MHI Hospitality Corporation Reports Financial Results for Third Quarter 2010

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., Nov. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MHI Hospitality Corporation (Nasdaq: MDH) (the "Company"), a self-managed and self-administered lodging real estate investment trust ("REIT"), today reported consolidated results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Net operating income ("NOI") increased 76.2%, or approximately $0.7 million over third quarter 2009, to approximately $1.5 million and increased 40.7%, or approximately $1.5 million over the nine months ended September 30, 2009, to approximately $5.1 million;
• Occupancy increased to 69.2% in the third quarter 2010, an increase of 9.0% over the same period for the prior year, and increased to 68.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, an increase of 10.3% over the nine months ended September 30, 2009;
• Total room revenue increased approximately $1.0 million, or 7.5% over third quarter 2009, to approximately $13.7 million and increased approximately $3.4 million, or 9.0% over the nine months ended September 30, 2009, to approximately $40.8 million;
• Net loss before taxes improved 12.7%, or approximately $0.2 million over third quarter 2009, to approximately $1.4 million, compared to a net loss before taxes for the comparable 2009 period of approximately $1.6 million, and improved 39.0%, or approximately $1.1 million over the nine months ended September 30, 2009, to approximately $1.7 million, compared to a net loss before taxes for the comparable 2009 period of approximately $2.8 million;
• Adjusted operating income increased approximately $0.6 million, or 15.4% over the third quarter 2009, to approximately $4.2 million and increased approximately $1.9 million, or 16.1% over the nine months ended September 30, 2009, to approximately $13.6 million; and
• Funds from Operations ("FFO") decreased 23.6%, or approximately $0.3 million over third quarter 2009, to approximately $1.0 million and decreased 0.2% over the nine months ended September 30, 2009 to remain level at approximately $4.8 million.  

Andrew M. Sims, President and CEO of MHI Hospitality Corporation, commented, "For the sixth consecutive quarter as compared with the same quarters in prior years, we delivered top-line growth as our hotels continued to take share from competitors within an improving environment.  We also delivered net operating income growth for the third consecutive quarter as compared with the same quarter in prior year.  The quality of our earnings is improving as a result of this meaningful growth at the portfolio level."

Operating Results

The Company reported consolidated total revenue of approximately $19.5 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2010, an increase of 8.7% over the three-month period ended September 30, 2009.  The Company reported net operating income of approximately $1.5 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2010, an increase of approximately $0.7 million or 76.2% over the comparable 2009 period.  The Company incurred increased interest expense of approximately $0.4 million related to the recent amendment to the Company's credit agreement, such additional interest expense equating to a $0.03 reduction of FFO per share in the third quarter 2010.  The Company reported an income tax provision of approximately $0.0 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2010 compared to an income tax benefit of approximately $0.5 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2009, due to increased profitability in its TRS Lessee.  For the third quarter 2010, the Company also reported a consolidated net loss attributable to the Company of approximately $1.0 million, or $0.11 per share, as compared to a consolidated net loss attributable to the Company of approximately $0.7 million, or $0.10 per share, for the comparable 2009 period.  During the third quarter, FFO was approximately $1.0 million, or $0.08 per share, compared to approximately $1.3 million, or $0.12 per share, for the third quarter of 2009.  FFO for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 remained constant at approximately $4.8 million or $0.37 per share compared to $0.45 per share for the comparable 2009 period.  

Adjusted operating income and FFO are non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company defines adjusted operating income as net operating income excluding depreciation and amortization, corporate general and administrative expenses, lease revenue and related expenses as well as other fee income not related to the Company's wholly-owned hotel properties. The Company defines FFO as net income excluding extraordinary items, depreciation and minority interest.  Management believes FFO is a key measure of a REIT's performance and should be considered along with, but not as an alternative to, net income and cash flow as a measure of the Company's operating performance.  Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures are included in the accompanying financial tables.

Portfolio Operating Performance

The following tables illustrate the key operating metrics for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 for the Company's wholly-owned properties during each respective reporting period ("consolidated" properties) as well as the eight wholly-owned properties in the portfolio that were not under development and under the Company's control during all of 2009 and the nine months ended September 30, 2010 ("same-store" properties).  Accordingly, the same store data does not reflect the Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore, which opened in March 2009.  The tables also exclude performance data for the Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach Resort, which was acquired through a joint venture in August 2007 and in which the Company has a 25.0% indirect interest.  

For the quarter ended September 30, 2010, the Company's consolidated properties realized a 7.5% increase in RevPAR versus the same period in 2009.  The RevPAR increase was the result of a 9.0% increase in occupancy offset by a 1.4% decrease in ADR.  

