CHICAGO, Aug. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: BEE) today reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015. 

 

"The second quarter represented another solid quarter of operating and financial results for the company," commented Raymond L. "Rip" Gellein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Hotels & Resorts.  "We were productive on many fronts.  We acquired a world-class asset, sold a non-core asset, substantially strengthened the balance sheet and, more importantly, significantly grew our top line and bottom line.  The outlook for the balance of the year is very positive and we are seeing attractive growth in group bookings looking into 2016 and beyond," summarized Gellein.   

Second Quarter Highlights

• Total consolidated revenues were $356.9 million in the second quarter of 2015, a 29.2 percent increase over the prior year period.  The increase was primarily driven by the acquisitions of the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, the Montage Laguna Beach resort and the Four Seasons Hotel Austin, as well as the consolidation of the Hotel del Coronado.
• Net income attributable to common shareholders was $6.7 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2015, compared with $80.8 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2014.  The year-over-year decrease in net income was primarily the result of a one-time gain related to the acquisition and consolidation of the Hotel del Coronado recorded in the second quarter of 2014.
• Comparable FFO was $0.25 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2015, compared with $0.21 per diluted share in the prior year period, a 19.0 percent increase over the prior year period.    
• Comparable EBITDA was $88.4 million in the second quarter of 2015, compared with $68.9 million in the prior year period, a 28.3 percent increase between periods as a result of the Company's acquisition activity and same store growth.
• Same Store United States portfolio RevPAR increased 4.8 percent in the second quarter of 2015, driven by a 5.9 percent increase in ADR offsetting a 0.9 percentage point decline in occupancy compared to the second quarter of 2014.  Total RevPAR increased 2.1 percent between periods, with non-rooms revenue decreasing 0.7 percent between periods. 
• Total United States portfolio RevPAR increased 4.3 percent in the second quarter of 2015, driven by a 5.9 percent increase in ADR offsetting a 1.2 percentage point decline in occupancy compared to the second quarter of 2014.  Total RevPAR increased 1.9 percent between periods, with non-rooms revenue decreasing 0.5 percent between periods.
• Group occupied room nights in the Total United States portfolio decreased 0.9 percent in the second quarter 2015 and transient occupied room nights decreased 1.8 percent compared to the second quarter of 2014.  Transient ADR increased 6.8 percent compared to the second quarter of 2014 and group ADR increased 4.7 percent.
• Same Store United States and Total United States portfolio EBITDA margins were flat in the second quarter of 2015, compared to the second quarter of 2014.  Excluding a one-time real estate tax credit received in the second quarter of 2014 and one-time charges related to real estate and personal property taxes recognized in the second quarter of 2015, EBITDA margins expanded 40 basis points in the Same Store and Total United States portfolios.  EBITDA margins in both years have been adjusted to exclude the amortization of the below market hotel management agreement related to the Hotel del Coronado, and other adjustments related to the adoption of the USALI Eleventh Revised Edition to improve comparability between years.

Year to Date Highlights

• Total consolidated revenues were $682.2 million for the six month period ended June 30, 2015, a 44.9 percent increase over the prior year period.  This increase was primarily driven by the acquisitions of the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, the Montage Laguna Beach resort and the Four Seasons Hotel Austin, as well as the consolidation of the Hotel del Coronado and the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess resort.  
• Net income attributable to common shareholders was $22.5 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, compared with $298.0 million, or $1.30 per diluted share, for the six month period ended June 30, 2014.  The year-over-year decrease in net income was primarily the result of the one-time gains related to the consolidation of the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess resort and the Hotel del Coronado recorded in the first half of 2014.
• Comparable FFO was $0.45 per diluted share compared with $0.28 per diluted share in the six month period ended June 30, 2014, a 60.7 percent increase over the prior year period as a result of the Company's acquisition and financing activities.   
• Comparable EBITDA was $162.5 million compared with $110.1 million for the six month period ended June 30, 2014, a 47.6 percent increase between periods as a result of the Company's acquisition activity and same store growth.

Transaction Activity

On April 9, 2015, the Company retired the $117.0 million loan that encumbered the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess resort.  The loan had an interest rate of LIBOR plus 36 basis points.  Upon closing, $15.1 million of cash being held by the lender was released to the Company.

On May 12, 2015, the Company closed on the acquisition of the Four Seasons Hotel Austin for $197.0 million.

On May 21, 2015, the Company, along with its joint venture partner, closed on the sale of the Hyatt Regency La Jolla hotel for $118 million.  The Company previously owned a 53.5% interest in the asset.  At closing, the joint venture retired $89.2 million of debt secured by the hotel.

