Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. Reports 2016 Third Quarter Financial Results

NEW YORK, Nov. 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Third Quarter 2016 Highlights:

• Tour Revenues increased 21% to $70.8 million.
• Net Income increased 68% to $7.4 million.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 10% to $17.4 million.
• Lindblad segment Net Yield increased 8% to $1,008.
• Lindblad segment Occupancy increased to 90.8%.
• Stock and warrant repurchase plan increased to a total of $35.0 million.

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LIND; the "Company" or "Lindblad"), a global provider of expedition cruises and adventure travel experiences, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016.

Sven-Olof Lindblad, President and Chief Executive Officer, said "Lindblad's ability to expand our Net Yield and maintain occupancy despite current headwinds speaks to the strength of our operating model and the appeal of our differentiated brand. While quarterly results can fluctuate depending on a variety of planned and unplanned factors, we remain confident in the long-term growth opportunity we have in front of us as we introduce new vessels and expand our itineraries to further capitalize on the growing demand for high quality, immersive expedition travel."

THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

Tour Revenues

Third quarter tour revenues of $70.8 million increased $12.2 million, or 21%, as compared to the third quarter of 2015, primarily due to contributions from Natural Habitat, which was acquired in May of 2016. Lindblad segment revenue of $56.2 million decreased $2.4 million, or 4%, compared to the third quarter of 2015 primarily due to a $1.3 million decrease in guest ticket revenues as an increase in pricing, due to higher rates and changes in itineraries, was more than offset by a 9% decrease in Available Guest Nights.

Lindblad segment Net Yield increased 8% in the third quarter to $1,008 as compared to the same period a year ago, primarily as a result of increased pricing. The decline in Available Guest Nights was mainly due to the planned repositioning of certain vessels, as well as from the cancellation of a voyage on the National Geographic Orion for unplanned maintenance. Occupancy increased to 90.8% compared with 90.5% in the third quarter of 2015.

Net Income

Net Income of $7.4 million for the third quarter 2016, $0.16 per diluted share, increased $3.0 million as compared with $4.4 million, $0.10 per diluted share, in the third quarter a year ago, primarily due to $5.5 million in costs related to the merger with Capitol Acquisition Corp. II in the third quarter of 2015.

Adjusted EBITDA

Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $17.4 million increased $1.6 million, or 10%, compared to the same period in 2015, due to a $0.9 million increase at the Lindblad segment and $0.6 million from Natural Habitat. Lindblad segment Adjusted EBITDA of $16.7 million increased 6% as lower cost of tours, primarily from a decline in air and fuel expenses, was partially offset by the decrease in revenue and additional public company costs. Adjusted Net Cruise Cost per Available Guest Night increased 4% to $664 in the third quarter as compared to $638 in the same period a year ago as the lower cost of tours was offset by the impact of a 9% decrease in Available Guest Nights.

Liquidity

The Company's cash and cash equivalents were $149.0 million at September 30, 2016 as compared with $206.9 million at December 31, 2015. The decrease primarily reflects the $15.7 million in cash generated from operations, which was more than offset by purchases of property and equipment of $50.6 million, mostly related to the new ships, and by net cash used in the acquisition of Natural Habitat of $9.9 million. The current year also reflects $5.4 million of cash used to repurchase warrants.

Free cash flow use of $34.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was a decline of $57.1 million from the comparable period in 2015 as the improved operating results were offset by spending on the new ships and other capital expenditures. Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment.

Segment Results

LINDBLAD FLEET ACTIVITIES

The National Geographic Endeavour II is on schedule for deployment at the end of the fourth quarter and will operate year-round in the Galápagos Islands, replacing the National Geographic Endeavour. In December 2016, the Company will expand its travel offerings with new expeditions in Cuba aboard the 42-guest Panorama II. The vessel is chartered for two years and will operate on a seasonal basis from December through March.

Additionally, the Company's two newbuild coastal vessels are proceeding on schedule. The first vessel, National Geographic Quest, is expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2017 and will sail in Alaska and British Columbia during the summer of 2017 before voyaging to Costa Rica and Panama to provide expeditions for the Northern Hemisphere winter season. The second vessel is expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2018.

STOCK AND WARRANT REPURCHASE PLAN

The Company's Board of Directors has approved a $15.0 million increase to the stock and warrant repurchase plan to a total of $35.0 million. This plan, which was authorized in November 2015, authorizes the Company to purchase from time to time the Company's outstanding common stock and warrants through open market repurchases and/or in privately negotiated transactions based on market and business conditions, applicable legal requirements and other factors. To date, the Company has repurchased 4.06 million of its warrants for $10.9 million and now has $24.1 million remaining under the plan.

FULL YEAR 2016

As of October 31, 2016, the Lindblad segment had 95% of full year 2016 projected guest ticket revenues on the books.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

The Company uses a variety of operational and financial metrics, including non-GAAP financial measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, Net Yields and Net Cruise Costs, to enable it to analyze its performance and financial condition. The Company utilizes these financial measures to manage its business on a day-to-day basis and believes that they are the most relevant measures of performance. Some of these measures are commonly used in the cruise and tourism industry to evaluate performance. The Company believes these non-GAAP measures provide expanded insight to assess revenue and cost performance, in addition to the standard GAAP-based financial measures. There are no specific rules or regulations for determining non-GAAP measures, and as such, they may not be comparable to measures used by other companies within the industry.

The presentation of non-GAAP financial information should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. The definitions of non-GAAP financial measures along with a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial information to GAAP are included in the supplemental financial schedules beginning on page 9.

Conference Call Information

The Company has scheduled a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on November 4, 2016 to discuss the earnings of the Company. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (844) 378-6487 (United States), (855) 669-9657 (Canada) or (412) 542-4182 (outside the U.S.). A replay of the call will be available at the Company's investor relations website, investors.expeditions.com.

About Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. is an expedition travel company that focuses on ship-based voyages through its Lindblad Expeditions brand and on land-based travel through its subsidiary, Natural Habitat Adventures, an adventure travel and ecotourism company with a focus on responsible nature travel.

Lindblad Expeditions works in partnership with National Geographic to inspire people to explore and care about the planet. The organizations work in tandem to produce innovative marine expedition programs and to promote conservation and sustainable tourism around the world. The partnership's educationally oriented voyages allow guests to interact with and learn from leading scientists, naturalists and researchers while discovering stunning natural environments, above and below the sea, through state-of-the-art exploration tools.

Natural Habitat partners with the World Wildlife Fund to offer and promote conservation and sustainable travel that directly protects nature. Natural Habitat's adventures include polar bear tours in Churchill, Canada, Alaskan grizzly bear adventures and African safaris.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this press release are "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include the Company's financial projections and may also generally be identified as such because the context of such statements will include words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" or words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe the Company's financial guidance or future plans, objectives or goals are also forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from those expected, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) changes adversely affecting the business in which the Company is engaged; (ii) management of the Company's growth and its ability to execute on its planned growth; (iii) general economic conditions; (iv) the Company's business strategy and plans; (v) compliance with applicable laws and regulations; (vi) compliance with the financial and/or operating covenants in the Company's amended and restated credit agreement; (vii) adverse publicity regarding the cruise industry in general; (viii) loss of business due to competition; (ix) the result of future financing efforts; (x) the inability to meet revenue and Adjusted EBITDA projections; and (xi) those risks described in the Company's filings with the SEC. Stockholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are made only as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. More detailed information about factors that may affect the Company's performance may be found in its filings with the SEC, which are available at http://www.sec.gov or at http://www.expeditions.com in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website.