Four Seasons Hotels Inc. reports third quarter 2003 results
US RevPAR improved 10.6% in the quarter
TORONTO -- Four Seasons Hotels Inc. (TSX Symbol "FSH"; NYSE Symbol "FS") today reported its results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2003. "Hotels under Four Seasons management had a strong improvement in operating performance in the third quarter. Increases in travel demand that began at the end of the second quarter continued into the fall.
The Company realized net earnings of $4.7 million ($0.14 basic earnings per share and $0.13 diluted earnings per share) for the three months ended September 30, 2003, as compared to a net loss of $12.3 million ($0.35 basic and diluted loss per share) for the third quarter of 2002. The increase in net earnings for the third quarter of 2003 occurred despite increased losses from ownership operations and ongoing legal and enforcement costs relating to the disputes with the owners of the hotels in Seattle and Caracas, which are discussed below under "Proceedings". The financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2002 include an asset impairment charge, net of applicable income taxes, of $17.5 million ($0.50 basic and diluted loss per share) relating to the Company's investments in Four Seasons hotels in Caracas and Sydney, as discussed in the Company's 2002 Annual Report. For the three months ended September 30, 2003, adjusted(1) net earnings were $5.4 million ($0.16 basic earnings per share and $0.15 diluted earnings per share), as compared to $4.3 million ($0.12 basic and diluted earnings per share) for the three months ended September 30, 2002.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, net loss was $5.8 million ($0.17 basic and diluted loss per share), as compared to net earnings of $13.6 million ($0.39 basic earnings per share and $0.37 diluted earnings per share) for the comparable period in 2002. The decline in net earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 is primarily attributable to a non-cash, unrealized foreign exchange loss for accounting purposes of $17.2 million, which arose as a result of significant movements earlier this year in the US and Canadian dollars, pound sterling and the euro, as compared to a non-cash, unrealized foreign exchange gain for accounting purposes of $4.5 million in the same period in 2002. Increased losses from ownership operations and legal and enforcement costs relating to the disputes with the owners of the hotels in Seattle and Caracas, which are discussed below, also contributed to the decline.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, adjusted(1) net earnings were $16.9 million ($0.48 basic earnings per share and $0.47 diluted earnings per share). Adjusted(1) net earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 were $28.9 million ($0.82 basic earnings per share and $0.79 diluted earnings per share).
"We continue to meet our financial objective of funding new development opportunities with cash generated by operations. For the first nine months of this year our cash flow from operations increased 37% to $44.1 million," said Douglas L. Ludwig, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President. "With concrete signs that the major global economies are recovering, we expect to continue to see solid improvements in cash generated from our management business."
Please see the accompanying "Summary of Hotel Operating Data" for regional RevPAR(2) and gross operating profit margin(3) statistics by geographic region.
The third quarter includes two months (July and August) that historically have reflected lower business travel relative to the balance of the year. However, extending from trends starting late in the second quarter of this year, the operating environment continued to strengthen over the course of the third quarter with increased travel demand coming from the business sector and continued healthy leisure demand. The improvement in demand has continued into the fourth quarter. However, consistent with what the lodging industry is currently experiencing, the time period in which business is booked continues to be shorter than the historical norm. Each of the regions in which the Company operates realized improvements throughout the third quarter. In particular, the hotels under management in the US generally experienced strong occupancy and achieved room rate increases during the quarter.
Occupancy at the Company's worldwide Core Hotels(4) increased from 61.9% in July to 64.1% in August to 67.9% in September. While, in aggregate, occupancy was relatively unchanged in both July and August on a year-over-year basis, this was the result of some continued demand weakness in the Asian, Vancouver and Toronto markets as they continued to recover from the effects of SARS, which partially offset improvements in the other regions. During the third quarter, on a worldwide basis, achieved room rates increased 3.5%, on a US dollar basis, as compared to the same period last year.
There was an increase in demand in virtually all of the hotels under management in the US during the third quarter of 2003, as compared to the third quarter of 2002. The majority of the Four Seasons resorts in the US continued to realize strong demand reflecting relatively healthy leisure travel, and for the first time in many quarters there was an improvement in business travel levels at most city center hotels. Improving demand, combined with a growing service differential that distinguishes Four Seasons from other luxury hotel operators resulted in an increase in achieved daily room rates at the US Core Hotels under management of 3.1% in the third quarter, from approximately US$311 in 2002 to over US$320 in 2003. Despite a difficult cost environment with increased health care, insurance and energy costs, the US Core Hotels realized an improvement in gross operating profit margin to 22.4% in the third quarter of 2003, as compared to 21.8% for the same period in 2002.
Although the Asia/Pacific region continues to experience some lingering effect from SARS, demand has improved significantly from the lows of 20% occupancy experienced in April and May of this year. Occupancy in the region increased from 53.5% in July 2003 to approximately 62% in both August and September 2003, compared to approximately 60% and 65%, respectively, for the same periods last year. The two resorts under management in Bali continue to experience weak demand relative to the demand within the region as that market continues its recovery from the effects of SARS and the terrorist acts in October of last year. As a result of the severe decline in occupancy and a reduced demand for suites, achieved room rates in the region declined during the third quarter of 2003, as compared to the same period in 2002. However, consistent with demand improvements through the quarter, achieved room rate performance improved on a month-by-month basis within the quarter.
