ClubCorp Reports Strong First Quarter Results and Announces Acquisition of TPC Piper Glen and TPC Michigan and the Creation of the New Baylor Club

DALLAS, April 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- ClubCorp, The World Leader in Private Clubs® (NYSE: MYCC). ClubCorp announces financial results for its fiscal-year 2014 first quarter ended March 25, 2014. The first quarter of fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013 consisted of 12 weeks.  All growth percentages refer to year-over-year progress.

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First Quarter Results:

• Revenue increased $10.7 million to $165.7 million for the first quarter of 2014. Revenue was up 6.9% compared to the first quarter of 2013 due primarily to strong dues and private event revenue at same store clubs, and revenue from newly acquired clubs in 2013 and 2014.
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ increased $2.3 million to $32.1 million.  Adjusted EBITDA was up 7.7% from increased revenue and lower payroll and operating expenses as percent of revenue.
• Same Store sales grew $5.1 million, up 3.2% versus the prior year; while same store adjusted EBITDA grew 10.0% driven largely by stronger operating results at reinvented clubs.
• Newly Acquired, clubs acquired in 2013 or 2014, contributed revenue of $4.0 million and adjusted EBITDA of $0.7 million.
• Reinvention. Through today, ClubCorp has reinvented 21 golf and country clubs and 16 business, sports and alumni clubs.  Reinvention is still underway at five same store golf and country clubs and four business, sports and alumni clubs.  Also, the addition of reinvention elements are underway at all five newly acquired clubs, including Oak Tree, Cherry Valley, Chantilly and both Prestonwood properties.
• Acquisitions. As previously disclosed, ClubCorp added two properties in March with the acquisition of Prestonwood Country Club.  Today, the company purchased two additional golf and country clubs with the acquisition of TPC Piper Glen in Charlotte, North Carolina and TPC Michigan in Dearborn, Michigan.  ClubCorp has also finalized its lease and management rights to the Baylor Club, an alumni club located within the new Baylor University football stadium under construction in Waco, Texas.  Combined with the management agreement to operate the Paragon business club in Hefei, China, in total, ClubCorp's expanded portfolio of owned or operated clubs will be 160.
• Membership. Total memberships as of March 25, 2014 were 148,149, an increase of 3,083, up 2.1% over memberships at March 19, 2013. Same store golf and country club memberships increased 1.0%, while total golf and country club memberships including newly acquired clubs increased 4.9%. Same store business, sports and alumni club memberships decreased 1.6%.
• Capital Structure. On April 11^th the company announced the redemption in full of approximately $270 million of its 10% senior unsecured notes. This redemption was funded by $350 million of incremental senior secured term loans that bear interest at the greater of 4.0% or LIBOR plus 3.0%. Proceeds from the term loan were used to pay the make-whole-premium on the senior unsecured notes, repay the outstanding balance on the credit revolver and to increase cash.  The company expects annual interest savings of approximately $13 million as a result of the redemption and term loan proceeds.

Segment Highlights:

Golf and country clubs (GCC):

• GCC total revenue of $127.8 million for the first quarter of 2014 increased $8.5 million, up 7.1%, compared to the first quarter of 2013.
• GCC adjusted EBITDA was $36.4 million, an increase of $3.8 million, up 11.5%.
• GCC adjusted EBITDA margin was 28.5%, a 110 basis point improvement versus the first quarter of 2013.
• Same store revenue increased $4.5 million, up 3.8%, driven by increases in base and upgrade dues revenue, private events, a la carte food and beverage revenue, and golf greens fees and retail revenue.
• Same store adjusted EBITDA increased $3.1 million, up 9.5%, due to increased revenue, and improved food and beverage and retail margins.
• Same store adjusted EBITDA margin improved 150 basis points versus prior year.
• Newly acquired golf and country clubs contributed revenue of $4.0 million and adjusted EBITDA of $0.7 million.

Business, sports and alumni clubs (BSA):

• BSA revenue of $38.4 million for the first quarter of 2014 increased $0.6 million, up 1.6%, compared to the first quarter 2013 due to an increase in private event, dues and a la carte revenue.
• BSA adjusted EBITDA was $6.4 million, an increase $0.7 million, up 12.7%.
• BSA adjusted EBITDA margin improved 160 basis points versus the prior year, primarily due to timing of certain operating expenses.

Quotes:

Eric Affeldt, president and chief executive officer: "We are thrilled with the acquisitions we have made during the first four months of this year. First, we are very excited to add TPC Piper Glen and TPC Michigan and their members to our premier network of golf and country clubs.  Second, we are very pleased to announce the new Baylor Club. This alumni club will be a focal point of the new stadium and celebrates the rich history of Baylor University.  We welcome all these new members and their families into our family.  We hope to build long-term relationships with each one of them, and encourage them to visit and explore the variety and breadth of the ClubCorp network."

"We are also very happy with our performance in the first quarter.  Despite outside concerns about poor weather affecting our business, our strong first quarter results highlight the stability, visibility and recurring nature of our membership model.  Solid organic growth coupled with reinventions and acquisitions are providing positive momentum, particularly as we move into the busy spring and summer months.  We are committed to our three pronged growth strategy of organic growth, reinvention and acquisitions and feel confident these strategies will continue to add value to our members and shareholders."

