ATLANTA, Oct. 7, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Premier Exhibitions, Inc. (Nasdaq:PRXI), a leading presenter of museum-quality touring exhibitions around the world, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended August 31, 2010.
Chris Davino, Premier Exhibition's Chief Executive Officer, stated, "During the second quarter, we made significant strategic progress despite near-term operational challenges. First, we received a favorable decision in the Titanic case. We also embarked on a historic return to the Titanic wreck site which should pave the way for new revenue opportunities, a more compelling exhibition experience, and a further diversification of our business model." Mr. Davino continued, "From an operating perspective, we did a great job putting our touring assets to work, and we did so in a heavily self-operated manner. While that positioned us for the opportunity for higher gross profit, soft attendance put pressure on our financial results. As we have stated over the past few quarters, we continue to work on various initiatives to not only improve the profitability of our existing properties, but also allow us to accelerate long-term growth with the introduction of new exhibitions and other content that compliments our core business."
Comparing the second fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2010 with the prior year second quarter:
- Revenue increased to $13.7 million compared to $13.4 million.
- Total exhibition days increased 7% to 1,757, as a result of better deployment of our entire capacity of touring exhibitions.
- Average attendance per exhibition day decreased 17% to 669, as total attendance decreased 11% to 1,176,184.
- Average ticket prices increased 3% to $16.52 as compared with $16.04 in the prior year second quarter.
- Gross Profit decreased $3.2 million to $4.9 million, reflecting lower revenue per exhibition day, a decline in average daily attendance, as well as increased venue operating costs associated with more self operated exhibitions year over year.
- General and Administrative expenses decreased 47% to $3.9 million and was driven by lower consulting and legal fees, lower compensation expense, and reduced bad debt.
- GAAP Net loss narrowed to ($0.2) million, or ($0.00) per diluted share from ($0.5) million, or ($0.20) per diluted share in the prior year period.
- Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure (1), improved by $0.3 million to $1.1 million, despite expensing strategic investments totaling approximately $0.4 million.
- On August 31, 2010, the Company had total cash and marketable securities of $8.1 million and no debt.
2Q11 Conference Call Information
Company management will host its second quarter fiscal 2011 conference call on October 7, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. (EDT). Interested parties can access the call by dialing 1 (877) 741-4240 in the U.S. and 1 (719) 325-4903 internationally. Callers should reference confirmation code 7792480. A transcript of the conference call will be made available on the Company's website: .
(1) Adjusted EBITDA
See Table 4 below for reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP Net income (loss).
This press release contains certain financial measures that are not prepared in accordance with GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S.). Such financial measures are referred to herein as "non-GAAP" and are presented in this press release in accordance with Regulation G as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. A reconciliation of each such non-GAAP measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, together with an explanation of why management believes each such non-GAAP financial measure provides useful information to investors, is provided below.
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company defines as earnings before certain unusual and/or non-cash charges, depreciation and amortization, loss (gain) on sale of operating assets, impairment of intangible assets and goodwill, and non-cash compensation expenses. The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate the performance of its operating segments. The Company believes that information about Adjusted EBITDA assists investors by allowing them to evaluate changes in the operating results of the Company's portfolio of businesses separate from non-operational factors that affect net income, thus providing insights into both operations and the other factors that affect reported results. Adjusted EBITDA is not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP. A limitation on the use of Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure is that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenue in the Company's business. Accordingly, Adjusted EBITDA should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, operating income (loss), net income (loss), and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. Furthermore, this measure may vary among other companies. Therefore, Adjusted EBITDA as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.
About Premier Exhibitions
Premier Exhibitions, Inc. (Nasdaq:PRXI) develops and tours museum quality exhibitions. Presently the Company operates and/or presents and promotes three different types of exhibitions:
- "Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition,"
- "Bodies...The Exhibition," and "Bodies Revealed;" and
- "Dialog in the Dark."
Additional information about Premier Exhibitions is available at .
Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve certain risks and uncertainties. The actual results or outcomes of Premier Exhibitions, Inc. may differ materially from those anticipated. Although Premier Exhibitions believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any such assumptions could prove to be inaccurate. Therefore, Premier Exhibitions can provide no assurance that any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release will prove to be accurate.
In light of the significant uncertainties and risks inherent in the forward-looking statements included in this press release, such information should not be regarded as a representation by Premier Exhibitions that its objectives or plans will be achieved. Included in these uncertainties and risks are, among other things, fluctuations in operating results, general economic conditions, uncertainty regarding the results of certain legal proceedings and competition. Forward-looking statements consist of statements other than a recitation of historical fact and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "intend," "expect," "will," "anticipate," "estimate" or "continue" or the negatives thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. Because they are forward-looking, such statements should be evaluated in light of important risk factors and uncertainties. These risk factors and uncertainties are more fully described in Premier Exhibitions' most recent Annual and Quarterly Reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the heading entitled "Risk Factors." Premier Exhibitions does not undertake an obligation to update publicly any of its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
(1) Non – GAAP Measure:
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before certain unusual and/or non-cash charges, depreciation and amortization, loss (gain) on sale of operating assets, impairment of intangible assets and goodwill, and non-cash compensation expense. Adjusted EBITDA should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, operating income (loss), net income (loss), and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2010, the Company entered into an amendment to an existing multiple element agreement with promoters that modified certain of the terms and conditions of the agreement. Although these modifications had no impact on revenue recognized in this fiscal year or prior periods, the amendments modify our analysis and computation of the fair value of the undelivered elements in such a way that we will no longer be able to support the fair value of the undelivered elements in a multiple element arrangement as required by U.S. GAAP. As a result, during fiscal 2010 and in the future the Company will no longer recognize payment of non-refundable exhibition license revenue upon execution of an agreement or upon cash collection as a separate deliverable, but rather will defer such amounts until the time that the exhibition occurs, or the allowed time period for such an exhibition has passed and no remaining obligation to host such exhibition exists. This first quarter change had no impact on revenue recognized in prior periods, including non-refundable exhibition license revenue that was recognized.
CONTACT: Premier Exhibitions, Inc. Investor Contact: John Stone, Chief Financial Officer 404.842.2600 john.stone@prxi.com