Attached files

file filename
EX-32 - CERTIFICATIONS OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER - VAIL RESORTS INCexhibit322016-q2.htm
EX-31.1 - CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER - VAIL RESORTS INCexhibit3112016-q2.htm
EX-31.2 - CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER - VAIL RESORTS INCexhibit3122016-q2.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q

ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended January 31, 2016
 
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from              to             
Commission File Number: 001-09614

Vail Resorts, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
 
Delaware
 
51-0291762
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
390 Interlocken Crescent
Broomfield, Colorado
 
80021
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)
(303) 404-1800
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    ý  Yes    ¨  No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    ý  Yes    ¨  No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer
 
ý
  
Accelerated filer
 
¨
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
 
¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  
Smaller reporting company
 
¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    ¨  Yes    ý  No
As of March 7, 2016, 36,252,217 shares of the registrant’s common stock were outstanding.




Table of Contents
 
 
 
 
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
Financial Statements (unaudited).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
 
 
 
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
Item 5.
Item 6.





Vail Resorts, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
January 31, 2016
 
July 31, 2015
 
January 31, 2015
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
45,368

 
$
35,459

 
$
36,578

Restricted cash
 
6,118

 
13,012

 
12,864

Trade receivables, net
 
87,055

 
113,990

 
68,454

Inventories, net
 
78,770

 
73,485

 
72,905

Other current assets
 
60,965

 
52,197

 
67,001

Total current assets
 
278,276

 
288,143

 
257,802

Property, plant and equipment, net (Note 6)
 
1,391,889

 
1,386,275

 
1,284,215

Real estate held for sale and investment
 
117,999

 
129,825

 
151,103

Goodwill, net
 
506,957

 
500,433

 
469,678

Intangible assets, net
 
141,942

 
144,149

 
142,440

Other assets
 
38,089

 
40,796

 
40,914

Total assets
 
$
2,475,152

 
$
2,489,621

 
$
2,346,152

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Note 6)
 
$
447,770

 
$
331,299

 
$
420,829

Income taxes payable
 
34,278

 
57,194

 
48,304

Long-term debt due within one year (Note 4)
 
13,340

 
10,154

 
1,196

Total current liabilities
 
495,388

 
398,647

 
470,329

Long-term debt (Note 4)
 
682,195

 
806,676

 
634,739

Other long-term liabilities (Note 6)
 
252,606

 
255,916

 
229,313

Deferred income taxes
 
190,441

 
147,796

 
148,309

Total liabilities
 
1,620,630

 
1,609,035

 
1,482,690

Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)
 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding
 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 41,578,019, 41,462,941 and 41,294,906 shares issued, respectively
 
416

 
415

 
413

Additional paid-in capital
 
628,168

 
623,510

 
620,083

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(7,707
)
 
(4,913
)
 
(646
)
Retained earnings
 
452,922

 
440,748

 
422,845

Treasury stock, at cost, 5,326,941, 4,949,111, and 4,949,111 shares, respectively (Note 11)
 
(233,192
)
 
(193,192
)
 
(193,192
)
Total Vail Resorts, Inc. stockholders’ equity
 
840,607

 
866,568

 
849,503

Noncontrolling interests
 
13,915

 
14,018

 
13,959

Total stockholders’ equity
 
854,522

 
880,586

 
863,462

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
$
2,475,152

 
$
2,489,621

 
$
2,346,152

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.


2



Vail Resorts, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Three Months Ended January 31,
 
Six Months Ended January 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Net revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mountain
$
532,872

 
$
463,031

 
$
633,805

 
$
523,417

Lodging
62,807

 
59,364

 
127,093

 
117,857

Real estate
3,684

 
7,842

 
13,032

 
17,225

Total net revenue
599,363

 
530,237

 
773,930

 
658,499

Segment operating expense (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mountain
296,256

 
268,966

 
447,414

 
400,918

Lodging
57,311

 
53,927

 
118,748

 
111,681

Real estate
4,617

 
9,871

 
13,958

 
21,485

Total segment operating expense
358,184

 
332,764

 
580,120

 
534,084

Other operating (expense) income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
(40,541
)
 
(37,376
)
 
(79,241
)
 
(73,345
)
Gain on sale of real property
632

 

 
1,791

 

Gain on litigation settlement (Note 5)

 

 

 
16,400

Change in fair value of Contingent Consideration (Note 8)

 

 

 
4,550

Loss on disposal of fixed assets and other, net
(1,206
)
 
(26
)
 
(2,985
)
 
(781
)
Income from operations
200,064

 
160,071

 
113,375

 
71,239

Mountain equity investment (loss) income, net
(61
)
 
200

 
781

 
525

Investment income, net
161

 
62

 
359

 
36

Interest expense
(10,910
)
 
(13,807
)
 
(21,505
)
 
(27,375
)
Income before (provision) benefit from income taxes
189,254

 
146,526

 
93,010

 
44,425

(Provision) benefit from income taxes (Note 12)
(72,383
)
 
(30,826
)
 
(35,809
)
 
6,951

Net income
116,871

 
115,700

 
57,201

 
51,376

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
111

 
62

 
194

 
110

Net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
$
116,982

 
$
115,762

 
$
57,395

 
$
51,486

Per share amounts (Note 3):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic net income per share attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
$
3.23

 
$
3.19

 
$
1.58

 
$
1.42

Diluted net income per share attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
$
3.14

 
$
3.10

 
$
1.54

 
$
1.38

Cash dividends declared per share
$
0.6225

 
$
0.4150

 
$
1.2450

 
$
0.8300

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.



3




Vail Resorts, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

 
 
Three Months Ended January 31,
 
Six Months Ended January 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Net income
 
$
116,871

 
$
115,700

 
$
57,201

 
$
51,376

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax
 
(386
)
 
(307
)
 
(2,794
)
 
(447
)
Comprehensive income
 
116,485

 
115,393

 
54,407

 
50,929

Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
111

 
62

 
194

 
110

Comprehensive income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
 
$
116,596

 
$
115,455

 
$
54,601

 
$
51,039

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.


