Wyndham Worldwide Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Results
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (Feb. 10, 2010) — Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN) today announced results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2009. Separately, the Company also announced an increase in its quarterly cash dividend and that it plans to resume its share repurchase program.
In the Company’s vacation ownership division, revenues were $1.9 billion, a 15% decrease compared with 2008, primarily resulting from the Company’s previously announced initiative to reduce capital deployed in the business, which included sales office closures and the elimination of certain marketing programs that resulted in fewer tours.
Driven by the previously announced initiative to reduce capital deployed in this business, gross vacation ownership interest (VOI) sales declined 21%, from the prior-year period, to $343 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. The year-over-year change reflects a 36% increase in volume per guest which partially offset the planned reduction in tour flow of 41%.
Total segment revenues were $508 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, a 3% increase from the fourth quarter of 2008. This change was driven by a decline in the provision for loan losses, a favorable impact from the percentage-of-completion (POC) method of accounting and higher ancillary revenue, partially offset by lower VOI sales. Under the POC method of accounting for VOI sales, the Company recognized $47 million of previously deferred revenue during the fourth quarter of 2009, compared with $14 million in the fourth quarter 2008.
EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $132 million, compared with a loss of $1.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008, which included $1.4 billion of goodwill, other impairments and restructuring costs. Excluding these items, 2009 EBITDA increased $41 million, compared with the prior-year period, reflecting the net impact of the planned reduction in the VOI business and its related expenses, a lower provision for loan losses, and the impact from the net increase in the recognition of revenue previously deferred under the POC method of accounting.
Wyndham Exchange and Rentals
Revenues were $258 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, a 3% increase compared with the fourth quarter of 2008. In constant currency, revenues were relatively flat.
Annual dues and exchange revenues were $106 million, a 5% increase from the prior-year period. In constant currency, revenues increased $2 million, or 2% compared with the fourth quarter of 2008, driven by a 2% growth in the average number of members.
Vacation rental revenues were $122 million, an 8% increase from the prior-year period. In constant currency, revenues increased $2 million, or 2%, compared with the fourth quarter of 2008, primarily driven by a 3% increase in average price per vacation rental, partially offset by a 1% decrease in rental transaction volume.
Ancillary revenues were $30 million, a 17% decrease from the fourth quarter of 2008. In constant currency, revenues decreased 19% due primarily to lower fees generated from programs with affiliated resorts and our termination of a low margin travel service contract.
Fourth quarter 2009 EBITDA was $48 million, compared with a loss of $4 million in the fourth quarter of 2008, which included $67 million of asset impairments, foreign currency conversion losses and restructuring costs. Excluding these items and an unfavorable 2009 net effect of foreign currency of $15 million, 2009 EBITDA was flat, compared with 2008 adjusted EBITDA.
FOURTH QUARTER and FULL-YEAR HIGHLIGHTS:
Wyndham Worldwide generated fourth quarter diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.40, compared with Company-issued guidance of $0.35 – $0.38. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company generated net cash from operating activities of approximately $690 million, compared with $109 million in 2008.
“We are pleased to report solid earnings and increasing free cash flow for the quarter and the year, and to announce an increase in our dividend along with our intention to resume our share repurchase program. While continuing high unemployment and economic uncertainty created a difficult operating environment, our results reflect resilient business models and strong execution,” said Stephen P. Holmes, chairman and CEO, Wyndham Worldwide. “Going forward, we remain focused on cash flow generation, transforming the Company by rebalancing our worldwide business portfolio to our fee-for-service businesses and positioning our businesses for future earnings growth.”
Conference Call Information
Wyndham Worldwide Corporation will provide a webcast of its conference call to discuss the Companyâs fourth quarter and full year 2009 financial results on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. ET. Listeners can access the webcast live through the company’s website at www.wyndhamworldwide.com/investors/. The conference call also may be accessed by dialing (800) 369-2052 and providing the pass code “Wyndham.” Listeners are urged to call at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. An archive of this webcast will be available on the website for approximately 90 days beginning at 12:00pm ET on February 10, 2010. A telephone replay will be available for approximately 90 days beginning at 12:00pm ET on February 10, 2010 at (866) 490-2538.
Presentation of Financial Information
Financial information discussed in this press release includes both GAAP and non-GAAP measures, which include or exclude certain items. These non-GAAP measures differ from reported results and are intended to illustrate what management believes are relevant period-over-period comparisons. A complete reconciliation of reported GAAP results to the comparable non-GAAP information appears in the financial tables section of the press release.
About Wyndham Worldwide
As one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, Wyndham Worldwide offers individual consumers and business-to-business customers a broad suite of hospitality products and services across various accommodation alternatives and price ranges through its premier portfolio of world-renowned brands. Wyndham Hotel Group encompasses approximately 7,110 franchised hotels and approximately 597,700 hotel rooms worldwide. Wyndham Exchange and Rentals offers leisure travelers, including its 3.8 million members, access to over 65,000 vacation properties located in approximately 100 countries. Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer financing to owners through its network of over 155 vacation ownership resorts serving over 820,000 owners throughout North America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. Wyndham Worldwide, headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., employs approximately 25,000 employees globally.
For the full report, including financial tables, please visit the Company’s web site at www.wyndhamworldwide.com
SOURCE: Wyndham Worldwide
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