On May 27, 2015, the Company closed a new $750.0 million senior unsecured credit facility with an accordion feature allowing additional borrowing capacity up to $1.0 billion.  The facility is comprised of a $450.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility and a $300.0 million unsecured term loan.  The revolving credit facility interest rate is based upon a leverage-based pricing grid ranging from LIBOR plus 165 basis points to LIBOR plus 240 basis points.  The term loan interest rate is also based on a leverage based pricing grid ranging from LIBOR plus 160 basis points to LIBOR plus 235 basis points.  The combined unsecured facility has a five-year term. 

On May 27, 2015, the Company also closed a $115.0 million mortgage loan secured by the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay hotel.  The loan bears interest at a floating rate of LIBOR plus 240 basis points and has a five-year initial term with two, one-year extension options.

On May 27, 2015, the Company simultaneously repaid the previously outstanding $209.6 million loan secured by the Westin St. Francis hotel and the $93.1 million loan secured by the Fairmont Chicago hotel that were cross-collateralized and priced at a fixed interest rate of 6.09 percent and set to mature in June 2017.  In connection with the repayment, the Company paid a prepayment penalty totaling approximately $32.9 million.

Subsequent Event

• On July 24, 2015, the Company acquired the remaining 49 percent ownership interest in the JW Marriott Essex House hotel.  Pursuant to the terms of the joint venture agreements, the Company's partner, affiliates of KSL Capital Partners, LLC ("KSL"), exercised a contractual put option of their equity interests in the asset and the Company will issue KSL an aggregate of 6,595,449 shares of common stock priced at $12.82 per share, or an implied valuation of $84.6 million. 

2015 Guidance

Based on the results of the first six months of 2015 and current forecasts for the remainder of the year, management is adjusting its guidance ranges for full year 2015 RevPAR growth, Total RevPAR growth, Comparable EBITDA and Comparable FFO per fully diluted share. 

For the full-year ending December 31, 2015, the Company is providing the following guidance ranges:  

 

The guidance presented takes into account various accounting changes as stipulated by the industry's USALI Eleventh Revised Edition, which became effective in January 2015. Guidance for 2015 RevPAR, Total RevPAR and EBITDA margin expansion has been presented to reflect changes compared to the prior year as if these 2014 statistics included the USALI Eleventh Revised Edition changes. Actual RevPAR, Total RevPAR and EBITDA Margin changes from prior year may differ slightly. The Company will present 2014 RevPAR, Total RevPAR and EBITDA margins on an as reported basis and on a pro forma basis, which will include the USALI Eleventh Revised Edition changes.

Portfolio Definitions

Same Store United States portfolio hotel comparisons for the second quarter of 2015 are derived from the Company's hotel portfolio at June 30, 2015, consisting of 14 properties located in the United States, but excluding the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, the Montage Laguna Beach resort, and the Four Seasons Hotel Austin which were acquired on December 9, 2014, January 29, 2015, and May 12, 2015, respectively as well as the Hyatt Regency La Jolla, which was sold on May, 21, 2015.

Total United States portfolio hotel comparisons for the second quarter of 2015 are derived from the Company's hotel portfolio as of June 30, 2015, consisting of all 17 properties located in the United States, including the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, the Montage Laguna Beach resort, and the Four Seasons Hotel Austin, which were acquired on December 9, 2014, January 29, 2015, and May 12, 2015, respectively, but excluding the Hyatt Regency La Jolla, which was sold on May, 21, 2015.   

Total United States portfolio hotel comparisons for the full year 2015 are derived from the Company's current hotel portfolio, consisting of 17 properties located in the United States, including the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, the Montage Laguna Beach resort, and the Four Seasons Hotel Austin which were acquired on December 9, 2014, January 29, 2015, and May 12, 2015 respectively, but excluding the Hyatt Regency La Jolla, which was sold on May, 21, 2015.

Earnings Call

The Company will conduct its second quarter 2015 conference call for investors and other interested parties on Thursday, August 6, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET).  Interested individuals are invited to access the call by dialing 877.930.8296 (toll international: 253.336.8739) with passcode 80609573. To participate on the webcast, log on to the company's website at http://www.strategichotels.com or http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/3x8gtzod/lan/en 15 minutes before the call to download the necessary software.

For those unable to listen to the call live, a taped rebroadcast will be available beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET on August 6, 2015 through 11:59 p.m. ET on August 13, 2015. To access the replay, dial 855.859.2056 (toll international: 404.537.3406) with passcode 80609573.  A replay of the call will also be available in the Investor Relations section of the company's website at http://www.strategichotels.com.

