Royal Olympic Cruise Lines Inc. announced today its preliminary results for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2000. The Company also reported the completion of the sale of a $20.0 million convertible subordinated debenture to Louis Cruise Lines Limited, its indirect controlling shareholder.
For fiscal 2000, the Company reported net income of $1.74 million on net revenues of $126.2 million, compared with a loss of $10.8 million on revenues of $96.5 million for fiscal 1999.
The improvement was primarily the combined result of an increase in net ticket revenue by 26.3% to $101.3million and of a sharp drop in the operating expenses of the company to 56.0% of total net revenue, down from 73.0% in 1999. Improved utilisation of the fleet, higher on board revenues and tighter cost controls in all areas of the business all contributed.
More specifically, for the cruise year 2000 Royal Olympic Cruise Lines sailed at 81.15% capacity (up from 72% in 1999) or 774,405 passenger days with a passenger capacity of 954,318. Total net revenues reached $126.2million compared with $96.5million in the previous year. Total net onboard revenue registered an increase of 56% to $16.9m.
Despite the increase by 21.7% in passenger days, total operating costs were only marginally higher than those of 1999 ($70.7 million as compared to $70.4 million). The improvement was mainly the result of cost control measures, which led to sharp reductions in the costs of insurance, maintenance and supplies, but the sharp rise in fuel prices partially offset the improvement. The strong US dollar had a positive effect, mainly on payroll costs, as the Company’s revenues are approximately 70% in dollars, while expenses, such as payroll, are in drachmas
The combined result of the increase in total revenues and the reduction in vessel operating expenses, was a marked improvement in the vessel operating income, which more than doubled, from $20.6 million in 1999 to $47.5 million in 2000.
General and administrative expenses increased by 1.1% to $16.9million, while marketing and sales expenses registered an increase of 15.2% to $8.6million, mainly as a result of the launching of the Olympic Voyager.
The result of the developments above was a $25.6 million improvement in the EBIDA for 2000, which reached $21.9 million, as compared to minus $3.7 million in 1999.
Depreciation and interest charges increased by $2.7 million and $7.0 million respectively, as a result of the delivery of the Olympic Voyager. These increases, together with losses on forward exchange contracts (in contrast to gains in the previous year) limited the improvement in the net income of the company to $12.5million, from a loss of $10.8million in 1999 to a profit of $1.7million for 2000.
Commenting on the results Mr. Harry Haralambopoulos, Chairman of Royal Olympic Cruise Lines, stated: “Our first year together with Louis Cruise Lines has made a difference. Improved vessel performance, passenger yields and cost control measures, together with the positive effects of the delivery of the Olympic Voyager, have led to a substantial improvement in the performance of the Company. We expect a continuation of this trend in 2001”.
Bookings for the 2001 Mediterranean summer season are running ahead of the same period in 2000 by approximately 24%.
Unlike other major cruise markets, there has been negligible capacity increases in Royal Olympic Lines’ major Mediterranean market. Further, with the delivery of the company’s second fast cruise ship, Olympic Explorer, set for late April, the company expects to outperform 2000.
The second of two new buildings is now scheduled for delivery in late April. The 836 passenger ship, Olympic Explorer, is the sister ship of the Olympic Voyager delivered in June of 2000. Built at Blohm + Voss in Germany, the cruise ship has an innovative hull design, allowing it to cruise at a speed of 28 knots, which is much faster than most conventional cruise ships. The Company employs the speed in a variety of exciting itineraries in the Mediterranean during the summer and in the Americas during the winter months.
Royal Olympic also announced the issuance of a convertible subordinated $20.0million note to Louis Cruise Lines Ltd., which will substantially strengthen the Company. Louis Cruise Lines Ltd. owns 70% of ROC Holdings Inc., which, in turn, owns 51.4% of the Company.
The note bears interest, which is capitalized, at LIBOR plus 2%. The note will be converted to common stock on June 30, 2002 at a price equal to the average trading price in the six months prior to conversion. Alternatively, if the Company completes a rights offering to all shareholders prior to June 30, 2002, the proceeds will be applied to prepay the note and the interest, with any remaining balance converted to common stock at the rights offer price.
Royal Olympic Cruise Lines is the largest cruise operator in the Eastern Mediterranean, owning and operating a fleet of eight overnight cruise ships.