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company's consolidated properties realized a 6.3% increase in RevPAR over the same period in 2009.  The RevPAR increase was the result of a 10.3% increase in occupancy offset by a 3.6% decrease in ADR.  For the first nine months of 2010, the same-store portfolio generated a 4.0% increase in RevPAR over the comparable period in 2009.

Portfolio Update

As of September 30, 2010, total assets were approximately $212.5 million, including approximately $184.7 million of net investment in hotel properties, plus approximately $9.6 million for the Company's joint venture investment in the Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach Resort.

On July 26, 2010, the Company executed a Doubletree Franchise License Agreement (the "License Agreement") with Hilton Worldwide for its Raleigh, North Carolina, property in order to upbrand the hotel from its current Holiday Inn affiliation.  In conjunction with the License Agreement, the Company is executing a Product Improvement Plan and expects to rebrand the hotel no later than November 30, 2011.  The License Agreement will remain in effect for a period of 10 years from the conversion date.  

Balance Sheet/Liquidity

At September 30, 2010, the Company had approximately $5.9 million of available cash and cash equivalents, of which approximately $2.2 million was reserved for real estate taxes, insurance, capital improvements and certain other expenses.  The Company has approximately $75.2 million outstanding on its line of credit, which had been deployed primarily to fund the acquisitions and renovations of the Sheraton Louisville Riverside Hotel and the Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore, the Company's equity contribution to its joint venture with The Carlyle Group for the purchase of the Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach Resort, as well as the acquisition of the Hampton, Virginia hotel property.  

On June 7, 2010, the Company announced that it had entered into a fifth amendment to its credit agreement.  As of September 30, 2010, the Company was in compliance with all credit agreement covenants.

On July 7, 2010, the Company announced that during the second quarter 2010 it had exercised the option to extend the scheduled maturity date of the $18.0 million mortgage on the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront Hotel.  The new maturity date is July 22, 2011.

The Company has no debt maturing before May 2011.

Dividend

As previously announced, the fifth amendment to the credit agreement entered into in June 2010 permits the Company to pay in any given fiscal year a dividend in an amount minimally necessary in order to maintain its status as a REIT, provided that no default or event of default exists at the time of, or after giving effect to, the distribution and the Company does not incur indebtedness to make the distribution.  The Company anticipates the amount of such a dividend will remain at 90% of taxable income excluding net capital gains, which does not necessarily equal net income as calculated in accordance with GAAP.  The credit agreement also provides that the Company may make additional dividend distributions so long as no event of default exists at the time, or after giving effect to, such additional distributions if the Company maintains a minimum liquidity position of $10 million and satisfies a debt yield ratio of EBITDA to total liabilities of at least 10% before and after giving effect to such distribution, provided the aggregate amount of such distributions in a given year cannot exceed 90% of FFO for the prior fiscal year.  Any future changes to the Company's current dividend policy will need to be in compliance with restrictions on the payment of cash dividends as set forth in the referenced amendment to the credit agreement.  

Outlook and Market Trends

Set forth below is guidance for 2010, which is predicated on continued strengthening of the economy and expected improvements in hotel lodging industry fundamentals.  These projections are based on occupancy and rate estimates that are consistent with calendar year 2010 trend forecasts by Smith Travel Research for the market segments in which the Company operates.  The FFO forecast reflects management's expectation that recently renovated and opened properties, including the Hilton Savannah DeSoto and the Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore, will continue to experience increased demand and improved operations and that there will be continued, albeit slowed, expansion in the lodging industry through 2010.

The table below reconciles projected 2010 net loss to projected FFO and provides projected key operating metrics and supplemental information:

Earnings Call/Webcast

The Company will conduct its third quarter 2010 conference call for investors and other interested parties at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Tuesday, November 9, 2010.  The conference call will be accessible by telephone and through the Internet.  Interested individuals are invited to listen to the call by telephone at 877-317-6789 (United States) or 8666053852 (Canada).  To participate on the webcast, log on to www.mhihospitality.com at least 15 minutes before the call to download the necessary software.  For those unable to listen to the call live, a taped rebroadcast will be available beginning one hour after completion of the live call on November 9, 2010 through December 31, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. ET.  To access the rebroadcast, dial 877-344-7529 and enter passcode number 445139.  A replay of the call also will be available on the Internet at www.mhihospitality.com until November 9, 2011.  