The Company also produces supplemental financial data that includes detailed information regarding its operating results.  This supplemental data is considered an integral part of this earnings release.  These materials are available on the Strategic Hotels & Resorts' website at www.strategichotels.com.

About the Company

Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) which owns and provides value enhancing asset management of high-end hotels and resorts in the United States and Europe. The Company currently has ownership interests in 18 properties with an aggregate of 8,199 rooms and 851,000 square feet of multi-purpose meeting and banqueting space. For a list of current properties and for further information, please visit the Company's website at www.strategichotels.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements about Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (the "Company"). Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements subject to certain risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's future financial results, stabilization in the lodging space, positive trends in the lodging industry and the Company's continued focus on improving profitability.  Actual results could differ materially from the Company's projections. Factors that may contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to the following: the effects of economic conditions and disruptions in financial markets upon business and leisure travel and the hotel markets in which the Company invests; the Company's liquidity and refinancing demands; the Company's ability to obtain,  refinance or extend maturing debt; the Company's ability to maintain compliance with covenants contained in its debt facilities; stagnation or deterioration in economic and market conditions, particularly impacting business and leisure travel spending in the markets where the Company's hotels operate and in which the Company invests, including luxury and upper upscale product; general volatility of the capital markets and the market price of the Company's shares of common stock; availability of capital; the Company's ability to dispose of properties in a manner consistent with its investment strategy and liquidity needs; hostilities and security concerns, including future terrorist attacks, or the apprehension of hostilities, in each case that affect travel within or to the United States, Germany or other countries where the Company invests; difficulties in identifying properties to acquire and completing acquisitions; the Company's failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures; risks related to natural disasters; increases in interest rates and operating costs, including insurance premiums and real property taxes; contagious disease outbreaks; delays and cost-overruns in construction and development; marketing challenges associated with entering new lines of business or pursuing new business strategies; the Company's failure to maintain its status as a REIT; changes in the competitive environment in the Company's industry and the markets where the Company invests; changes in real estate and zoning laws or regulations; legislative or regulatory changes, including changes to laws governing the taxation of REITs; changes in generally accepted accounting principles, policies and guidelines; and litigation, judgments or settlements.

Additional risks are discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those appearing under the heading "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Form 10-K and subsequent Form 10-Qs. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

The following tables reconcile projected 2015 net income attributable to common shareholders to projected Comparable EBITDA, Comparable FFO and Comparable FFO per diluted share (in millions, except per share data):

 

 

 

 

 

Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. and Subsidiaries (SHR)

Disposition of Hotel Properties

2015 Dispositions

Effective January 1, 2015, the Company adopted new accounting guidance which amends the requirements for reporting discontinued operations.  Under the guidance, only disposals that represent a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on the Company's results of operations would qualify as discontinued operations.

On May 21, 2015, the Company, along with its joint venture partner, sold the Hyatt Regency La Jolla hotel for sales proceeds of approximately $118,293,000.  The $89,228,000 mortgage loan secured by the hotel was repaid at the time of closing.  A $40,613,000 gain on the sale was recorded in other income, net in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015.  The portion of the gain attributable to the joint venture partner was $16,649,000, which is reflected in net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015.  The disposition of the Hyatt Regency La Jolla hotel does not represent a strategic shift that has had a major effect on the Company's results of operations; therefore, the hotel's results of operations are included in continuing operations for all periods presented.

2014 Dispositions

During the six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company sold the following hotels:

 

The results of operations of hotels sold prior to January 1, 2015 are classified as discontinued operations and segregated in the consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented. The following is a summary of income from discontinued operations, net of tax, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. and Subsidiaries (SHR)

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We present five non-GAAP financial measures that we believe are useful to management and investors as key measures of our operating performance: Funds from Operations (FFO) attributable to SHR common shareholders; FFO—Fully Diluted; Comparable FFO; Earnings Before Interest Expense, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA); and Comparable EBITDA.

