Bluegreen Vacations Corporation Reports First Quarter 2019 Results

Bluegreen Vacations Corporation (NYSE: BXG) ("Bluegreen" or the "Company") today reported its first quarter 2019 financial results.

1Q19 Highlights:

• Earnings Per Share ("EPS”) of $0.20, compared to $0.28 in the prior year quarter.
• Net income attributable to shareholders was $15.2 million, compared to $21.0 million in the prior year quarter.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $26.2 million, compared to $33.3 million in the prior year quarter.
• Total revenue of $168.8 million, compared to $167.5 million in the prior year quarter.
• System-Wide Sales of Vacation Ownership Interests (VOIs) of $129.7 million, compared to $132.8 million in the prior year quarter.

"We remain focused on strengthening our platform to support growth and to accelerate new owner sales. To accomplish this, we added new sales offices, streamlined processes and offered vacation package holders the ability to book their vacations online,” said Shawn B. Pearson, Chief Executive Officer and President. "During the quarter we saw an increase in package sales, which we believe is a positive leading indicator for VOI sales, and we are seeing the positive impact of sales at the new resorts added to our network over the past year and improved activation of our vacation packages. We continue to explore opportunities to add new partnerships and distribution channels to broaden our network so as to introduce Bluegreen to potential new owners. Our financial condition is strong supported by a stable balance sheet and solid cash flows.”

"Regarding our relationship with Bass Pro Shops, we continue to have communications regarding the scheduling of good faith meetings with the objective of settling our differences and continuing our successful alliance. In the meantime, we are continuing to sell vacation packages through the Bass Pro marketing channel, we opened a new kiosk at the Rogers, Arkansas Bass Pro store on April 26, 2019 and we achieved a 23% increase in the number of vacation packages sold through the Bass Pro marketing channel in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the first quarter of 2018. In addition, we’re underway with the construction and design process of new cabins within the Bluegreen/Big Cedar Vacations joint venture with an affiliate of Bass Pro.”

Total Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $168.8 million, compared to $167.5 million in the prior year period, primarily due to increases in resort operations and club management revenue and interest income, partially offset by decreases in VOI sales and an increase in the provision for loan losses as discussed more fully under "Segment Results” below. Adjusted EBITDA was $26.2 million in the first quarter of 2019 compared to $33.3 million in the first quarter of 2018, primarily due to lower VOI sales and higher provision for loan losses, cost of VOI sales and net carrying cost of inventory, partially offset by higher profit on resort operations and club management.

Corporate & Other expenses were $18.2 million in the first quarter of 2019 compared to $22.5 million in the first quarter of 2018. The decline in the 2019 period was primarily due to lower legal and healthcare costs, and lower long-term incentive compensation.

In terms of segment results, decreased results in the Sales of VOIs and Financing segment were partially offset by growth in the Company’s Resort Operations and Club Management segment, as more fully described below.

During the first quarter of 2019, system-wide sales of VOIs were $129.7 million, compared to $132.8 million in the first quarter of 2018. The decrease in sales reflected the decrease in guest tours, partially offset by a slightly higher average sales volume per guest ("VPG”). The impact of lower marketing vacation package sales last year and pre-qualifying holders of packages through the Company’s "yield management” program resulted in a decrease in the number of tours in the first quarter of 2019, although, as indicated above, an increase in VPG. Package sales volumes in the first quarter of 2019 increased 8% compared to the first quarter of 2018 and this increase is expected to result in increased guest tours over the next six to 18 months.

Provision for loan losses increased to 17.7% of gross VOI sales, compared to 12.5% in the prior year first quarter. In the first quarter of 2018, the low provision for loan losses resulted primarily from the impact of prepayments (including equity trades) on prior years’ originations in excess of previous estimates. The Company’s provision for loan losses in the third and fourth quarter of 2018 was 17.0% and 20.7%, respectively, with expectations for 2019 at the low end of that range. The year over year increase was also driven by continued attorney cease and desist activity. The Company believes that its zero-tolerance strategy and ongoing steps to address this issue, should ultimately result in a reduction of cease and desist activity.

Fee-based sales commission revenue was $45.2 million in the first quarter of 2019, compared to $45.9 million in the first quarter of 2018. The year over year change reflected lower sales of third-party VOI inventory, partially offset by higher commission rates.

