UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
For the quarterly period ended January 31, 2011
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-09614
Vail Resorts, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
390 Interlocken Crescent
Broomfield, Colorado
(303) 404-1800
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. x Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). x Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ¨ Yes x No
As of March 3, 2011, 36,006,632 shares of the registrant’s common stock were outstanding.
Table of Contents
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of January 31, 2011, July 31, 2010 and January 31, 2010
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended January 31, 2011 and 2010
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations for the Six Months Ended January 31, 2011 and 2010
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended January 31, 2011 and 2010
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
F-1
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Trade receivables, net
Inventories, net
Other current assets
Total current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net (Note 6)
Real estate held for sale and investment
Goodwill, net (Note 6)
Intangible assets, net
Other assets
Total assets
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Note 6)
Income taxes payable
Long-term debt due within one year (Note 4)
Total current liabilities
Long-term debt (Note 4)
Other long-term liabilities (Note 6)
Deferred income taxes
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest (Note 2)
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 40,270,021 (unaudited), 40,173,891 and 40,125,318 (unaudited) shares issued, respectively
Additional paid-in capital
Retained earnings
Treasury stock, at cost; 4,264,804 (unaudited), 4,264,804 and 3,878,535 (unaudited) shares, respectively (Note 11)
Total Vail Resorts, Inc. stockholders’ equity
Noncontrolling interests
Total stockholders’ equity (Note 2)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.
F-2
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Net revenue:
Mountain
Lodging
Real estate
Total net revenue
Segment operating expense (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below):
Total segment operating expense
Other operating (expense) income:
Depreciation and amortization
(Loss) gain on disposal of fixed assets, net
Income from operations
Mountain equity investment income, net
Investment income
Interest expense, net
Income before provision for income taxes
Provision for income taxes
Net income
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
Per share amounts (Note 3):
Basic net income per share attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
Diluted net income per share attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
F-3
Gain on sale of real property
Loss on disposal of fixed assets, net
Income before (provision) benefit for income taxes
(Provision) benefit for income taxes
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
F-4
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Cost of real estate sales
Stock-based compensation expense
Deferred income taxes, net
Other non-cash income, net
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investments in real estate
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Deferred real estate deposits
Other assets and liabilities, net
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures
Acquisition of business
Cash received from sale of real property
Other investing activities, net
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings under long-term debt
Payments of long-term debt
Other financing activities, net
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period
End of period
F-5
Vail Resorts, Inc. (“Vail Resorts” or the “Parent Company”) is organized as a holding company and operates through various subsidiaries. Vail Resorts and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) currently operate in three business segments: Mountain, Lodging and Real Estate. In the Mountain segment, the Company operates the six world-class ski resort properties of Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone and Beaver Creek mountain resorts in Colorado and Heavenly and Northstar-at-Tahoe mountain resorts in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, as well as ancillary services, primarily including ski school, dining and retail/rental operations. These resorts (with the exception of Northstar-at-Tahoe) operate primarily on Federal land under the terms of Special Use Permits granted by the USDA Forest Service (the “Forest Service”). In the Lodging segment, the Company owns and/or manages a collection of luxury hotels under its RockResorts brand, as well as other strategic lodging properties and a large number of condominiums located in proximity to the Company’s ski resorts, the Grand Teton Lodge Company (“GTLC”), which operates three destination resorts at Grand Teton National Park (under a National Park Service concessionaire contract), Colorado Mountain Express (“CME”), a resort ground transportation company, and golf courses. Vail Resorts Development Company (“VRDC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary, conducts the operations of the Company’s Real Estate segment, which owns and develops real estate in and around the Company’s resort communities. The Company’s mountain business and its lodging properties at or around the Company’s ski resorts are seasonal in nature with peak operating seasons from mid-November through mid-April. The Company’s operations at GTLC and its golf courses generally operate from mid-May through mid-October. The Company also has non-majority owned investments in various other entities, some of which are consolidated (see Note 7, Variable Interest Entities).
Basis of Presentation
Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements— In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements reflect all adjustments necessary to state fairly the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Results for interim periods are not indicative of the results for the entire fiscal year. The accompanying Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2010. Certain information and footnote disclosures, including significant accounting policies, normally included in fiscal year financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted. The July 31, 2010 Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet was derived from audited financial statements.
Use of Estimates— The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests along with net income (loss) attributable to the stockholders of the Company are reported separately in the Consolidated Condensed Statement of Operations. Additionally, noncontrolling interests in the consolidated subsidiaries of the Company are reported as a separate component of equity in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet, apart from the Company’s equity. However, prior to April 30, 2010, GSSI LLC (“GSSI”) held a noncontrolling interest in SSI Venture, LLC (“SSV”) (the Company’s retail/rental operations) of which GSSI held a redemption feature, as a result of a put option, and as such the Company recorded the redeemable noncontrolling interest in SSV in the mezzanine section of the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet, outside of stockholders’ equity. The Company had recorded the redeemable noncontrolling interest at the redemption value as prescribed in the operating agreement between GSSI and the Company at the end of each reporting period. At the end of each
F-6
reporting period if the redemption value was below the carrying value of the noncontrolling interest, the difference was recorded in noncontrolling interests as a component of stockholders’ equity; however, if the redemption value exceeded the carrying value of the noncontrolling interest the difference was recorded to retained earnings. On April 23, 2010, the Company entered into a transfer agreement with GSSI to acquire all of GSSI’s remaining 30.7% ownership interest in SSV for a negotiated price of $31.0 million. The purchase of GSSI’s interest in SSV was completed on April 30, 2010, resulting in the Company holding 100% interest in SSV. As a result of this purchase, equity-noncontrolling interest and redeemable noncontrolling interest related to SSV were eliminated. The following table summarizes the changes in total stockholders’ equity (in thousands):
Balance, beginning of period
Net income (loss)
Issuance of shares under share award plans
Tax benefit (expense) from share award plans
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest
Contributions (Distributions) from/to noncontrolling interests, net
Balance, end of period
Fair Value Instruments— The recorded amounts for cash and cash equivalents, receivables, other current assets, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. The fair value of amounts outstanding under the Employee Housing Bonds (Note 4, Long-Term Debt) approximate book value due to the variable nature of the interest rate associated with that debt. The fair value of the 6.75% Senior Subordinated Notes (“6.75% Notes”) (Note 4, Long-Term Debt) is based on quoted market price. The fair value of the Company’s Industrial Development Bonds (Note 4, Long-Term Debt) and other long-term debt have been estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based on current borrowing rates for debt with similar remaining maturities and ratings. The estimated fair value of the 6.75% Notes, Industrial Development Bonds and other long-term debt as of January 31, 2011 is presented below (in thousands):
6.75% Notes
Industrial Development Bonds
Other long-term debt
New Accounting Standards
Amendments to FASB Interpretation, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities— In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued guidance which is included in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810, “Consolidation” which amends the consolidation guidance for variable interest entities. Under this new standard, entities must perform a qualitative assessment in determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity which includes, among other things, consideration as to whether a variable interest holder has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the variable interest entity and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the variable interest entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity. This standard was effective for the Company beginning August 1, 2010 (the Company’s fiscal year ending July 31, 2011). The adoption of this accounting standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
F-7
Revenue Recognition Guidance for Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables— In September 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-13, “Multiple-Deliverables Revenue Arrangements” (amendments to ASC Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition,” and the Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 08-01 “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables”) which amends the revenue recognition guidance for arrangements with multiple deliverables. This new standard requires entities to allocate revenue in arrangements with multiple deliverables using estimated selling prices and eliminates the use of the residual method. The provisions of this new standard was effective for the Company beginning August 1, 2010 (the Company’s fiscal year ending July 31, 2011). The adoption of this accounting standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to Vail Resorts stockholders by the weighted-average shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised, resulting in the issuance of shares of common stock that would then share in the earnings of Vail Resorts. Presented below is basic and diluted EPS for the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
Net income per share:
Net income attributable to Vail Resorts
Weighted-average shares outstanding
Effect of dilutive securities
Total shares
Net income per share attributable to Vail Resorts
The number of shares issuable on the exercise of share based awards that were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per share because the effect of their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive totaled 87,000 and 31,000 for the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Presented below is basic and diluted EPS for the six months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
Net income (loss) per share:
Net income (loss) attributable to Vail Resorts
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Vail Resorts
F-8
The number of shares issuable on the exercise of share based awards that were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per share because the effect of their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive totaled 36,000 and 1.2 million for the six months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Long-term debt as of January 31, 2011, July 31, 2010 and January 31, 2010 is summarized as follows (in thousands):
Credit Facility Revolver (b)
Employee Housing Bonds
6.75% Senior Subordinated Notes
Other
Total debt
Less: Current maturities (c)
Long-term debt
The Credit Facility is now referred to as the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (“Credit Agreement”) between the Vail Corporation, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, U.S. Bank National Association and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as co-syndication agents, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. as Co-Documentation Agents and the Lenders party thereto, and consists of a $400 million revolving credit facility. The Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by the Company and certain of its subsidiaries and are collateralized by a pledge of all of the capital stock of the Company and substantially all of its subsidiaries (with certain additional exceptions for the pledge of the capital stock of foreign subsidiaries). The proceeds of loans made under the Credit Agreement may be used to fund the Company’s working capital needs, capital expenditures, acquisitions, investments and other general corporate purposes, including the issuance of letters of credit. The Credit Agreement matures January 2016 (unless repayment or refinancing of the 6.75% Notes is not completed by November 15, 2013 then such date becomes the maturity date). Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest annually at a rate of (i) LIBOR plus a margin or (ii) the Agent’s prime lending rate. Interest rate margins may fluctuate based upon the ratio of the Company’s Net Funded Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (as such terms are defined in the Credit Agreement) on a trailing four-quarter basis. The Credit Agreement also includes a quarterly unused commitment fee, which is equal to a percentage determined by the Net Funded Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio, as each such term is defined in the Credit Agreement, times the daily amount by which the Credit Agreement commitment exceeds the total of outstanding loans and outstanding letters of credit. The unused amounts are accessible to the extent that the Net Funded Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio does not exceed the maximum ratio allowed at quarter-ends and the Adjusted EBITDA to interest on Funded Debt (as defined in the Credit Agreement) ratio does not fall below the minimum ratio allowed at quarter-ends. The Credit Agreement provides for affirmative and negative covenants that restrict, among other things, the Company’s ability to incur indebtedness, dispose of assets, make capital expenditures, make distributions and make investments. In addition, the Credit Agreement includes the following restrictive financial covenants: Net Funded Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio and Adjusted EBITDA to interest on Funded Debt ratio.
