Las Vegas Sands Reports Third Quarter 2018 Results

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2018
(Compared to the Quarter Ended September 30, 2017)

- Consolidated Net Revenue Increased 6.7% to $3.37 Billion

- Net Income Increased 2.2% to $699 Million

- GAAP Earnings per Diluted Share Increased 1.4% to $0.73; Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share Was $0.77

- Consolidated Adjusted Property EBITDA Increased 6.0% to $1.28 Billion, While Hold-Normalized Adjusted Property EBITDA Increased 7.5% to $1.27 Billion

- In Macao, Adjusted Property EBITDA Increased 15.8% to $754 Million, While Hold-Normalized Adjusted Property EBITDA Increased 17.6% to $754 Million

- At Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, Adjusted Property EBITDA Was $419 Million

- At Our Las Vegas Operating Properties, Adjusted Property EBITDA Was $76 Million, While Hold-Normalized Adjusted Property EBITDA Increased 7.8% to $97 Million

- The Company Paid Quarterly Dividends of $0.75 per Share

- The Company Repurchased $300 Million of Common Stock During the Quarter

- The Company's Board of Directors Announced an $0.08 Increase in the Company's Recurring Common Stock Dividend for the 2019 Calendar Year, its Seventh Consecutive Annual Increase, Raising the Annual Dividend to $3.08 ($0.77 per Share per Quarter)

Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS), the world's leading developer and operator of convention-based Integrated Resorts, today reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

Third Quarter Overview

Mr. Sheldon G. Adelson, chairman and chief executive officer, said, "We are pleased to have delivered strong financial results in the quarter, led by continued growth in every market segment in Macao. Our Integrated Resort property portfolio in Macao delivered adjusted property EBITDA of $754 million, an increase of 15.8% compared to the third quarter of 2017. At Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, our hotel, retail, convention and mass gaming segments all exhibited strength, contributing to $419 million of adjusted property EBITDA for the quarter.

"We also continued to invest in growth initiatives in each of our markets. We remain supremely confident in the future opportunity in Macao, and have therefore elected to meaningfully increase the scale of our investments in the Four Seasons Tower Suites Macao, St. Regis Tower Suites Macao and The Londoner Macao, which will now total $2.2 billion in investment through 2021. We believe our market-leading interconnected Integrated Resort portfolio in Macao, including the additional destination retail, luxurious hotel suite offerings and world class entertainment attractions of the Four Seasons Tower Suites Macao, St. Regis Tower Suites Macao and The Londoner Macao, will provide an ideal platform for growth in Macao in the years ahead.

"In addition, we announced an increase in our annual dividend for the 2019 calendar year to $3.08, or $0.77 per share per quarter, and increased our return of capital through share repurchases of $300 million during the quarter."

The company paid a recurring quarterly dividend of $0.75 per common share during the quarter. The company announced its next quarterly dividend of $0.75 per common share will be paid on December 27, 2018, to Las Vegas Sands shareholders of record on December 18, 2018.

Company-Wide Operating Results

Net revenue for the third quarter of 2018 increased 6.7% to $3.37 billion, compared to $3.16 billion in the third quarter of 2017. Net income increased 2.2% to $699 million in the third quarter of 2018, compared to $684 million in the year-ago quarter.

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the new revenue recognition standard on a full retrospective basis. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's financial condition or net income. All 2017 financial results have been revised to conform to the current presentation.

On a GAAP (accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America) basis, operating income in the third quarter of 2018 increased 7.8% to $922 million, compared to $855 million in the third quarter of 2017. The increase in operating income was primarily due to stronger operating performance in our Macao business due to a 13% increase in revenues, offset by softer Rolling Chip volume in Singapore. Consolidated adjusted property EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) of $1.28 billion increased 6.0% in the third quarter of 2018, compared to the year-ago quarter. On a hold-normalized basis, consolidated adjusted property EBITDA increased 7.5% to $1.27 billion in the third quarter of 2018.

On a GAAP basis, net income attributable to Las Vegas Sands in the third quarter of 2018 increased to $571 million, compared to $569 million in the third quarter of 2017, while diluted earnings per share in the third quarter of 2018 of $0.73 represented an increase of 1.4% compared to the prior-year quarter. The favorable operating factors described above were partially offset by the loss recognized upon the early retirement of debt in connection with the unsecured notes issued by Sands China Ltd. (SCL) and an increase in the net income attributable to noncontrolling interests.

Adjusted net income attributable to Las Vegas Sands (a non-GAAP measure) was $604 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, compared to $606 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2017. Hold-normalized adjusted earnings per diluted share increased 2.7% to $0.75.

Sands China Ltd. Consolidated Financial Results

On a GAAP basis, total net revenues for SCL increased 13% to $2.15 billion in the third quarter of 2018, compared to $1.90 billion in the third quarter of 2017. Net income for SCL increased 13% to $454 million in the third quarter of 2018, compared to $403 million in the third quarter of 2017.