4



Vail Resorts, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
(In thousands, except shares)
(Unaudited)
 
Common Stock
Additional Paid in Capital
Retained Earnings
Treasury Stock
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Total Vail Resorts, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity
Noncontrolling Interests
Total Stockholders’ Equity
 
Shares
Amount
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, July 31, 2014
41,152,800

$
412

$
612,322

$
401,500

$
(193,192
)
$
(199
)
$
820,843

$
13,957

$
834,800

Comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)



51,486



51,486

(110
)
51,376

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax





(447
)
(447
)

(447
)
Total comprehensive income (loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
51,039

(110
)
50,929

Stock-based compensation expense


8,226




8,226


8,226

Issuance of shares under share award plans, net of shares withheld for taxes
142,106

1

(3,706
)



(3,705
)

(3,705
)
Tax benefit from share award plans


3,241




3,241


3,241

Dividends



(30,141
)


(30,141
)

(30,141
)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests, net







112

112

Balance, January 31, 2015
41,294,906

$
413

$
620,083

$
422,845

$
(193,192
)
$
(646
)
$
849,503

$
13,959

$
863,462

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, July 31, 2015
41,462,941

$
415

$
623,510

$
440,748

$
(193,192
)
$
(4,913
)
$
866,568

$
14,018

$
880,586

Comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)



57,395



57,395

(194
)
57,201

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax





(2,794
)
(2,794
)

(2,794
)
Total comprehensive income (loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
54,601

(194
)
54,407

Stock-based compensation expense


8,390




8,390


8,390

Issuance of shares under share award plans, net of shares withheld for taxes
115,078

1

(7,287
)



(7,286
)

(7,286
)
Tax benefit from share award plans


3,555




3,555


3,555

Repurchases of common stock (Note 11)




(40,000
)

(40,000
)

(40,000
)
Dividends



(45,221
)


(45,221
)

(45,221
)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests, net







91

91

Balance, January 31, 2016
41,578,019

$
416

$
628,168

$
452,922

$
(233,192
)
$
(7,707
)
$
840,607

$
13,915

$
854,522

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.


5



Vail Resorts, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Six Months Ended January 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
57,201

 
$
51,376

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
79,241

 
73,345

Cost of real estate sales
 
9,444

 
12,620

Stock-based compensation expense
 
8,390

 
8,226

Deferred income taxes, net
 
35,937

 
24,321

Change in fair value of Contingent Consideration
 

 
(4,550
)
Gain on litigation settlement
 

 
(16,400
)
Park City litigation settlement payment
 

 
(10,000
)
Other non-cash income, net
 
(2,134
)
 
(2,577
)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Restricted cash
 
6,894

 
311

Trade receivables, net
 
27,696

 
28,742

Inventories, net
 
(5,263
)
 
(5,358
)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
 
111,778

 
129,655

Other assets and liabilities, net
 
(19,716
)
 
(15,526
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
309,468

 
274,185

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
 
(77,237
)
 
(74,020
)
Acquisition of businesses
 
(20,245
)
 
(182,500
)
Other investing activities, net
 
3,961

 
704

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(93,521
)
 
(255,816
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from borrowings under Credit Facility Revolver
 
105,000

 
243,000

Payments on Credit Facility Revolver
 
(225,500
)
 
(243,000
)
Payments on Credit Facility Term Loan
 
(3,125
)
 

Payments of other long-term debt
 
(257
)
 
(536
)
Dividends paid
 
(45,221
)
 
(30,141
)
Repurchases of common stock
 
(40,000
)
 

Other financing activities, net
 
3,925

 
4,593

Net cash used in financing activities
 
(205,178
)
 
(26,084
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
 
(860
)
 
(113
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
9,909

 
(7,828
)
Cash and cash equivalents:
 
 
 
 
Beginning of period
 
35,459

 
44,406

End of period
 
$
45,368

 
$
36,578

 
 
 
 
 
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
 
 
 
 
Accrued capital expenditures
 
$
4,425

 
$
4,016

Capital expenditures under long-term financing
 
$

 
$
7,037

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.


6



Vail Resorts, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 

1.
Organization and Business
Vail Resorts, Inc. (“Vail Resorts” or the “Parent Company”) is organized as a holding company and operates through various subsidiaries. Vail Resorts and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) operate in three business segments: Mountain, Lodging and Real Estate.

In the Mountain segment, the Company operates nine world-class mountain resort properties at the Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone and Beaver Creek mountain resorts in Colorado; Park City in Utah (comprised of the former standalone Park City Mountain Resort acquired in September 2014 and the former Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah); the Heavenly, Northstar, and Kirkwood mountain resorts in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Perisher Ski Resort (“Perisher” acquired in June 2015) in New South Wales, Australia; and, the ski areas of Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin (acquired in January 2016), Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mount Brighton in Michigan (“Urban” ski areas); as well as ancillary services, primarily including ski school, dining and retail/rental operations, and for Perisher including lodging and transportation operations. The resorts located in the United States (except for Northstar, Park City and the Urban ski areas) operate primarily on federal land under the terms of Special Use Permits granted by the USDA Forest Service (the “Forest Service”). The operations of Perisher are conducted pursuant to a long-term lease and license on land owned by the government of New South Wales, Australia.

In the Lodging segment, the Company owns and/or manages a collection of luxury hotels and condominiums under its RockResorts brand, as well as other strategic lodging properties and a large number of condominiums located in proximity to the Company’s U.S. mountain resorts, National Park Service (“NPS”) concessionaire properties including the Grand Teton Lodge Company (“GTLC”), which operates destination resorts in the Grand Teton National Park, Colorado Mountain Express (“CME”), a Colorado resort ground transportation company, and mountain resort golf courses.

Vail Resorts Development Company (“VRDC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary, conducts the operations of the Company’s Real Estate segment, which owns and develops real estate in and around the Company’s resort communities.

The Company’s mountain business and its lodging properties at or around the Company’s mountain resorts are seasonal in nature with peak operating seasons primarily from mid-November through mid-April in the United States. The Company’s peak operating season at Perisher, its NPS concessionaire properties and its golf courses generally occur from June to early October. The Company also has non-majority owned investments in various other entities, some of which are consolidated (see Note 7, Variable Interest Entities).

2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements— In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements reflect all adjustments necessary to state fairly the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Results for interim periods are not indicative of the results for the entire fiscal year. The accompanying Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2015. Certain information and footnote disclosures, including significant accounting policies, normally included in fiscal year financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted. The Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet as of July 31, 2015 was derived from audited financial statements.

Use of Estimates— The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

New Accounting Standards— In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, “Revenue Recognition.” This ASU is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to