The operating performance of the Other Americas/Caribbean Core Hotels was similar to the Asia/Pacific Core Hotels. Although RevPAR declined during the third quarter of 2003, as compared to 2002, travel demand in Other Americas/Caribbean Core Hotels improved sequentially month by month within the quarter. The properties under management in the Other Americas/Caribbean Core Hotels performed better than the average for the group.
Consistent with the worldwide results, trends at the Core Hotels under management in Europe and the Middle East improved during the quarter. On a year-over-year basis, occupancy was weaker in July, but had solid improvements in August and September. The Berlin market continues to suffer from an abundance of supply of high-end hotel rooms. The hotels under management in London, Dublin, Lisbon, Milan and Cairo all had better demand on a year-over- year basis. Although Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris experienced a small decline in occupancy on a year-over-year basis, it achieved over 80% occupancy during the third quarter of 2003. Achieved room rates improved during the quarter for Europe/Middle East Core Hotels, on a US dollar basis. On a local currency basis, the majority of the properties also experienced achieved room rate improvements.
"We are very pleased with our industry-leading RevPAR and operating margin performance," said Wolf Hengst, President Worldwide Hotel Operations. "Our general managers have been with Four Seasons an average of seventeen years, and we believe their broad experience and talent provides a tangible advantage as we manage through changing environments. We also believe that our performance demonstrates the success of our strategy, which continues to focus on service and value. These results show that, now more than ever, travelers need and appreciate the quality of experience they receive at Four Seasons."
Management fee revenues increased 10.9% to $36.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2003, as compared to the same period in 2002. Contributing to the increase in management fees was an increase in base management fees as a result of the improved operating environment at Core Hotels, and increased fees from recently opened hotels and the Four Seasons Olympic Hotel Seattle settlement, which is discussed under "Proceedings". The increase in management fees was moderately offset by declines at certain of the hotels, including the Canadian and Asian hotels, which had very weak July and August results as those markets continue to recover from the impact of SARS on travel and, in the case of Bali, from the effects of the terrorist acts in October of last year. Fees from these hotels were $1.4 million lower in the quarter ended September 30, 2003, as compared to the same period in 2002.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2003 management fees were essentially unchanged at $109.2 million, as compared to $108.6 million for the same period in 2002. This reflects the improvements noted above during the third quarter, offset by a decline in management fees during the first six months of 2003, primarily as a result of the impact of the war in Iraq and SARS on worldwide travel demand.
General and administrative expenses increased 0.1% and 3.9% to $17.2 million and $50.1 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2002. The general and administrative expenses included a cost of living payroll increase for corporate employees, which was implemented during the first quarter of 2003. As there was no cost of living payroll increase for corporate employees in the first or second quarter of 2002, the nine-month increase is slightly larger than the quarterly increase.
The Company's management operations earnings before other operating items for the third quarter of 2003 increased 23.0% to $19.0 million, as compared to $15.5 million for the third quarter of 2002. Management operations earnings before other operating items for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 were $59.1 million, as compared to $60.4 million for the same period in 2002.
The management operations profit margin(5) for the quarter ended September 30, 2003 was 52.5%, as compared to 47.4% for the same period in 2002, and was 54.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, as compared to 55.6% for the same period in 2002.
Ownership operations losses before other operating items were $9.2 million in the third quarter of 2003, as compared to losses of $6.6 million in the third quarter of 2002. Ownership operations losses before other operating items for the first nine months of 2003 were $27.8 million, as compared to losses of $15.0 million for the comparable period in 2002.
The majority of the third quarter losses was generated by The Pierre, which contributed approximately $5 million to the ownership loss in the quarter in both 2003 and 2002. Although The Pierre's RevPAR for the quarter ended September 30, 2003 increased 9.5%, due primarily to union-mandated increases in labour and health care costs, the operating performance for the third quarter of 2003 was essentially unchanged, as compared to the same period in 2002. For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, The Pierre contributed $10.7 million to the loss, as compared to $5.9 million for the same period in 2002. For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, The Pierre's RevPAR declined 2.1%, as compared to the same period in 2002. In addition, the other revenues of the hotel declined, as a result of a decline in banqueting and ancillary revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2003. The combination of these lower revenues with higher labour costs resulted in the increased loss from The Pierre during the nine months ended September 30, 2003, as compared to the same period in 2002.
Primarily as a result of travel disruption relating to SARS, Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver experienced weak operating conditions, with RevPAR, on a local currency basis, declining 10.8% and 15.3% for the third quarter and first nine months of 2003, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2002. The operating loss at Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver increased by $1.2 million and $3.1 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2003, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2002.
In addition, Four Seasons Hotel Berlin experienced a weak third quarter with a RevPAR decline of 6.3% and 5%, on a US dollar basis, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2002. The operating loss at Four Seasons Hotel Berlin increased by $629,000 and $2.8 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2002, as a result of lower operating profits and increased lease costs.
The Company's obligation to fund any stipulated minimum lease payments at Four Seasons Hotel Berlin is limited to a maximum of approximately 11 million euros. The Company reached this maximum during the third quarter of 2003 and has ceased funding any stipulated minimum lease payments. The landlord may terminate the lease if the stipulated minimum lease payments are not paid in full for a 12 consecutive month period or there is an aggregate shortfall of six months of the stipulated minimum lease payments at any time.
The Company is in discussions with the landlords of The Pierre, Four Seasons Hotel Berlin and Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver to determine what, if any, alternatives may be available to change or restructure the Company's investments in these hotels. There can be no assurance that acceptable alternative arrangements will be agreed upon with respect to any or all of these hotels.
Other expense for the third quarter of 2003 was $920,000, as compared to other expense of $21.7 million for the same period in 2002. Other expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was $26.0 million, as compared to other expense of $20.1 million for the same period in 2002.
Included in other expense during the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2003 are legal and enforcement costs of $1.2 million and $8.7 million, respectively, in connection with the disputes with the owners of the Four Seasons hotels in Caracas and Seattle. These disputes are described below under "Proceedings". Other expense for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2002 include an asset impairment charge for Four Seasons Hotel Caracas and Four Seasons Hotel Sydney and legal and enforcement costs relating to the Company's investments in Four Seasons Hotel Caracas and Four Seasons Olympic Hotel Seattle which, in aggregate, were $23.3 million. The Company expects to incur approximately an additional $400,000 in legal and enforcement costs for the balance of 2003 in connection with Four Seasons Hotel Caracas.
Other expense for the third quarter of 2003 also includes a $323,000 non- cash, unrealized foreign exchange gain, as compared to a $2.1 million non- cash, unrealized foreign exchange gain for the same period in 2002. For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, the Company incurred a non-cash, unrealized foreign exchange loss of $17.2 million, as compared to a non-cash, unrealized foreign exchange gain of $4.5 million for the same period in 2002.
The non-cash, unrealized foreign exchange loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 arose as the result of the translation to Canadian dollars at the end of each month at current exchange rates of the Company's non- Canadian dollar-denominated net monetary assets. Net monetary assets are the sum of the Company's foreign currency-denominated assets and liabilities which consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, long-term receivables and long-term obligations, as determined under Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). This accounting determination indicates that the Company's net US dollar monetary assets were approximately US$74 million as at September 30, 2003.
From an economic perspective, the Company looks to offset its net monetary asset position of approximately US$74 million against the full obligation of its convertible notes. Under Canadian GAAP, the convertible notes were allocated between long-term obligations and shareholders' equity. The portion allocated to long-term obligations and included in net monetary assets was US$46.7 million, and US$125.8 million was allocated to shareholders' equity at the time of issuance. If the portion of the convertible notes included in shareholders' equity was revalued at the current exchange rates, which is not contemplated under Canadian GAAP, the economic result of this revaluation would have been a non-cash, unrealized foreign exchange gain of $28.8 million for the first nine months of 2003, offsetting the non-cash, unrealized foreign exchange loss otherwise recorded. On this basis, the Company believes it has an appropriate economic hedge of its net monetary assets and liabilities. For a further discussion of the convertible notes see "Liquidity and Capital Resources" below.
The Canadian dollar strengthened by 14.5% (22.9 cents) during the first nine months of 2003 against the US dollar, causing the majority of the non- cash, unrealized foreign exchange loss. Although there was fluctuation during the third quarter, the major foreign currencies relevant to the Company's assets and liabilities generally ended at approximately the same levels as the start of the quarter. As a result there was not a significant gain or loss during the third quarter. Given fluctuations in currencies to date, it is likely that there may be a non-cash, unrealized foreign exchange gain or loss during the fourth quarter. Assuming the Company's US dollar net monetary asset position remains the same as at September 30, 2003, a one-cent fluctuation in the Canada/US dollar exchange rate creates approximately a $740,000 non-cash, unrealized foreign exchange gain or loss, before tax. It is likely that the Company's net monetary asset positions will change month by month over the remainder of the year.
Depreciation and amortization expense was $3.6 million for the third quarter of 2003 and $11.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, as compared to $3.8 million and $11.0 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2002. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, as compared to the same period in 2002, is attributable to additional depreciation on fixed assets purchased over the past twelve months and additional amortization on new management contracts.
The Company had net interest income of $1.0 million in the third quarter of 2003, as compared to $535,000 in the third quarter of 2002. Net interest income is a combination of $3.8 million interest income and $2.8 million interest expense, partially offset by $35,000 income relating to the purchase of forward exchange contracts in the third quarter of 2003, as compared to $4.2 million, $2.7 million and an expense of $919,000, respectively, for the same period in 2002.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, net interest income was $2.4 million, as compared to $3.5 million for the comparable period of 2002. The components of net interest were interest income of $10.6 million and interest expense of $8.3 million, partially offset by income relating to the purchase of forward exchange contracts of $121,000, as compared to $13.5 million, $8.3 million and an expense of $1.7 million, respectively, during the same period in 2002.