EBITDA represents net income (or loss) attributable to SHR common shareholders excluding: (i) interest expense, (ii) income taxes, including deferred income tax benefits and expenses applicable to our foreign subsidiaries and income taxes applicable to sale of assets; (iii) depreciation and amortization; and (iv) preferred stock dividends. EBITDA also excludes interest expense, income taxes and depreciation and amortization of our unconsolidated affiliates. EBITDA is presented on a full participation basis, which means we have assumed conversion of all redeemable noncontrolling interests of our operating partnership into our common stock. We believe this treatment of noncontrolling interests provides useful information for management and our investors and appropriately considers our current capital structure. We also present Comparable EBITDA, which eliminates the effect of realizing deferred gains on our sale leasebacks, as well as the effect of gains or losses on sales of assets, early extinguishment of debt, impairment losses, foreign currency exchange gains or losses and certain other charges that are highly variable from year to year. We believe EBITDA and Comparable EBITDA are useful to management and investors in evaluating our operating performance because they provide management and investors with an indication of our ability to incur and service debt, to satisfy general operating expenses, to make capital expenditures and to fund other cash needs or reinvest cash into our business. We also believe they help management and investors meaningfully evaluate and compare the results of our operations from period to period by removing the impact of our asset base (primarily depreciation and amortization) from our operating results. Our management also uses EBITDA and Comparable EBITDA as measures in determining the value of acquisitions and dispositions.

We compute FFO attributable to SHR common shareholders in accordance with standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT. NAREIT adopted a definition of FFO in order to promote an industry-wide standard measure of REIT operating performance. NAREIT defines FFO as net income (or loss) (computed in accordance with GAAP) excluding losses or gains from sales of depreciable property, impairment of depreciable real estate, real estate-related depreciation and amortization, and our portion of these items related to unconsolidated affiliates. We also present FFO—Fully Diluted, which is FFO attributable to SHR common shareholders plus income or loss on income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests in our operating partnership. We also present Comparable FFO, which is FFO—Fully Diluted excluding the impact of any gains or losses on early extinguishment of debt, impairment losses on non-depreciable assets, foreign currency exchange gains or losses and certain other charges that are highly variable from year to year. We believe that the presentation of FFO attributable to SHR common shareholders, FFO—Fully Diluted and Comparable FFO provides useful information to management and investors regarding our results of operations because they are measures of our ability to fund capital expenditures and expand our business. In addition, FFO is widely used in the real estate industry to measure operating performance without regard to items such as depreciation and amortization. We also present Comparable FFO per diluted share as a non-GAAP measure of our performance. We calculate Comparable FFO per diluted share for a given operating period as our Comparable FFO (as defined above) divided by the weighted average of fully diluted shares outstanding, excluding shares related to the JW Marriott Essex House Hotel put option. Dilutive securities may include shares granted under share-based compensation plans and operating partnership units. No effect is shown for securities that are anti-dilutive.

We caution investors that amounts presented in accordance with our definitions of FFO attributable to SHR common shareholders, FFO—Fully Diluted, Comparable FFO, EBITDA, and Comparable EBITDA may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies, since not all companies calculate these non-GAAP measures in the same manner. FFO attributable to SHR common shareholders, FFO—Fully Diluted, Comparable FFO, EBITDA, and Comparable EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative measure of our net income (or loss) or operating performance. FFO attributable to SHR common shareholders, FFO—Fully Diluted, Comparable FFO, EBITDA, and Comparable EBITDA may include funds that may not be available for our discretionary use due to functional requirements to conserve funds for capital expenditures and property acquisitions and other commitments and uncertainties. Although we believe that FFO attributable to SHR common shareholders, FFO—Fully Diluted, Comparable FFO, EBITDA, and Comparable EBITDA can enhance your understanding of our financial condition and results of operations, these non-GAAP financial measures, when viewed individually, are not necessarily a better indicator of any trend as compared to comparable GAAP measures such as net income (or loss) attributable to SHR common shareholders. In addition, you should be aware that adverse economic and market conditions might negatively impact our cash flow. We have provided a quantitative reconciliation of FFO attributable to SHR common shareholders, FFO—Fully Diluted, Comparable FFO, EBITDA, and Comparable EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP financial performance measure, which is net income (or loss) attributable to SHR common shareholders.

 

 

 

 

Second Quarter 2015 Debt Repayments

On April 9, 2015, we repaid the $117,000,000 mortgage loan secured by the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess hotel.

On May 21, 2015, we sold the Hyatt Regency La Jolla hotel and repaid the $89,288,000 mortgage loan secured by the hotel at the time of closing. We recorded a $193,000 loss on early extinguishment of debt, which included the write off of unamortized deferred financing costs.

On May 27, 2015, we repaid the $209,558,000 mortgage loan secured by the Westin St. Francis hotel and the $93,124,000 mortgage loan secured by the Fairmont Chicago hotel using proceeds from the new mortgage loan secured by the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay hotel and proceeds from the $300,000,000 unsecured term loan. We recorded a $34,014,000 loss on early extinguishment of debt, which included prepayment penalties of $32,917,000 and the write off of unamortized deferred financing costs.

 

 

 

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SOURCE Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc.