SKIS - Peak Resorts

[Wild]

Looking for some general insight, this is a semi-unique company to the US Market in its industry as there are few other publicly traded companies with such a standard portfolio of operations. Peak Resorts Inc is an owner of various ski resorts across Mid-West and North-East USA.  They currently own and operate 14 resorts. Price is currently at 4.325, they pay a dividend roughly every quarter (With .07 being declared quarterly this year, it looks like Annualized Div Yield will be 5.5%. Dividend History is as such:

 

Ex-Date  Div Rate 4/13/17  .07 2/23/17  .07 12/30/15  .1375 10/8/15  .1375 7/8/15      .1375 4/2/15    .1375 12/30/14    .1091

 

 

Some basic ratios from the 2016 Fiscal End:

 

Current Ratio: .75

Solvency Ratio: 1.296

Negative Net Income so EPS and P/E not applicable

Debt-to-Equity: .29

Total Revenue (2011 to 2016): 97,586 -> 99,688 -> 105,205 -> 104,858 -> 95,729

Altman Z-Score: 1.7

 

 

I originally purchased the stock in 2015 because it is 100% domestic (involves itself in no foreign activities or marketing), had a consistent system of operations, and a relatively new IPO to the market (public in Q4 2014). I was hoping for a Buy-and-Hold strategy of reinvesting the Dividends over a long period of time.

 

The company itself is heavily reliant upon the quality of winters, and if there is a winter with little snow it hurts the company. Couple this with the long-term global warming, and my outlook on the Ski industry is more glass-half-empty than anything. I do think there's some value to the company given the consistency of how it runs, with its debt being tied up in land acquisition. The current liabilities on the books are mostly comprised of "Miscellaneous Current Liabilities" which is Cash held in Escrow for the EB-5 Employment program they utilize.

 

I'm thinking that I should start to look into selling it, but I also know that it could very well be an attractive acquisition for a takeover or a buyout and I'm willing to wait that potential out to recognize a premium on the value.

 

 

Any thoughts or noticeable opinions would be appreciated! Thanks!

[oddballstocks]

They have a sub-par portfolio.  These are not destination resorts, they're little ski bumps that locals hit up.  Some are REALLY tiny.

 

The hills in Ohio have less vertical than the street I live on, a typical residential street in W PA.  I've skied at a number of these hills growing up.  Paoli Peak is a former trash dump in the middle of Indiana.

 

Hunter is decent, Attitash, and Wildcat are ok.

 

So what do you get?  A ton of tiny places where is really difficult to make money and a few mid-tier places in the NE.

 

The ski industry is consolidating like crazy.  You have players like Vail, Aspen buying up feeder resorts and bundling them into pass deals.  The idea is you get the locals at the feeder resort who will use their pass at the larger destination resorts.  You pump people into vacationing at the higher end places with better margins.

 

SKIS is in a position to be bought if someone thinks this portfolio can be a bolt-on.  I think their problem is they're too concentrated.  Look at where the resorts are.  You have three within 35m of Cleveland, and one near nothing (Mad River).  Then St. Louis, Indianapolis and Poconos PA.  The problem with Jack Frost is their product isn't attractive compared to nearby resorts. 

 

Look at where Vail purchased, they bought up the stuff around Chicago.  Aspen's purchase of Intrawest was genius, you get some top tier resorts and feeder places.  I am a passholder at Snowshoe, it is THE destination for the Southeast, even though the product is just ok.  It's the only place, so now you have the Atlanta, NC/SC/FL skiers funneled into a place like Aspen, Steamboat, or Snowmass.

 

Almost all of their resorts rely on snowmaking.  It doesn't have to be snowy, just around 29 degrees at night.

 

If they were profitable I'd consider these guys.  The problem is a few rough years really weeds out the weak hands in the ski market.

 

All that said I have very fond memories of flying down the hills at Boston Mills and Brandywine as a junior high kid.  I would have died to ski down my street.  No joke, the descent from the back of my yard to the front is about the same vertical height and length as the flagship green slope at Boston Mills.  But if you live where it's pancake flat that's all you have.  I learned to ski on ice there..

 

[thepupil]

SKIS is a vassal to its overlord, EPR.

 

If the below doesn't mean anything to you, you need to read more about the company's debt. that said it's certainly gotten a lot cheaper.

 

NOTE: a seeking alpha author invented the term, not me.