F-9
Aggregate maturities for debt outstanding as of January 31, 2011 reflected by fiscal year are as follows (in thousands):
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Thereafter
The Company incurred gross interest expense of $8.7 million and $8.5 million for the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, of which $0.4 million in each period was amortization of deferred financing costs. The Company had no capitalized interest during the three months ended January 31, 2011. The Company capitalized $4.4 million of interest (of which $4.0 million was related to real estate under development) during the three months ended January 31, 2010. The Company incurred gross interest expense of $17.1 million and $16.9 million for the six months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, of which $0.8 million in each period was amortization of deferred financing costs. The Company capitalized $0.5 million of interest (related to real estate under development) and $7.9 million of interest (of which $7.1 million was related to real estate development) during the six months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
On October 25, 2010, the Company acquired for cash 100% of the capital stock of BCRP Inc. and the membership interest of Northstar Group Commercial Properties LLC (together, with their subsidiaries “Northstar-at-Tahoe”) that operate the Northstar-at-Tahoe mountain resort in North Lake Tahoe, California from Booth Creek Resort Properties LLC and other sellers for a total consideration of $60.5 million, net of cash acquired. Northstar-at-Tahoe is a year round mountain resort providing a comprehensive offering of recreational activities including both snow sports and summer activities. Additionally, Northstar-at-Tahoe operates a base area village at the resort, including the subleasing of commercial retail space.
F-10
The following summarizes the preliminary estimated fair values of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date (in thousands). The preliminary estimate of fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed are subject to revisions, which may result in adjustments to the preliminary values presented below.
Accounts receivable, net
Inventory, net
Property, plant and equipment
Deferred income tax assets
Intangible assets
Goodwill
Total identifiable assets acquired
Deferred revenue
Capital lease obligations
Unfavorable lease obligations, net
Total liabilities assumed
Total purchase price
The operations of Northstar-at-Tahoe are conducted on land and with operating assets owned by CNL Lifestyle Properties, Inc. under long-term lease agreements which were assumed by the Company. Under the terms of the leases, the Company estimates that it will be required to pay above market rates in the aggregate through the remainder of the initial lease term expiring in fiscal 2027. The Company has recorded a net unfavorable lease obligation for these leases that will be amortized as an adjustment to lease expense over the remaining initial lease term. Future minimum lease payments under the remaining initial term of these leases reflected by fiscal year as of January 31, 2011 are as follows (in thousands):
Total
The excess of the purchase price over the aggregate fair values of assumed assets and liabilities was recorded as goodwill. The goodwill recognized is attributable primarily to expected synergies, the assembled workforce of Northstar-at-Tahoe and other factors. None of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. The operating results of Northstar-at-Tahoe have contributed $31.3 million of net revenue for the three months ended January 31, 2011. Additionally, the Company has recognized $3.8 million of acquisition related expenses in the Consolidated Condensed Statement of Operations during the six months ended January 31, 2011.
The following presents the unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information as if the acquisition of Northstar-at-Tahoe was completed on August 1, 2009. The following pro forma financial information includes adjustments for (i) depreciation and interest expense for capital leases on acquired property, plant and equipment recorded at the date of acquisition; (ii) straight-line expense recognition of minimum future lease payments from the date of acquisition, including the amortization of the net unfavorable lease obligations; and (iii) acquisition related costs. This pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and does not purport to be indicative of the results of future operations or the results that would have occurred had the acquisition taken place on August 1, 2009 (in thousands, except per share amounts).
F-11
Pro forma net revenue
Pro forma net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
Pro forma basic net income per share attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
Pro forma diluted net income per share attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
Pro forma net income (loss) attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
The composition of property, plant and equipment follows (in thousands):
Land and land improvements
Buildings and building improvements
Machinery and equipment
Furniture and fixtures
Software
Vehicles
Construction in progress
Gross property, plant and equipment
Accumulated depreciation
Property, plant and equipment, net
The changes in the net carrying amount of goodwill allocated between the Company’s segments as of July 31, 2010 and January 31, 2011 are as follows (in thousands):
Balance at July 31, 2010
Northstar-at-Tahoe acquisition
Balance at January 31, 2011
F-12
The composition of accounts payable and accrued liabilities follows (in thousands):
Trade payables
Real estate development payables
Deferred real estate and other deposits
Accrued salaries, wages and deferred compensation
Accrued benefits
Accrued interest
Other accruals
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities
The composition of other long-term liabilities follows (in thousands):
Private club deferred initiation fee revenue and deposits
Unfavorable lease obligation, net
Other long-term liabilities
Total other long-term liabilities
The Company is the primary beneficiary of four employee housing entities (collectively, the “Employee Housing Entities”), Breckenridge Terrace, LLC, The Tarnes at BC, LLC, BC Housing, LLC and Tenderfoot Seasonal Housing, LLC, which are Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”), and has consolidated them in its Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements. As a group, as of January 31, 2011 the Employee Housing Entities had total assets of $34.0 million (primarily recorded in property, plant and equipment, net) and total liabilities of $62.0 million (primarily recorded in long-term debt as “Employee Housing Bonds”). The Company’s lenders have issued letters of credit totaling $53.4 million under the Credit Agreement related to Employee Housing Bonds. Payments under the letters of credit would be triggered in the event that one of the entities defaults on required payments. The letters of credit have no default provisions.
The Company is the primary beneficiary of Avon Partners II, LLC (“APII”), which is a VIE. APII owns commercial space and the Company currently leases substantially all of that space. APII had total assets of $5.3 million (primarily recorded in property, plant and equipment, net) and no debt as of January 31, 2011.
The Company, through various lodging subsidiaries, manages hotels in which the Company has no ownership interest in the entities that own such hotels. The Company has extended a $2.0 million note receivable to one of these entities. This entity was formed by unrelated third parties to acquire, own, operate and realize the value in resort hotel properties. The Company managed the day-to-day operations of this hotel property as of January 31, 2011. The Company has determined that this entity is a VIE, and the management contract along with the note receivable are significant variable interests in this VIE. The Company has also determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of this entity and, accordingly, is not required to consolidate this entity. Based upon the latest information provided by this third party entity, this VIE had estimated total assets of approximately $62.7 million and total liabilities of approximately $71.9 million. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with this VIE is limited to a $2.6 million note receivable, including accrued interest from the third party and the net book value of the intangible asset associated with a management agreement in the amount of $0.5 million as of January 31, 2011.
F-13
The FASB issued fair value guidance that establishes how reporting entities should measure fair value for measurement and disclosure purposes. The guidance establishes a common definition of fair value applicable to all assets and liabilities measured at fair value and prioritizes the inputs into valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Accordingly, the Company uses valuation techniques which maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value. The three levels of the hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1: Inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible to the Company for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2: Inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active and inactive markets or that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly; and
Level 3: Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity.
The table below summarizes the Company’s cash equivalents measured at fair value (all other assets and liabilities measured at fair value are immaterial) (in thousands):
Description
Money Market
US Treasury
Certification of Deposit
Metropolitan Districts
The Company credit-enhances $8.0 million of bonds issued by Holland Creek Metropolitan District (“HCMD”) through an $8.1 million letter of credit issued under the Credit Agreement. HCMD’s bonds were issued and used to build infrastructure associated with the Company’s Red Sky Ranch residential development. The Company has agreed to pay capital improvement fees to Red Sky Ranch Metropolitan District (“RSRMD”) until RSRMD’s revenue streams from property taxes are sufficient to meet debt service requirements under HCMD’s bonds, and the
F-14
Company has recorded a liability of $1.8 million, $1.9 million and $1.8 million, primarily within “other long-term liabilities” in the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets, as of January 31, 2011, July 31, 2010 and January 31, 2010, respectively, with respect to the estimated present value of future RSRMD capital improvement fees. The Company estimates that it will make capital improvement fee payments under this arrangement through the year ending July 31, 2028.
Guarantees/ Indemnifications
As of January 31, 2011, the Company had various other letters of credit in the amount of $73.3 million, consisting primarily of $53.4 million in support of the Employee Housing Bonds, $13.4 million of construction and development related guarantees and $5.4 million for workers’ compensation and general liability deductibles related to construction and development activities.
