Approximately $73 million of rated debt affected
New York, April 23, 2012 -- Moody's Investors Service downgraded Riviera Holdings Corporation's
("Riviera") ratings and placed the company's ratings on review for
further possible downgrade. Riviera's Corporate Family Rating
("CFR") was downgraded to Caa1 from B3, its series A
term loan and revolver to B3 from B2, and its Series B term loan
to Caa3 from Caa2. Moody's also revised Riviera's Speculative
Grade Liquidity rating to SGL-3 from SGL-2. The ratings
are on review for further possible downgrade.
The downgrade reflects the year over year approximate $2.5
million EBITDA decline at Riviera Las Vegas' property between fiscal
fourth quarter 2011 and the prior year, along with the fact that
the property reported negative EBITDA of about $8 million for fiscal
2011. Although the company's Black Hawk Colorado property
reported positive EBITDA for fiscal 2011 of $9.7 million,
Riviera announced that it had entered into an agreement to sell the Riviera
Black Hawk to Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. for $76
million. Since Monarch obtained its Colorado gaming license on
April 19, 2012, the sale is expected to close by the end of
April 2012.
The review for possible downgrade reflects Moody's view that Riviera
may choose not to use all of the proceeds from the sale of the Black Hawk
Riviera to repay all of its outstanding debt. Although Riviera's
credit agreements require all net proceeds from the Black Hawk sale to
be used repay debt, there is a chance the company and its lenders
may agree to amend this provision. If that happens, the ratings
would likely be downgraded reflecting Moody's view that operating
results of the Riviera Las Vegas will not rebound quickly thereby forcing
the company to draw on cash reserves to support operations.
Moody's current expectation is that Riviera will complete the sale
of the Riviera Black Hawk. However, failure to complete transaction
for any reason would also likely result in a downgrade given Moody's
opinion that the company in its current form can not meet its debt service
obligations without a material improvement in EBITDA.
The review for further possible downgrade will focus on how much of the
cash proceeds from the Riviera Black Hawk sale Riviera uses to repay debt.
Ratings would likely be downgraded if the transaction closes and Riviera
does not fully repay its debt. The review will also focus on Riviera's
turn-around plan for the Las Vegas casino.
Ratings downgraded and placed on review for further possible downgrade:
Corporate Family Rating to Caa1 from B3
Probability of Default Rating to Caa1 from B3
First Lien Series A $10 million revolver due 4/2016 to B3 (LGD
3, 35%) from B2 (LGD 3, 35%)
First Lien Series A $50 million term loan due 4/2016 to B3 (LGD
3, 35%) from B2 (LGD 3, 35%)
Second Lien Series B $23 million term loan due 4/2016 to Caa3 (LGD
5, 85%) from Caa2 (LGD 5, 85%)
RATINGS RATIONALE
Riviera's Caa1 CFR reflects the company's small size in terms
of revenue and EBITDA, reliance on the loss generating Riviera Las
Vegas once the sale of the Riviera Black Hawk closes and the challenges
Riviera faces in turning around the operations at its Las Vegas property.
While the Las Vegas Strip's recovery is gaining traction,
primarily through improved hotel occupancy, the Riviera Las Vegas'
EBITDA has not yet benefited from these trends. Riviera's lack
of diversification makes it more vulnerable to regional economic swings,
market conditions, promotional activity, and earnings compression.
The principal methodology used in rating Riviera Holdings Corporation
was the Global Gaming Industry Methodology published in December 2009.
Other methodologies used include Loss Given Default for Speculative-Grade
Non-Financial Companies in the U.S., Canada
and EMEA published in June 2009. Please see the Credit Policy page
on www.moodys.com for a copy of these methodologies.
Riviera Holdings Corporation owns and operates the Riviera Hotel and Casino
in Las Vegas and the Riviera Black Hawk casino in Colorado. The
company generates approximately $120 million in net revenues annually.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
The Global Scale Credit Ratings on this press release that are issued
by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU are endorsed by Moody's
Investors Service Ltd., One Canada Square, Canary Wharf,
London E 14 5FA, UK, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph
3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies.
Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's
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Peggy Holloway
VP - Senior Credit Officer
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Kendra M. Smith
MD - Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Moody's lowers Riviera Holding's CFR to Caa1; further downgrade possible