 

Secured Outrageously Expensive High Coupon Growing Coupon Inflation-Escalating Coupon With Penalties In Weak Years Plus An Overriding Royalty On Sales In Good Years With An Option To Buy Your Properties Non-Repayable Non-Amortizing Not-Maturin' For Decades Mortgage Instrument"

 

 

On November 10, 2014, in connection with the Company’s initial public offering, the Company entered into a Restructure Agreement with certain affiliates of EPR Properties (“EPR”), the Company’s primary lender, providing for the (i) prepayment of approximately $75.8 million of formerly non-prepayable debt secured by the Crotched Mountain, Attitash, Paoli Peaks, Hidden Valley and Snow Creek resorts and (ii) retirement of one of the notes associated with the future development of Mount Snow (the “Debt Restructure”). On December 1, 2014, the Company entered into various agreements in order to effectuate the Debt Restructure, as more fully described in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 5, 2014 and below (collectively, the “Debt Restructure Agreements”).  Pursuant to the Debt Restructure, the Company paid a defeasance fee of $5.0 million to EPR in addition to the consideration described below.

 

In exchange for the prepayment right, the Company granted EPR a purchase option on the Boston Mills, Brandywine, Jack Frost, Big Boulder and Alpine Valley properties, subject to certain conditions.  If EPR exercises a purchase option, EPR will enter into an agreement with the Company for the lease of each such acquired property for an initial term of 20 years, plus options to extend the lease for two additional periods of ten years each. All previously existing option agreements between the Company and EPR were terminated.

 

Over the years, the Company has depreciated the book value of these properties pursuant to applicable accounting rules, and as such, it has a low basis in the properties. As a result, the Company will realize significant gains on the sale of the properties to EPR if the option is exercised. The Company will be required to pay capital gains tax on the difference between the purchase price of the properties and the tax basis in the properties, which is expected to be a substantial cost. To date, EPR has not exercised the option.

 

Additionally, the Company agreed to extend the maturity dates on all non-prepayable notes and mortgages secured by the Mount Snow, Boston Mills, Brandywine, Jack Frost, Big Boulder and Alpine Valley properties remaining after the Debt Restructure by seven years to December 1, 2034, and to extend the lease for the Mad River property, previously terminating in 2026, until December 31, 2034 (the “Lease Amendment”).

 

The Company also granted EPR a right of first refusal to provide all or a portion of the financing associated with any purchase, ground lease, sale/leaseback, management or financing transaction contemplated by the Company with respect to any new or existing ski resort property for a period of seven years or until financing provided by EPR for such transactions equals or exceeds $250 million in the aggregate. Proposed financings from certain types of institutional lenders providing a loan to value ratio of less than 60% (as relates to the applicable property being financed) are excluded from the right of first refusal. The Company granted EPR a separate right of first refusal in the event that the Company wishes to sell, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of any or all of the Attitash ski resort for seven years.  The Attitash right excludes the financing or mortgaging of Attitash.

 

In connection with the Debt Restructure, the Company entered into a Master Credit and Security Agreement with EPR (the “Master Credit Agreement”) governing the restructured debt with EPR. Pursuant to the Master Credit Agreement, EPR agreed to maintain the following loans to the Company following the prepayment of certain outstanding debt with proceeds from the Company’s initial public offering: (i) a term loan in the amount of approximately $51.1 million to the Company and its subsidiary Mount Snow, Ltd., (included in the table above as the “Attitash/Mount Snow Debt”); (ii) a term loan in the amount of approximately $23.3 million to the Company and its subsidiaries Brandywine Ski Resort, Inc. and Boston Mills Ski Resort, Inc. (the “Boston Mills/Brandywine Debt”); (iii) a term loan in the amount of approximately $14.3 million to the Company and its subsidiary JFBB Ski Areas, Inc. (the “JFBB Debt” and together with the Boston Mills/Brandywine Debt, included in the table above as the “Credit Facility Debt”); and (iv) a term loan in the amount of approximately $4.6 million to the Company and its subsidiary Sycamore Lake, Inc. (included in the table above as the “Sycamore Lake (Alpine Valley) Debt”).