In addition to the guarantees noted above, the Company has entered into contracts in the normal course of business which include certain indemnifications under which it could be required to make payments to third parties upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of certain future events. These indemnities include indemnities to licensees in connection with the licensees’ use of the Company’s trademarks and logos, indemnities for liabilities associated with the infringement of other parties’ technology and software products, indemnities related to liabilities associated with the use of easements, indemnities related to employment of contract workers, the Company’s use of trustees, indemnities related to the Company’s use of public lands and environmental indemnifications. The duration of these indemnities generally is indefinite and generally do not limit the future payments the Company could be obligated to make.
As permitted under applicable law, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries indemnify their directors and officers over their lifetimes for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is, or was, serving the Company or its subsidiaries in such a capacity. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited; however, the Company has a director and officer insurance policy that should enable the Company to recover a portion of any future amounts paid.
Unless otherwise noted, the Company has not recorded any significant liabilities for the letters of credit, indemnities and other guarantees noted above in the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements, either because the Company has recorded on its Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets the underlying liability associated with the guarantee, the guarantee is with respect to the Company’s own performance and is therefore not subject to the measurement requirements as prescribed by GAAP, or because the Company has calculated the fair value of the indemnification or guarantee to be immaterial based upon the current facts and circumstances that would trigger a payment under the indemnification clause. In addition, with respect to certain indemnifications it is not possible to determine the maximum potential amount of liability under these guarantees due to the unique set of facts and circumstances that are likely to be involved in each particular claim and indemnification provision. Historically, payments made by the Company under these obligations have not been material.
As noted above, the Company makes certain indemnifications to licensees in connection with their use of the Company’s trademarks and logos. The Company does not record any liabilities with respect to these indemnifications.
Self Insurance
The Company is self-insured for claims under its health benefit plans and for the majority of workers’ compensation claims, subject to a stop loss policy. The self-insurance liability related to workers’ compensation is determined actuarially based on claims filed. The self-insurance liability related to claims under the Company’s health benefit plans is determined based on analysis of actual claims. The amounts related to these claims are included as a component of accrued benefits in accounts payable and accrued liabilities (see Note 6, Supplementary Balance Sheet Information).
F-15
Legal
The Company is a party to various lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. Management believes the Company has adequate insurance coverage or has accrued for loss contingencies for all known matters that are deemed to be probable losses and estimable. As of January 31, 2011, July 31, 2010 and January 31, 2010 the accrual for the loss contingencies related to these matters was not material individually and in the aggregate.
The Company has three reportable segments: Mountain, Lodging and Real Estate. The Mountain segment includes the operations of the Company’s ski resorts and related ancillary services. The Lodging segment includes the operations of all of the Company’s owned hotels, RockResorts, GTLC, condominium management, CME and golf operations. The Real Estate segment owns and develops real estate in and around the Company’s resort communities. The Company’s reportable segments, although integral to the success of the others, offer distinctly different products and services and require different types of management focus. As such, these segments are managed separately.
The Company reports its segment results using Reported EBITDA (defined as segment net revenue less segment operating expenses, plus or minus segment equity investment income or loss and for the Real Estate segment plus gain on sale of real property), which is a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company reports segment results in a manner consistent with management’s internal reporting of operating results to the chief operating decision maker (Chief Executive Officer) for purposes of evaluating segment performance.
Reported EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. Items excluded from Reported EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance. Reported EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to, or substitute for, net income (loss), net change in cash and cash equivalents or other financial statement data presented in the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity. Because Reported EBITDA is not a measurement determined in accordance with GAAP and thus is susceptible to varying calculations, Reported EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.
The Company utilizes Reported EBITDA in evaluating performance of the Company and in allocating resources to its segments. Mountain Reported EBITDA consists of Mountain net revenue less Mountain operating expense plus or minus Mountain equity investment income or loss. Lodging Reported EBITDA consists of Lodging net revenue less Lodging operating expense. Real Estate Reported EBITDA consists of Real Estate net revenue less Real Estate operating expense plus gain on sale of real property. All segment expenses include an allocation of corporate administrative expense. Assets are not allocated between segments, or used to evaluate performance, except as shown in the table below.
F-16
Following is key financial information by reportable segment which is used by management in evaluating performance and allocating resources (in thousands):
Lift tickets
Ski school
Dining
Retail/rental
Total Mountain net revenue
Total Resort net revenue
Real Estate
Operating expense:
Total Resort operating expense
Reported EBITDA:
Resort
Total Reported EBITDA
Reconciliation to net income (loss) attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc:
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
On March 9, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the repurchase of up to 3,000,000 shares of common stock and on July 16, 2008 approved an increase of the Company’s common stock repurchase authorization by an additional 3,000,000 shares. Since inception of its stock repurchase plan through January 31, 2011, the Company has repurchased 4,264,804 shares at a cost of approximately $162.8 million. As of January 31, 2011, 1,735,196 shares remained available under the existing repurchase authorization. Shares of common stock purchased pursuant to the repurchase program will be held as treasury shares and may be used for the issuance of shares under the Company’s employee share award plans.
The Company’s payment obligations under the 6.75% Notes (see Note 4, Long-Term Debt) are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several, senior subordinated basis by substantially all of the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, and excluding Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (as defined below), the “Guarantor Subsidiaries”), except for VR Acquisition, Inc., BCRP, Inc., Booth Creek Ski Holdings, Inc., Trimont Land Company, Northstar Commercial Properties LLC, Northstar Group Restaurant Properties LLC, Eagle Park Reservoir Company, Gros Ventre Utility Company, Mountain Thunder, Inc., Larkspur Restaurant & Bar, LLC, Gore Creek Place, LLC and certain other insignificant entities (together, the “Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”). APII and the Employee Housing Entities are included with the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries for purposes of the consolidated financial information, but are not considered subsidiaries under the indenture governing the 6.75% Notes.
F-17
Presented below is the consolidated financial information of the Parent Company, the Guarantor Subsidiaries and the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries. Financial information for the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries is presented in the column titled “Other Subsidiaries.” On April 30, 2010, the Company acquired GSSI’s remaining noncontrolling interest in SSV (see Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies). Subsequent to this transaction, SSV became a Guarantor Subsidiary under the 6.75% Notes. As such, the Company has included SSV under Guarantor Subsidiaries in the accompanying supplemental condensed financial statements. Reclassifications for SSV have been made to the financial information as of and for the three and six months ended January 31, 2010 to conform to the current year presentation. Balance sheets are presented as of January 31, 2011, July 31, 2010 and January 31, 2010. Statements of operations are presented for the three and six months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010. Statement of cash flows are presented for the six months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010.
Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for by the Parent Company and Guarantor Subsidiaries using the equity method of accounting. Net income (loss) of Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries is, therefore, reflected in the Parent Company’s and Guarantor Subsidiaries’ investments in and advances to (from) subsidiaries. Net income (loss) of the Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries is reflected in Guarantor Subsidiaries and Parent Company as equity in consolidated subsidiaries. The elimination entries eliminate investments in Other Subsidiaries and intercompany balances and transactions for consolidated reporting purposes.
F-18
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
As of January 31, 2011
(in thousands)
Goodwill, net
Investments in subsidiaries
Advances
Long-term debt due within one year
Total stockholders’ equity
F-19
As of July 31, 2010
Total Vail Resorts, Inc. stockholders’ equity (deficit)
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)
F-20
As of January 31, 2010
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
F-21
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
For the three months ended January 31, 2011
Total operating expense
(Loss) income from operations
Other (expense) income, net
Equity investment income, net
(Loss) income before benefit (provision) for income taxes
Benefit (provision) for income taxes
Net (loss) income before equity in income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries
Equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries
F-22
For the three months ended January 31, 2010
Equity in income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries, net
F-23
For the six months ended January 31, 2011
Other expense, net
Net (loss) income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
F-24
For the six months ended January 31, 2010
Net (loss) income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
F-25
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Acquisition of a business
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
F-26
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
F-27
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2010 (“Form 10-K”) and the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements as of January 31, 2011 and 2010 and for the three and six months then ended, included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which provide additional information regarding the financial position, results of operations and cash flows. To the extent that the following Management’s Discussion and Analysis contains statements which are not of a historical nature, such statements are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. These risks include, but are not limited to those discussed in this Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the risks described in Item 1A “Risk Factors” of Part I of the Form 10-K. See also “Forward-Looking Statements” below for more information on these risks and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward looking statements.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis includes discussion of financial performance within each of our segments. We have chosen to specifically include Reported EBITDA (defined as segment net revenue less segment operating expense, plus or minus segment equity investment income or loss and for the Real Estate segment plus gain on sale of real property) and Net Debt (defined as long-term debt plus long-term debt due within one year less cash and cash equivalents), in the following discussion because we consider these measurements to be significant indications of our financial performance and available capital resources. Reported EBITDA and Net Debt are not measures of financial performance or liquidity under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). We utilize Reported EBITDA in evaluating our performance and in allocating resources to our segments. Refer to the end of the Results of Operations section below for a reconciliation of Reported EBITDA to net income or loss attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. We also believe that Net Debt is an important measurement as it is an indicator of our ability to obtain additional capital resources for our future cash needs. Refer to the end of the Results of Operations section for a reconciliation of Net Debt.