7



which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, which defers the effective date of the new revenue standard by one year, and would allow entities the option to early adopt the new revenue standard as of the original effective date. This standard will be effective for the first interim period within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 (the Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2019 if it does not early adopt), using one of two retrospective application methods. The Company is evaluating the impacts, if any, the adoption of this accounting standard will have on the Company’s financial position or results of operations and cash flows and related disclosures and is determining the appropriate transition method.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis,” which amends the consolidation requirements in ASC 810, “Consolidation.” This ASU affects reporting entities that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities. All legal entities are subject to reevaluation under the revised consolidation model. Specifically, the amendments: (i) modify the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (“VIEs”) or voting interest entities, (ii) eliminate the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership, (iii) affect the consolidated analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships and (iv) provide a scope exception for certain entities. The standard will be effective for the first interim period within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015 (the Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2017). The standard may be applied retrospectively or through a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company is evaluating the impacts, if any, the adoption of this accounting standard will have on the Company’s financial position or results of operations and cash flows.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, “Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs.” The new standard requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The guidance in the new standard is limited to the presentation of debt issuance costs and does not affect the recognition and measurement of debt issuance costs. In June 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15, “Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements.” The guidance in ASU No. 2015-03 does not address presentation or subsequent measurement of debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements. Given the absence of authoritative guidance within ASU No. 2015-03 for debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements, the SEC staff stated that they would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. The standard will be effective for the first interim period within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015 (the Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2017) and early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. The standard should be applied on a retrospective basis. The adoption of this new accounting standard will amend presentation and disclosure requirements concerning debt issuance costs; but will not affect the Company’s overall financial position or results of operations and cash flows.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-05, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement.” The standard provides guidance about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the software license element of the arrangement should be accounted for as an acquisition of a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, it should be accounted for as a service contract. The standard will be effective for the first interim period within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015 (the Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2017) and may be adopted either retrospectively or prospectively. The adoption of this accounting standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations and cash flows.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory.” This standard provides guidance on the measurement of inventory that is measured using first-in, first-out or average cost. An entity should measure in scope inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. The standard will be effective for the first interim period within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 (the Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2018) and is required to be adopted prospectively and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this accounting standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations and cash flows.

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16, “Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments.” The standard requires that adjustments to provisional amounts identified during the measurement period of a business combination be recognized in the reporting period in which those adjustments are determined, including the effect on earnings, if any, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. The standard eliminates the previous requirement to retrospectively

8



account for such adjustments but requires additional disclosures related to the income statement effects of adjustments to provisional amounts identified during the measurement period. The standard is effective for the annual period beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim periods within those annual periods (the Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2017), with early adoption permitted, and is to be applied prospectively. The Company has adopted this standard and will apply this standard, as applicable, on any future measurement period adjustments.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes.” The standard changes how deferred taxes are classified on an entity’s balance sheets. The standard eliminates the current requirement for entities to present deferred tax liabilities and assets as current and noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. Instead, entities will be required to classify all deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent. The standard is effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 (the Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2018), with early adoption permitted, and may be applied prospectively or retrospectively. The adoption of this new accounting standard will amend presentation requirements, but will not affect the Company’s overall financial position or results of operations and cash flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” which supersedes “Leases (Topic 840).” The standard requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities arising from all leases, including those classified as operating leases under previous accounting guidance, on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The standard also allows for an accounting policy election not to recognize on the balance sheet lease assets and liabilities for leases with a term of 12 months or less. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset on their balance sheets, while lessor accounting will be largely unchanged. The standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those years (the Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2020), and must be applied using a modified retrospective transition approach to leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impacts the adoption of this accounting standard will have on the Company’s financial position or results of operations and cash flows and related disclosures.

3.
Net Income Per Common Share
Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income attributable to Vail Resorts stockholders by the weighted-average shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised, resulting in the issuance of shares of common stock that would then participate in the earnings of Vail Resorts. Presented below is basic and diluted EPS for the three months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 
 
Three Months Ended January 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
Basic
 
Diluted
 
Basic
 
Diluted
Net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Vail Resorts
 
$
116,982

 
$
116,982

 
$
115,762

 
$
115,762

Weighted-average shares outstanding
 
36,246

 
36,246

 
36,329

 
36,329

Effect of dilutive securities
 

 
1,010

 

 
1,038

Total shares
 
36,246

 
37,256

 
36,329

 
37,367

Net income per share attributable to Vail Resorts
 
$
3.23

 
$
3.14

 
$
3.19

 
$
3.10


The Company computes the effect of dilutive securities using the treasury stock method and average market prices during the period. The number of shares issuable on the exercise of share based awards excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per share because the effect of their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive totaled 19,000 and 8,000 for the three months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

9



Presented below is basic and diluted EPS for the six months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 
 
Six Months Ended January 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
Basic
 
Diluted
 
Basic
 
Diluted
Net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Vail Resorts
 
$
57,395

 
$
57,395

 
$
51,486

 
$
51,486

Weighted-average shares outstanding
 
36,359

 
36,359

 
36,289

 
36,289

Effect of dilutive securities
 

 
999

 

 
1,024

Total shares
 
36,359

 
37,358

 
36,289

 
37,313

Net income per share attributable to Vail Resorts
 
$
1.58

 
$
1.54

 
$
1.42

 
$
1.38


The number of shares issuable on the exercise of share based awards excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per share because the effect of their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive totaled 10,000 and 4,000 for the six months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

During the three and six months ended January 31, 2016, the Company paid cash dividends of $0.6225 and $1.2450 per share ($22.6 million and $45.2 million, respectively, in the aggregate). During the three and six months ended January 31, 2015, the Company paid cash dividends of $0.4150 and $0.8300 per share ($15.1 million and $30.1 million, respectively, in the aggregate). On March 9, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.81 per share payable on April 13, 2016 to stockholders of record as of March 29, 2016.

4.
Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt as of January 31, 2016July 31, 2015 and January 31, 2015 is summarized as follows (in thousands):

 
 
Maturity (a)
 
January 31, 2016
 
July 31, 2015
 
January 31, 2015
Credit Facility Revolver
 
2020
 
$
64,500

 
$
185,000

 
$

Credit Facility Term Loan
 
2020
 
246,875

 
250,000

 

Industrial Development Bonds
 
2020
 

 

 
41,200

Employee Housing Bonds
 
2027-2039
 
52,575

 
52,575

 
52,575

6.50% Notes
 
2019
 

 

 
215,000

Canyons obligation
 
2063
 
320,277

 
317,455

 
314,657

Other
 
2016-2029
 
11,308

 
11,800

 
12,503

Total debt
 
 
 
695,535

 
816,830

 
635,935

Less: Current maturities (b)
 
 
 
13,340

 
10,154

 
1,196

Long-term debt
 
 
 
$
682,195

 
$
806,676

 
$
634,739


(a)
Maturities are based on the Company’s July 31 fiscal year end.
(b)
Current maturities represent principal payments due in the next 12 months.


10



Aggregate maturities for debt outstanding as of January 31, 2016 reflected by fiscal year are as follows (in thousands):

 
Total
2016
$
6,537

2017
13,354

2018
13,397

2019
13,455

2020
268,641

Thereafter
380,151

Total debt
$
695,535


The Company incurred gross interest expense of $10.9 million and $13.8 million for the three months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, of which $0.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively, were amortization of deferred financing costs. The Company had no capitalized interest during the three months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015. The Company incurred gross interest expense of $21.5 million and $27.4 million for the six months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, of which $0.5 million and $0.7 million, respectively, were amortization of deferred financing costs. The Company had no capitalized interest during the six months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015.