In the first quarter of 2019, cost of VOIs sold represented 7.4% of sales of VOIs compared to 3.2% in the first quarter of 2018. In the first quarter of 2018, the low cost of VOIs sold was primarily due to the benefit achieved from approximately 36% of our VOI sales coming from a resort that we acquired in 2017 that had a relatively lower cost than our other VOIs. The cost of VOIs sold in the first quarter of 2019 were favorably impacted by more secondary market inventory acquisitions during the quarter than expected.

Net carrying cost of inventory increased $5.2 million in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the first quarter of 2018, primarily due to the carrying cost associated with the Éilan Hotel and Spa, which was acquired in April 2018.

In the first quarter of 2019, resort operations and management club revenue increased by $5.5 million, or 13.3%, to $47.1 million from the prior year quarter. The increase was driven in part by the additional resorts managed in the first quarter of 2019 compared to 2018, as well as fee increases under certain management contracts. Segment adjusted EBITDA grew by 9.6% to $13.2 million.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of March 31, 2019, unrestricted cash and cash equivalents totaled $189.9 million. Bluegreen had availability of approximately $191.1 million under its receivable-backed purchase and credit facilities and corporate credit line as of March 31, 2019, subject to eligible collateral and the terms of the facilities, as applicable. Excluding receivable-backed notes payable, the Company’s net debt-to-EBITDA ratio as of March 31, 2019 was only 0.05.

Free cash flow, which the Company defines as cash flow from operating activities, less capital expenditures, was $3.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, compared to $8.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018. The decrease in free cash flow was primarily attributable to sales office expansions, increased information technology spending and the acquisition of secondary market inventory, partially offset by lower income tax payments and lower change in working capital.

During the first quarter of 2019, the Company did not repurchase any shares of Common Stock under the repurchase program approved by the Company’s Board of Directors in 2018. There are approximately 2.7 million shares remaining in the program authorized for repurchase. The program authorizes the Company, in management’s discretion, to repurchase shares from time to time subject to market conditions and other factors.

Dividend

On April 17, 2019, Bluegreen’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly common stock cash dividend of $0.17 per share. The dividend is payable May 15, 2019 to shareholders of record as of the close of trading on April 30, 2019.

First Quarter 2019 Webcast

The Company has provided a pre-recorded business update and management presentation via webcast link, indicated below, in the Investor Relations section of its website at ir.bluegreenvacations.com. A transcript will also be available simultaneously with the webcast. The webcast and supplemental management presentation can be accessed on the Investor Relations section of Bluegreen Vacations’ website at ir.bluegreenvacations.com. The pre-recorded presentation can also be accessed at 1-844-512-2921 (domestic) and 1-412-317-6671 (international) and entering pin number 1134342. The business update via dial-in will be available through midnight Sunday, June 2, 2019. A transcript will also be available simultaneously with the webcast.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this press release 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. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations of management and can be identified by the use of words such as "believe”, "may”, "could”, "should”, "plans”, "anticipates”, "intends”, "estimates”, "expects”, and other words and phrases of similar impact. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, that may cause actual results or performance to differ from those set forth or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to our ability to achieve increases in VOI sales or new owner sales successfully implementing our strategic plans and initiatives, generate earnings and long-term growth, improve our digital capabilities, including our virtual reality technology or complete sales office expansions when planned or at all and that such expansions will be profitable; and risks that our marketing alliances will not contribute to growth or be profitable or that issues with Bass Pro will not be successfully resolved; risks that dividend payments will not continue at current levels, if at all; and the additional risks and uncertainties described in Bluegreen's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, those described in the "Risk Factors” section of Bluegreen’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2019 which is expected to be filed on or about May 6, 2019. Bluegreen cautions that the foregoing factors are not exclusive. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, which speaks only as of the date made. Bluegreen does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update or supplement any forward-looking statements.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

The Company refers to certain non-GAAP financial measures in this press release, including system-wide sales of VOIs, Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EPS and free cash flow. Please see the supplemental tables and definitions attached herein for additional information and reconciliation of such non-GAAP financial measures.