Items excluded from Reported EBITDA and Net Debt are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance or liquidity. Reported EBITDA and Net Debt should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to, or substitute for, net income (loss), net change in cash and cash equivalents or other financial statement data presented in the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity. Because Reported EBITDA and Net Debt are not measurements determined in accordance with GAAP and are thus susceptible to varying calculations, Reported EBITDA and Net Debt as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.
Overview
Our operations are grouped into three integrated and interdependent segments: Mountain, Lodging and Real Estate. Resort is the combination of the Mountain and Lodging segments.
Mountain Segment
The Mountain segment is comprised of the operations of six ski resort properties as well as ancillary services, primarily including ski school, dining and retail/rental operations. Our six ski resorts are typically open for business from mid-November through mid-April, which is the peak operating season for the Mountain segment. Our single largest source of Mountain segment revenue is the sale of lift tickets (including season passes), which represented approximately 49% and 50% of Mountain segment net revenue for the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Lift ticket revenue is driven by volume and pricing. Pricing is impacted by both absolute pricing as well as the demographic mix of guests, which impacts the price points at which various products are purchased. The demographic mix of guests is divided into two primary categories: (i) Destination guests and (ii) In-State guests. For the three months ended January 31, 2011, Destination guests comprised approximately 53% of our skier visits, while In-State guests comprised approximately 47% of our skier visits, which compares to approximately 54% and 46%, respectively, for the three months ended January 31, 2010.
1
Destination guests generally purchase our higher-priced lift ticket products and utilize more ancillary services such as ski school, dining and retail/rental, as well as the lodging at or around our resorts. Destination guest visitation is less likely to be impacted by changes in the weather, but can be more impacted by adverse economic conditions or the global geopolitical climate. In-State guests tend to be more value-oriented and weather sensitive. We market season passes to both Destination and In-State guests in an effort to offer a value option in turn for a commitment predominately prior to the beginning of the ski season by guests to ski at our resorts. This in turn has developed a loyal customer base that generally skis multiple days each season at our resorts and provides a more stabilized stream of lift revenue to us. Season pass revenue, although primarily collected prior to the ski season, is recognized in the Consolidated Condensed Statement of Operations ratably over the ski season. For the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, approximately 39.3% and 40.0%, respectively, of the total lift revenue recognized was comprised of season pass revenue (of which revenue recognized represents approximately 51% and 52% of total season pass sales for the 2010/2011 and 2009/2010 ski seasons, respectively, with the remaining season pass sales recognized as lift ticket revenue in our third fiscal quarter).
The cost structure of our ski resort operations has a significant fixed component with variable expenses including, but not limited to, USDA Forest Service (“Forest Service”) fees, credit card fees, retail/rental cost of sales and labor, ski school labor and dining operations; as such, profit margins can fluctuate greatly based on the level of revenues.
Lodging Segment
Operations within the Lodging segment include (i) ownership/management of a group of luxury hotels through the RockResorts brand, including several proximate to our ski resorts; (ii) ownership/management of non-RockResorts branded hotels and condominiums proximate to our ski resorts; (iii) Grand Teton Lodge Company (“GTLC”) which operates three destination resorts at Grand Teton National Park; (iv) Colorado Mountain Express (“CME”), a resort ground transportation company; and (v) golf courses.
Lodging properties (including managed condominium rooms) at or around our ski resorts, and CME, are closely aligned with the performance of the Mountain segment and experience similar seasonal trends as the Mountain segment, particularly with respect to visitation by Destination guests. Lodging revenue from properties (including managed condominium rooms) at or around our ski resorts, and CME, represented approximately 90% and 92% of Lodging segment revenue for the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Lodging segment revenue during our first and fourth fiscal quarters is generated primarily by the operations of GTLC (as GTLC’s operating season generally occurs from mid-May to mid-October), golf operations and seasonally low operations from our other owned and managed properties.
Real Estate Segment
The Real Estate segment owns and develops real estate in and around our resort communities and primarily engages in the vertical development of projects, as well as, occasionally the sale of land to third-party developers. Revenue from vertical development projects is not recognized until the closing of individual units within a project which occurs after substantial completion of the project. Contingent future profits from land sales, if any, are recognized only when received. We attempt to mitigate the risk of vertical development by often utilizing guaranteed maximum price construction contracts (although certain construction costs may not be covered by contractual limitations), pre-selling a portion of the project, requiring significant non-refundable deposits, and potentially obtaining non-recourse financing for certain projects. Our real estate development projects also may result in the creation of certain resort assets that provide additional benefit to the Mountain and Lodging segments. Our revenue from the Real Estate segment, and associated expense, fluctuate based upon the timing of closings and the type of real estate being sold, causing volatility in the Real Estate segment’s operating results from period to period.
Recent Trends, Risks and Uncertainties
Together with those risk factors identified in our Form 10-K, our management has identified the following important factors (as well as risks and uncertainties associated with such factors) that could impact our future financial performance or condition:
Our season pass products provide a value option to our guests, which in turn creates a guest commitment predominantly prior to the start of the ski season resulting in a more stabilized stream of lift revenue. For the 2009/2010 ski season pass revenue represented 35% of total lift revenue for the entire season. Total season pass sales (excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe) increased by $9.1 million, or approximately 9.1%, as of January 31, 2011 for the 2010/2011 ski season over total season pass sales for the entire 2009/2010 ski season. Including Northstar-at-Tahoe (which was acquired on October 25, 2010) season pass sales, our season pass sales have increased by $19.0 million, or approximately 18.9%. Deferred revenue related to season pass sales (including Northstar-at-Tahoe pass sales) was $58.7 million as of January 31, 2011 (compared to $48.4 million as of January 31, 2010) which will be recognized as lift revenue during our third fiscal quarter ending April 30, 2011.
2
In response to the economic downturn in 2008 and 2009, we implemented cost reduction initiatives in fiscal 2009, including a company-wide wage reduction and suspension of our 401(k) plan matching contributions. We reinstated some of the prior year’s wage and benefit reduction with a 2% interim wage increase for year round employees effective April 1, 2010 and seasonal employees for the 2010/2011 ski season along with a partial reinstatement of our matching component of the 401(k) plan. We currently plan to fully reinstate the previous level of 401(k) matching ratably over a three year period. We also have returned to a more normal level of wage increases for fiscal 2011; however, we cannot predict whether any increases in labor costs and other employee benefit costs coupled with other increases in operating costs will continue to be offset by increased revenues.
On October 25, 2010, we acquired Northstar-at-Tahoe, a destination mountain resort in North Lake Tahoe, California for total consideration of $63.0 million, less cash assumed. We cannot predict whether we will realize all of the synergies estimated to arise subsequent to the acquisition of Northstar-at-Tahoe nor can we predict the amount of effort it will take to integrate its operations and the ultimate impact it will have on our future results of operations.
Real estate Reported EBITDA is highly dependent on, among other things, the timing of closings on real estate under contract, which determines when revenue and associated cost of sales is recognized. Changes to the anticipated timing or mix of closing on one or more real estate projects, or unit closings within a real estate project, could materially impact Real Estate Reported EBITDA for a particular quarter or fiscal year. During the first quarter of fiscal 2011, we received a certificate of occupancy for The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail and we have closed on 63 units through January 31, 2011 (with an additional two units having closed subsequent to January 31, 2011). Additionally, we have closed on one unit at One Ski Hill Place (which was completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010) in fiscal 2011 through January 31, 2011 (with one additional unit having closed subsequent to January 31, 2011). We currently have on a combined basis 104 units available for sale at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail, One Ski Hill Place in Breckenridge and Crystal Peak Lodge at Breckenridge. We have increased risk associated with selling and closing units in these projects as a result of the continued instability in the credit markets and a slowdown in the overall real estate market. Buyers have been or may be unable to close on units in part due to a reduction in funds available to buyers and/or decreases in mortgage availability. We cannot predict the ultimate number of units that we will sell, the ultimate price we will receive, or when the units will sell, although we currently believe the selling process will take multiple years. Additionally, if a prolonged weakness in the real estate market or general economic conditions were to occur we may have to adjust our selling prices more than currently anticipated in an effort to sell and close on units available for sale.
Over the past several years our Real Estate segment results have reflected the completion of several real estate projects, including The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail, One Ski Hill Place in Breckenridge, the Arrabelle at Vail Square, Vail’s Front Door, Crystal Peak Lodge at Breckenridge, Gore Creek Place in Vail’s Lionshead Village and Mountain Thunder in Breckenridge. Although we continue to undertake planning and design work on future projects, we currently do not plan to undertake significant development activities on new projects until the current economic environment for real estate improves. We believe that, due to our low carrying cost of real estate land investments combined with the absence of third party debt associated with our real estate investments, we are well situated to time the launch of future projects with a more favorable economic environment.
