Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. Reports 2017 Third Quarter Financial Results

NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Third Quarter 2017 Highlights:

• Tour revenues increased 20% to $84.6 million
• Net income attributable to Lindblad increased 25% to $9.3 million
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 33% to $23.1 million
• Lindblad segment Net Yield increased 4% to $1,048 and Occupancy was 91%

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 quarter ended September 30, 2017.

Sven-Olof Lindblad, President and Chief Executive Officer, said "Lindblad's strategic investment to expand our capacity to capitalize on the rapidly growing demand for expedition travel has begun to deliver significant returns. Bookings in 2017 are up over 30% versus a year ago and the Company delivered strong third quarter financial growth fueled by the July launch of our first new-build vessel, the National Geographic Quest, while at the same time maintaining high occupancy levels across our existing fleet.  This is only the first step in expanding our inventory and we are well under way on construction of her sister ship, the National Geographic Venture, which will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2018. We also announced this morning that we have signed a contract for a new, state-of-the-art, polar ice class vessel. This contract includes options for two additional ships and these vessels will enable us to further immerse our guests in unique and authentic itineraries and broaden our ability to build additional shareholder value in the years to come."   

THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

Tour Revenues

Third quarter tour revenues of $84.6 million increased $13.8 million, or 20%, as compared to the same period in 2016. The increase was driven by $11.3 million of additional contributions from the Lindblad segment and a $2.5 million increase at Natural Habitat. The third quarter of 2017 also included the cancellation of four highly booked voyages on the National Geographic Quest due to a delay in the launch of the vessel. Excluding the impact of these voyage cancellations and additional insurance proceeds received related to the National Geographic Orion, the Company estimates that total tour revenues would have increased 24% over the prior year period to $87.4 million.

Lindblad segment tour revenues of $67.5 million increased 20% compared to the third quarter a year ago primarily due to an $11.6 million increase in ticket revenue, mostly related to the launch of the National Geographic Quest in July of 2017. The growth in ticket revenue also reflects a 4% increase in Net Yield to $1,048, due to increased pricing and changes in itineraries, as well as Occupancy of 91%, which was in line with the same period a year ago. Available Guest Nights increased by 16% primarily due to the addition of the National Geographic Quest to the fleet and from the cancellation of a voyage on the National Geographic Orion in the third quarter of 2016. Excluding the impact of the National Geographic Quest cancellations and additional insurance proceeds received related to the National Geographic Orion, the Company estimates that Lindblad segment tour revenue would have increased 25% over the prior year period to $70.3 million.

Natural Habitat revenues of $17.1 million increased 17% primarily due to higher ticket revenue from additional guests in the current year.  

Net Income

Net income attributable to Lindblad for the third quarter was $9.3 million, $0.20 per diluted share, as compared with net income attributable to Lindblad of $7.4 million, $0.16 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2016.  The $1.9 million improvement was primarily due to the higher operating results as well as lower depreciation and amortization due mainly to the accelerated depreciation associated with the retirement of the National Geographic Endeavour a year ago. The third quarter of 2017 also includes $1.7 million of additional stock-based compensation expense primarily related to grants under the 2016 CEO Share Allocation Plan, which provides our CEO the ability to transfer shares from his existing holdings in the Company to eligible employees, as well as $1.4 million in executive severance expense.

Adjusted EBITDA

Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $23.1 million increased $5.7 million, or 33%, as compared to the same period in 2016.  The increase was due to $4.5 million of additional contributions from the Lindblad segment and a $1.2 million increase at Natural Habitat. Excluding the impact of the voyage cancellations and insurance proceeds, the Company estimates that Adjusted EBITDA would have increased 46% over the prior year period to $25.3 million.

Lindblad segment Adjusted EBITDA of $21.3 million increased 27% compared to the third quarter a year ago primarily due to the revenue growth partially offset by increased costs related to the launch of the National Geographic Quest. Excluding the impact of the voyage cancellations and insurance proceeds, the Company estimates that Lindblad segment Adjusted EBITDA would have increased 40% over the prior year period to $23.5 million.