Other Factors Affecting Earnings

Depreciation and amortization expense was $284 million in the third quarter of 2018, compared to $265 million in the third quarter of 2017.

Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized, was $126 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared to $83 million in the prior-year quarter. Our weighted average borrowing cost in the third quarter of 2018 was approximately 4.2%, compared to 3.2% during the third quarter of 2017. We incurred a loss on early retirement of debt of $52 million during the third quarter of 2018. This loss and the increases in interest expense and net weighted average borrowing cost relate to the issuance of unsecured notes by SCL, as further described below.

Other income, which was comprised primarily of foreign currency gains, was $16 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared to other expense of $19 million in the third quarter of 2017.

Our effective income tax rate for the third quarter of 2018 was 10.6% compared to 9.6% in the prior-year quarter. The tax rate for the third quarter of 2018 is primarily driven by a provision for the earnings from Marina Bay Sands at the 17% Singapore income tax rate and a provision for our domestic earnings at the 21% corporate income tax rate based on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Act"). The Act creates complexity that will likely require implementation guidance from the Internal Revenue Service and could impact our tax return filing positions, which may impact the estimates and assumptions utilized in our initial analysis.

The net income attributable to noncontrolling interests during the third quarter of 2018 increased to $128 million and was principally related to SCL.

Balance Sheet Items

Unrestricted cash balances as of September 30, 2018 were $4.77 billion.

As of September 30, 2018, total debt outstanding, including the current portion and net of deferred financing costs and original issue discount, was $11.98 billion.

On August 9, 2018, SCL issued, in a private offering, three series of senior unsecured notes in an aggregate principal amount of $5.50 billion, consisting of $1.80 billion of 4.600% Senior Notes due August 8, 2023, $1.80 billion of 5.125% Senior Notes due August 8, 2025 and $1.90 billion of 5.400% Senior Notes due August 8, 2028. A portion of the net proceeds from the offering was used to repay in full the outstanding borrowings under the 2016 VML Credit Facility.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures during the third quarter totaled $207 million, including construction, development and maintenance activities of $131 million in Macao, $26 million in Las Vegas, $44 million at Marina Bay Sands and $6 million at Sands Bethlehem.

Conference Call Information

The company will host a conference call to discuss the company's results on Wednesday, October 24, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. Interested parties may listen to the conference call through a webcast available on the company's website at www.sands.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond the company's control, which may cause material differences in actual results, performance or other expectations. These factors include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, competition, new development, construction and ventures, substantial leverage and debt service, fluctuations in currency exchange rates and interest rates, government regulation, tax law changes and the impact of U.S. tax reform, legalization of gaming, natural or man-made disasters, terrorist acts or war, outbreaks of infectious diseases, insurance, gaming promoters, risks relating to our gaming licenses, certificate and subconcession, infrastructure in Macao, our subsidiaries' ability to make distribution payments to us, and other factors detailed in the reports filed by Las Vegas Sands Corp. with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. Las Vegas Sands Corp. assumes no obligation to update such information.

About The Company

Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) is the world's pre-eminent developer and operator of world-class Integrated Resorts that feature luxury hotels; best-in-class gaming; retail; dining and entertainment; Meetings, Incentives, Convention and Exhibition (MICE) facilities; and many other leisure and business amenities. We pioneered the MICE-driven Integrated Resort model, a unique, industry-leading and extremely successful concept that serves both the leisure and business tourism markets.

Our properties include The Venetian and The Palazzo resorts and Sands Expo in Las Vegas, Sands Bethlehem in Eastern Pennsylvania, and the iconic Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Through majority ownership in Sands China Ltd., LVS owns a portfolio of properties on the Cotai Strip in Macao, including The Venetian Macao, The Plaza and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Sands Cotai Central and The Parisian Macao, as well as the Sands Macao on the Macao Peninsula.

LVS is dedicated to being a good corporate citizen, anchored by the core tenets of delivering a great working environment for 50,000 team members worldwide, driving impact through its Sands Cares corporate giving program and leading innovation with the company's award-winning Sands ECO360 global sustainability program. To learn more, please visit www.sands.com.

Contacts:

Las Vegas Sands Corp.
Third Quarter 2018 Results
Non-GAAP Measures

Within the company's third quarter 2018 press release, the company makes reference to certain non-GAAP financial measures that supplement the company's consolidated financial information prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") including "adjusted net income," "adjusted earnings per diluted share," and "consolidated adjusted property EBITDA," which have directly comparable GAAP financial measures along with "adjusted property EBITDA margin," "hold-normalized adjusted property EBITDA," "hold-normalized adjusted property EBITDA margin," "hold-normalized adjusted net income," and "hold-normalized adjusted earnings per diluted share." The company believes these measures represent important internal measures of financial performance. Set forth in the financial schedules accompanying this release are reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial measure disclosure by the company has limitations and should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, the financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. The definitions of our non-GAAP financial measures and the specific reasons why the company's management believes the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors regarding the company's financial condition, results of operations and cash flows are presented below.

