Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL Corporation Ltd., “Norwegian” or “the Company”) today reported results for the quarter ended June 30, 2012.
Improved revenue performance in the quarter coupled with business improvement initiatives resulted in a 14.1% increase in operating income to $87.0 million along with an 8.6% increase in Adjusted EBITDA to $135.1 million. Net Revenue increased 2.7% in the quarter due to an improvement in Net Yield and a 1.5% increase in Capacity Days. Net Yield increased 1.2% (1.9% on a Constant Currency basis) as a result of higher average ticket pricing.
Net Cruise Cost per Capacity Day decreased 1.3% (0.9% on a Constant Currency basis) as benefits from business improvement initiatives and efficiencies coupled with the timing of repairs and maintenance expense more than offset a 15% increase in the per metric ton cost of fuel to $684. Excluding fuel expense, Net Cruise Cost per Capacity Day decreased 5.1% (4.5% on a Constant Currency basis). “Our financial results for the quarter demonstrate healthy top line growth, albeit moderated by the impacts from pressures surrounding Europe. As expected, our deployment, which includes a record four ships in Europe, benefited the top line through higher ticket revenue with a slight offset in onboard spend,” said Kevin Sheehan, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. “And the benefits from business improvement initiatives not only contributed to our financial results, but also to our ongoing commitment in improving the experience of our guests,” continued Sheehan.
Interest expense was $48.9 million compared to $46.7 million in 2011 reflecting a write-off of $2.4 million of deferred financing fees in 2012. The Company posted a 23.3% increase in net income to $36.0 million on revenue of $583.2 million from $29.2 million on revenue of $568.6 million in 2011.
Quarter Highlights
Progress on Norwegian Breakaway, the Company’s newest ship currently under construction at Meyer Werft, continued to gain momentum throughout the quarter. In early May, the keel was laid, marking the start of the ship’s construction. Recently, the Company announced Norwegian Breakaway’s extraordinary entertainment line-up, full of hit Broadway shows headlined by the 80’s-inspired rock musical ROCK OF AGES which is joined by ballroom dance sensation BURN THE FLOOR and the spectacular CIRQUE DREAMS & DINNER JUNGLE FANTASY. The line-up also includes improvisational troupe The Second City and the popular dueling pianos of Howl at the Moon at Headliners Comedy Club while Fat Cats Jazz & Blues Bar will play host to a Norwegian Cruise Line favorite and New Yorker Slam Allen.
As the largest vessel to ever homeport year-round in New York City, Norwegian Breakaway has many elements of New York incorporated into its offerings. The hull art design was conceived by celebrated New York-based artist Peter Max and further strengthening her ties to the Big Apple, Norwegian enlisted famed New York-based celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian to create and oversee our first seafood-centric dining venue, Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian. Commenting on Norwegian Breakaway, Sheehan stated, “Our goal is to make Norwegian Breakaway New York’s ship and the first choice when cruising from this great city. New Yorkers are accustomed to the best, and by enlisting authentic Broadway entertainment such as Rock of Ages and partnering with acclaimed chef Geoffrey Zakarian on Ocean Blue, I’m positive that anyone looking for a taste of New York will feel right at home on Norwegian Breakaway.”
Also during the quarter the first steel cutting for Norwegian Getaway was held in conjunction with Norwegian Breakaway’s keel laying. Homeporting year-round in Miami, Norwegian Getaway will give Norwegian a strong foothold in the world’s most popular cruise port. Also homeporting year-round in Miami is Norwegian Sky, which the Company recently exercised its option to purchase. Sailing three and four-night cruises from Miami to the Bahamas, Norwegian Sky is vital to Norwegian’s fleet as the premier short cruise product in Miami. Said Sheehan, “Along with New York, it is critically important that we maintain a strong foothold in Miami. By homeporting Norwegian Getaway in Miami and taking full ownership of Norwegian Sky, we are demonstrating our continued commitment to being the cruise line of choice in the cruise capital of the world.”
Terminology
Adjusted EBITDA. EBITDA adjusted for other income (expense) and other supplemental adjustments.
Berths. Double occupancy capacity per cabin (single occupancy per studio cabin) even though many cabins can accommodate three or more passengers.
Capacity Days. Available Berths multiplied by the number of cruise days for the period.
Constant Currency. A calculation whereby foreign currency-denominated revenues and expenses in a period are converted at the U.S. dollar exchange rate of a comparable period in order to eliminate the effects of foreign exchange fluctuations.
Dry-dock. A process whereby a ship is positioned in a large basin where all of the fresh/sea water is pumped out in order to carry out cleaning and repairs of those parts of a ship which are below the water line.
EBITDA. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
Gross Cruise Cost. The sum of total cruise operating expense and marketing, general and administrative expense.
Gross Yield. Total revenue per Capacity Day.
Net Cruise Cost. Gross Cruise Cost less commissions, transportation and other expense and onboard and other expense.
Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel. Net Cruise Cost less fuel expense.
Net Revenue. Total revenue less commissions, transportation and other expense and onboard and other expense.
Net Yield. Net Revenue per Capacity Day.
Occupancy Percentage. The ratio of Passenger Cruise Days to Capacity Days. A percentage in excess of 100% indicates that three or more passengers occupied some cabins.
Passenger Cruise Days. The number of passengers carried for the period, multiplied by the number of days in their respective cruises.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We use certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as Net Revenue, Net Yield, Net Cruise Cost and Adjusted EBITDA to enable us to analyze our performance. We utilize Net Revenue and Net Yield to manage our business on a day-to-day basis and believe that they are the most relevant measures of our revenue performance because they reflect the revenue earned by us net of significant variable costs and are commonly used in the cruise industry to measure revenue performance. In measuring our ability to control costs in a manner that positively impacts net income, we believe changes in Net Cruise Cost and Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel to be the most relevant indicators of our performance and are commonly used in the cruise industry as a measurement of costs.
As our business includes the sourcing of passengers and deployment of vessels outside of North America, a portion of our revenue and expenses are denominated in foreign currencies, particularly euro and British pound sterling, which are subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates versus our reporting currency, the U.S. dollar. In order to monitor results excluding these fluctuations, we calculate certain non-GAAP measures on a Constant Currency basis whereby current period revenue and expenses denominated in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates of the comparable period. We believe that presenting these non-GAAP measures on both a reported and Constant Currency basis is useful in providing a more comprehensive view of trends in our business.
We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is appropriate as a supplemental financial measure as it is used by management to assess operating performance, is a factor in the evaluation of the performance of management and is the primary metric used in determining the Company’s performance incentive bonus paid to its employees. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure in determining the Company’s performance as it reflects certain operating drivers of the Company’s business, such as sales growth, operating costs, marketing, general and administrative expenses and other operating income and expense. You are encouraged to evaluate each adjustment 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 use of Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider this measure in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. 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.
Adjusted EBITDA is not a defined term under GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be a measure of liquidity or cash flows from operations or measures 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 includes other supplemental adjustments.
Our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other companies. Please see a historical reconciliation of these measures to items in our consolidated financial statements.
Source: Norwegian Cruise Line