The Company's effective tax rate during the third quarter of 2003 and 2002 was approximately 24%. A significant portion of the non-cash, unrealized foreign exchange loss of $17.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was not tax-effected as it will not be realized for tax purposes. As a result, notwithstanding the loss before income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, the Company incurred a tax expense of $2.1 million. The effective tax rate was 24% for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.
As of September 30, 2003, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $161.4 million, as compared to $165 million at December 31, 2002.
Long-term obligations were $121.8 million as at September 30, 2003 and $129.1 million as at December 31, 2002. The Company's debt position consists primarily of that portion of its convertible notes that is characterized as debt for accounting purposes. The decrease in long-term obligations was primarily due to the foreign currency translation of the debt component of the convertible notes.
The Company is entitled to redeem the convertible notes commencing in September 2004 for cash equal to the issue price plus accrued interest calculated at 4 1/2% per annum. If the current interest rate and general business environment continues, it is possible that the Company may redeem some or all of the notes. Holders of the notes have conversion rights, which they can exercise at any time before the maturity date or date of redemption of the notes, under which they can require the Company to issue 5.284 Limited Voting Shares for each US$1,000 principal amount of notes. The holders of notes also can require the Company to repurchase the notes in September 2004 for an amount equal to the issue price plus accrued interest calculated at 4 1/2% per annum. This right also may be exercised in 2009 and 2014. The Company has a choice of funding its obligation in connection with the conversion or purchase of the notes at the option of the holder with cash or shares. The rights of the Company and the noteholders relating to the convertible notes are more fully described in the Company's 2002 Annual Report.
A cash redemption in September 2004 of all outstanding notes would require a cash payment to the noteholders of approximately US$215.5 million, assuming that the holders did not exercise their right to convert their notes before the redemption date. If all of the notes were to be redeemed, the Company may replace the financing with a combination of debt and utilization of existing US dollar cash reserves.
During the third quarter of 2002 the Company, pursuant to its normal course issuer bid, purchased 337,600 of its Limited Voting Shares through the facilities of The Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange for a total purchase price, including commissions, of approximately $16.5 million. Of this amount, $8.8 million was paid in September 2002, with the remaining $7.7 million being paid in October 2002 upon settlement. No shares were purchased by the Company in the nine months ended September 30, 2003.
The Company generated $44.1 million of cash from operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2003, as compared to $32.2 million for the same period in 2002. Cash from operations improved during the nine months ended September 30, 2003 primarily due to reductions in working capital of $23.7 million and a reduction in current income tax paid of $10.4 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, the increase in cash flow was partially offset by a reduction of $14.3 million in cash provided by management and ownership operations, an increase of $6.1 million in legal and enforcement costs paid in connection with the Company's investments in the Four Seasons hotels in Caracas and Seattle and a decrease of $1.7 million in net interest received.
As discussed above, the Company spent $16.5 million for share repurchases made in the third quarter of 2002 pursuant to its normal course issuer bid.
A part of the Company's business strategy is to invest a portion of available cash to obtain new management agreements or enhance existing management arrangements. These loans or investments will only be made where the overall economic return to the Company is expected to justify the loan or investment. During the nine months ended September 30, 2003, the Company funded $37.9 million in new management opportunities. Also during the nine months ended September 30, 2003, the owners of Four Seasons Hotel London, The Regent Bangkok, Four Seasons Olympic Hotel Seattle, Four Seasons Hotel Sydney and Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas repaid $19.2 million on outstanding loans and investments. During the remainder of 2003, the Company expects to make investments in a number of Four Seasons projects, which are expected to include Costa Rica, Damascus, Hampshire and Whistler.
The Company expects total capital spending and dividends to its shareholders in 2003 to be approximately the same as in 2002 (approximately $70 million).
As discussed in the Company's 2002 Annual Report, the Company has certain pension, lease and other commitments. There has been no material change to these commitments through the third quarter of 2003, and the Company does not anticipate any material change in respect of these commitments over the remainder of this fiscal year, other than the elimination in the quarter of the guarantee related to the stipulated minimum lease payments for Four Seasons Hotel Berlin (see discussion under "Ownership Operations").
In October, the Accounting Standards Board approved amendments to CICA Handbook section 3870 Stock-Based Compensation and Other Stock-Based Payments that requires the expensing of all stock-based compensation awards for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2004. The Company has not yet determined the way in which it will adopt this new requirement.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, the Company has applied its existing accounting policy, under which no compensation expense is recorded on the grant of stock options to employees. Consideration paid by employees on the exercise of stock options or the purchase of shares is recorded as capital stock. For the quarter ended September 30, 2003, if the Company were to have adopted the fair value based method, the impact would have been an increased compensation expense of $1.2 million (2002 - $736,000) and a decrease in basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.04 and $0.03, respectively (2002 - an increase in basic and diluted loss per share of $0.02). For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, if the Company were to have adopted the fair value based method, the impact would have been an increased compensation expense of $3.1 million (2002 - $958,000) and an increase in basic and diluted loss per share of $0.08 (2002 - a decrease in basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.03 and $0.02, respectively).