The company states that some of the statements in this press release may be considered forward looking defined and as permitted by the SEC. This press release is for information only and should not be considered investment advice.
For fiscal 2000, the Company reported net income of $1.74 million on net revenues of $126.2 million, compared with a loss of $10.8 million on revenues of $96.5 million for fiscal 1999.
The improvement was primarily the combined result of an increase in net ticket revenue by 26.3% to $101.3million and of a sharp drop in the operating expenses of the company to 56.0% of total net revenue, down from 73.0% in 1999. Improved utilisation of the fleet, higher on board revenues and tighter cost controls in all areas of the business all contributed.
More specifically, for the cruise year 2000 Royal Olympic Cruise Lines sailed at 81.15% capacity (up from 72% in 1999) or 774,405 passenger days with a passenger capacity of 954,318. Total net revenues reached $126.2million compared with $96.5million in the previous year. Total net onboard revenue registered an increase of 56% to $16.9m.
Despite the increase by 21.7% in passenger days, total operating costs were only marginally higher than those of 1999 ($70.7 million as compared to $70.4 million). The improvement was mainly the result of cost control measures, which led to sharp reductions in the costs of insurance, maintenance and supplies, but the sharp rise in fuel prices partially offset the improvement. The strong US dollar had a positive effect, mainly on payroll costs, as the Company’s revenues are approximately 70% in dollars, while expenses, such as payroll, are in drachmas
The combined result of the increase in total revenues and the reduction in vessel operating expenses, was a marked improvement in the vessel operating income, which more than doubled, from $20.6 million in 1999 to $47.5 million in 2000.
General and administrative expenses increased by 1.1% to $16.9million, while marketing and sales expenses registered an increase of 15.2% to $8.6million, mainly as a result of the launching of the Olympic Voyager.
The result of the developments above was a $25.6 million improvement in the EBIDA for 2000, which reached $21.9 million, as compared to minus $3.7 million in 1999.
Depreciation and interest charges increased by $2.7 million and $7.0 million respectively, as a result of the delivery of the Olympic Voyager. These increases, together with losses on forward exchange contracts (in contrast to gains in the previous year) limited the improvement in the net income of the company to $12.5million, from a loss of $10.8million in 1999 to a profit of $1.7million for 2000.
Commenting on the results Mr. Harry Haralambopoulos, Chairman of Royal Olympic Cruise Lines, stated: “Our first year together with Louis Cruise Lines has made a difference. Improved vessel performance, passenger yields and cost control measures, together with the positive effects of the delivery of the Olympic Voyager, have led to a substantial improvement in the performance of the Company. We expect a continuation of this trend in 2001”.
Bookings for the 2001 Mediterranean summer season are running ahead of the same period in 2000 by approximately 24%.
Unlike other major cruise markets, there has been negligible capacity increases in Royal Olympic Lines’ major Mediterranean market. Further, with the delivery of the company’s second fast cruise ship, Olympic Explorer, set for late April, the company expects to outperform 2000.
The second of two new buildings is now scheduled for delivery in late April. The 836 passenger ship, Olympic Explorer, is the sister ship of the Olympic Voyager delivered in June of 2000. Built at Blohm + Voss in Germany, the cruise ship has an innovative hull design, allowing it to cruise at a speed of 28 knots, which is much faster than most conventional cruise ships. The Company employs the speed in a variety of exciting itineraries in the Mediterranean during the summer and in the Americas during the winter months.
Royal Olympic also announced the issuance of a convertible subordinated $20.0million note to Louis Cruise Lines Ltd., which will substantially strengthen the Company. Louis Cruise Lines Ltd. owns 70% of ROC Holdings Inc., which, in turn, owns 51.4% of the Company.
The note bears interest, which is capitalized, at LIBOR plus 2%. The note will be converted to common stock on June 30, 2002 at a price equal to the average trading price in the six months prior to conversion. Alternatively, if the Company completes a rights offering to all shareholders prior to June 30, 2002, the proceeds will be applied to prepay the note and the interest, with any remaining balance converted to common stock at the rights offer price.
Royal Olympic Cruise Lines is the largest cruise operator in the Eastern Mediterranean, owning and operating a fleet of eight overnight cruise ships.
The company states that some of the statements in this press release may be considered forward looking defined and as permitted by the SEC. This press release is for information only and should not be considered investment advice.