5.
Acquisitions
Wilmot Mountain
On January 19, 2016, the Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, acquired all of the assets of Wilmot Mountain (“Wilmot”), a ski area located in Wisconsin near the Illinois state line, for total cash consideration of $20.2 million. The purchase price was allocated to identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the acquisition date. The Company has completed its preliminary purchase price allocation and has recorded $12.5 million in property, plant and equipment, $0.2 million in other assets, $0.4 million in other intangible assets (with a weighted-average amortization period of 10 years), and $0.4 million of assumed liabilities on the date of acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the aggregate fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed was $7.5 million and was recorded as goodwill. The goodwill recognized is attributable primarily to expected synergies, the assembled workforce of Wilmot and other factors. The goodwill is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. The operating results of Wilmot are reported within the Mountain segment.

Perisher Ski Resort
On June 30, 2015, the Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, acquired all of the entities that operate Perisher Ski Resort (“Perisher”) in New South Wales, Australia for total cash consideration of $124.6 million, net of cash acquired. The Company funded the cash purchase price through borrowings under the revolver portion of its senior credit facility (“Credit Agreement”). Perisher holds a long-term lease and license with the New South Wales Government under the National Parks and Wildlife Act, which expires in 2048 with a 20-year renewal option. The Company acquired the entities that hold the assets, conduct operations and includes the long-term lease and license with the New South Wales government for the ski area and related amenities of Perisher, including assumed liabilities.


11



The following summarizes the preliminary estimated fair values of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date the transaction was effective (in thousands).

 
Estimates of Fair Value at Effective Date of Transaction
Accounts receivable
$
1,494

Inventory
4,859

Property, plant and equipment
126,287

Intangible assets
5,458

Other assets
525

Goodwill
31,657

Total identifiable assets acquired
$
170,280

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$
11,394

Deferred revenue
15,906

Deferred income tax liability, net
18,429

Total liabilities assumed
$
45,729

Total purchase price, net of cash acquired
$
124,551


The estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the acquisition of Perisher are preliminary and are based on the information that was available as of the acquisition date to estimate the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The Company believes that information provides a reasonable basis for estimating the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, but the Company is obtaining additional information necessary to finalize those fair values. Therefore, the preliminary measurements of fair value reflected are subject to change. The Company expects to finalize the valuation and complete the purchase price allocation as soon as practicable but no later than one year from the acquisition date.
The excess of the purchase price over the aggregate fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed was recorded as goodwill. The goodwill recognized is attributable primarily to expected synergies, the assembled workforce of Perisher and other factors. None of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes under Australian tax law. The intangible assets primarily consist of trademarks and customer lists. The definite-lived intangible assets have a weighted-average amortization period of approximately 4 years.

Park City Mountain Resort
On September 11, 2014, VR CPC Holdings, Inc. (“VR CPC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Greater Park City Company, Powdr Corp., Greater Properties, Inc., Park Properties, Inc., and Powdr Development Company (collectively, “Park City Sellers”) entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) providing for the acquisition of substantially all of the assets related to Park City Mountain Resort in Park City, Utah. The cash purchase price was $182.5 million and was funded through borrowings under the revolver portion of the Credit Agreement.

As provided under the Purchase Agreement, the Company acquired the property, assets and operations of Park City Mountain Resort, which includes the ski area and related amenities, from Park City Sellers and assumed leases of certain realty, acquired certain assets, and assumed certain liabilities of Park City Sellers relating to Park City Mountain Resort. In addition to the Purchase Agreement, the parties settled the litigation related to the validity of a lease of certain land owned by Talisker Land Holdings, LLC under the ski terrain of Park City Mountain Resort (the “Park City Litigation”). In connection with settling the Park City Litigation, the Company recorded a non-cash gain of $16.4 million in the Mountain segment for the six months ended January 31, 2015. The gain on litigation settlement represented the estimated fair value of the rents (including damages and interest) due the Company from the Park City Sellers for their use of land and improvements from the Canyons transaction date of May 29, 2013 to the Park City Mountain Resort acquisition date. Additionally, the Company assigned a fair value of $10.1 million to the settlement of the Park City Litigation that applied to the period prior to the Canyons transaction. The combined fair value of the Park City Litigation settlement of $26.5 million was determined by applying market capitalization rates to the estimated fair market value of the land and improvements, plus an estimate of statutory damages and interest. The estimated fair value of the Park City Litigation settlement was not received in cash, but was instead reflected as part of the cash price negotiated for the Park City Mountain Resort acquisition. Accordingly, the estimated fair value of the Park City Litigation settlement was included in the total consideration for the acquisition of Park City Mountain Resort. However, the gain on the Park City Litigation settlement was recorded as a separate transaction, as discussed above. Under an agreement entered into in conjunction with the Canyons transaction,

12



the Company made a $10.0 million payment to Talisker in the six months ended January 31, 2015, resulting from the settlement of the Park City Litigation.

The following summarizes the fair values of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date the transaction was effective (in thousands):

 
Acquisition Date Fair Value
Accounts receivable
$
930

Other assets
3,075

Property, plant and equipment
76,605

Deferred income tax assets, net
7,428

Real estate held for sale and investment
7,000

Intangible assets
27,650

Goodwill
92,516

Total identifiable assets acquired
$
215,204

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$
1,935

Deferred revenue
4,319

Total liabilities assumed
$
6,254

Total purchase price
$
208,950


The excess of the purchase price over the aggregate fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed was recorded as goodwill. The goodwill recognized is attributable primarily to expected synergies, the assembled workforce of Park City Mountain Resort and other factors. The majority of goodwill is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. The intangible assets primarily consist of trademarks, water rights, and customer lists. The intangible assets have a weighted-average amortization period of approximately 46 years. The operating results of Park City, which are recorded in the Mountain segment, contributed $27.6 million and $28.4 million of net revenue (including an allocation of season pass revenue) for the three and six months ended January 31, 2015, respectively. The Company recognized $0.8 million of transaction related expenses in Mountain operating expense in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations for the six months ended January 31, 2015.

Certain land and improvements in the Park City Mountain Resort ski area (excluding the base area) were part of the Talisker leased premises to Park City Mountain Resort and were subject to the Park City Litigation as of the Canyons transaction date (May 29, 2013), and as such, were recorded as a deposit (“Park City Deposit”) for the potential future interests in the land and associated improvements at its estimated fair value in conjunction with the Canyons transaction. Upon settlement of the Park City Litigation, the land and improvements associated with the Talisker leased premises became subject to the Canyons lease, and as a result, the Company reclassified the Park City Deposit to the respective assets within property, plant and equipment in the six months ended January 31, 2015. The inclusion of the land and certain land improvements that was subject to the Park City Litigation and now included in the Canyons lease requires no additional consideration from the Company to Talisker, but the financial contribution from the operations of Park City Mountain Resort will be included as part of the calculation of EBITDA for the resort operations, and as a result, factor into the participating contingent payments (see Note 8, Fair Value Measurements). The majority of the assets acquired under the Park City Mountain Resort acquisition, although not under lease, are subject to the terms and conditions of the Canyons lease.