Curt McClellan, chief financial officer: "We have had a very active start to the year.  We opportunistically refinanced our balance sheet, dramatically reducing our interest expense and increasing liquidity to fund future growth.  We have added six new clubs since the beginning of the year that both broaden our portfolio and extend our geographic reach.  Our results for the first quarter also demonstrate our ability to execute by generating revenue growth and prudently managing operating expenses.  We are seeing wider acceptance and usage for our upgrade product offerings and this metric is a bullish sign that our club reinventions and acquisitions are driving member usage and adding value to all of our members.  Our outlook for the balance of the year reflects our ability to execute, reinvent and integrate newly acquired clubs."

Company Outlook:

The following guidance is based on current management expectations. All financial guidance amounts are estimates subject to change, including as a result of matters discussed under the "Forward-Looking Statements" cautionary language which follows, and the Company undertakes no duty to update its guidance. For fiscal year 2014, the Company reiterates its expectation to generate revenue in the range of $830.0 million to $860.0 million and adjusted EBITDA in the range of $182.0 million to $190.0 million.

About ClubCorp Holdings:

Since its founding in 1957, Dallas-based ClubCorp has operated with the central purpose of Building Relationships and Enriching Lives®. ClubCorp is a leading owner-operator of private golf and country clubs, business, sports, and alumni clubs in North America. ClubCorp owns or operates a portfolio of approximately 160 golf and country clubs, business clubs, sports clubs, and alumni clubs in 25 states, the District of Columbia and two foreign countries that serve over 370,000 members, with approximately 15,000 peak-season employees. ClubCorp Holdings, Inc. is a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MYCC). ClubCorp properties include: Firestone Country Club (Akron, Ohio); Mission Hills Country Club (Rancho Mirage, California); Capital Club Beijing; and Metropolitan Club Chicago. You can find ClubCorp on Facebook at facebook.com/clubcorp and on Twitter at @ClubCorp.

Conference Call:

The Company will hold a conference call, May 1, 2014 at 7:30 a.m. CDT (8:30 a.m. EDT) to discuss its first quarter fiscal 2014 financial results. The conference call will be broadcast live and can be accessed via the Company's website at ir.clubcorp.com. To participate in the teleconference, please call in a few minutes before the start time: 877-317-6789 for U.S. callers, 866-605-3852 for Canadian callers and 412-317-6789 for international callers and reference the ClubCorp first quarter conference call (confirmation code 10045229) when prompted. For those unable to participate in the live call, a webcast replay will be available at ir.clubcorp.com one hour after completion of the call.

Statement Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

EBITDA is defined as net income before interest expense, loss on extinguishment of debt, income taxes, interest and investment income, and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA plus or minus impairments, gain or loss on disposition and acquisition of assets, losses from discontinued operations, non-cash and other adjustments and equity-based compensation expense and an acquisition adjustment.

We began using Adjusted EBITDA as our measurement of segment profit and loss in fiscal year 2014. Prior to this change, we utilized Segment EBITDA ("Segment EBITDA") as our measurement of segment profit and loss, but we also presented Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated basis. These two measurements are not materially different. This change was made to align our internal measurement of segment profit and loss with the measurement used to evaluate our performance on a consolidated basis and to reduce the number of non-GAAP measurements we report, thus simplifying our financial reporting. The manner in which we calculate Adjusted EBITDA has not changed.

This earnings release and accompanying financial tables include supplemental non-GAAP financial measures titled Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is not determined in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for a measure of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP and is not indicative of net income or loss as determined under GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations that should be considered before using as a measure to evaluate the Company's financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA, as presented, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies due to varying methods of calculation.

The financial statement tables that accompany this press release include a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measure to the applicable and most comparable GAAP financial measure.

Special Note on Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this press release contains statements relating to future results (including certain projections and business trends) that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the "safe harbor" created by those sections. The Company generally uses the words "may", "will", "could", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "plan", "intend", and similar expressions in this press release and any attachment to identify forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts included in this press release, including statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, beliefs, business strategies, future events, business conditions, results of operations, financial position and business outlook, earnings guidance, business trends and other information are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based upon current expectations, estimates and projections, and various assumptions, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond management's control. All expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and the Company believes there is a reasonable basis for them. However, there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs and projections will result or be achieved and actual results may vary materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including among others: various factors beyond management's control adversely affecting discretionary spending, membership count and facility usage and other risks, uncertainties and factors set forth in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

Although the Company believes that these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it cannot guarantee future results and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's opinions only as of the date of this press release. There can be no assurance that (i) the Company has correctly measured or identified all of the factors affecting its business or the extent of these factors' likely impact, (ii) the available information with respect to these factors on which such analysis is based is complete or accurate, (iii) such analysis is correct or (iv) the Company's strategy, which is based in part on this analysis, will be successful. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise. Readers are advised to review the Company's filings with the SEC (which are available from the SEC's EDGAR database at www.sec.gov and via the Company's website at ir.clubcorp.com/SEC).

Statement Regarding Definitions and Financial Measures

The definitions and basis of presentation for financial measures used in this release, including EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and same store measures, are discussed more fully in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal first quarter ended March 25, 2014. This release should be read in conjunction with the 2014 first quarter Form 10-Q.

(Financial Tables Follow)

SOURCE ClubCorp, Inc.