 

Interest will be charged at a rate of (i) 10.13% per annum as to each of the Boston Mills/Brandywine Debt and JFBB Debt; (ii) 10.40% per annum as to the Sycamore Lake (Alpine Valley) Debt; and (iii) 10.93% per annum pursuant to the Attitash/Mount Snow Debt.  Each of the notes governing the restructured debt provides that interest will increase each year by the lesser of the following: (x) three times the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index as defined in the notes (“CPI”) from the CPI in effect on the applicable adjustment date over the CPI in effect on the immediately preceding adjustment date or (y) 1.5% (the “Capped CPI Index).  Past due amounts will be charged a higher interest rate and be subject to late charges. 

 

The Master Credit Agreement further provides that in addition to interest payments, the Company must pay the following with respect to all restructured debt other than the Attitash/Mount Snow Debt: an additional annual payment equal to 10% of the gross receipts attributable to the properties serving as collateral of the restructured debt (other than Mount Snow) for such year in excess of an amount equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the annual interest payments payable pursuant to the notes governing the restructured debt (other than with respect to the Attitash/Mount Snow Debt) for the immediately preceding year by (ii) 10%.  The Company must pay the following with respect to the Attitash/Mount Snow Debt: an additional annual payment equal to 12% of the gross receipts generated at Mount Snow for such year in excess of an amount equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the annual interest payments payable under the note governing the Attitash/Mount Snow Debt for the immediately preceding year by (ii) 12%.  An additional interest payment of $0.2 million was due for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2017.

 

  The Master Credit Agreement includes restrictions on certain transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, leases, asset sales, loans to third parties, and the incurrence of certain additional debt and liens. The Master Credit Agreement includes certain financial covenants, some of which were modified by the terms set forth in the Modification of Master Credit Agreements entered into by the Company and EPR effective as of October 24, 2016 (the “Modification Agreement”). The

Modification Agreement modified the financial covenants of the Master Credit Agreement, Hunter Mountain Credit Agreement and Bridge Loan Agreement, as defined herein (together, the “EPR Credit Agreements”). 

 

Financial covenants set forth in the Master Credit Agreement consist of a maximum leverage ratio (as defined in the Master Credit Agreement) of 65%, above which the Company and certain of its subsidiaries are prohibited from incurring additional indebtedness, and a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio (as defined in the Master Credit Agreement) covenant. As modified by the Modification Agreement, no later than 30 days after the closing of the Private Placement with CAP 1 LLC, as defined in Note 5, “Private Placement,”  the Company shall deliver to the lender either (the “One Month Interest Obligation”) (i) a letter of credit in favor of the lender in the amount equal to one month of the lease payment obligations and debt service payments, as defined in the EPR Credit Agreements; or (ii) cash equal to the same amount. The terms of the Modification Agreement further provide that the lender may draw upon any letter of credit issued pursuant to the Modification Agreement upon the occurrence of certain events (the “Letter of Credit Events”), including, but not limited to, (i) any event of default under the EPR Credit Agreements; (ii) the Company’s failure to maintain a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.50:1.00 on a rolling four quarter basis, as calculated pursuant to the terms of the EPR Credit Agreements, on or after May 1, 2017; and (iii) at any time within 60 days prior to the expiration date of any letter of credit. In the event of the occurrence of any Letter of Credit Events, the Company must replace the One Month Interest Obligation with (i) a replacement letter of credit in favor of the lender in the amount equal to three months of lease payment obligations and debt service payments, as defined in the EPR Credit Agreements; or (ii) cash in the same amount. Pursuant to the terms of the Modification Agreement, the Company must obtain the consent of the lender prior to redeeming any preferred or common stock.  The Private Placement closed on November 2, 2016, and the Company provided EPR with the One Month Interest Obligation letter of credit (the “Interest Letter of Credit”) in the amount of $1.1 million on December 1, 2016 in accordance with the terms of the Modification Agreement. The Interest Letter of Credit is collateralized by a certificate of deposit in the amount of $1.1 million.  The Master Credit Agreement prohibits the Company from paying dividends if the fixed charge coverage ratio is below 1.25:1.00 and during default situations. During the first two quarters of fiscal year 2017, the Company’s fixed charge coverage ratios fell below the required ratios, resulting in the actions described above. As of January 31, 2017, the Company is in compliance with all debt covenants. 

