Regent Seven Seas Cruises Reports Results for Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012: Revenue Growth of 8.6 Percent and 8.9 Percent Respectively


MIAMI, March 7, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Cruises S. DE R.L. or the "Company") reported financial results today for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2012.

  • Fourth quarter revenue reached a record amount of $117.2 million, an increase of 8.6 percent over the fourth quarter of 2011 despite stable capacity. Net Per Diem for the fourth quarter of 2012 increased 1.8 percent over the fourth quarter of 2011. Adjusted EBITDA was $9.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared with $14.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.
  • Full year revenue reached a record of $529.1 million, an increase of 8.9 percent over full year 2011. Net Yield for full year 2012 was a record $484.50, an increase of 0.6 percent over full year 2011 while occupancy also reached a record 94.4% in 2012, an increase of 2.5 percentage points over 2011. Adjusted EBITDA was $87.9 million for full year 2012 compared with $96.7 million for full year 2011.

Commenting on the full year 2012, the Company's Chairman and CEO, Frank Del Rio stated, "We are pleased with our record revenue, Net Yields and occupancy achieved this year. Given the challenges presented in Europe and the economic and political uncertainty in the U.S., the results once again validate our philosophy of including additional value in our already industry leading all-inclusive product offerings rather than discounting cruise fares. Our continued focus on the experiences of our guests and travel agency partners has resulted in the Company being named Best For Luxury by Cruise Critic. We are also pleased to report that we successfully re-priced our first lien term loan on February 1st, which lowered our margin by 150 basis points. We believe this is another testament to our strong financial performance."

Other key operating metrics for the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to the prior year are as follows:

  • Net Cruise Cost, excluding Fuel and Other expense, per APCD, increased 8.9 percent for the fourth quarter primarily driven by non-recurring restructuring charges, additional sales and marketing initiatives in the quarter, increased port expense due to changes in itinerary mix and increased operating costs due to signing a five year agreement with Wartsila to maintain the engines throughout the fleet.
  • Fuel expense, net of settled fuel hedges, was $10.9 million compared to $9.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2011 driven by higher prices slightly offset by lower consumption.
  • Other expense was $1.1 million compared to $1.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2011.

Other key operating metrics for the year ended 2012 compared to the prior year are as follows:

  • Net Cruise Cost, excluding Fuel and Other expense, per APCD, increased 5.2 percent over 2011 primarily driven by non-recurring restructuring charges, increased port expense due to changes in itinerary mix and increased operating costs due to signing a five year agreement with Wartsila to maintain the engines throughout the fleet.
  • Fuel expense, net of settled fuel hedges, was $41.3 million compared to $35.5 million in 2011 driven by higher prices partially offset by lower consumption. As of December 31, 2012, the Company has hedged approximately 56% of expected fuel consumption for 2013 and 29% of expected fuel consumption for 2014.
  • Other expense was $9.2 million compared to $14.0 million in 2011. The 2012 decrease is due to expenses associated with two dry-docks in 2011 versus one in 2012.

About Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is the world's most inclusive luxury cruise line. Fares include all-suite accommodations, round-trip air, highly personalized service, acclaimed cuisine, fine wines and spirits, sightseeing excursions in every port, a pre-cruise luxury hotel package and gratuities. Three award-winning, all-suite vessels, Seven Seas Mariner, Seven Seas Voyager, and Seven Seas Navigator, are among the most spacious at sea and visit more than 250 destinations around the globe.

The Regent Seven Seas Cruises logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=15584

About Prestige Cruise Holdings

Prestige Cruise Holdings (PCH) is the parent company of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. PCH manages select assets in Apollo Management's cruise investment portfolio and is led by Chairman & CEO Frank J. Del Rio and President & COO Kunal S. Kamlani. PCH is the market leader in the upper-premium and luxury segments of the cruise industry with over 6,400 berths between the Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands.