The following non-GAAP financial measures are used by management, as well as industry analysts, to evaluate the company's operations and operating performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are presented so investors have the same financial data management uses in evaluating financial performance with the belief it will assist the investment community in properly assessing the underlying financial performance of the company on a year-over-year and a quarter sequential basis.

Adjusted net income, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, excludes certain non-recurring corporate expenses, pre-opening expense, development expense, gain or loss on disposal of assets, loss on modification or early retirement of debt and other income or expense, attributable to Las Vegas Sands, net of income tax and an adjustment for a nonrecurring non-cash benefit due to U.S. tax reform enacted in 2017. Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share are presented as supplemental disclosures as management believes they are (1) each widely used measures of performance by industry analysts and investors and (2) a principal basis for valuation of Integrated Resort companies, as these non-GAAP measures are considered by many as alternative measures on which to base expectations for future results. These measures also form the basis of certain internal management performance expectations.

Consolidated adjusted property EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, is net income before stock-based compensation expense, corporate expense, pre-opening expense, development expense, depreciation and amortization, amortization of leasehold interests in land, gain or loss on disposal of assets, interest, other income or expense, gain or loss on modification or early retirement of debt and income taxes. Management utilizes consolidated adjusted property EBITDA to compare the operating profitability of its operations with those of its competitors, as well as a basis for determining certain incentive compensation. Integrated Resort companies have historically reported adjusted property EBITDA as a supplemental performance measure to GAAP financial measures. In order to view the operations of their casinos on a more stand-alone basis, Integrated Resort companies, including Las Vegas Sands, have historically excluded certain expenses that do not relate to the management of specific properties, such as pre-opening expense, development expense and corporate expense, from their adjusted property EBITDA calculations. Consolidated adjusted property EBITDA should not be interpreted as an alternative to income from operations (as an indicator of operating performance) or to cash flows from operations (as a measure of liquidity), in each case, as determined in accordance with GAAP. The company has significant uses of cash flow, including capital expenditures, dividend payments, interest payments, debt principal payments and income tax payments, which are not reflected in consolidated adjusted property EBITDA. Not all companies calculate adjusted property EBITDA in the same manner. As a result, consolidated adjusted property EBITDA as presented by Las Vegas Sands may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.

Hold-normalized adjusted property EBITDA, a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure, that, in addition to the aforementioned reasons for the presentation of consolidated adjusted property EBITDA, is presented to adjust for the impact of certain variances in table games' win percentages, which can vary from period to period. Hold-normalized adjusted property EBITDA is based on applying a Rolling Chip win percentage of 3.15% to the Rolling Chip volume for the quarter if the actual win percentage is outside the expected range of 3.0% to 3.3% for our Macao properties, applying a Rolling Chip win percentage of 2.85% to the Rolling Chip volume for the quarter if the actual win percentage is outside the expected range of 2.7% to 3.0% for our Singapore property, and applying a win percentage of 22.0% for Baccarat and 20.0% for non-Baccarat games to the respective table games drops for the quarter if the actual win percentages are outside the expected ranges of 18.0% to 26.0% for Baccarat and 16.0% to 24.0% for non-Baccarat at our Las Vegas properties. No hold adjustments are made for Sands Bethlehem. We do not present adjustments for Non-Rolling Chip drop for our table games play at our Macao and Singapore properties, nor for slots at any of our properties. Hold-normalized adjusted property EBITDA is also adjusted for the estimated gaming taxes, commissions paid to third parties on the incremental win, bad debt expense, discounts and other incentives that would have been incurred when applying the win percentages noted above to the respective gaming volumes. The hold-normalized adjusted property EBITDA measure presents a consistent measure for evaluating the operating performance of our properties from period to period.

Hold-normalized adjusted net income and hold-normalized adjusted earnings per diluted share are additional supplemental non-GAAP financial measures that, in addition to the aforementioned reasons for the presentation of adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share, are presented to adjust for the impact of certain variances in table games' win percentages, which can vary from period to period.

The company may also present the above items on a constant currency basis. This information is a non-GAAP financial measure that is calculated by translating current quarter local currency amounts to U.S. dollars based on prior period exchange rates. These amounts are compared to the prior period to derive non-GAAP constant-currency growth/decline. Management considers non-GAAP constant-currency growth/decline to be a useful metric to investors and management as it allows a more direct comparison of current performance to historical performance.

The company also makes reference to adjusted property EBITDA margin and hold-normalized adjusted property EBITDA margin, which are calculated using the aforementioned non-GAAP financial measures.