WILDWOOD, Mo., Dec. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Peak Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:SKIS) (“Peak” or the “Company”), a leading owner and operator of high-quality, individually branded U.S. ski resorts, today reported financial results for its fiscal 2018 second quarter as summarized below:

                     
(in thousands, except per share data)   Three months ended
October  31,
    Six months ended
October  31,
    2017       2016       2017     2016  
                     
Revenues $  8,838     $  8,475     $  16,358   $  15,601  
Resort operating costs $  15,121     $  13,015     $  28,660   $  24,779  
Loss from operations $  (11,776 )   $  (10,136 )   $  (23,225 ) $  (20,253 )
Net loss $  (8,914 )   $  (7,982 )   $  (17,509 ) $  (15,886 )
Loss per share (basic and diluted) $  (0.66 )   $  (0.57 )   $  (1.30 ) $  (1.13 )
Weighted average shares outstanding    13,982        13,982        13,982      13,982  
Vested restricted stock units    60        29        55      34  
Reported EBITDA* $  (8,622 )   $  (6,920 )   $  (16,926 ) $  (13,820 )
*See page 3 for Definitions of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
 

Timothy D. Boyd, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “As we closed out the first half of fiscal 2018, which is the seasonally slowest part of our fiscal year, Peak Resorts delivered second quarter revenue growth of 4% and overall results consistent with our expectations. In fiscal 2018 to-date, we have succeeded with our expense management and strategic investment initiatives to position the Company for what we believe will be a very successful ski season and a strong second half of our 2018 fiscal year. In particular, Peak Pass sales were running approximately 9% higher on a unit and revenue basis over the prior year through mid-October and we have seen further strength in sales through November, including increased interest for the Drifter pass for young adults, which remains available at pre-season pricing through mid-December.

“More recently, the completion of our EB-5 funded West Lake snowmaking project enabled Mount Snow to open for the 2017/2018 season on November 11, representing one of the earliest openings on record for our flagship resort. The powerful new snowmaking infrastructure in place at Mount Snow allowed our team to welcome skiers with the most skiable terrain in the Northeast and build on that initial opening capacity with more than 180 skiable acres for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Skier interest at Mount Snow has been very strong, as has early visitation at Hunter Mountain, Wildcat and Big Boulder, which represents a very favorable start to the new ski season for our Northeast resorts.

“Furthermore, we expect customer excitement at Mount Snow to build throughout the season as skiers and snowboarders experience the power of our expanded snowmaking capacity to create great conditions and they see the progress we are making on the Carinthia Ski Lodge, which remains on schedule to open for the 2018/2019 ski season. Both the West Lake and Carinthia base development projects highlight Peak’s ability to structure, finance and execute facility enhancement projects that are expected to drive increased patronage and revenue growth as well as provide an attractive ROI.

“The recent federal approval of the Great North Regional Center, our new privately-managed regional center, positions Peak to leverage this new EB-5 investment sponsor for additional Northeast region development projects. As a central component of our long-term organic growth strategy, the Great North Regional Center provides us with enhanced oversight and improved flexibility for future EB-5 projects, including the upcoming phase two of our Mount Snow development plan, which will include 104 ski-in/ski-out residential units centered on the Carinthia base.”

Fiscal Second Quarter Results Review
Fiscal 2018 second quarter revenue increased 4.3% year over year to $8.8 million as the Company benefited from an increase in other revenue. While the fiscal second quarter is traditionally the Company’s slowest seasonal period, results in the quarter were roughly in-line with expectations.

Resort operating expenses in the fiscal 2018 second quarter rose 16.2% year over year to $15.1 million as the Company’s operating expense levels normalized versus the prior year. Peak significantly reduced variable expenses in the prior year period through employee furloughs and strict spending controls to mitigate ongoing liquidity restraints driven by the negative impact from unusually warm winter weather during the 2015/2016 ski season which led to lower overall visitation levels. The liquidity restraints which impacted the prior year period were also related to the delay in the Company’s EB-5 escrow reimbursement. General and administrative expenses remained flat at $1.5 million.

Reported EBITDA for the second fiscal quarter of 2018 was a loss of $8.6 million, compared to a loss of $6.9 million in the year-ago quarter.

Balance Sheet Update
As of October 31, 2017, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $13.0 million and total outstanding debt of $182.2 million, including $12.4 million drawn against its revolving line of credit and long-term debt of $164.9 million. During the 2018 fiscal second quarter, the Company renewed its acquisition line of credit and entered into a new revolving line of credit.

Christopher J. Bub, Chief Financial Officer, added, “Our fiscal second quarter historically operates at a loss as our resorts are not open for ski operations during the period. However, the fiscal 2018 second quarter was a very productive period for Peak Resorts and we are positioned for solid growth in the second half of this fiscal year, dependent of course on the expectation of normal seasonal weather.