Terminology

Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA plus certain non-cash or non-recurring expenses and charges as well as the impact of settled fuel hedges.

Available Passenger Cruise Days ("APCD") is our measurement of capacity and represents double occupancy per cabin multiplied by the number of cruise days for the period.

EBITDA is net income (loss) excluding depreciation and amortization, net interest expense, and income tax benefit (expense).

Gross Cruise Cost represents the sum of total cruise operating expense plus selling and administrative expense.

Gross Yield represents total revenue per APCD.

Net Cruise Cost represents Gross Cruise Cost excluding commissions, transportation and other expense, and onboard and other expense.

Net Cruise Cost excluding Fuel and Other represents Gross Cruise Cost excluding commissions, transportation and other expense, onboard and other expense, fuel expense and other expense.

Net Per Diem represents Net Revenue divided by Passenger Days Sold.

Net Revenue represents total revenue less commissions, transportation and other expense and onboard and other expense.

Net Yield represents Net Revenue per APCD.

Occupancy is calculated by dividing Passenger Days Sold by APCD.

Passenger Days Sold ("PDS") represents the number of revenue passengers carried for the period multiplied by the number of days within the period of their respective cruises.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We use certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Net Revenue, Net Per Diem, Net Yield, and Net Cruise Cost to enable us to analyze our performance. We utilize these financial measures to manage our business on a day-to-day basis and we believe that they are the most relevant measure of our performance, and some of these measures are commonly used in the cruise industry to measure performance. Our use of non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other companies within our industry.

EBITDA is used by management to measure operating performance of the business. Management believes EBITDA, when considered along with other performance measures, is a useful measure as it reflects certain operating drivers of our business, such as sales growth, operating costs, selling, general and administrative expenses and other operating income and expense. While EBITDA is not a recognized measure under GAAP, management uses this financial measure to evaluate and forecast our business performance. This non-GAAP financial measure has certain material limitations, including:

  • It does not include net interest expense. As we have borrowed money for general corporate purposes, interest expense is a necessary element of our costs and ability to generate profits and cash flows; and
  • It does not include depreciation and amortization expense. As we use capital assets, depreciation and amortization are necessary elements of our costs and ability to generate profits and cash flows. Management compensates for these limitations by using EBITDA, as defined, as only one of several measures for evaluating our business performance. In addition, capital expenditures, which impact depreciation and amortization, net interest expense, and income tax benefit (expense), are reviewed separately by management.

Management believes EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA can provide a more complete understanding of the underlying operating results and trends of the Company and an enhanced overall understanding of our financial performance and prospects for the future. Adjusted EBITDA is also used as a basis to calculate our adherence to certain debt covenant ratios. Certain covenants in our debt agreement are based on financial ratios that reference Adjusted EBITDA. Such covenants restrict our ability to incur or guarantee additional debt and make certain acquisitions in each case under certain circumstances and subject to various exceptions.