During the second quarter of 2003, the Company and the owner of Four Seasons Olympic Hotel Seattle settled their disagreement, which was subject to arbitration, concerning the management of the hotel. Under the settlement, Four Seasons concluded its management of Four Seasons Olympic Hotel upon the sale of the hotel, which occurred on August 1, 2003. On closing of the sale of the hotel, the Company received an initial payment, which included its share of the sale proceeds as a result of its minority ownership interest in the hotel. The Company will also receive annual payments over the next several years which are not materially different from the fees that the Company would have otherwise earned during this period. The Company believes that a fair and equitable settlement has been reached and that the payments under the settlement agreement will, in aggregate, compensate it for the near-term value of its management contract as it works to obtain a new management opportunity in Seattle. A portion of this payment has been included in the third quarter of 2003.
The Company is in dispute with, and has commenced both legal and arbitration proceedings against, the owner of Four Seasons Hotel Caracas regarding a variety of matters relating to the completion and ongoing operation of the hotel, including the default of a US$5 million loan owed to the Company. During the second quarter, the Company received judgment in the legal proceedings, which involved the protection of its proprietary materials. The court found against the owner on all matters, including illegal computer "hacking" and unlawful and unauthorized use of the Company's proprietary information, and ordered that the owner pay to the Company damages totaling US$4.9 million, plus the Company's legal costs and expenses once determined by the Magistrate reporting to the court. The Company is continuing to pursue the arbitration proceeding in respect of the other contractual breaches of the management contract by the owner. The arbitration hearing was completed during the quarter and a decision is pending. The Company is moving to enforce the judgment from the legal proceeding against the owner.
Four Seasons is continuing to expand its international presence with several new projects. During the next 14 months, the Company expects to open new hotels and resorts in Exuma, Budapest, Hampshire (England), Jackson Hole, Cairo, Costa Rica, Damascus, Doha, Langkawi (Malaysia), Provence (France) and Whistler (British Columbia). A full list of the Company's properties under construction or advanced development is provided in a schedule attached to this press release.
"Over the next 14 months, eleven new Four Seasons projects are expected to be added to the portfolio, providing us with an expanded base of properties to support our long-term growth objectives. Our development activity also remains strong," said Kathleen Taylor, President Worldwide Business Operations, "We are very pleased to have recently announced our plans for a Four Seasons project in Mumbai. This will be our first project in India, and Mumbai is an important market for our brand. Earlier this year, we announced new projects in Bora Bora, Baltimore and Kuwait City. We are fortunate to work with many new development partners who are strong supporters of the Four Seasons brand."
The Company expects that the improving economic environment should translate into continued improvement in travel demand, particularly business travel. The Company also expects that leisure travel demand, which overall has been strong relative to business travel, will remain stable. On a full-year basis, the Company continues to expect its average daily room rates for 2003 to be comparable with both 2000 and 2002. The Company also expects its business model to perform at or above industry levels consistent with past experience.
1. Adjusted net earnings is equal to net earnings (loss) plus (i)
foreign exchange loss, less (ii) foreign exchange gain, plus (iii)
asset impairment charge, plus (iv) loss on sale of hotel investment,
each tax-effected as applicable. It is included because the Company's
management believes it can assist in the period-over-period
comparability of the Company's financial performance.
A reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to adjusted net earnings is
as follows:
(Unaudited) Three months ended Nine months ended
(In thousands of September 30, September 30,
dollars) 2003 2002 2003 2002
Net earnings (loss) $ 4,748 $ (12,252) $ (5,795) $ 13,594
Adjustments:
Foreign exchange loss
(gain) (323) (2,092) 17,179 (4,526)
Asset impairment
charge(x) 1,180 23,307 8,680 23,307
Loss on sale of hotel
investment - 610 - 1,359
Tax effect of
adjustments (156) (5,238) (3,171) (4,834)
Adjusted net earnings $ 5,449 $ 4,335 $ 16,893 $ 28,900
Adjusted basic
earnings per share $ 0.16 $ 0.12 $ 0.48 $ 0.82
Adjusted diluted
earnings per share $ 0.15 $ 0.12 $ 0.47 $ 0.79
(x) Includes legal and enforcement costs.
2. RevPAR is defined as average room revenue per available room. RevPAR
is a commonly used indicator of market performance for hotels and
resorts and represents the combination of the average daily room rate
and the average occupancy rate achieved during the period. RevPAR
does not include food and beverage or other ancillary revenues
generated by a hotel or resort. The Company reports RevPAR as it is
the most commonly used measure in the lodging industry to measure the
period-over-period performance of comparable properties.
3. Gross operating margin represents gross operating profit as a percent
of gross operating revenue.
4. The term "Core Hotels" means hotels and resorts under management for
the full year of both 2003 and 2002. Changes from the 2002/2001 Core
Hotels are the additions of Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco, Four
Seasons Hotel Dublin, Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires and Four
Seasons Resort Carmelo, and the deletion of Four Seasons Olympic
Hotel Seattle.
5. The management operations profit margin represents management
operations earnings before other operating items, as a percent of
management operations revenue.