In addition to our $97.3 million of cash and cash equivalents at January 31, 2011, we have $319.4 million available under our senior credit facility (“Credit Facility”) (which represents the total commitment of $400.0 million less certain letters of credit outstanding of $80.6 million), which was amended and restated on January 25, 2011. Key modifications to the Credit Facility included, among other things, the extension of the maturity on the revolving credit facility from February 2012 to January 2016 (subject to the repayment or refinancing of the 6.75% Senior Subordinated Notes (“6.75% Notes”) by November 15, 2013); increased grid pricing for interest rate margins (currently, under the Credit Facility, at LIBOR plus 1.75%) and commitment fees (currently, under the Credit Facility, at 0.35%); the expansion of baskets for improved flexibility in our ability to incur debt and make acquisitions, investments and distributions; and the elimination of certain financial covenants. Additionally, we have reached an inflection point on our real estate projects where the proceeds from future real estate closings on The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail, One Ski Hill Place in Breckenridge and Crystal Peak Lodge at Breckenridge are expected to significantly exceed remaining completion costs or carrying costs.
3
We currently carry a $2.6 million note receivable from the owner of one of our managed hotel properties. The owner has defaulted on third party debt related to this property in which the creditor may proceed with foreclosure on the property. If the owner is unable to reach an agreement to restructure the debt with its creditor, or the creditor proceeds with foreclosure, or if we are unable to reach acceptable terms with the owner or the creditor for the repayment of our note receivable, we may be required to impair or write-off the balance of the note receivable.
Under GAAP, we are required to test goodwill for impairment annually, which we do during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. We evaluate the recoverability of our goodwill by estimating the future discounted cash flows of our reporting units and terminal values of the businesses using projected future levels of income as well as business trends, prospects and market and economic conditions. We evaluate the recoverability of indefinite-lived intangible assets using the income approach based upon estimated future revenue streams. Our fiscal 2010 annual impairment test did not result in a goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment. However, if a more severe prolonged weakness in general economic conditions were to occur it could cause less than expected growth and/or reduction in terminal values of our reporting units which may result in a goodwill and/or indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment charge attributable to certain goodwill and/or indefinite-lived intangible assets, particularly related to certain of our lodging operations.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Summary
Shown below is a summary of operating results for both the three and six months ended January 31, 2011, compared to the three and six months ended January 31, 2010 (in thousands):
Mountain Reported EBITDA
Lodging Reported EBITDA
Resort Reported EBITDA
Real Estate Reported EBITDA
A discussion of the segment results and other items can be found below.
Three months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the three months ended January 31, 2010
Mountain segment operating results for the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010 are presented by category as follows (in thousands, except effective ticket price (“ETP”)):
Net Mountain revenue:
Mountain operating expense:
Labor and labor-related benefits
Retail cost of sales
Resort related fees
General and administrative
Total Mountain operating expense
Total Mountain Reported EBITDA
Total skier visits
ETP
4
Total Mountain Reported EBITDA includes $1.8 million and $1.3 million of stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Total Mountain net revenue increased $57.3 million, or 22.0%, for the three months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the three months ended January 31, 2010, which increase includes $30.1 million of revenue from Northstar-at-Tahoe, acquired in October 2010, in the current fiscal year. Lift revenue increased $25.7 million, or 19.8%, for the three months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the same period in the prior year, due to a $16.9 million, or 21.9%, increase in paid lift revenue and a $8.7 million, or 16.7%, increase in season pass revenue. A large portion of this increase is attributable to the acquisition of Northstar-at-Tahoe since comparable results for Northstar-at-Tahoe are not included in the same period for the prior year. Excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, lift revenue increased $10.7 million, or 8.2%, compared to the same period in the prior year, due to a $6.9 million, or 8.9%, increase in paid lift revenue and a $3.8 million, or 7.3%, increase in season pass revenue. Total skier visitation was up 22.0% and excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, skier visitation was up 8.7% as both the Colorado resorts and the Heavenly resort benefited from significantly above average early season snowfall, which in particular caused increased pass visits. ETP, excluding season pass holders and Northstar-at-Tahoe, increased $4.56, or 7.3%, due primarily to price increases implemented during the current fiscal year. Total ETP, excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, declined slightly as the average visitation per season pass holder increased by approximately 11.0% or approximately one half day per season pass holder.
Ski school revenue increased $7.2 million, or 24.0%, for the three months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the same period in the prior year with the current year benefiting from the acquisition of Northstar-at-Tahoe. Excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, ski school revenue increased $3.5 million, or 11.7%, which benefited from the 8.7% increase in skier visitation and a 2.7% increase in yield per skier visit due to higher guest spend. Dining revenue increased $6.6 million, or 33.4%, which also benefited from the acquisition of Northstar-at-Tahoe in the current fiscal year. Excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, dining revenues increased $2.9 million, or 14.4%, driven by increased skier visitation and a 5.3% increase in yield per skier visit, as well as, the addition of two new on-mountain dining venues.
Retail/rental revenue increased $13.3 million, or 21.8%, for the three months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the same period in the prior year which includes $4.5 million of incremental revenue from Northstar-at-Tahoe in the current fiscal year. Excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, retail/rental increased $8.8 million, or 14.4%, which was driven primarily by retail sales which were up $8.5 million, or 19.3%. Included in the overall retail/rental increase were higher revenue at our Colorado front range stores and Any Mountain stores (in the San Francisco bay area) which combined increased by 21.0% as compared to the prior year. Additionally, our mountain resort stores experienced increased revenues across all resorts due primarily to increased retail sales driven by higher skier visitation.
Other revenue mainly consists of private club revenue (which includes both club dues and amortization of initiation fees), summer visitation and other mountain activities revenue, marketing and internet advertising revenue, commercial leasing revenue, employee housing revenue, municipal services revenue and other recreation activity revenue. For the three months ended January 31, 2011, other revenue increased $4.5 million, or 21.9%, compared to the three months ended January 31, 2010, which includes $3.2 million of incremental revenue from Northstar-at-Tahoe. Excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, other revenue increased $1.3 million, or 6.5%, primarily due to an increase in internet advertising and marketing revenue due to the acquisition of Mountain News Corporation in May 2010, partially offset by a decrease in municipal services revenue (primarily transportation services provided on behalf of certain municipalities).
5
Operating expense increased $37.2 million, or 24.2%, for the three months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the three months ended January 31, 2010, which includes $20.0 million of expenses in the current fiscal quarter associated with Northstar-at-Tahoe. Excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, operating expense increased $17.2 million, or 11.2%, for the three months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the three months ended January 31, 2010 due in part to higher labor and labor-related benefits which increased $7.5 million, or 13.0%, during the three months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the three months ended January 31, 2010. Labor and labor-related benefits in the current year were impacted by the partial reinstatement of the prior year’s wage reduction and our matching component of the 401(k) plan and a more normal level of wage increases, as well as higher employee medical and wellness costs. Additionally, labor costs were impacted by an increase in staffing levels driven by opening ski terrain earlier due to above average early season snowfall, as well as an increase in demand for ancillary services primarily in ski school, dining and retail/rental operations. Retail cost of sales increased $3.7 million, or 15.4%, excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, mostly due to an increase in sales volume partially offset by improved gross margins. Additionally, resort related fees (including Forest Service fees, other resort-related fees, credit card fees and commissions) increased $1.8 million, or 12.3%, excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, compared to the three months ended January 31, 2010, due to overall increases in revenue upon which those fees are based on and general and administrative expenses increased $2.5 million, or 9.7%, excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, primarily due to expenses associated with the operations of Mountain News Corporation acquired in May 2010. Other expense increased $1.8 million, or 5.5%, excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, primarily due to increased food and beverage cost of sales due to an increase in dining revenue and higher fuel and supplies expense.
Six months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2010
Mountain segment operating results for the six months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010 are presented by category as follows (in thousands, except ETP):
Total Mountain Reported EBITDA includes $3.8 million and $2.9 million of stock-based compensation expense for the six months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
As our six ski resorts opened during our second fiscal quarter, the results of the six months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010 for lift ticket revenue and ski school revenue are the same as the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010.
Dining revenue for the six months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2010, increased $7.3 million, or 31.2%, which benefited from the acquisition of Northstar-at-Tahoe in the current fiscal year. Excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, dining revenues increased $3.5 million, or 14.9%, which benefited from the 8.7% increase in skier visitation and a 5.3% increase in yield per skier visit, as well as the addition of two new on- mountain dining venues. Additionally, dining revenue increased for the three months ended October 31, 2010 compared to the same period in the prior year due to an increase in group and wedding business at our mountain resorts.
6
Retail/rental revenue increased $13.8 million, or 16.7%, in the six months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the same period in the prior year which includes $4.5 million of incremental revenue from Northstar-at-Tahoe in the current fiscal year. Excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, retail/rental increased $9.3 million, or 11.3%, which was driven primarily by retail sales which were up $9.0 million, or 14.1%. Included in the overall retail/rental increase were higher revenues at our Colorado front range stores and Any Mountain stores (in the San Francisco bay area) which increased by 14.2% as compared to the prior year. Additionally, our mountain resort stores experienced increased revenues across all resorts due primarily to increases retail sales driven by higher skier visitation.
Other revenue mainly consists of private club revenue (which includes both club dues and amortization of initiation fees), summer visitation and other mountain activities revenue, marketing and internet advertising revenue, commercial leasing revenue, employee housing revenue, municipal services revenue and other recreation activity revenue. For the six months ended January 31, 2011, other revenue increased $4.9 million, or 14.2%, compared to the six months ended January 31, 2010, which includes $3.2 million of incremental revenue from Northstar-at-Tahoe. Excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, other revenue increased $1.7 million, or 4.8%, primarily due to an increase in internet advertising and marketing revenue due to the acquisition of Mountain News Corporation in May 2010, partially offset by a decrease in municipal services revenue (primarily transportation services provided on behalf of certain municipalities).