“Capital spending of $9.5 million in the quarter included $3.0 million of West Lake snowmaking project expenditures and $2.7 million for the Carinthia Ski Lodge project, both of which were EB-5 funded. The remaining $3.8 million of capital spending included the widening of the Long John trail at Mount Snow, initial spending on the Hunter Mountain expansion project and normal maintenance capital spending to prepare our resorts for the upcoming season. These capital projects are in keeping with our long-term strategy of investing in our resorts to further improve the guest experience and operating performance, which we believe will result in yield improvements across our business and enhance our resorts for the 2017/2018 ski season.

“More recently, we bolstered our liquidity position, closing on a new $10 million revolving line of credit and renewing our $15 million acquisition line of credit with Royal Banks of Missouri. In all, Peak Resorts’ capital structure positions the Company to pursue return-focused expansion at our existing resorts and growth in our mountain portfolio while returning capital to shareholders through our regular quarterly cash dividend and enhancing long-term shareholder value.”

Investor Conference Call and Webcast
The Company will host an investor conference call and webcast to discuss its fiscal 2018 second quarter results today at 4:30 p.m. ET. Interested parties can access the conference call by dialing (844) 526-1518 or, for international callers, by dialing (647) 253-8644; the conference ID number is 9696728. A webcast of the conference call can also be accessed live at ir.peakresorts.com (select “Event Calendar”). Following the completion of the call, an archived webcast will be available for replay at the same location.

Definitions and Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Reported EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Company defines Reported EBITDA as net income before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, gain on sale/leaseback, other income or expense and other non-recurring items. The following table includes a reconciliation of Reported EBITDA to the GAAP related measure of net loss:

                   
(dollars in thousands) Three months ended
October 31,
  Six months ended
October 31,
  2017 2016   2017 2016
Net loss $  (8,914 ) $  (7,982 )   $  (17,509 ) $  (15,886 )
Income tax benefit $  (5,941 ) $  (5,226 )   $  (11,668 ) $  (10,402 )
Interest expense, net $  3,196   $  3,156     $  6,207   $  6,204  
Depreciation and amortization $  3,154   $  3,216     $  6,299   $  6,433  
Investment income $  (34 ) $  (1 )   $  (89 ) $  (3 )
Gain on sale/leaseback $  (83 ) $  (83 )   $  (166 ) $  (166 )
Reported EBITDA* $  (8,622 ) $  (6,920 )   $  (16,926 ) $  (13,820 )
                           

The Company has specifically chosen to include Reported EBITDA as a measurement of its results of operations because it considers this measurement to be a significant indication of its financial performance and available capital resources. Because of large depreciation and other charges relating to the Company’s ski resorts operations, it is difficult for management to fully and accurately evaluate financial performance and available capital resources using net income alone. In addition, the use of this non-U.S. GAAP measure provides an indication of the Company’s ability to service debt, and management considers it an appropriate measure to use because of the Company’s highly leveraged position. Management believes that by providing investors with Reported EBITDA, they will have a clearer understanding of the Company’s financial performance and cash flows because Reported EBITDA: (i) is widely used in the ski industry to measure a company’s operating performance without regard to items excluded from the calculation of such measure; (ii) helps investors to more meaningfully evaluate and compare the results of the Company’s operations from period to period by removing the effect of its capital structure and asset base from operating results; and (iii) is used by the Board of Directors, management and lenders for various purposes, including as a measure of the Company’s operating performance and as a basis for planning.

The items excluded from net income to arrive at Reported EBITDA are significant components for understanding and assessing the Company’s financial performance and liquidity. Reported EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to, or substitute for, net income, net change in cash and cash equivalents or other financial statement data presented in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity. Because Reported EBITDA is not a measurement determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP and is susceptible to varying calculations, Reported EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

About Peak Resorts
Headquartered in Missouri, Peak Resorts is a leading owner and operator of high-quality, individually branded ski resorts in the U.S. The Company operates 14 ski resorts primarily located in the Northeast and Midwest, 13 of which are Company owned.
The majority of the resorts are located within 100 miles of major metropolitan markets, including New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Cleveland and St. Louis, enabling day and overnight drive accessibility. The resorts under the Company’s umbrella offer a breadth of activities, services and amenities, including skiing, snowboarding, terrain parks, tubing, dining, lodging, equipment rentals and sales, ski and snowboard instruction and mountain biking and other summer activities. To learn more, visit the Company’s website at ir.peakresorts.com or follow Peak Resorts on Facebook for resort updates.
For further information, or to receive future Peak Resorts news announcements via e-mail, please contact JCIR, at 212-835-8500 or [email protected]

Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the future outlook and performance of Peak Resorts, Inc., within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. These risks and uncertainties are discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2017, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and as updated from time to time in the Company’s filings with the SEC.  Peak Resorts undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Investor Contact:
Norberto Aja, Jim Leahy, Joseph Jaffoni
JCIR
212-835-8500 or [email protected]

