Company Press Release
August 1, 2000
WASHINGTON, DC -- Global Vacation Group, Inc. (NYSE: GVG), one of the largest U.S. providers of value-added vacation
products and services targeted to higher-income travelers, today reported results for the quarter ended June 30,
2000, and announced that it was taking the final step in its consolidation plan by merging its Vacations by Globetrotters
and Friendly Holidays brands with Classic Custom Vacations.
For the 2000 second quarter, Global Vacation Group's net revenues improved 5.8 percent to $36.4 million from $34.4
million, compared to the same period in 1999. The company reported a net loss of $2.2 million, or $0.15 per share,
for the 2000 second quarter, compared to net income of $0.3 million in the 1999 second quarter, or $0.02 per share.
Results for the 2000 quarter reflect a $2.0 million valuation reserve provided against previously recognized deferred
tax assets as a result of the company's plan to restructure. ``From an operations viewpoint, Classic Custom Vacations,
Island Resort Tours and private label operations all had solid second quarters, with Allied Tours continuing to
produce steady growth,'' said Roger Ballou, GVG chairman, president and chief executive officer.
``Also during the second quarter, GVG received a $27.5 million infusion in new convertible debt from Three Cities
Research (TCR), a private capital investment group, which enabled us to eliminate our bank debt and gave us the
strength and flexibility to re-energize the company and complete the final step in our consolidation plan.
``We are building upon our strength at Classic Custom Vacation and are integrating Globetrotters and Friendly Holidays
under Ron Letterman's capable leadership,'' said Ballou. ``Our Island Resort Tours and Allied Tours will continue
as separate brands and organizations. Ray Lutz, who did a terrific job during this short transition at Globetrotters,
will continue to operate and grow our private label business.
``As a result of the consolidation, the company expects to take a charge of $35 million in the third quarter, principally
due to the writedown of certain tangible and intangible assets,'' Ballou said. ``We now have streamlined our operations
and put our balance sheet in order to properly position Global Vacation Group on an aggressive growth path. We
also expect the balance of the year to produce profits before the previously discussed writedown.
``We believe this final step will have a significant, positive impact on 2001 pre-tax earnings of between $7 million
to $8 million,'' Ballou noted. ``Additionally, as a result of the writedown, future earnings will be protected
from tax expense due to a projected cumulative net operating tax loss in excess of $30 million.''
As part of Global Vacation Group's consolidation plan, the company will migrate its Globetrotters domestic brand
to the Classic technology platform. The company's private label U.S. business will continue to operate off Globetrotters'
proprietary software.
The company said it will expand its reservation center operations, employing approximately 100 people, at Globetrotters'
suburban Chicago offices to handle all of Globetrotters and the planned growth in Classic Custom Vacations' bookings.
The Chicago facility also will continue to handle all the private label business.
``We will methodically migrate the Globetrotters and Friendly Caribbean and Mexico business to the Classic brand
over the next five months,'' said Ballou. ``As part of the transition, we concurrently will expand Classic's market
reach to include more popularly-priced vacations. Moving into 2001, Globetrotters will continue as a strong brand
to Hawaii, leveraging its contract with United Airlines.''
Global Vacation Group, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a value-added provider of vacation products and services.
Global Vacation Group's family of brands includes Classic Custom Vacations, which creates customized vacation packages
for upscale U.S. travelers, Vacations by Globetrotters, which is targeted to the popularly priced-vacation buyer,
and Allied Tours, which creates and coordinates packages and tours for international vacation travelers. The matters
in this press release include ``forward looking statements'' within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are qualified
by cautionary statements contained herein and in Global Vacation Group's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
GLOBAL VACATION GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2000 1999 2000 1999
Net revenues $ 36,394 $ 34,411 $ 63,746 $ 57,170
Operating expenses 31,908 29,329 59,275 50,750
Gross profit 4,486 5,082 4,471 6,420
General and
administrative expenses 2,425 3,519 4,843 6,586
Depreciation and
amortization 1,893 1,378 3,744 2,424
Income (loss) from
operations 168 185 (4,116) (2,590)
Other income (expense)
Interest income 821 601 1,350 1,056
Interest expense (1,145) (430) (2,293) (574)
Other 11 48 (1) 57
Total (313) 219 (944) 539
Income (loss) before
income taxes and
extraordinary item (145) 404 (5,060) (2,051)
Income tax
benefit (expense) (2,018) (135) - 782
Income (loss)
before extraordinary
item (2,163) 269 (5,060) (1,269)
Extraordinary item,
net of income tax
benefit of $144 - - - (257)
Net income (loss) $ (2,163) $ 269 $ (5,060) $ (1,526)
=========== ========= ========= =======
Basic and diluted net loss per common share:
Income (loss) per
share before
extraordinary item $ (0.15) $ 0.02 $ (0.35) $ (0.08)
Extraordinary item
per share $ - $ - $ - $ (0.02)
Basic net income
(loss) per share $ (0.15) $ 0.02 $ (0.35) $ (0.10)
========= ======== ======= ========
Diluted net income
(loss) per share $ (0.15) $ 0.02 $ (0.35) $ (0.10)
========== ========== ======== =======
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
Basic 14,393 14,627 14,393 14,666
========== ========== ======= =======
Diluted 14,393 14,711 14,393 14,666
========== ========== ======= ========
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
Global Vacation Group, Inc.
Jay Stuart, Chief Financial Officer, 202/347-1800
or
Daly Gray Public Relations
Jerry Daly, Carol McCune (Media), 703/435-6293