Operating expense increased $43.9 million, or 19.0%, during the six months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2010, which includes $23.5 million of expenses (including $3.8 million of acquisition related costs included in other expense) in the current fiscal year associated with Northstar-at-Tahoe and $0.9 million (included in other expense) in assessments for extensive renovations to a commercial property in Breckenridge in which we are a tenant. Excluding these expenses, operating expense increased $19.4 million, or 8.4%, for the six months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2010. Labor and labor-related benefits increased $8.6 million, or 10.6%, excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, in the current fiscal year and were impacted by the partial reinstatement of the prior year’s wage reduction and our matching component of the 401(k) plan and a more normal level of wage increases, as well as higher employee medical and wellness costs. Additionally, labor costs were impacted by an increase in staffing levels driven by opening ski terrain earlier due to above average early season snowfall, as well as an increase in demand for ancillary services primarily in ski school, dining and retail/rental operations. Retail cost of sales increased $3.7 million, or 10.3%, excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, mostly due to an increase in sales volume, partially offset by improved gross margins. Additionally, resort related fees (including Forest Service fees, other resort-related fees, credit card fees and commissions) increased $1.9 million, or 12.4%, excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, compared to the six months ended January 31, 2010, due to overall increases in revenue upon which those fees are based on and general and administrative expenses increased $3.1 million, or 6.6%, excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe, primarily due to expenses associated with the operations of Mountain News Corporation acquired in May 2010. Other expense increased $2.2 million, or 4.2%, excluding the above mentioned expenses, primarily due to increased food and beverage cost of sales due to an increase in dining revenue and higher fuel and supplies expense.
Mountain equity investment income, net which primarily represents our share of income from our real estate brokerage joint venture, was favorably impacted for the six months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2010 by an overall increase in real estate closing primarily from multi-unit projects.
7
Lodging segment operating results for the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010 are presented by category as follows (in thousands, except average daily rates (“ADR”) and revenue per available room (“RevPAR”)):
Lodging net revenue:
Owned hotel rooms
Managed condominium rooms
Transportation
Total Lodging net revenue
Lodging operating expense:
Total Lodging operating expense
Total Lodging Reported EBITDA
Owned hotel statistics:
ADR
RevPar
Managed condominium statistics:
Owned hotel and managed condominium statistics (combined):
Total Lodging Reported EBITDA includes $0.5 million of stock-based compensation expense for both the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010.
Revenue from owned hotel rooms increased $0.9 million, or 10.9%, for the three months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the three months ended January 31, 2010, which was driven by an increase in occupancy of 9.0 percentage points primarily due an increase in transient guest visitation as our Colorado lodging resort properties benefited from an increase in skier visitation at our Colorado ski resorts as discussed in the Mountain segment above. Revenue from managed condominium rooms increased $2.6 million, or 24.1%, for the three months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the three months ended January 31, 2010, primarily due to the addition of managed condominium rooms in the Lake Tahoe region which generated $1.5 million in revenue and an increase in occupancy from our other managed condominiums of 5.1 percentage points due to higher transient and group guest visitation in conjunction with increased skier visitation.
Dining revenue for the three months ended January 31, 2011 increased $1.0 million, or 23.0%, as compared to the three months ended January 31, 2010, mainly due to increased occupancy and a restaurant that was closed for renovation in the prior year. Transportation revenue for the three months ended January 31, 2011 increased $0.2 million, or 3.1%, as compared to the three months ended January 31, 2010 primarily due to an increase in passengers driven by higher skier visitation. Other revenue increased $1.3 million, or 16.5% during the three months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the same period in the prior year primarily due to an increase in revenue from managed hotel properties, higher commissions earned from reservations booked through our central reservation system and conference services for our group business.
Operating expense increased $6.1 million, or 16.0%, for the three months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the three months ended January 31, 2010, primarily due to an increase in labor and labor-related benefits of $3.3 million, or 17.9%, primarily due to higher staffing levels associated with increased occupancy and the partial reinstatement of the prior year’s wage reduction and our matching component of the 401(k) plan and a more normal level of wage increases for fiscal 2011. Other expense increased $2.3 million, or 19.3%, primarily due to increased variable operating costs associated with increased occupancy and revenue including higher food and beverage cost of sales and other operating expense and an increase in reimbursable costs associated with managed hotel properties.
8
Lodging segment operating results for the six months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010 are presented by category as follows (in thousands, except ADR and RevPAR):
Golf
Total Lodging Reported EBITDA includes $1.1 million and $1.0 million of stock-based compensation expense for the six months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Revenue from owned hotel rooms and managed condominium rooms increased $4.6 million, or 13.4%, for the six months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2010, which was driven by a increase in occupancy of 6.2 percentage points due to higher group business and transient guest visitation primarily as a result of increased skier visitation as discussed in the Mountain segment above. Managed condominium room revenue was also favorably impacted by $1.5 million related to the addition of managed condominium rooms in the Lake Tahoe region.
Dining revenue for the six months ended January 31, 2011 increased $2.0 million, or 15.2%, as compared to the six months ended January 31, 2010, due to an increase in occupancy, including an increase in group visitation primarily at our Keystone lodging properties ($0.8 million increase in revenue), an increase in transient visitation at GTLC ($0.4 million increase in revenue) and a restaurant that was closed for renovation in the prior year. Other revenue increased $1.9 million, or 11.7%, during the six months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the same period in the prior year primarily due to an increase in revenue from managed hotel properties, higher commissions earned from reservations booked through our central reservation system and an increase in conference services provided to our group business.
9
Operating expense increased $6.3 million, or 7.8%, for the six months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2010. Operating expense in the current year benefitted from the receipt of $2.9 million, net of legal expenses, (included as a credit in other expense) for the settlement of alleged damages related to the CME acquisition partially offset by $0.4 million (included in other expense) in assessments for extensive renovations to a commercial property in Breckenridge in which we are a tenant. Excluding the impact of these items, operating expense increased $8.8 million, or 10.9%, during the six months ended January 31, 2011, compared to the same period in the prior year. Labor and labor-related benefits increased $4.8 million, or 12.3%, primarily due to higher staffing levels associated with increased occupancy and the partial reinstatement of the prior year’s wage reduction and our matching component of the 401(k) plan and a more normal level of wage increases for fiscal 2011. Other expense increased $3.4 million, or 12.5%, primarily due to increased variable operating costs associated with increased occupancy and revenue including higher food and beverage cost of sales and other operating expense and an increase in reimbursable costs associated with managed hotel properties.
Real Estate segment operating results for the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010 are presented by category as follows (in thousands):
Total Real Estate net revenue
Real Estate operating expense:
Cost of sales (including sales commission)
Total Real Estate operating expense
Total Real Estate Reported EBITDA
Real Estate Reported EBITDA includes $0.8 million and $1.1 million of stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Our Real Estate operating revenue is primarily determined by the timing of closings and the mix of real estate sold in any given period. Different types of projects have different revenue and expense volumes and margins; therefore, as the real estate inventory mix changes it can greatly impact Real Estate segment net revenue, operating expense and Real Estate Reported EBITDA.
Three months ended January 31, 2011
Real Estate segment net revenue for the three months ended January 31, 2011 was driven primarily by the closing of six condominium units at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail ($17.4 million of revenue with an average selling price per unit of $2.9 million and an average price per square foot of $1,314). The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail average price per square foot is driven by The Ritz-Carlton brand, its premier Lionshead location at the base of Vail, its proximity to the Eagle Bahn gondola and the comprehensive and exclusive amenities related to the project. Additionally, during the three months ended January 31, 2011, we recognized $6.2 million of revenue related to deposits from buyers who defaulted on units under contract at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail and we closed on one condominium unit at One Ski Hill Place ($0.9 million of revenue and an average price per square foot of $1,018).
Operating expense for the three months ended January 31, 2011 included cost of sales of $15.6 million primarily resulting from the closing of six condominium units at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail (average cost per square foot of $1,117) and from the closing of one condominium unit at One Ski Hill Place (average cost per square foot of $837). The cost per square foot for The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail is reflective of the high-end features and amenities associated with a Ritz-Carlton project compared to other Vail properties and high construction costs associated with mountain resort development. Additionally, sales commissions of approximately $2.7 million were incurred commensurate with revenue recognized. Other operating expense of $6.8 million (including $0.8 million of stock-based compensation expense) was primarily comprised of general and administrative costs which include marketing expense for the real estate available for sale (including those units that have not yet closed), carrying costs for units available for sale and overhead costs, such as labor and labor-related benefits and allocated corporate costs.
10
Three months ended January 31, 2010
Real Estate segment net revenue for the three months ended January 31, 2010 primarily included allocated corporate revenue. Operating expense of $7.4 million (including $1.1 million of stock-based compensation expense) was primarily comprised of general and administrative costs which include marketing expense for the real estate projects under development, overhead costs such as labor and labor-related benefits and allocated corporate costs.