 

Under the terms of the Master Credit Agreement and pursuant to the Master Cross Default Agreement, as amended, the occurrence of a change of control is an event of default. A change of control will be deemed to occur if (i) within two years after the effective date of the Hunter Mountain Credit Agreement, the Company’s named executive officers (Messrs. Timothy Boyd, Stephen Mueller and Richard Deutsch) cease to beneficially own and control less than 50% of the amount of the Company’s outstanding voting stock that they own as of the effective date of the Master Credit Agreement, or (ii) the Company ceases to beneficially own and control less than all of the outstanding shares of voting stock of those subsidiaries which are borrowers under the Master Credit Agreement.  Other events of default include, but are not limited to, a default on other indebtedness of the Company or its subsidiaries.

 

None of the restructured debt may be prepaid without the consent of EPR. Upon an event of default, as defined in the Debt Restructure Agreements, EPR may, among other things, declare all unpaid principal and interest due and payable.  Each of the notes governing the restructured debt matures on December 1, 2034.

 

As a condition to the Debt Restructure, the Company entered into the Master Cross Default Agreement with EPR (the “Master Cross Default Agreement”). The Master Cross Default Agreement provides that any event of default under existing or future loan or lien agreements between the Company or its affiliates and EPR, and any event of default under the Lease Amendment, shall automatically constitute an event of default under each of such loan and lien agreements and Lease Amendment, upon which EPR will be entitled to all of the remedies provided under such agreements and Lease Amendment in the case of an event of default.

 

Also in connection with the Debt Restructure, the Company and EPR entered into the Guaranty Agreement (the “2014 Guaranty Agreement”).  The 2014 Guaranty Agreement obligates the Company and its subsidiaries as guarantors of all debt evidenced by the Debt Restructure Agreements. The table below illustrates the potential interest rates applicable to the Company’s fluctuating interest rate debt for each of the next five years, assuming an effective rate increase by the Capped CPI Index:

 

For 2017, the dates of the rates presented are as follows: (i) April 1, 2016 for the Attitash/Mount Snow Debt; (ii) October 1, 2016 for the Credit Facility Debt; (iii) January 6, 2016 for the Hunter Mountain Debt; and (iv) December 1, 2016 for the Sycamore Lake (Alpine Valley) Debt.

 

The Capped CPI Index is an embedded derivative, but the Company has concluded that the derivative does not require bifurcation and separate presentation at fair value because the Capped CPI Index was determined to be clearly and closely related to the debt instrument.

 

Wildcat Mountain Debt

 

The Wildcat Mountain Debt due December 22, 2020 represents amounts owed pursuant to a promissory note in the principal amount of $4.5 million made by WC Acquisition Corp. in favor of Wildcat Mountain Ski Area, Inc., Meadow Green‑Wildcat Skilift Corp. and Meadow Green‑Wildcat Corp. (the “Wildcat Note”). The Wildcat Note, dated November 22, 2010, was made in connection with the acquisition of Wildcat Mountain, which was effective as of October 20, 2010. The interest rate as set forth in the Wildcat Note is fixed at 4.00%.

 

Hunter Mountain Debt

 

On January 6, 2016, the Company completed the acquisition of the Hunter Mountain ski resort located in Hunter, New York through the purchase of all of the outstanding stock of each of Hunter Mountain Ski Bowl, Inc., Hunter Mountain Festivals, Ltd., Hunter Mountain Rentals, Inc., Hunter Resort Vacations, Inc., Hunter Mountain Base Lodge, Inc., and Frosty Land, Inc. (collectively, “Hunter Mountain”) pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement with Paul Slutzky, Charles B. Slutzky, David Slutzky, Gary Slutzky and Carol Slutzky-Tenerowicz entered into on November 30, 2015.  The Company acquired Hunter Mountain for total cash consideration of $35.0 million plus the assumption of two capital leases estimated at approximately $1.7 million. A portion of the Hunter Mountain acquisition price was financed pursuant to the Master Credit and Security Agreement (the “Hunter Mountain Credit Agreement”) entered into between the Company and EPR as of January 6, 2016.

 

The Hunter Mountain Debt due January 5, 2036 represents amounts owed pursuant to a promissory note (the “Hunter Mountain Note”) in the principal amount of $21.0 million made by the Company in favor of EPR pursuant to the Hunter Mountain Credit Agreement, which was effective as of January 6, 2016.  The Company used $20.0 million of the Hunter Mountain Debt to finance the Hunter Mountain acquisition and $1.0 million to cover closing costs and to add to its interest reserve account.