13



Perisher and Park City Mountain Resort Pro Forma Financial Information
The following presents the unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information of the Company as if the acquisitions of Perisher and Park City Mountain Resort were completed on August 1, 2014. The following unaudited pro forma financial information includes adjustments for (i) depreciation on acquired property, plant and equipment; (ii) amortization of intangible assets recorded at the date of the transactions; (iii) related-party land leases; and (iv) transaction and business integration related costs. This unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and does not purport to be indicative of the results of future operations or the results that would have occurred had the transaction taken place on August 1, 2014 (in thousands, except per share amounts).

 
 
Three Months Ended January 31,
Six Months Ended January 31,
 
 
2015
2015
Pro forma net revenue
 
$
530,678

$
703,254

Pro forma net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
 
$
111,850

$
57,624

Pro forma basic net income per share attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
 
$
3.08

$
1.59

Pro forma diluted net income per share attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
 
$
2.99

$
1.54


6.
Supplementary Balance Sheet Information
The composition of property, plant and equipment follows (in thousands):
 
 
January 31, 2016
 
July 31, 2015
 
January 31, 2015
Land and land improvements
 
$
438,373

 
$
431,854

 
$
411,148

Buildings and building improvements
 
1,024,065

 
1,006,821

 
959,863

Machinery and equipment
 
873,045

 
815,946

 
774,791

Furniture and fixtures
 
302,077

 
286,863

 
281,869

Software
 
111,118

 
106,433

 
104,511

Vehicles
 
62,093

 
61,036

 
58,760

Construction in progress
 
24,767

 
53,158

 
16,676

Gross property, plant and equipment
 
2,835,538

 
2,762,111

 
2,607,618

Accumulated depreciation
 
(1,443,649
)
 
(1,375,836
)
 
(1,323,403
)
Property, plant and equipment, net
 
$
1,391,889

 
$
1,386,275

 
$
1,284,215


The composition of accounts payable and accrued liabilities follows (in thousands): 

 
 
January 31, 2016
 
July 31, 2015
 
January 31, 2015
Trade payables
 
$
82,913

 
$
62,099

 
$
87,864

Deferred revenue
 
190,976

 
145,949

 
163,253

Accrued salaries, wages and deferred compensation
 
43,916

 
33,461

 
41,710

Accrued benefits
 
26,199

 
24,436

 
22,304

Deposits
 
36,995

 
19,336

 
33,709

Other accruals
 
66,771

 
46,018

 
71,989

Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities
 
$
447,770

 
$
331,299

 
$
420,829



14



The composition of other long-term liabilities follows (in thousands):
 
 
January 31, 2016
 
July 31, 2015
 
January 31, 2015
Private club deferred initiation fee revenue
 
$
123,886

 
$
126,104

 
$
129,315

Unfavorable lease obligation, net
 
28,593

 
29,997

 
30,096

Other long-term liabilities
 
100,127

 
99,815

 
69,902

Total other long-term liabilities
 
$
252,606

 
$
255,916

 
$
229,313


7.    Variable Interest Entities
The Company is the primary beneficiary of four employee housing entities (collectively, the “Employee Housing Entities”), Breckenridge Terrace, LLC, The Tarnes at BC, LLC, BC Housing, LLC and Tenderfoot Seasonal Housing, LLC, which are variable interest entities (“VIEs”), and the Company has consolidated them in its Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements. As a group, as of January 31, 2016, the Employee Housing Entities had total assets of $25.8 million (primarily recorded in property, plant and equipment, net) and total liabilities of $64.4 million (primarily recorded in long-term debt as “Employee Housing Bonds”). The Company’s lenders have issued letters of credit totaling $53.4 million under the Company’s Credit Agreement related to Employee Housing Bonds. Payments under the letters of credit would be triggered in the event that one of the entities defaults on required payments. The letters of credit have no default provisions.

The Company is the primary beneficiary of Avon Partners II, LLC (“APII”), which is a VIE. APII owns commercial space and the Company leases substantially all of that space. APII had total assets of $4.3 million (primarily recorded in property, plant and equipment, net) and no debt as of January 31, 2016.

8.    Fair Value Measurements
The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued fair value guidance that establishes how reporting entities should measure fair value for measurement and disclosure purposes. The guidance establishes a common definition of fair value applicable to all assets and liabilities measured at fair value and prioritizes the inputs into valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Accordingly, the Company uses valuation techniques which maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value. The three levels of the hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1: Inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible to the Company for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2: Inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active and inactive markets or that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly; and

Level 3: Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity.


15



The table below summarizes the Company’s cash equivalents and Contingent Consideration (as defined below) measured at fair value (all other assets and liabilities measured at fair value are immaterial) (in thousands):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurement as of January 31, 2016
 
Description
 
Balance at January 31, 2016
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial Paper
 
$
2,401

 
$

 
$
2,401

 
$

 
Certificates of Deposit
 
$
2,401

 
$

 
$
2,401

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent Consideration
 
$
6,900

 
$

 
$

 
$
6,900

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurement as of July 31, 2015
 
Description
 
Balance at July 31, 2015
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money Market
 
$
7,577

 
$
7,577

 
$

 
$

 
Commercial Paper
 
$
2,401

 
$

 
$
2,401

 
$

 
Certificates of Deposit
 
$
2,651

 
$

 
$
2,651

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent Consideration
 
$
6,900

 
$

 
$

 
$
6,900

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurement as of January 31, 2015
 
Description
 
Balance at January 31, 2015
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money Market
 
$
7,578

 
$
7,578

 
$

 
$

 
Commercial Paper
 
$
2,401

 
$

 
$
2,401

 
$

 
Certificates of Deposit
 
$
2,900

 
$

 
$
2,900

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent Consideration
 
$
6,000

 
$

 
$

 
$
6,000


The Company’s cash equivalents are measured utilizing quoted market prices or pricing models whereby all significant inputs are either observable or corroborated by observable market data. 