Real Estate segment operating results for the six months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010 are presented by category as follows (in thousands):
Real Estate Reported EBITDA includes $1.6 million and $2.5 million of stock-based compensation expense for the six months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Six months ended January 31, 2011
Real Estate segment net revenue for the six months ended January 31, 2011 was driven primarily by the closing of 63 condominium units (45 units sold to The Ritz-Carlton Development Company and 18 units sold to individuals) at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail ($166.8 million of revenue with an average selling price per unit of $2.6 million and an average price per square foot of $1,225). The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail average price per square foot is driven by The Ritz-Carlton brand, its premier Lionshead location at the base of Vail, its proximity to the Eagle Bahn gondola and the comprehensive and exclusive amenities related to the project. Additionally, during the six months ended January 31, 2011, we recognized $6.2 million of revenue related to deposits from buyers who defaulted on units under contract at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail and we closed on one condominium unit at One Ski Hill Place ($0.9 million of revenue and an average price per square foot of $1,018).
Operating expense for the six months ended January 31, 2011 included cost of sales of $151.1 million primarily resulting from the closing of 63 condominium units at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail (average cost per square foot of $1,104) and from the closing of one condominium unit at One Ski Hill Place (average cost per square foot of $837). The cost per square foot for The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail is reflective of the high-end features and amenities associated with a Ritz-Carlton project compared to other Vail properties and high construction costs associated with mountain resort development. Additionally, sales commissions of approximately $5.8 million were incurred commensurate with revenue recognized. Other operating expense of $13.3 million (including $1.6 million of stock-based compensation expense) was primarily comprised of general and administrative costs which include marketing expense for the real estate available for sale (including those units that have not yet closed), carrying costs for units available for sale and overhead costs, such as labor and labor-related benefits and allocated corporate costs.
Six months ended January 31, 2010
Real Estate segment net revenue for the six months ended January 31, 2010 primarily included allocated corporate revenue. In addition, during the six months ended January 31, 2010 we sold a land parcel located at the Arrowhead base area of the Beaver Creek Resort for $8.5 million and recorded a gain on sale of real property of $6.1 million (net of $2.4 million in related cost of sales).
11
Operating expense of $12.6 million (including $2.5 million of stock-based compensation expense) was primarily comprised of general and administrative costs which include marketing expense for the real estate projects under development, overhead costs such as labor and labor-related benefits and allocated corporate costs.
Other Items
In addition to segment operating results, the following material items contributed to our overall financial position.
Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense for the three and six months ended January 31, 2011 increased $2.5 million and $3.1 million, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior year, primarily due to an increase in the fixed asset base due to incremental capital expenditures.
Interest expense, net. For the three and six months ended January 31, 2011, interest expense, net increased $4.5 million and $7.6 million, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior year primarily due to the significant reduction in the capitalization of interest on self-funded real estate projects in the current fiscal year, as all real estate projects under development have reached substantial completion.
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests, net. Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests for the three and six months ended January 31, 2011 decreased $4.4 million and $2.1 million compared to the same periods in the prior year due to our acquisition of the remaining 30.7% noncontrolling interest in SSI Ventures, LLC (“SSV”) on April 30, 2010.
Income taxes. The effective tax rate for the three and six months ended January 31, 2011 was 38.5% and 34.7%, respectively, compared to the effective tax rate for the three and six months ended January 31, 2010 of 35.4% and 115.7%, respectively. The interim period effective tax rate is primarily driven by the amount of anticipated pre-tax book income for the full fiscal year adjusted for items that are deductible/non-deductible for tax purposes only (i.e. permanent items) and the amount of net income attributable to noncontrolling interest recorded during the period. Additionally, we recorded a $0.7 million income tax benefit in the six months ended January 31, 2011 due to a reversal of an income tax contingency resulting from the expiration of the statute of limitations.
In 2005, we amended previously filed tax returns (for the tax years from 1997 through 2002) in an effort to remove restrictions under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code on approximately $73.8 million of net operating losses (“NOLs”) relating to fresh start accounting from our reorganization in 1992. As a result, we requested a refund related to the amended returns in the amount of $6.2 million and have reduced our Federal tax liability in the amount of $19.6 million in subsequent tax returns. In 2006, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) completed its examination of our filing position in our amended returns and disallowed our request for a refund and our position to remove the restriction on the NOLs. We appealed the examiner’s disallowance of the NOLs to the Office of Appeals. In December 2008, the Office of Appeals denied our appeal, as well as a request for mediation. We disagreed with the IRS interpretation disallowing the utilization of the NOLs and in August 2009, filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado seeking recovery of $6.2 million in over payments that were previously denied by the IRS, plus interest. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the utilization of the NOLs, we have not reflected any of the benefits of the utilization of the NOLs within our financial statements; thus if we are unsuccessful in our action regarding this matter it will not negatively impact our results of operations.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures
The following table reconciles from segment Reported EBITDA to net income (loss) attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. (in thousands):
12
The following table reconciles Net Debt (in thousands):
Less: cash and cash equivalents
Net debt
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Significant Sources of Cash
Our second and third fiscal quarters historically result in seasonally high cash on hand as our ski resorts are generally open for ski operations from mid-November to mid-April, from which we have historically generated a significant portion of our operating cash flows for the fiscal year. Additionally, cash provided by operating activities can be significantly impacted by the timing or mix of closings on and investment in real estate development projects.
In addition to our $97.3 million of cash and cash equivalents at January 31, 2011, we have $319.4 million available under our Credit Facility (which represents the total commitment of $400.0 million less certain letters of credit outstanding of $80.6 million), which was amended and restated on January 25, 2011. Key modifications to the Credit Facility included, among other things, the extension of the maturity on the revolving credit facility from February 2012 to January 2016 (subject to the repayment or refinancing of the 6.75% Notes by November 15, 2013); increased grid pricing for interest rate margins (currently, under the Credit Facility, at LIBOR plus 1.75%) and commitment fees (currently, under the Credit Facility, at 0.35%); the expansion of baskets for improved flexibility in our ability to incur debt and make acquisitions, investments and distributions; and the elimination of certain financial covenants.
We generated $243.7 million of cash from operating activities during the six months ended January 31, 2011, an increase of $229.6 million compared to $14.1 million of cash generated during the six months ended January 31, 2010. The increase in operating cash flows was primarily a result of real estate closings that occurred in the six months ended January 31, 2011 which generated $144.6 million in proceeds compared to no real estate closings that occurred in the six months ended January 31, 2010. Additionally, investments in real estate decreased $97.9 million during the six months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2010 as our real estate projects under development have reached substantial completion. Additionally, an improvement in resort operations, including from Northstar-at-Tahoe which was acquired in October 2010, have increased Resort EBITDA $18.3 million for the six months ended January 31, 2011 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2010. Partially offsetting the above items was an increase in accounts receivable and other assets and liabilities, net of $10.5 million, and $9.4 million, respectively.
Cash used in investing activities for the six months ended January 31, 2011 increased by $95.1 million compared to the six months ended January 31, 2010, due to the acquisition of Northstar-at-Tahoe in October 2010 for $60.5 million (net of cash assumed), an increase in resort capital expenditures of $25.6 million during the six months ended January 31, 2011, and the prior year cash receipt of $8.9 million primarily related to a land parcel we sold during the six months ended January 31, 2010.
13
Cash used in financing activities increased $40.7 million during the six months ended January 31, 2011, compared to the six months ended January 31, 2011, primarily resulting from a reduction in net borrowings under the Credit Facility of $35.0 million during the six months ended January 31, 2011 and costs associated with the amended and restated Credit Facility.
Significant Uses of Cash
Our cash uses currently include providing for operating expenditures and capital expenditures for assets to be used in operations and to a substantially lesser degree remaining expenditures on substantially completed real estate projects and future development projects.
We expect to spend approximately $25 million to $30 million in calendar year 2011 on substantially completed real estate projects, including the completion of associated resort-related depreciable assets, and on future development projects of which approximately $2 million was spent as of January 31, 2011.
We have historically invested significant cash in capital expenditures for our resort operations, and we expect to continue to invest in the future. Current capital expenditure levels will primarily include investments that allow us to maintain our high quality standards, as well as certain incremental discretionary improvements at our six ski resorts and throughout our owned hotels. Additionally, with the acquisition of Northstar-at-Tahoe to our ski resort portfolio, we expect to significantly invest in this resort property to enhance the guest experience. We evaluate additional discretionary capital improvements based on an expected level of return on investment. We currently anticipate we will spend approximately $83 million to $93 million of resort capital expenditures for calendar year 2011 excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe and an additional $28 million to $32 million related to Northstar-at-Tahoe, excluding resort depreciable assets arising from real estate activities noted above. Included in these capital expenditures are approximately $40 million to $44 million excluding Northstar-at-Tahoe and an additional $4 million to $6 million related to Northstar-at-Tahoe, which are necessary to maintain appearance and level of service appropriate to our resort operations, including routine replacement of snow grooming equipment and rental fleet equipment. Discretionary expenditures for calendar 2011 are expected to include a new high speed chairlift to serve Beaver Creek mountain; a new on-mountain fine dining restaurant at Vail; renovation at certain owned lodging properties; expansion of terrain at Northstar-at-Tahoe, including a new high speed chairlift; a new on-mountain dining venue at Northstar-at-Tahoe and renovation of the commercial village at Northstar-at-Tahoe to bring in a new tenant mix. We currently plan to utilize cash on hand, borrowings available under our Credit Facility and/or cash flow generated from future operations to provide the cash necessary to execute our capital plans. Additionally, we do not expect to make any significant income tax payments throughout the year ending July 31, 2011 due to accelerated tax deductions, subject to a settlement of the dispute with the IRS over the utilization of NOLs previously discussed.