About MHI Hospitality Corporation

MHI Hospitality Corporation is a self-managed and self-administered lodging REIT focused on the acquisition, renovation, upbranding and repositioning of upscale to upper upscale full-service hotels in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern United States.  Currently, the Company's portfolio consists of investments in ten hotel properties, nine of which are wholly-owned and comprise 2,110 rooms.  All of the Company's wholly-owned properties operate under the Hilton Worldwide, InterContinental Hotels Group and Starwood Hotels and Resorts brands.  The Company has a 25.0% interest in the Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach Resort.  The Company also has a leasehold interest in the common area of Shell Island Resort, a resort condominium property.  MHI Hospitality Corporation was organized in 2004 and is headquartered in Williamsburg, Virginia.  For more information please visit www.mhihospitality.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933.  Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control.  Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed, forecasted or implied in such forward-looking statements.  Factors which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's future results, performance and achievements, include, but are not limited to: national and local economic and business conditions, including the current economic downturn, that will affect occupancy rates at the Company's hotels and the demand for hotel products and services; risks associated with the hotel industry, including competition, increases in wages, energy costs and other operating costs; the magnitude, sustainability and timing of an anticipated recovery in the hospitality industry and in the markets in which the Company operates; the availability and terms of financing and capital and the general volatility of the securities markets, specifically, the impact of the current credit crisis which has severely constrained the availability of debt financing; risks associated with the level of the Company's indebtedness and its ability to meet covenants in its debt agreements and, if necessary, to refinance or seek an extension of the maturity of such indebtedness; management and performance of the Company's hotels; risks associated with the conflicts of interest of the Company's officers and directors; risks associated with redevelopment and repositioning projects, including delays and cost overruns; supply and demand for hotel rooms in the Company's current and proposed market areas; the Company's ability to acquire additional properties and the risk that potential acquisitions may not perform in accordance with expectations; the Company's ability to successfully expand into new markets; legislative/regulatory changes, including changes to laws governing taxation of real estate investment trusts; the Company's ability to maintain its qualification as a REIT; and the Company's ability to maintain adequate insurance coverage.  These risks and uncertainties are described in greater detail under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company undertakes no obligation and does not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  Although the Company believes its current expectations to be based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained or that actual results will not differ materially.

Industry analysts and investors use Funds from Operations, FFO, as a supplemental operating performance measure of an equity REIT.  FFO is calculated in accordance with the definition that was adopted by the Board of Governors of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, NAREIT.  FFO, as defined by NAREIT, represents net income or loss determined in accordance with GAAP, excluding extraordinary items as defined under GAAP and gains or losses from sales of previously depreciated operating real estate assets, plus certain non-cash items such as real estate asset depreciation and amortization, and after adjustment for any noncontrolling interest from unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. Historical cost accounting for real estate assets in accordance with GAAP implicitly assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time.  Since real estate values instead have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, many investors and analysts have considered the presentation of operating results for real estate companies that use historical cost accounting to be insufficient by itself.  Thus, NAREIT created FFO as a supplemental measure of REIT operating performance that excludes historical cost depreciation, among other items, from GAAP net income.  Management believes that the use of FFO, combined with the required GAAP presentations, has improved the understanding of the operating results of REITs among the investing public and made comparisons of REIT operating results more meaningful.  Management considers FFO to be a useful measure of adjusted net income (loss) for reviewing comparative operating and financial performance.  Management believes FFO is most directly comparable to net income (loss), which remains the primary measure of performance, because by excluding gains or losses related to sales of previously depreciated operating real estate assets and excluding real estate asset depreciation and amortization, FFO assists in comparing the operating performance of a company's real estate between periods or as compared to different companies.  Although FFO is intended to be a REIT industry standard, other companies may not calculate FFO in the same manner as we do, and investors should not assume that FFO as reported by us is comparable to FFO as reported by other REITs.

We provide adjusted operating income as supplemental information for investors.  We eliminate corporatelevel costs and expenses to arrive at property-level results because we believe property-level results provide investors with supplemental information into the ongoing operating performance of our hotels.  We eliminate depreciation and amortization because, even though depreciation and amortization are property-level expenses, these non-cash expenses, which are based on historical cost accounting for real estate assets, implicitly assume that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time.  As noted earlier, because real estate values have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, many industry investors have considered presentation of operating results for real estate companies that use historical cost accounting to be insufficient by themselves.

As a result of the elimination of corporate-level costs and expenses, depreciation and amortization, net lease income as well as other fee income not related to our wholly-owned hotel properties, the adjusted operating income we present should not be used to evaluate our performance as a whole.  Management compensates for these limitations by separately considering the impact of these excluded items to the extent they are material to operating decisions or assessments or our operating performance.  Our consolidated statements of operations include such amounts, all of which should be considered by investors when evaluating our performance.

We also believe that providing adjusted operating income provides investors and management with useful information for evaluating the period-to-period performance of our hotels and facilitates comparisons with other hotels REITs and hotel owners.

SOURCE MHI Hospitality Corporation