to start construction within the next month or so and are currently planning a September or Q4 opening for the cafe.”