Principal payments on the vast majority of our long-term debt are not due until fiscal 2014 and beyond. As of January 31, 2011 and 2010, total long-term debt (including long-term debt due within one year) was $497.8 million and $491.7 million, respectively. Net Debt (defined as long-term debt plus long-term debt due within one year less cash and cash equivalents) decreased from $433.7 million as of January 31, 2010 to $400.5 million as of January 31, 2011 due primarily to an increase in cash and cash equivalents.
Our debt service requirements can be impacted by changing interest rates as we had $52.6 million of variable-rate debt outstanding as of January 31, 2011. A 100-basis point change in LIBOR would cause our annual interest payments to change by approximately $0.5 million. The fluctuation in our debt service requirements, in addition to interest rate changes, may be impacted by future borrowings under our Credit Facility or other alternative financing arrangements we may enter into. Our long term liquidity needs are dependent upon operating results that impact the borrowing capacity under the Credit Facility, which can be mitigated by adjustments to capital expenditures, flexibility of investment activities and the ability to obtain favorable future financing. We can respond to liquidity impacts of changes in the business and economic environment by managing our capital expenditures and the timing of new real estate development activity.
Our 6.75% Notes are due in fiscal 2014. In the fiscal year ending July 31, 2011, we may consider re-financing this debt depending on many factors, including current credit markets and terms available to us.
14
On March 9, 2006, our Board of Directors approved the repurchase of up to 3,000,000 shares of common stock and on July 16, 2008 approved an increase of our common stock repurchase authorization by an additional 3,000,000 shares. We did not repurchase any shares of common stock during the six months ended January 31, 2011. Since inception of our stock repurchase plan, we have repurchased 4,262,804 shares at a cost of approximately $162.8 million, through January 31, 2011. As of January 31, 2011, 1,735,196 shares remained available under the existing repurchase authorization. Shares of common stock purchased pursuant to the repurchase program will be held as treasury shares and may be used for the issuance of shares under our employee share award plans. Acquisitions under the stock repurchase program may be made from time to time at prevailing prices as permitted by applicable laws, and subject to market conditions and other factors. The timing as well as the number of shares that may be repurchased under the program will depend on a number of factors, including our future financial performance, our available cash resources and competing uses for cash that may arise in the future, the restrictions in our Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of January 25, 2011, between The Vail Corporation (a wholly-owned subsidiary), Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent and the Lenders party thereto (the “Credit Agreement”) governing our Credit Facility and the Indenture, dated as of January 29, 2004, between the Company, the guarantors therein and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as Trustee (the “Indenture”), governing the 6.75% Notes due 2014, prevailing prices of our common stock and the number of shares that become available for sale at prices that we believe are attractive. The stock repurchase program may be discontinued at any time and is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s capitalization.
Covenants and Limitations
We must abide by certain restrictive financial covenants under the Credit Agreement and the Indenture. The most restrictive of those covenants include the following Credit Agreement covenants: Net Funded Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio and the Interest Coverage ratio (each as defined in the Credit Agreement). In addition, our financing arrangements, including the Indenture, limit our ability to incur certain indebtedness, make certain restricted payments, enter into certain investments, make certain affiliate transfers and may limit our ability to enter into certain mergers, consolidations or sales of assets. Our borrowing availability under the Credit Agreement is primarily determined by the Net Funded Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio, which is based on our segment operating performance, as defined in the Credit Agreement.
We were in compliance with all restrictive financial covenants in our debt instruments as of January 31, 2011. We expect we will meet all applicable financial maintenance covenants in our Credit Agreement, including the Net Funded Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio throughout the year ending July 31, 2011. However, there can be no assurance that we will continue to meet such financial covenants. If such covenants are not met, we would be required to seek a waiver or amendment from the banks who are parties to the Credit Agreement. While we anticipate that we would obtain such waiver or amendment, if any were necessary, there can be no assurance that such waiver or amendment would be granted, which could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity.
OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
We do not have off balance sheet transactions that are expected to have a material effect on our financial condition, revenue, expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Except for any historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this Form 10-Q contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to analyses and other information available as of the date hereof, which are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These statements also relate to our contemplated future prospects, developments and business strategies.
These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “will” and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
prolonged weakness in general economic conditions, including adverse effects on the overall travel and leisure related industries;
unfavorable weather conditions or natural disasters;
15
adverse events that occur during our peak operating periods combined with the seasonality of our business;
competition in our mountain and lodging businesses;
our ability to grow our resort and real estate operations;
our ability to successfully complete real estate development projects and achieve the anticipated financial benefits from such projects;
further adverse changes in real estate markets;
continued volatility in credit markets;
our ability to obtain financing on terms acceptable to us to finance our real estate development, capital expenditures and growth strategy;
our reliance on government permits or approvals for our use of Federal land or to make operational improvements;
adverse consequences of current or future legal claims;
our ability to hire and retain a sufficient seasonal workforce;
willingness of our guests to travel due to terrorism, the uncertainty of military conflicts or outbreaks of contagious diseases, and the cost and availability of travel options;
negative publicity which diminishes the value of our brands;
our ability to integrate and successfully realize anticipated benefits of future acquisitions; and
implications arising from new Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)/governmental legislation, rulings or interpretations.
All forward-looking statements attributable to us or any persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.
If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Given these uncertainties, users of the information included in this Form 10-Q, including investors and prospective investors, are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements that the Company makes for a number of reasons including those described in this Form 10-Q and in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of the Form 10-K. All forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof. Except as may be required by law, the Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information, future events or other circumstances have made them incorrect or misleading.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Interest Rate Risk. Our exposure to market risk is limited primarily to the fluctuating interest rates associated with variable rate indebtedness. At January 31, 2011, we had $52.6 million of variable rate indebtedness, representing 10.6% of our total debt outstanding, at an average interest rate during the three and six months ended January 31, 2011 of 0.7% and 0.8%, respectively. Based on variable-rate borrowings outstanding as of January 31, 2011, a 100-basis point (or 1.0%) change in LIBOR would have caused our annual interest payments to change by $0.5 million. Our market risk exposure fluctuates based on changes in underlying interest rates.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Management of the Company, under the supervision and with participation of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) as of the end of the period covered by this report on Form 10-Q.
Based upon their evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, the CEO and the CFO concluded that the disclosure controls are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and are effective to provide reasonable assurance that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms.
16
The Company, including its CEO and CFO, does not expect that the Company’s internal controls and procedures will prevent or detect all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived or operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this Form 10-Q that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
The Canyons Ski Resort Litigation
During the fourth quarter of the year ended July 31, 2007, we entered into an agreement with Peninsula Advisors, LLC (“Peninsula”) for the negotiation and mutual acquisition of The Canyons and the land underlying The Canyons. On July 15, 2007, American Skiing Company (“ASC”) entered into an agreement to sell The Canyons to Talisker Corporation and Talisker Canyons Finance Company, LLC (together “Talisker”). On July 27, 2007, we filed a complaint in the District Court in Colorado against Peninsula and Talisker claiming, among other things, breach of contract by Peninsula and intentional interference with contractual relations and prospective business relations. We have moved to dismiss with prejudice our claims against Talisker, who similarly has moved to dismiss its counterclaims against us. We also dismissed our claims against Peninsula without prejudice. The Court accepted these dismissals on March 2, 2011, so we no longer are a party to any remaining litigation stemming from this dispute.
Internal Revenue Service Litigation
On August 24, 2009, we filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado against the United States of America seeking a refund of approximately $6.2 million in Federal income taxes paid for the tax years ended December 31, 2000 and December 31, 2001. Our amended tax returns for those years included calculations of NOLs carried forward from prior years to reduce our tax years 2000 and 2001 tax liabilities. The IRS has disallowed refunds associated with those NOL carry forwards and we disagree with the IRS action disallowing the utilization of the NOLs. The IRS filed its answer on November 6, 2009 denying liability for our claimed refunds. The parties completed discovery on August 31, 2010, and completed the briefing of their respective summary judgment motions on October 25, 2010. It is unknown when the Court will issue its summary judgment rulings and we are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this matter.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail Litigation
The holders of contracts to purchase 14 Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail units commenced actions seeking rescission of their contracts based on, among other things, a disputed delivery date included in their respective purchase and sale agreements. We have resolved all but one of the cases, leaving only one unit still subject to litigation.
Specifically, we are a defendant in a case filed in United States District, District of Colorado: John M. Johnson Revocable Trust and Milford Holding Inv. Inc. v. RCR Vail, LLC, filed on November 8, 2010. The John M. Johnson Revocable Trust complaint also alleges breach of contract, for failure to complete the common elements of the project by a certain specific date. Plaintiffs seek termination of the contract and return of the deposit. We contend that legitimate delays, provided for in the contract, extended the deadline for completion of the common elements and therefore we are not in breach of any obligation.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
There have been no material changes from risk factors previously disclosed in Item 1A to Part I of the Company’s Form 10-K.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
None.
17
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.
ITEM 4. REMOVED AND RESERVED.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS.
The following exhibits are either filed herewith or, if so indicated, incorporated by reference to the documents indicated in parentheses, which have previously been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
18
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: March 10, 2011
/s/ Jeffrey W. Jones
/s/ Mark L. Schoppet
19