The changes in Contingent Consideration during the six months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015 were as follows (in thousands):

Balance as of July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively
$
6,900

$
10,500

Change in fair value

(4,500
)
Balance as of January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively
$
6,900

$
6,000


The lease for Canyons provides for participating contingent payments to Talisker of 42% of the amount by which EBITDA for the resort operations, as calculated under the lease, exceed approximately $35 million, as established at the transaction date, with such threshold amount subsequently increased annually by an inflation linked index and a 10% adjustment for any capital improvements or investments made under the lease by the Company (the “Contingent Consideration”). The fair value of Contingent Consideration includes the resort operations of Park City Mountain Resort, following completion of the acquisition, in the calculation of EBITDA on which participating contingent payments are made, and increases the EBITDA threshold before which participating contingent payments are made by 10% of the purchase price paid by the Company for Park City Mountain Resort along with all future capital expenditures associated with Park City Mountain Resort. The Company estimated the fair value of the Contingent Consideration payments using an option pricing valuation model. As of January 31, 2016, key assumptions included a discount rate of 11.5%, volatility of 20.0%, and credit risk of 2.5%. The model also incorporates assumptions for EBITDA and

16



capital expenditures, which are unobservable inputs and thus are considered Level 3 inputs. As Contingent Consideration is classified as a liability, the liability is remeasured to fair value at each reporting date until the contingency is resolved. During the six months ended January 31, 2016, the Company did not record a change in the estimated fair value of the participating contingent payments. The estimated fair value of the Contingent Consideration is $6.9 million as of January 31, 2016, and this liability is recorded in other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.

9.    Commitments and Contingencies
Metropolitan Districts
The Company credit-enhances $8.0 million of bonds issued by Holland Creek Metropolitan District (“HCMD”) through an $8.1 million letter of credit issued under the Credit Agreement. HCMD’s bonds were issued and used to build infrastructure associated with the Company’s Red Sky Ranch residential development. The Company has agreed to pay capital improvement fees to Red Sky Ranch Metropolitan District (“RSRMD”) until RSRMD’s revenue streams from property taxes are sufficient to meet debt service requirements under HCMD’s bonds, and the Company has recorded a liability of $1.8 million primarily within “other long-term liabilities” in the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets, as of January 31, 2016July 31, 2015 and January 31, 2015, respectively, with respect to the estimated present value of future RSRMD capital improvement fees. The Company estimates it will make capital improvement fee payments under this arrangement through the fiscal year ending July 31, 2029.

Guarantees/Indemnifications
As of January 31, 2016, the Company had various other letters of credit for $64.6 million, consisting primarily of $53.4 million to support the Employee Housing Bonds and $11.2 million for workers’ compensation, general liability construction related deductibles and other activities. The Company also had surety bonds of $9.3 million as of January 31, 2016, primarily to provide collateral for its workers compensation self-insurance programs.

In addition to the guarantees noted above, the Company has entered into contracts in the normal course of business that include certain indemnifications under which it could be required to make payments to third parties upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of certain future events. These indemnities include indemnities to licensees in connection with the licensees’ use of the Company’s trademarks and logos, indemnities for liabilities associated with the infringement of other parties’ technology and software products, indemnities related to liabilities associated with the use of easements, indemnities related to employment of contract workers, the Company’s use of trustees, indemnities related to the Company’s use of public lands and environmental indemnifications. The duration of these indemnities generally is indefinite and generally do not limit the future payments the Company could be obligated to make.

As permitted under applicable law, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries have agreed to indemnify their directors and officers over their lifetimes for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is, or was, serving the Company or its subsidiaries in such a capacity. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited; however, the Company has a director and officer insurance policy that should enable the Company to recover a portion of any future amounts paid.

Unless otherwise noted, the Company has not recorded any significant liabilities for the letters of credit, indemnities and other guarantees noted above in the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements, either because the Company has recorded on its Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets the underlying liability associated with the guarantee, the guarantee is with respect to the Company’s own performance and is therefore not subject to the measurement requirements as prescribed by GAAP, or because the Company has calculated the fair value of the indemnification or guarantee to be immaterial based upon the current facts and circumstances that would trigger a payment under the indemnification clause. In addition, with respect to certain indemnifications it is not possible to determine the maximum potential amount of liability under these potential obligations due to the unique set of facts and circumstances likely to be involved in each particular claim and indemnification provision. Historically, payments made by the Company under these obligations have not been material.

As noted above, the Company makes certain indemnifications to licensees for their use of the Company’s trademarks and logos. The Company does not record any liabilities with respect to these indemnifications.


17



Self Insurance
The Company is self-insured for claims under its health benefit plans and for the majority of workers’ compensation claims. Workers compensation claims are subject to stop loss policies. The self-insurance liability related to workers’ compensation is determined actuarially based on claims filed. The self-insurance liability related to claims under the Company’s health benefit plans is determined based on analysis of actual claims. The amounts related to these claims are included as a component of accrued benefits in accounts payable and accrued liabilities (see Note 6, Supplementary Balance Sheet Information).

Legal
The Company is a party to various lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. Management believes the Company has adequate insurance coverage and/or has accrued for loss contingencies for all known matters deemed to be probable losses and estimable. As of January 31, 2016July 31, 2015 and January 31, 2015, the accrual for the above loss contingencies was not material individually and in the aggregate.

10.    Segment Information
The Company has three reportable segments: Mountain, Lodging and Real Estate. The Mountain segment includes the operations of the Company’s mountain resorts and Urban ski areas and related ancillary services. The Lodging segment includes the operations of all of the Company’s owned hotels in the U.S., RockResorts, NPS concessionaire properties, condominium management, CME and mountain resort golf operations. The Real Estate segment owns and develops real estate in and around the Company’s resort communities. The Company’s reportable segments, although integral to the success of each other, offer distinctly different products and services and require different types of management focus. As such, these segments are managed separately.

The Company reports its segment results using Reported EBITDA (defined as segment net revenue less segment operating expenses, plus or minus segment equity investment income or loss, plus gain on litigation settlement and for the Real Estate segment, plus gain on sale of real property), which is a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company reports segment results in a manner consistent with management’s internal reporting of operating results to the chief operating decision maker (the Chief Executive Officer) for purposes of evaluating segment performance.

Reported EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. Items excluded from Reported EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance. Reported EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to, or substitute for, net income, net change in cash and cash equivalents or other financial statement data presented in the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity. Because Reported EBITDA is not a measurement determined in accordance with GAAP and thus is susceptible to varying calculations, Reported EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

The Company utilizes Reported EBITDA in evaluating performance of the Company and in allocating resources to its segments. Mountain Reported EBITDA consists of Mountain net revenue less Mountain operating expense plus or minus Mountain equity investment income or loss plus gain on litigation settlement. Lodging Reported EBITDA consists of Lodging net revenue less Lodging operating expense. Real Estate Reported EBITDA consists of Real Estate net revenue less Real Estate operating expense plus gain on sale of real property. All segment expenses include an allocation of corporate administrative expenses. Assets are not allocated between segments, or used to evaluate performance, except as shown in the table below.