We believe that the inclusion of the supplemental adjustments applied in calculating Adjusted EBITDA for purposes of such ratios is appropriate to provide additional information to investors to assess our ability to take certain actions in the future, such as the incurrence of additional secured indebtedness. You are encouraged to evaluate the adjustments and the reasons we consider them appropriate for supplemental analysis. In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses similar to the adjustments in this presentation. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not defined terms under GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA differs from the term "EBITDA" as it is commonly used. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be a measure of liquidity or cash flows from operations or a measure comparable to net income as it does not take into account certain requirements such as capital expenditures and related depreciation, principal and interest payments and tax payments, and it is subject to certain additional adjustments as permitted under our debt agreement. Our use of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other companies within our industry.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain statements, estimates or projections that constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined under U.S. federal securities laws in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts, without limitation, those regarding our business strategy, financial position, results of operations, plans, prospects and objectives of management for future operations (including development plans and objectives relating to our activities) and our fourth quarter results (which reflect what the Company currently expects to report and are subject to adjustment), are forward-looking. Many, but not all, of these statements can be found by looking for terms like "expect," "anticipate," "goal," "project," "plan," "believe," "seek," "could," "will," "may," "might," "forecast," "estimate," "intend," and "future" and for similar words. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations and do not guarantee future performance and may involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements. Examples of these risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, our substantial leverage, including the inability to generate the necessary amount of cash to service our existing debt and the incurrence of substantial indebtedness in the future; continued availability under our credit facilities and compliance with our covenants; our ability to incur significantly more debt despite our substantial existing indebtedness; changes in the global credit markets on our ability to borrow and our counterparty credit risks; adverse economic conditions that may affect consumer demand for cruises such as declines in the securities and real estate markets, declines in disposable income and consumer confidence and higher unemployment rates; the risks associated with operating internationally; adverse events impacting the security of travel that may affect consumer demand for cruises; problems encountered at shipyards, as well as any potential claim, impairment, loss, cancellation or breach of contract in connection with any contracts we have with shipyards; emergency ship repairs, mechanical failures or accidents involving our ships and the impact of delays, costs and other factors resulting therefrom as well as scheduled maintenance, repairs and refurbishment of our ships; the total loss of one or more of our vessels as a result of a marine casualty; the impact of the spread of contagious diseases; the impact of weather and natural disasters; changes in interest rates, fuel costs, foreign currency rates or other operating costs; changes in regulations; accidents, criminal behavior and other incidents affecting the health, safety, security and vacation satisfaction of passengers and causing damage to ships, which could cause reputational harm, the modification of itineraries or cancellation of a cruise or series of cruises; intense competition from other cruise companies as well as non-cruise vacation alternatives which may affect our ability to compete effectively; the lack of acceptance of new itineraries, products or services by our targeted passengers; the possibility of environmental liabilities and other damage that is not covered by insurance or that exceeds our insurance coverage; and such other risks and uncertainties detailed in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to, our risk factors set forth in the fifth amendment to our registration statement on Form S-4 (333-178244) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7, 2012. The above examples are not exhaustive. From time to time, new risks emerge and existing risks increase in relative importance to our operations. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Such forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections regarding our present and future business strategies and the environment in which we will operate in the future. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change of events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement was based. In addition, certain financial measures in this release constitute non-GAAP financial measures as defined by Regulation G. A reconciliation of these items can be found attached hereto and on the Company's web site at www.rssc.com/about/investors.

SEVEN SEAS CRUISES S. DE R.L.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS)
(unaudited in thousands)
         
  Three Months Ended
December 31,
Year Ended
December 31,
  2012 2011 2012 2011
         
Revenue        
Passenger ticket $ 104,779 $ 98,190 $ 477,606 $ 437,582
Onboard and other 12,447 9,744 51,529 48,313
Total revenue 117,226 107,934 529,135 485,895
         
Cruise operating expense        
Commissions, transportation and other 44,324 35,646 185,446 150,580
Onboard and other 2,551 1,833 12,811 12,035
Payroll, related and food 19,813 19,088 78,150 73,098
Fuel 10,822 10,410 42,573 40,592
Other ship operating 11,087 9,699 43,707 38,524
Other 1,116 1,196 9,153 14,044
Total cruise operating expense 89,713 77,872 371,840 328,873
Other operating expense        
Selling and administrative 19,803 17,772 75,061 72,279
Depreciation and amortization 10,513 11,685 40,624 39,222
Total operating expense 120,029 107,329 487,525 440,374
Operating income (loss) (2,803) 605 41,610 45,521
         
Non-operating income (expense)        
Interest income 74 84 434 222
Interest expense (10,931) (8,113) (36,287) (31,497)
Other income (expense) (834) 977 (2,674) (2,928)
Total non-operating expense (11,691) (7,052) (38,527) (34,203)
Income before income taxes (14,494) (6,447) 3,083 11,318
Income tax benefit (expense) (30) (26) (95) 139
Net income (loss)  $ (14,524)  $ (6,473)  $ 2,988  $ 11,457
 