6. Included in ownership operations are the consolidated revenues and
expenses from the Company's 100% leasehold interests in The Pierre in
New York, Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver and Four Seasons Hotel Berlin,
distributions from other ownership interests in properties that Four
Seasons manages and corporate overhead expenses related, in part, to
these ownership interests.
All dollar amounts referred to in this press release are Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted. The financial statements are prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws, including RevPAR, profit margin and earning trends; statements concerning the number of lodging properties expected to be added in future years; expected investment spending; and similar statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including the duration and severity of the current economic slowdown and the pace of the lodging industry's recovery from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, SARS and the military conflict in Iraq; supply and demand changes for hotel rooms and residential properties; competitive conditions in the lodging industry; relationships with clients and property owners; and the availability of capital to finance growth, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements herein. These 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.
The Company will hold a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time) to discuss the third quarter financial results. The details are:
To access the call dial: 1 (800) 396-0424 (U.S.A. and Canada)
1 (416) 620-5690 (outside U.S.A. and Canada)
To access a replay of the call, which will be available for one week
after the call, dial: 1 (800) 558-5253, Reservation Number 21162938.
A live web cast will also be available by visiting
With a history spanning four decades and a portfolio that extends worldwide, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is the world's leading operator of luxury hotels, currently managing 58 properties in 27 countries. Four Seasons Hotel Miami opened on October 1, 2003, in the heart of the city's financial district. Further openings in 2003 are expected to include a resort in Great Exuma (The Bahamas) and the company's first mountain resort in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Four Seasons continues to grow, with more than 20 projects under construction or development in choice locations around the world. The company has claimed first position on many prestigious lists. Recent honours include being named to Fortune magazine's list of 100 Best Companies to Work For (for the sixth consecutive year); and AAA Five Diamond awards (receiving more than other any hotel company for the 22nd consecutive year). Information on the company and its 42 years of achievement in the hospitality industry can be accessed through the Four Seasons Web site at
FOUR SEASONS HOTELS INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Three months ended Nine months ended
dollars except per September 30, September 30,
share amounts) 2003 2002 2003 2002
Consolidated revenues
(note 4) $ 62,298 $ 62,194 $ 193,135 $ 207,739
MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS
Revenues $ 36,217 $ 32,647 $ 109,179 $ 108,573
General and
administrative expenses (17,196) (17,178) (50,071) (48,187)
19,021 15,469 59,108 60,386
OWNERSHIP OPERATIONS
Revenues 27,001 30,647 87,194 102,451
Distributions from
hotel investments 153 247 153 818
Expenses:
Cost of sales and
expenses (35,328) (36,156) (111,769) (114,130)
Fees to Management
Operations (1,073) (1,347) (3,391) (4,103)
(9,247) (6,609) (27,813) (14,964)
Earnings before other
operating items 9,774 8,860 31,295 45,422
Depreciation and
amortization (3,645) (3,808) (11,419) (10,952)
Other expense, net
(note 5) (920) (21,708) (25,961) (20,084)
Earnings (loss) from
operations 5,209 (16,656) (6,085) 14,386
Interest income, net 1,038 535 2,388 3,501
Earnings (loss) before
income taxes 6,247 (16,121) (3,697) 17,887
Income tax recovery
(expense):
Current (177) 2,437 438 (1,950)
Future (1,322) 1,432 (2,536) (2,343)
(1,499) 3,869 (2,098) (4,293)
Net earnings (loss) $ 4,748 $ (12,252) $ (5,795) $ 13,594
Basic earnings (loss)
per share (note 3) $ 0.14 $ (0.35) $ (0.17) $ 0.39
Diluted earnings (loss)
per share (note 3) $ 0.13 $ (0.35) $ (0.17) $ 0.37
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
FOUR SEASONS HOTELS INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As at As at
September 30, December 31,
(In thousands of dollars) 2003 2002
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 161,404 $ 165,036
Receivables 80,021 85,594
Inventory 2,609 2,609
Prepaid expenses 4,209 4,718
248,243 257,957
Long-term receivables 200,783 207,106
Investments in hotel partnerships
and corporations 145,925 146,362
Fixed assets 68,145 74,593
Investment in management contracts 203,311 222,835
Investment in trademarks and trade names 5,921 6,329
Future income tax assets 14,926 17,460
Other assets 39,173 37,982
$ 926,427 $ 970,624
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 47,188 $ 40,362
Long-term obligations due within one year 2,470 2,668
49,658 43,030
Long-term obligations (note 2) 119,287 126,386
Shareholders' equity (note 3):
Capital stock 325,515 321,601
Convertible notes 178,543 178,543
Contributed surplus 4,636 4,636
Retained earnings 256,408 264,016
Equity adjustment from foreign