18



The following table presents financial information by reportable segment, which is used by management in evaluating performance and allocating resources (in thousands):

 
Three Months Ended January 31,
 
Six Months Ended January 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Net revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lift
$
287,685

 
$
239,288

 
$
307,838

 
$
239,288

Ski school
62,040

 
57,295

 
65,424

 
57,295

Dining
44,738

 
38,619

 
57,093

 
46,658

Retail/rental
102,975

 
95,012

 
135,364

 
124,485

Other
35,434

 
32,817

 
68,086

 
55,691

Total Mountain net revenue
532,872

 
463,031

 
633,805

 
523,417

Lodging
62,807

 
59,364

 
127,093

 
117,857

Total Resort net revenue
595,679

 
522,395

 
760,898

 
641,274

Real estate
3,684

 
7,842

 
13,032

 
17,225

Total net revenue
$
599,363

 
$
530,237

 
$
773,930

 
$
658,499

Operating expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mountain
$
296,256

 
$
268,966

 
$
447,414

 
$
400,918

Lodging
57,311

 
53,927

 
118,748

 
111,681

Total Resort operating expense
353,567

 
322,893

 
566,162

 
512,599

Real estate
4,617

 
9,871

 
13,958

 
21,485

Total segment operating expense
$
358,184

 
$
332,764

 
$
580,120

 
$
534,084

Gain on litigation settlement
$

 
$

 

 
16,400

Gain on sale of real property
$
632

 
$

 
1,791

 

Mountain equity investment (loss) income, net
$
(61
)
 
$
200

 
781

 
525

Reported EBITDA:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mountain
$
236,555

 
$
194,265

 
$
187,172

 
$
139,424

Lodging
5,496

 
5,437

 
8,345

 
6,176

Resort
242,051

 
199,702

 
195,517

 
145,600

Real estate
(301
)
 
(2,029
)
 
865

 
(4,260
)
Total Reported EBITDA
$
241,750

 
$
197,673

 
$
196,382

 
$
141,340

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate held for sale and investment
$
117,999

 
$
151,103

 
$
117,999

 
$
151,103

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reconciliation to net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Reported EBITDA
$
241,750

 
$
197,673

 
$
196,382

 
$
141,340

Depreciation and amortization
(40,541
)
 
(37,376
)
 
(79,241
)
 
(73,345
)
Change in fair value of Contingent Consideration

 

 

 
4,550

Loss on disposal of fixed assets and other, net
(1,206
)
 
(26
)
 
(2,985
)
 
(781
)
Investment income, net
161

 
62

 
359

 
36

Interest expense
(10,910
)
 
(13,807
)
 
(21,505
)
 
(27,375
)
Income before (provision) benefit from income taxes
189,254

 
146,526

 
93,010

 
44,425

(Provision) benefit from income taxes
(72,383
)
 
(30,826
)
 
(35,809
)
 
6,951

Net income
$
116,871

 
$
115,700

 
$
57,201

 
$
51,376

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
111

 
62

 
194

 
110

Net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
$
116,982

 
$
115,762

 
$
57,395

 
$
51,486



19



11.     Share Repurchase Program
On March 9, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the repurchase of up to 3,000,000 shares of common stock, on July 16, 2008 approved an increase of the Company’s common stock repurchase authorization by an additional 3,000,000 shares, and on December 4, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an increase in the number of shares authorized to be repurchased under the share repurchase program by an additional 1,500,000 shares. The Company repurchased zero shares of common stock during both the three months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015. During the six months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company repurchased 377,830 shares (at a total cost of $40.0 million) and zero shares of common stock, respectively. Since inception of its share repurchase program through January 31, 2016, the Company has repurchased 5,326,941 shares at a cost of approximately $233.2 million. As of January 31, 2016, 2,173,059 shares remained available to repurchase under the existing share repurchase program which has no expiration date. Shares of common stock purchased pursuant to the repurchase program will be held as treasury shares and may be used for the issuance of shares under the Company’s employee share award plan.

12.    Income Taxes
The Company had Federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards that expired in the year ended July 31, 2008 and were limited in deductibility each year under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Company had only been able to use these NOL carryforwards to the extent of approximately $8.0 million per year through December 31, 2007 (the “Section 382 Amount”). However, during the year ended July 31, 2005, the Company amended previously filed tax returns (for tax years 1997-2002) in an effort to remove the restrictions under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code on approximately $73.8 million of NOL carryforwards to reduce future taxable income. As a result, the Company requested a refund related to the amended returns in the amount of $6.2 million and reduced its federal tax liability in the amount of $19.6 million in subsequent returns. These NOL carryforwards relate to fresh start accounting from the Company’s reorganization in 1992. During the year ended July 31, 2006, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) completed its examination of the Company’s filing position in these amended returns and disallowed the Company’s request for refund and its position to remove the restrictions under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Company appealed the examiner’s disallowance of these NOL carryforwards to the Office of Appeals. In December 2008, the Office of Appeals denied the Company’s appeal, as well as a request for mediation. The Company disagreed with the IRS interpretation disallowing the utilization of the NOL’s and in August 2009, the Company filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado against the United States of America seeking a refund of approximately $6.2 million in Federal income taxes paid, plus interest. On July 1, 2011, the District Court granted the Company summary judgment, concluding that the IRS’s decision disallowing the utilization of the NOLs was inappropriate. The computations themselves, however, remained in dispute, and the District Court’s ruling was subject to appeal by the IRS. Subsequently, the District Court proceedings were continued pending settlement discussions between the parties.

The Company also filed two related tax proceedings in the United States Tax Court regarding calculation of NOL carryover deductions for tax years 2006, 2007, and 2008. The two proceedings involved substantially the same issues as the litigation in the District Court for tax years 2000 and 2001 in which the Company disagreed with the IRS as to the utilization of NOLs. Like the District Court proceedings, the Tax Court proceedings were continued pending settlement discussions between the parties.

On January 29, 2015, the parties completed the execution of a comprehensive settlement agreement resolving all issues and computations in the above mentioned pending proceedings, which allowed the Company to utilize a significant portion of the NOLs. As a result, the Company reversed $27.7 million of other long-term liabilities related to uncertain tax benefits, and recorded income tax benefits of $23.8 million for the utilization of the NOLs, including the reversal of accrued interest and penalties, within its Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended January 31, 2015.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Vail Resorts, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, is referred to throughout this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2016 (“Form 10-Q”) as “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company.”

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2015 (“Form 10-K”) and the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements as of January 31, 2016 and 2015 and for the three and six months then ended, included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q, which provide additional information regarding our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. To the extent that the following Management’s Discussion and Analysis contains statements which are not of a historical nature, such statements are forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. See “Forward-Looking Statements” below. These risks include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the risks described in Item 1A “Risk Factors” of Part I of the Form 10-K.


20



The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis includes discussion of financial performance within each of our segments. We have chosen to specifically include Reported EBITDA (defined as segment net revenue less segment operating expense, plus or minus segment equity investment income or loss, plus gain on litigation settlement and for the Real Estate segment, plus gain on sale of real property) and Net Debt (defined as long-term debt plus long-term debt due within one year less cash and cash equivalents), in the following discussion because we consider these measurements to be significant indications of our financial performance and available capital resources. Reported EBITDA and Net Debt are not measures of financial performance or liquidity under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). We utilize Reported EBITDA in evaluating our performance and in allocating resources to our segments. Refer to the end of the “Results of Operations” section below for a reconciliation of Reported EBITDA to net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. We also believe that Net Debt is an important measurement as it is an indicator of our ability to obtain additional capital resources for our future cash needs. Refer to the end of the “Results of Operations” section below for a reconciliation of Net Debt to long-term debt.