SEVEN SEAS CRUISES S. DE R.L.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited in thousands)
     
  As of December 31,  
  2012 2011
     
Assets    
Current assets    
Cash and cash equivalents  $ 99,857  $ 68,620
Restricted cash  --   743
Trade and other receivables, net  7,279  8,319
Related party receivables  1,798  748
Inventories  6,572  5,132
Prepaid expenses  17,828  19,149
Other current assets  2,692  4,165
Total current assets  136,026  106,876
Property and equipment, net  637,324  655,360
Goodwill  404,858  404,858
Intangible assets, net  83,556  86,120
Other long-term assets  32,950  30,576
Total assets  $ 1,294,714  $ 1,283,790
     
Liabilities and Members' Equity    
Current liabilities    
Trade and other payables  $ 4,483  $ 5,752
Related party payables  131  -- 
Accrued expenses  43,733  41,782
Passenger deposits  169,463  159,312
Derivative liabilities  278  112
Current portion of long-term debt  --   -- 
Total current liabilities  218,088  206,958
Long-term debt  518,358  518,500
Other long-term liabilities  9,635  13,694
Total liabilities  746,081  739,152
Commitments and contingencies    
Members' equity    
Contributed capital  564,372  563,365
Accumulated deficit  (15,739)  (18,727)
Total members' equity  548,633  544,638
Total liabilities and members' equity  $ 1,294,714  $ 1,283,790
 
SEVEN SEAS CRUISES S. DE R.L.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited in thousands)
     
  Year Ended December 31,
  2012 2011
     
Cash flows from operating activities    
Net income $ 2,988 $ 11,457
Adjustments:    
Depreciation and amortization 40,624 39,222
Amortization of deferred financing costs 2,803 3,456
Accretion of debt discount 510 424
Stock-based compensation 1,007 799
Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative contracts (907) 732
Loss on disposals of property and equipment 303 1,174
Loss on early extinguishment of debt 4,487 7,502
Other, net (190) (115)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:    
Trade and other accounts receivable (15) 5,520
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,350 (5,861)
Inventories (1,440) (2,796)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 1,817 1,878
Passenger deposits 8,540 12,286
Net cash provided by operating activities 61,877 75,678
     
Cash flows from investing activities    
Purchases of property and equipment (21,679) (31,017)
Change in restricted cash 512 (16,668)
Acquisition of intangible assets -- (4,443)
Net cash used in investing activities (21,167) (52,128)
     
Cash flows from financing activities    
Repayment of debt (297,250) (208,286)
Net proceeds from the issuance of debt 297,000 225,000
Debt issuance costs (7,250) (7,393)
Deferred payment to acquire intangible asset (2,000) --
Costs associated with the early extinguishment of debt (76) (1,393)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (9,576) 7,928
     
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 103 (116)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 31,237 31,362
Cash and cash equivalents    
Beginning of period 68,620 37,258
End of period $ 99,857 $ 68,620
 
SEVEN SEAS CRUISES S. DE R.L.
NON-GAAP RECONCILING INFORMATION
(unaudited)
         
The following table sets forth selected statistical information:        
         
  Three Months Ended
December 31,
Year Ended December 31,
  2012 2011 2012 2011
Passenger Days Sold  159,285  162,370  644,950  616,490
APCD  173,880  173,880  682,920  670,950
Occupancy 91.6% 93.4% 94.4% 91.9%
Adjusted EBITDA was calculated as follows:        
         