currency translation (7,620) 32,412
757,482 801,208
$ 926,427 $ 970,624
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
FOUR SEASONS HOTELS INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATIONS
(Unaudited) Three months ended Nine months ended
(In thousands of September 30, September 30,
dollars) 2003 2002 2003 2002
Cash provided by
(used in) operations:
MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS
Earnings before other
operating items $ 19,021 $ 15,469 $ 59,108 $ 60,386
Items not requiring an
outlay of funds 271 329 852 1,073
Working capital
provided by Management
Operations 19,292 15,798 59,960 61,459
OWNERSHIP OPERATIONS
Loss before other
operating items (9,247) (6,609) (27,813) (14,964)
10,045 9,189 32,147 46,495
Interest received, net 2,817 2,011 8,085 9,737
Current income
tax paid - (1,482) - (10,374)
Change in non-cash
working capital (3,012) 6,955 12,370 (11,296)
Other (2,698) 1,645 (8,480) (2,366)
Cash provided by
operations $ 7,152 $ 18,318 $ 44,122 $ 32,196
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
FOUR SEASONS HOTELS INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited) Three months ended Nine months ended
(In thousands of September 30, September 30,
dollars) 2003 2002 2003 2002
Cash provided by
(used in):
Operations: $ 7,152 $ 18,318 $ 44,122 $ 32,196
Financing:
Long-term obligations
including current
portion (34) (146) (64) (945)
Issuance of shares 2,408 561 3,914 5,448
Repurchase of shares - (8,754) - (8,754)
Dividends paid (1,813) (1,824) (3,622) (3,639)
Cash provided by (used
in) financing 561 (10,163) 228 (7,890)
Capital investments:
Long-term receivables 2,605 (14,926) (9,446) (23,077)
Hotel investments (1,493) (3,803) (7,902) (5,485)
Disposal of hotel
investments 1,529 (640) 1,529 4,815
Purchase of fixed
assets (124) (3,554) (5,400) (9,284)
Investments in
trademarks, trade
names and management
contracts (924) 840 (1,580) (1,359)
Other assets (1,370) (1,884) (4,860) (7,977)
Cash provided by
(used in) capital
investments 223 (23,967) (27,659) (42,367)
Increase (decrease)
in cash and cash
equivalents 7,936 (15,812) 16,691 (18,061)
Increase (decrease)
in cash due to
unrealized foreign
exchange gain (loss) 530 1,426 (20,323) 575
Cash and cash
equivalents,
beginning of period 152,938 207,321 165,036 210,421
Cash and cash
equivalents,
end of period $ 161,404 $ 192,935 $ 161,404 $ 192,935
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
FOUR SEASONS HOTELS INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF RETAINED EARNINGS
(Unaudited) Nine months ended
(In thousands of September 30,
dollars) 2003 2002
Retained earnings, beginning of period $ 264,016 $ 259,253
Net earnings (loss) (5,795) 13,594
Dividends declared (1,813) (1,824)
Repurchase of shares - (12,835)
Retained earnings, end of period $ 256,408 $ 258,188
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
FOUR SEASONS HOTELS INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of dollars except per share amounts)
These interim consolidated financial statements do not include all
disclosures required by Canadian generally accepted accounting principles
for annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with
the Company's annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 2002.
1. Significant accounting policies:
The significant accounting policies used in preparing these interim
consolidated financial statements are consistent with those used in
preparing the Company's annual consolidated financial statements for
the year ended December 31, 2002.
2. Bank credit facilities:
In 2003, the Company increased availability under its committed bank
credit facilities by US$12,500, and now has facilities of US$212,500,
of which US$112,500 expires in April 2004 and US$100,000 expires in
July 2004. No amounts have been borrowed under these facilities to
date; however, US$39,300 in letters of credit were issued but undrawn
as at September 30, 2003.
3. Shareholders' equity:
As at September 30, 2003, the Company has outstanding Variable
Multiple Voting Shares ("VMVS") and Limited Voting Shares ("LVS") of
35,090,504 and outstanding stock options of 5,953,345 (weighted
average exercise price of $53.14).
A reconciliation of the net earnings (loss) and weighted average
number of VMVS and LVS used to calculate basic earnings (loss) per
share and diluted earnings (loss) per share is as follows:
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Three months ended September 30,
dollars) 2003 2002
Net
earnings Shares Net loss Shares
Basic earnings (loss)
per share:
Net earnings (loss) $ 4,748 35,039,104 $ (12,252) 35,158,001
Effect of assumed
dilutive conversions:
Stock option plan - 1,672,051 - -(x)
Dilutive earnings
(loss) per share:
Net earnings (loss)
and assumed dilutive
conversions $ 4,748 36,711,155 $ (12,252) 35,158,001
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Nine months ended September 30,
dollars) 2003 2002
Net
Net loss Shares earnings Shares
Basic earnings (loss)
per share:
Net earnings (loss) $ (5,795) 34,945,812 $ 13,594 35,112,356
Effect of assumed
dilutive conversions:
Stock option plan - -(x) - 1,467,630
Dilutive earnings (loss)
per share:
Net earnings (loss)
and assumed dilutive
conversions $ (5,795) 34,945,812 $ 13,594 36,579,986
(x) The effect of assumed conversions to LVS under the Company's stock
option plan was anti-dilutive and was therefore excluded from the
calculation of diluted loss per share.
