Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. reported financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2014, and provided guidance for the first quarter and full year 2015.
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Reported results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2014 include the results of the recently acquired Prestige Cruise Holdings, Inc. beginning on the closing of the acquisition on November 19, 2014. Due to the abbreviated period of consolidation of Prestige's results, certain metrics are presented both on an as reported basis and on a basis excluding the results of Prestige (Norwegian Stand-alone).
For the full year the company reported on an as reported basis a 61.0% increase in adjusted EPS to $2.27, on adjusted net income of $480.6 million, which excludes expenses related to the Prestige acquisition and other items. On a GAAP basis, diluted earnings per share and net income were $1.62 and $338.4 million, respectively.
Earnings per share for 2014 includes a $(0.03) per share impact related to an incident on board Oceania Cruises' Insignia in December 2014. On a Norwegian Stand-alone basis, adjusted EPS increased 64.5% to $2.32. This follows a 45% increase in adjusted EPS in 2013 and further demonstrates the company's underlying earnings power.
A 25.5% improvement in adjusted Net Revenue to $2.4 billion was driven by a 19.8% increase in Capacity Days coupled with a 4.8% improvement in adjusted Net Yield. adjusted Net Revenue excludes a deferred revenue fair value adjustment of $10.1 million related to the acquisition of Prestige.
The increase in Capacity Days was primarily a result of the addition of Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway, which entered the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet in April 2013 and January 2014, respectively, and the addition of Capacity Days from the Prestige fleet.
The improvement in adjusted Net Yield was primarily the result of a 3.3% increase in Norwegian Stand-alone Net Yield (3.2% on a Constant Currency basis) and partially due to the addition of Prestige's brands to the fleet. Revenue for the period increased 21.6% to $3.1 billion from $2.6 billion in 2013.
On an as reported basis, adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel per Capacity Day increased 3.5%. adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel per Capacity Day increased 1.0% on a Norwegian Stand-alone basis (0.8% on a Constant Currency basis) due to investments in conjunction with the Norwegian NEXT program as well as increased marketing expenses to drive demand and stimulate close-in bookings in the fourth quarter and to carry momentum into Wave season.
The company's fuel price per metric ton, excluding the impact of hedges, was $605 compared to $686 in 2013. The company experienced a negative impact in 2014 of $10.3 million on the company's hedge portfolio due to recent reductions in fuel prices compared to a benefit of $4.7 million in 2013. Net of hedges, fuel price per metric ton decreased to $625 compared to $675 in 2013. The company's fuel consumption per Capacity Day decreased 3.1%.
Interest expense, net was $151.8 million in 2014 compared to $282.6 million in 2013. Interest expense for 2014 reflected an increase in average debt outstanding associated with newbuild financings and debt incurred in connection with the acquisition of Prestige, substantially offset by lower interest rates from the benefits of the redemption of higher rate debt and refinancing transactions.
In addition, 2014 reflects $15.4 million of expenses related to financing transactions in conjunction with the acquisition of Prestige while 2013 reflects $160.6 million of expenses associated with debt prepayments.
For the quarter due to the timing of the closing of the acquisition, results from the consolidation of Prestige are more evident in the fourth quarter compared to the full year. adjusted EPS in the period was $0.36 on adjusted net income of $77.6 million, and excludes debt-related and other expenses related to the Prestige acquisition.
On a GAAP basis, loss per share and net loss for the quarter were $0.12 and $25.6 million, respectively. On a Norwegian Stand-alone basis, adjusted EPS was $0.40. GAAP earnings per share as well as adjusted EPS on both an as reported and Norwegian Stand-alone basis include the benefit of the completion of our global tax platform.
adjusted Net Revenue, for the period, which excludes the aforementioned deferred revenue fair value adjustment, increased 37.5% to $618.7 million on 23.8% growth in Capacity Days from the addition of Norwegian Getaway and the Prestige fleet as well as an 11.1% improvement in adjusted Net Yield resulting from the addition of the Prestige fleet and a 3.9% increase on a Norwegian Stand-alone basis (4.5% on a Constant Currency basis).
adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel per Capacity Day increased 9.9% as a result of the addition of the Prestige fleet and was essentially flat on a Norwegian Stand-alone basis. Fuel price per metric ton, excluding hedges was $529 for the fourth quarter of 2014 and $656 in 2013.
The impact of the change in fuel prices on the Company's hedge portfolio in these same periods was a negative impact of $10.5 million in 2014 and a benefit of $0.8 million in 2013. Fuel price per metric ton, net of hedges, was $599 compared to $649 in the fourth quarter of 2013.
Interest expense, net increased to $56.4 million from $24.6 million primarily due to the aforementioned expenses in connection with the acquisition of Prestige and incremental interest expense related to the additional debt incurred in connection with the acquisition.
In addition to the results for the fourth quarter and full year 2014, the Company also provided the following guidance for the first quarter and full year 2015, along with accompanying sensitivities.
Guidance for adjusted Net Yield and adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel per Capacity Day are provided on an as reported basis as well as a Combined Company basis which compares expectations to 2014 results that include Prestige results assuming the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of 2014. ■