(in thousands) Three Months Ended
December 31,
Year Ended
December 31,
  2012 2011 2012 2011
Net income (loss)  $ (14,525)  $ (6,473)  $ 2,988  $ 11,457
Interest income  (74)  (84)  (434)  (222)
Interest expense  10,931  8,113  36,287  31,497
Depreciation and amortization  10,513  11,685  40,624  39,222
Income tax (benefit) expense, net  30  26  95  (139)
Other (income) expense  834  (977)  2,674  2,928
Equity-based compensation/transactions (a)  331  198  1,007  799
Non-recurring expenses (b)  644  555  1,482  4,006
Restructuring (c)  995  141  1,516  820
Fuel hedge gain (loss) (d)  (67)  1,082  1,310  5,125
Loss on disposal (e)  --  249  303  1,174
ADJUSTED EBITDA  $ 9,612  $ 14,515  $ 87,852  $ 96,667
         
(a) Equity-based compensation/transactions represent stock compensation expense in each period.   
(b) Non-recurring expenses represents the net impact of time out of service as a result of unplanned and non-recurring repairs to vessels; expenses associated with consolidating corporate headquarters; non-recurring professional fees, and other costs associated with raising capital through debt and equity offerings; certain litigation fees; and the fees paid to license the name Regent in the first quarter of 2011. In February 2011, the Company amended the Regent license agreement to perpetually license the Regent name; as such we will not incur any future license fees. 
(c) Restructuring charges represents non-recurring expenses associated with personnel changes, lease termination, and other corporate reorganizations to improve efficiencies. 
(d) Fuel hedge gain (loss) represents the realized gain (loss) on fuel hedges triggered by the settlement of the hedge instrument and is included in other income (expense).
(e) Loss on disposal primarily represents asset write-offs during vessel dry-dock periods.   
 
SEVEN SEAS CRUISES S. DE R.L.
NON-GAAP RECONCILING INFORMATION
(unaudited)
         
Net Per Diem, Gross Yield and Net Yield were calculated as follows (in thousands, except Passenger Days Sold, APCD, Net Per Diem and Yield data):
         
  Three Months Ended
December 31,
Year Ended
December 31,
  2012 2011 2012 2011
         
Passenger ticket revenue  $ 104,779  $ 98,190  $ 477,606  $ 437,582
Onboard and other revenue  12,447  9,744  51,529  48,313
Total revenue  117,226  107,934  529,135  485,895
Less:        
Commissions, transportation and other expense  44,324  35,646  185,446  150,580
Onboard and other expense  2,551  1,833  12,811  12,035
Net Revenue  $ 70,351  $ 70,455  $ 330,878  $ 323,280
         
Passenger Days Sold  159,285  162,370  644,950  616,490
APCD  173,880  173,880  682,920  670,950
Net Per Diem $ 441.67 $ 433.92 $ 513.03 $ 524.39
Gross Yield  674.18  620.74  774.81  724.19
Net Yield  404.60  405.20  484.50  481.82
         
Gross Cruise Cost and Net Cruise Cost were calculated as follows (in thousands, except APCD and cost per APCD): 
         
  Three Months Ended
December 31,
Year Ended December 31,
  2012 2011 2012 2011
         
Total cruise operating expense  $ 89,713  $ 77,872  $ 371,840  $ 328,873
Selling and administrative expense  19,803  17,772  75,061  72,279
Gross Cruise Cost  109,516  95,644  446,901  401,152
Less:        
Commissions, transportation and other expense  44,324  35,646  185,446  150,580
Onboard and other expense  2,551  1,833  12,811  12,035
Net Cruise Cost  62,641  58,165  248,644  238,537
Less:        
Fuel  10,822  10,410  42,573  40,592
Other expense  1,116  1,196  9,153  14,044
Net Cruise Cost, excluding Fuel and Other  $ 50,703  $ 46,559  $ 196,918  $ 183,901
         
APCD  173,880  173,880  682,920  670,950
Gross Cruise Cost per APCD $ 629.84 $ 550.06 $ 654.40 $ 597.89
Net Cruise Cost per APCD  360.25  334.51  364.09  355.52
Net Cruise Cost, excluding Fuel and Other, per APCD  291.60  267.77  288.35  274.09

            

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