About Bluegreen Vacations Corporation:

Bluegreen Vacations Corporation (NYSE: BXG) is a leading vacation ownership company that markets and sells vacation ownership interests (VOIs) and manages resorts in top leisure and urban destinations. The Bluegreen Vacation Club is a flexible, points-based, deeded vacation ownership plan with approximately 217,000 owners, 69 Club and Club Associate Resorts and access to more than 11,000 other hotels and resorts through partnerships and exchange networks as of March 31, 2019. Bluegreen Vacations also offers a portfolio of comprehensive, fee-based resort management, financial, and sales and marketing services, to or on behalf of third parties. Bluegreen is approximately 90% owned by BBX Capital Corporation (NYSE: BBX) (OTCQX: BBXTB), a diversified holding company. For further information, visit www.BluegreenVacations.com.

About BBX Capital Corporation:

BBX Capital Corporation (NYSE: BBX) (OTCQX: BBXTB) is a Florida-based diversified holding company whose principal investments include Bluegreen Vacations Corporation (NYSE: BXG), BBX Capital Real Estate, Renin Holdings, and IT’SUGAR. For additional information, please visit www.BBXCapital.com.

BLUEGREEN VACATIONS CORPORATION

BLUEGREEN VACATIONS CORPORATION
DEFINITIONS

Principal Components Affecting our Results of Operations

Principal Components of Revenue

Fee-Based Sales. Represent sales of third-party VOIs where we are paid a commission.

JIT Sales. Represent sales of VOIs acquired from third parties in close proximity to when we intend to sell such VOIs.

Secondary Market Sales. Represent sales of VOIs acquired from HOAs or other owners, typically in connection with HOA maintenance fee defaults. This inventory is generally purchased at a greater discount to retail price compared to developed VOI sales and JIT sales.

Developed VOI Sales. Represent sales of VOIs in resorts that we have developed or acquired (not including inventory acquired through JIT and secondary market arrangements).

Financing Revenue. Represents revenue from the financing of VOI sales, which includes interest income and loan servicing fees. This also includes fees from certain third-party developers for providing mortgage servicing of loans granted by them to purchasers of their VOIs.

Resort Operations and Club Management Revenue. Represents recurring fees from managing the Vacation Club and transaction fees for certain resort amenities and certain member exchanges. We also earn recurring management fees under our management agreements with HOAs for day-to-day management services, including oversight of housekeeping services, maintenance, and certain accounting and administrative functions.

Other Fee-Based Services. Represents revenue earned from various other services that produce recurring, predictable and long-term revenue, such as title services.

Principal Components of Expenses

Cost of VOIs Sold. Represents the cost at which our owned VOIs sold during the period were relieved from inventory. In addition to inventory from our VOI business, our owned VOIs also include those that were acquired by us under JIT and secondary market arrangements. Compared to the cost of our developed VOI inventory, VOIs acquired in connection with JIT arrangements typically have a relatively higher associated cost of sales as a percentage of sales while those acquired in connection with secondary market arrangements typically have a lower cost of sales as a percentage of sales as secondary market inventory is generally obtained from HOAs at a significant discount to retail price. Cost of VOIs sold as a percentage of sales of VOIs varies between periods based on the relative costs of the specific VOIs sold in each period and the size of the point packages of the VOIs sold (primarily due to offered volume discounts, and taking into account consideration of cumulative sales to existing owners). Additionally, the effect of changes in estimates under the relative sales value method, including estimates of projected sales, future defaults, upgrades and incremental revenue from the resale of repossessed VOI inventory, are reflected on a retrospective basis in the period the change occurs. Cost of sales will typically be favorably impacted in periods where a significant amount of secondary market VOI inventory is acquired or actual defaults and equity trades are higher and the resulting change in estimate is recognized. While we believe that there is additional inventory that can be obtained through the secondary market at favorable prices to us in the future, there can be no assurance that such inventory will be available as expected.

Net Carrying Cost of VOI Inventory. Represents the maintenance fees and developer subsidies for unsold VOI inventory paid or accrued to the HOAs that maintain the resorts. We attempt to offset this expense, to the extent possible, by generating revenue from renting our VOIs and by utilizing the inventory in our sampler programs. We net such revenue from this expense item.

Selling and Marketing Expense. Represents costs incurred to sell and market VOIs, including costs relating to marketing and incentive programs, tours, and related wages and sales commissions. Revenue from vacation package sales are netted against selling and marketing expenses.