Natural Habitat Adjusted EBITDA of $1.8 million increased $1.2 million compared to the third quarter a year ago primarily due to the revenue growth partially offset by higher cost of tours from additional guests and increased personnel costs.

The impact of the cancelled voyages on tour revenues was calculated as booked tour revenue at the time of cancellation less insurance proceeds. The impact of the cancelled voyages on operating income and Adjusted EBITDA was calculated as booked tour revenue at the time of cancellation less insurance proceeds and estimated operating costs.

Liquidity

The Company's cash and cash equivalents were $112.3 million as of September 30, 2017, as compared with $135.4 million as of December 31, 2016. The decrease primarily reflects purchases of property and equipment of $44.0 million, mostly for the construction of the two new coastal vessels, and $6.2 million used to repurchase stock and warrants, partially offset by $29.4 million in net cash provided by operating activities due in large part to advanced bookings for future travel.

Free cash flow use was $14.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared with a use of $34.9 million in the same period of 2016. The improved results reflect the increased operating performance, higher bookings for future travel and lower capital expenditures for new vessels. Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment.

LINDBLAD FLEET ACTIVITIES

The Company expanded its travel offerings in July 2017 with the launch of the National Geographic Quest, which sailed in Alaska and British Columbia during the summer before voyaging to Costa Rica and Panama for the winter season. The Company's second new-build coastal vessel, the National Geographic Venture, is currently expected to launch in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Following the quarter, the Company announced that it had signed a contract with Ulstein Verft to build a new polar ice class vessel for delivery in January 2020, with potential accelerated delivery to November 2019. This state-of-the-art vessel will join the National Geographic Explorer and National Geographic Orion as the third ice class ship in the Lindblad National Geographic fleet, with the ability to voyage anywhere around the globe and specializing in polar travel.  She will be capable of exploring deep into the Antarctic and Arctic waters, and will be built with the Ulstein X-BOW® design allowing for greater comfort and speed through rough waters. The contract with Ulstein Verft also includes options to build two additional polar ice class vessels, the first for delivery twelve months after the initial vessel and the second for delivery twelve months thereafter.

STOCK AND WARRANT REPURCHASE PLAN

The Company has a $35.0 million stock and warrant repurchase plan in place which authorizes the Company to purchase from time to time the Company's outstanding 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. There were no purchases during the third quarter and as of November 6, 2017, the Company had repurchased 5.4 million warrants and 855,776 shares under the plan for a total of $22.2 million and had $12.8 million remaining under the plan. As of November 3, 2017, there were 45.4 million common shares and 10.7 million warrants outstanding.

FINANCIAL OUTLOOK

The Company's current expectations for the full year 2017 are as follows:

• Tour revenues of $266 - $270 million
• Adjusted EBITDA of $42 - $44 million

This outlook includes the estimated $3.6 million revenue impact and $3.0 million Adjusted EBITDA impact associated with the cancellation of four voyages during the third quarter due to the delayed launch of the National Geographic Quest. The current outlook also includes the estimated $8.9 million revenue impact and estimated $6.2 million Adjusted EBITDA impact associated with the first quarter cancellation of four voyages on the National Geographic Orion and two voyages on the National Geographic Sea Lion for necessary repairs. As of October 31, 2017, the Lindblad segment had 99% of full year 2017 projected guest ticket revenues on the books versus 101% of full year 2016 revenue at the same time last year. Overall, bookings thus far in 2017 have increased over 30% compared with the same period a year ago. The Company continues to anticipate it will achieve its long-range revenue and Adjusted EBITDA targets.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

The Company uses a variety of operational and financial metrics, including non-GAAP financial measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, Occupancy, 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 10.

Conference Call Information

The Company has scheduled a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on November 7, 2017 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, http://www.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) unscheduled disruptions in our business due to weather events, mechanical failures, or other events; (vi) compliance with laws and regulations; (vii) compliance with the financial and/or operating covenants in the Company's Second amended and restated credit agreement; (viii) adverse publicity regarding the cruise industry in general; (ix) loss of business due to competition; (x) the result of future financing efforts; (xi) the inability to meet revenue and Adjusted EBITDA projections; and (xii) 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.