4. Consolidated revenues:
Consolidated revenues for Four Seasons Hotels Inc. comprise revenues
from Management Operations, revenues from Ownership Operations and
distributions from hotel investments, less fees from Ownership
Operations to Management Operations.
5. Other expense, net:
Included in other expense, net for the three months and nine months
ended September 30, 2003 is a net foreign exchange gain of $323 and a
net foreign exchange loss of $17,179, respectively (2002 - net
foreign exchange gain of $2,092 and $4,526, respectively) related to
the foreign currency translation gains and losses on unhedged net
monetary asset and liability positions, primarily in US dollars,
euros, pounds sterling and Australian dollars, and foreign exchange
gains and losses incurred by the Company's foreign self-sustaining
subsidiaries.
Also included in other expense, net for the three months and nine
months ended September 30, 2003 are legal and enforcement costs
of $1,180 and $8,680, respectively, in connection with the disputes
with the owners of Four Seasons hotels in Caracas and Seattle. These
disputes are described in detail in the Company's 2002 Annual Report.
Other expense, net for the three months and nine months ended
September 30, 2002 also included an asset impairment charge and legal
and enforcement costs of $23,307 related to the Company's
investments in Four Seasons Hotel Caracas, Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
and Four Seasons Olympic Hotel Seattle.
6. Stock-based compensation and other stock-based payments:
For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2003, had
compensation expense for the Company's stock-based compensation plan
been determined based on the fair value at the grant dates for stock
options issued under the plan, pro forma net earnings would have been
$3,524 and pro forma net loss would have been $8,903, respectively
(2002 - pro forma net loss of $12,988 and pro forma net earnings of
$12,636, respectively), pro forma basic earnings per share would have
been $0.10 and pro forma basic loss per share would have been $0.25,
respectively (2002 - pro forma basic loss per share of $0.37 and pro
forma basic earnings per share of $0.36, respectively), and pro forma
diluted earnings per share would have been $0.10 and pro forma
diluted loss per share would have been $0.25, respectively (2002
pro forma diluted loss per share of $0.37 and pro forma diluted
earnings per share of $0.35, respectively). In accordance with
Canadian generally accepted accounting principles, in calculating the
pro forma disclosures, only stock options granted after December 31,
2001 were included in the fair value-based accounting method.
The compensation element of stock options issued by the Company
during the first nine months of 2003 and 2002, based on the fair
value of the options on the date of grant, has been estimated using a
Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:
risk-free interest rates in 2003 ranging from 4.44% to 5.02% (2002
4.01% to 5.20%); semi-annual dividend per Limited Voting Share of
$0.055 for both periods; volatility factors of the expected market
price of the Company's Limited Voting Shares in 2003 of 32% (2002
47.4% to 49.8%); and expected lives of the options ranging between
four and seven years, depending on the level of the employee who was
granted stock options. For the options granted during the nine months
ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, the weighted average fair value of
options at the grant date was $27.09 and $34.92, respectively. For
purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the
options is amortized to compensation expense over the option's
vesting period, which ranges from one to five years.
7. Guarantees and indemnifications:
In February 2003, the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants
issued Accounting Guideline No. 14, "Disclosure of Guarantees"
("AcG-14"), that requires a company to disclose certain "guarantees"
as defined in AcG-14. Other than the commitments and contingencies
discussed in the Company's annual consolidated financial statements
for the year ended December 31, 2002 (please refer to note 14
thereof) and the indemnifications discussed below, the Company is not
aware of any other "guarantees" pursuant to which it may be required
to pay any material amounts, and accordingly no amounts have been
recorded in the consolidated financial statements in respect thereof.
The Company's assessment of its potential liability could change in
the future as a result of currently unforseen circumstances.
In the ordinary course of their business, the Company and its
subsidiaries enter into agreements. Certain of these agreements may
contain indemnification provisions pursuant to which the parties
agree to indemnify one another if certain events occur (such as
future claims for certain liabilities, including those related to tax
or environmental matters). The terms of these indemnification
provisions vary in their scope and duration. The nature of these
indemnification provisions precludes the Company from making a
reasonable estimate of the maximum potential liability of the Company
and its subsidiaries because, among other things, the amounts would
be dependent on the outcome of future, contingent events, the nature
and likelihood of which cannot be determined at this time. No amount
has been recorded in the consolidated financial statements with
respect to these indemnification provisions.
8. Seasonality:
The Company's hotels and resorts are affected by normally recurring
seasonal patterns and, for most of the properties, demand is lower in
December through March than during the remainder of the year.
Typically, the fourth quarter is the strongest quarter for the
majority of the properties, although this was not true in 2002 as a
result of the difficult economic environment and geopolitical
instability.
The Company's ownership operations are particularly affected by
seasonal fluctuations, with lower revenue, operating profit and cash
flow in the first quarter. As a result, ownership operations
typically incur an operating loss in the first quarter of each year.
Management operations are also impacted by seasonal patterns, as fee
revenues are affected by the seasonality of hotel and resort revenues
and operating results. Urban hotels generally experience lower
revenues and operating results in the first quarter. However, this
negative impact on management revenues is offset, to some degree, by
increased travel to the Company's resorts in the period.