Financing Expense. Represents financing interest expense related to our receivable-backed debt, amortization of the related debt issuance costs and other expenses incurred in providing financing and servicing loans, including administrative costs associated with mortgage servicing activities for our loans and the loans of certain third-party developers. Mortgage servicing activities include, amongst other things, payment processing, reporting and collection services.

Resort Operations and Club Management Expense. Represents costs incurred to manage resorts and the Vacation Club, including payroll and related costs and other administrative costs to the extent not reimbursed by the Vacation Club or HOAs.

General and Administrative Expense. Primarily represents compensation expense for personnel supporting our business and operations, professional fees (including consulting, audit and legal fees), and administrative and related expenses.

Key Business and Financial Metrics and Terms Used by Management

Sales of VOIs. Represent sales of our owned VOIs, including developed VOIs and those acquired through JIT and secondary market arrangements, reduced by equity trade allowances and an estimate of our provision for loan losses. In addition to the factors impacting system-wide sales of VOIs, sales of VOIs are impacted by the proportion of system-wide sales of VOIs sold on behalf of third-parties on a commission basis, which are not included in sales of VOIs.

System-wide Sales of VOIs. Represents all sales of VOIs, whether owned by us or a third party immediately prior to the sale. Sales of VOIs owned by third parties are transacted as sales of VOIs in our Vacation Club through the same selling and marketing process we use to sell our VOI inventory. We consider system-wide sales of VOIs to be an important operating measure because it reflects all sales of VOIs by our sales and marketing operations without regard to whether we or a third party owned such VOI inventory at the time of sale. System-wide sales of VOIs is not a recognized term under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to sales of VOIs or any other measure of financial performance derived in accordance with GAAP or to any other method of analyzing our results as reported under GAAP.

Guest Tours. Represents the number of sales presentations given at our sales centers during the period.

Sale to Tour Conversion Ratio. Represents the rate at which guest tours are converted to sales of VOIs and is calculated by dividing the number of sales transactions by the number of guest tours.

Average Sales Volume Per Guest ("VPG”). Represents the sales attributable to tours at our sales locations and is calculated by dividing VOI sales by guest tours. We consider VPG to be an important operating measure because it measures the effectiveness of our sales process, combining the average transaction price with the sale-to-tour conversion ratio.

Adjusted EBITDA. We define Adjusted EBITDA as earnings, or net income, before taking into account interest income (excluding interest earned on VOI notes receivable), interest expense (excluding interest expense incurred on debt secured by our VOI notes receivable), income and franchise taxes, loss (gain) on assets held for sale, depreciation and amortization, amounts attributable to the non-controlling interest in Bluegreen/Big Cedar Vacations (in which we own a 51% interest), and items that we believe are not representative of ongoing operating results. For purposes of the Adjusted EBITDA calculation, no adjustments were made for interest income earned on our VOI notes receivable or the interest expense incurred on debt that is secured by such notes receivable because they are both considered to be part of the operations of our business.

We consider our total Adjusted EBITDA and our Segment Adjusted EBITDA to be an indicator of our operating performance, and it is used by us to measure our ability to service debt, fund capital expenditures and expand our business. Adjusted EBITDA is also used by companies, lenders, investors and others because it excludes certain items that can vary widely across different industries or among companies within the same industry. For example, interest expense can be dependent on a company’s capital structure, debt levels and credit ratings. Accordingly, the impact of interest expense on earnings can vary significantly among companies. The tax positions of companies can also vary because of their differing abilities to take advantage of tax benefits and because of the tax policies of the jurisdictions in which they operate. As a result, effective tax rates and provision for income taxes can vary considerably among companies. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes depreciation and amortization because companies utilize productive assets of different ages and use different methods of both acquiring and depreciating productive assets. These differences can result in considerable variability in the relative costs of productive assets and the depreciation and amortization expense among companies.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized term under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity, including cash flow, derived in accordance with GAAP, or to any other method or analyzing our results as reported under GAAP. The limitations of using Adjusted EBITDA as an analytical tool include, without limitation, that Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect (i) changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; (ii) our interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our indebtedness (other than as noted above); (iii) our tax expense or the cash requirements to pay our taxes; (iv) historical cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; or (v) the effect on earnings or changes resulting from matters that we consider not to be indicative of our future operations or performance. Further, although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements. In addition, our definition of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to definitions of Adjusted EBITDA or other similarly titled measures used by other companies.

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