 

The Hunter Mountain Credit Agreement and Hunter Mountain Note provide that interest will be charged at an initial rate of 8.00%, subject to an annual increase beginning on February 1, 2017 by the lesser of the following: (x) three times the percentage increase in the CPI (as defined in the Hunter Mountain Note) from the CPI in effect on the applicable adjustment date over the CPI in effect on the immediately preceding adjustment date or (y) 1.75%.  Past due amounts will be charged a higher interest rate and be subject to late charges.

 

The Hunter Mountain Credit Agreement further provides that in addition to interest payments, the Company must pay an additional annual payment equal to 8.00% of the gross receipts in excess of $35.0 million that are attributable to all collateral under the Hunter Mountain Note for such year.

 

The Hunter Mountain Credit Agreement includes restrictions or limitations on certain transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, leases, asset sales, loans to third parties, and the incurrence or guaranty of certain additional debt and liens. Financial covenants and dividend restrictions set forth in the Hunter Mountain Credit Agreement are identical to those set forth in the Master Credit Agreement, as modified by the Modification Agreement, described above.  In accordance with the terms of the Modification Agreement, the Company provided EPR with the Interest Letter of Credit on December 1, 2016 in the amount of $1.1 million, collateralized by a certificate of deposit for the same amount.  During the first two quarters of fiscal year 2017, the Company’s fixed charge coverage ratios fell below the required ratios, resulting in the actions described above.    As of January 31, 2017, the Company is in compliance with all debt covenants. 

 

Under the terms of the Hunter Mountain Credit Agreement, the occurrence of a change of control is an event of default. A change of control will be deemed to occur if (i) within two years after the effective date of the Hunter Mountain Credit Agreement, the Company’s named executive officers (Messrs. Boyd, Mueller and Deutsch) cease to beneficially own and control less than 50% of the amount of the Company’s outstanding voting stock that they own as of the effective date of the Hunter Mountain Credit Agreement, or (ii) the Company ceases to beneficially own and control less than all of the outstanding shares of voting stock of those subsidiaries which are borrowers under the Hunter Mountain Credit Agreement.  Other events of default include, but are not limited to, a default on other indebtedness of the Company or its subsidiaries.

 

The Hunter Mountain Note may not be prepaid without the consent of EPR. Upon an event of default, as defined in the Hunter Mountain Note, EPR may, among other things, declare all unpaid principal and interest due and payable. The Hunter Mountain Note matures on January 5, 2036.

 

In connection with entry into the Hunter Mountain Credit Agreement on January 6, 2016, the Company entered into the Amended and Restated Master Cross-Default Agreement with EPR, which adds the Hunter Mountain Credit Agreement, Hunter Mountain Note and related transaction documents to the scope of loan agreements to which the cross-default provisions of the Master Cross Default Agreement apply. 

 

Also on January 6, 2016, in connection with entry into the Hunter Mountain Credit Agreement, the Company entered into a Guaranty Agreement for the benefit of EPR, which adds the Company’s new Hunter Mountain subsidiary borrowers under the Hunter Mountain Credit Agreement as guarantors pursuant to the same terms of the 2014 Guaranty Agreement and adds the debt evidenced by the Hunter Mountain Credit Agreement and Hunter Mountain Note to the debt guaranteed by the Company pursuant to the 2014 Guaranty Agreement. 

 

Substantially all of the Company’s assets serve as collateral for the Company’s long-term debt.

 

Future aggregate annual principal payments under all indebtedness (including the Company’ line of credit, current debt and long-term debt) reflected by fiscal year are as follows (in thousands):

 

[Wild]

One thing I'm a tad confused on theoretically as it pertains to this stock is the quarterly dividend they're paying out. I know at some points in my education there was the theorization that companies who pay out Dividends do so because the return the shareholder receives for reinvesting somewhere else is higher than the IRR of the projects a company has. Long story short, "Dividends are paid out  because the company feels the investor can make a greater return on that capital than the company itself can".

 

What is semi-puzzling to me is that for a company so steeped in debt, reliant on cyclical revenue cycles, and in a relatively young stage of its publicly traded life WHY are they paying Dividends and is it something I should be wary of?

 

I'm genuinely split on whether I want to maintain a buy-and-hold strategy of reinvesting the Dividends, wait for the potential of the company being taken over or acquired at a premium, or whether to sell.

[voyager]

I was reading about these guys recently.  It seems like peak doesn't have pricing power, while destination resorts like vail do have pricing power.