 
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
                         
             
      Three months ended
October 31,
    Six months ended
October 31,
      2017       2016       2017       2016  
                         
                         
Net revenue   $  8,838     $  8,475     $  16,358     $  15,601  
                         
Operating expenses:                        
Resort operating costs      15,121        13,015        28,660        24,779  
Depreciation and amortization      3,154        3,216        6,299        6,433  
General and administrative      1,529        1,517        2,777        2,889  
Real estate and other non-income taxes      471        537        1,155        1,100  
Land and building rent      339        326        692        653  
       20,614        18,611        39,583        35,854  
Loss from operations      (11,776 )      (10,136 )      (23,225 )      (20,253 )
                         
Other (expense) income:                        
Interest, net of amounts capitalized of $514 and $945 in 2017 and $398 and $782 in 2016, respectively      (3,196 )      (3,156 )      (6,207 )      (6,204 )
Gain on sale/leaseback      83        83        166        166  
Other income      34        1        89        3  
       (3,079 )      (3,072 )      (5,952 )      (6,035 )
                         
Loss before income taxes      (14,855 )      (13,208 )      (29,177 )      (26,288 )
Income tax benefit      (5,941 )      (5,226 )      (11,668 )      (10,402 )
Net loss   $ (8,914 )   $  (7,982 )   $  (17,509 )   $  (15,886 )
                         
                         
Less declaration and accretion of Series A preferred stock dividends      (400 )      –        (800 )      –  
Net loss attributable to common shareholders   $ (9,314 )   $ (7,982 )   $ (18,309 )   $ (15,886 )
                         
                         
                         
                         
Basic and diluted loss per common share   $  (0.66 )   $  (0.57 )   $  (1.30 )   $  (1.13 )
                         
Cash dividends declared per common share   $  0.07     $  –     $  0.14     $  –  
                         
Cash dividends declared per preferred share   $  20.00     $  –     $  20.00     $  –  

 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
             
      October 31,     April 30,
      2017     2017
Assets     (Unaudited)      
             
Current assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents   $  12,962     $  33,665  
Restricted cash      1,339        11,113  
Income tax receivable      11,668        –  
Accounts receivable      712        5,083  
Inventory      2,630        2,215  
Deferred income taxes      591        591  
Prepaid expenses and deposits      6,926        2,183  
Total current assets      36,828        54,850  
             
Property and equipment, net      199,970        188,143  
Land held for development      37,601        37,583  
Restricted cash, construction      19,539        33,700  
Goodwill      4,825        4,825  
Intangible assets, net      755        788  
Other assets      676        648  
Total assets   $  300,194     $  320,537  
             
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity            
             
Current liabilities:            
Revolving lines of credit   $  12,375     $  4,500  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses      11,120        12,371  
Accrued salaries, wages and related taxes and benefits      1,045        1,035  
Unearned revenue      18,753        14,092  
EB-5 investor funds in escrow      –        500  
Current portion of deferred gain on sale/leaseback      333        333  
Current portion of long-term debt and capitalized lease obligation      2,838        3,592  
Total current liabilities      46,464        36,423  
             
Long-term debt      164,881        174,785  
Capitalized lease obligations      2,148        2,708  
Deferred gain on sale/leaseback      2,679        2,845  
Deferred income taxes      12,474        12,474  
Other liabilities      522        540  
Total liabilities      229,168        229,775  
             
Series A preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, $1,000 liquidation preference per share, 40,000 shares authorized, 20,000 shares issued and outstanding      17,401        17,001  
             
Commitments and contingencies            
             
Stockholders’ equity:            
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share, 20,000,000 shares authorized, 13,982,400 shares issued and outstanding      140        140  
Additional paid-in capital      86,529        86,372  
Accumulated deficit      (33,044 )      (12,751 )
Total stockholders’ equity      53,625        73,761  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $  300,194     $  320,537  

 
Supplemental Operating Data
(dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
                     
  Three months ended
October 31,
  Six months ended
October 31,
    2017     2016     2017   2016
                     
Revenues:                    
Food and beverage $  2,735   $  2,728   $  5,565 $  5,215
Hotel/lodging $  2,014   $  2,052   $  3,855 $  3,860
Retail $  429   $  430   $  670 $  621
Summer activities $  2,578   $  2,570   $  4,459 $  4,549
Other $  1,082   $  695   $  1,809 $  1,356
Total $  8,838   $  8,475   $  16,358 $  15,601
                     
Resort operating expenses:                    
Labor and labor related expenses $  8,999   $  7,810   $  17,610 $  15,517
Retail and food and beverage cost of sales $  1,118   $  912   $  1,870 $  1,673
Power and utilities $  800   $  843   $  1,589 $  1,431
Other $  4,204   $  3,450   $  7,591 $  6,158
Total $  15,121   $  13,015   $  28,660 $  24,779