Items excluded from Reported EBITDA and Net Debt are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance or liquidity. Reported EBITDA and Net Debt should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to, or substitute for, net income, net change in cash and cash equivalents or other financial statement data presented in the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity. Because Reported EBITDA and Net Debt are not measurements determined in accordance with GAAP and are susceptible to varying calculations, Reported EBITDA and Net Debt as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

Overview
Our operations are grouped into three integrated and interdependent segments: Mountain, Lodging and Real Estate. Resort is the combination of the Mountain and Lodging segments.

Mountain Segment
The Mountain segment is comprised of the operations of mountain resort properties at the Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone and Beaver Creek mountain resorts in Colorado (“Colorado” resorts); Park City in Utah (comprised of the former standalone Park City Mountain Resort acquired in September 2014 and the former Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah); the Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood mountain resorts in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada (“Tahoe” resorts); Perisher Ski Resort (“Perisher” acquired in June 2015) in New South Wales, Australia; and, the ski areas of Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin (acquired in January 2016), Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mount Brighton in Michigan (“Urban” ski areas); as well as ancillary services, primarily including ski school, dining and retail/rental operations, and for Perisher including lodging and transportation operations. Mountain segment revenue is seasonal, with the majority of revenue earned from our U.S. mountain resorts and ski areas occurring in our second and third fiscal quarters and the majority of revenue earned from Perisher occurring in our first and fourth fiscal quarters. Our U.S. mountain resorts are typically open for business from mid-November through mid-April, which is the peak operating season for the Mountain segment, and Perisher is typically open for business from June to early October. Our single largest source of Mountain segment revenue is the sale of lift tickets (including season passes), which represented approximately 54% and 52% of Mountain net revenue for the three months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Lift revenue is driven by volume and pricing. Pricing is impacted by both absolute pricing as well as the demographic mix of guests, which impacts the price points at which various products are purchased. The demographic mix of guests to our U.S. mountain resorts is divided into two primary categories: (i) out-of-state and international (“Destination”) guests and (ii) in-state and local (“In-State”) guests. For both the three months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, Destination guests comprised approximately 53% of our mountain resort skier visits, while In-State guests comprised approximately 47% of our mountain resort skier visits.

Destination guests generally purchase our higher-priced lift ticket products and utilize more ancillary services such as ski school, dining and retail/rental, as well as the lodging at or around our mountain resorts. Destination guest visitation is less likely to be impacted by changes in the weather, but can be more impacted by adverse economic conditions or the global geopolitical climate. In-State guests tend to be more value-oriented and weather sensitive. We offer a variety of season pass products for all of our mountain resorts and Urban ski areas, marketed towards both Destination and In-State guests. Our season pass product offerings range from providing access to one or a combination of our mountain resorts and Urban ski areas to our Epic Season Pass that allows pass holders unlimited and unrestricted access to all of our mountain resorts and Urban ski areas. Our season pass products provide a compelling value proposition to our guests, which in turn assists us in developing a loyal base of customers who commit to ski at our mountain resorts and Urban ski areas generally in advance of the ski season and typically ski more days each season at our mountain resorts and Urban ski areas than those guests who do not buy season passes. As such, our season pass program drives strong customer loyalty; mitigates exposure to many weather sensitive guests; and generates additional ancillary spending. In addition, our season pass products attract new guests to our mountain resorts and Urban ski areas. All of our season pass products, including the Epic Season Pass, are sold predominately prior to the start of the ski season. Season pass revenue, although primarily

21



collected prior to the ski season, is recognized in the Consolidated Condensed Statement of Operations ratably over the ski season. For the three months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, approximately 46% and 45%, respectively, of the total lift revenue recognized was comprised of season pass revenue (of which revenue recognized represents approximately 52% and 50% of total U.S. season pass sales for the 2015/2016 and 2014/2015 ski seasons, respectively, with the remaining U.S. season pass sales almost entirely recognized as lift revenue in our third fiscal quarter ending April 30).

The cost structure of our mountain resort operations has a significant fixed component with variable expenses including, but not limited to, USDA Forest Service (“Forest Service”) fees, credit card fees, retail/rental cost of sales and labor, ski school labor and dining operations; as such, profit margins can fluctuate greatly based on the level of revenues.

Lodging Segment
Operations within the Lodging segment include (i) ownership/management of a group of luxury hotels and condominiums through the RockResorts brand, including several proximate to our U.S. mountain resorts; (ii) ownership/management of non-RockResorts branded hotels and condominiums proximate to our U.S. mountain resorts; (iii) National Park Service (“NPS”) concessionaire properties including the Grand Teton Lodge Company (“GTLC”); (iv) Colorado Mountain Express (“CME”), a Colorado resort ground transportation company; and (v) mountain resort golf courses.

The performance of lodging properties (including managed condominium rooms) proximate to our mountain resorts, and CME, is closely aligned with the performance of the Mountain segment and generally experiences similar seasonal trends, particularly with respect to visitation by Destination guests, and represented approximately 94% and 93% of Lodging segment revenue (excluding Lodging segment revenue associated with reimbursement of payroll costs) for the three months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Management primarily focuses on Lodging net revenue excluding payroll cost reimbursement and Lodging operating expense excluding reimbursed payroll costs (which are not measures of financial performance under GAAP) as the reimbursements are made based upon the costs incurred with no added margin, as such the revenue and corresponding expense have no effect on our Lodging Reported EBITDA, which we use to evaluate Lodging segment performance. Revenue of the Lodging segment during our first and fourth fiscal quarters is generated primarily by the operations of our NPS concessionaire properties (as their operating season generally occurs from mid-May to mid-October), mountain resort golf operations and seasonally low operations from our other owned and managed properties and businesses.

Real Estate Segment
The principal activities of our Real Estate segment include the marketing and selling of remaining condominium units available for sale, which primarily relate to The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail, and One Ski Hill Place in Breckenridge; the sale of land parcels to third-party developers; planning for future real estate development projects, including zoning and acquisition of applicable permits; and, the occasional purchase of selected strategic land parcels for future development. Revenue from vertical development projects is not recognized until closing of individual units within a project, which occurs after substantial completion of the project. Additionally, our real estate development projects most often result in the creation of certain resort assets that provide additional benefit to the Mountain and Lodging segments. We continue undertaking preliminary planning and design work on future projects and are pursuing opportunities with third-party developers rather than undertaking our own significant vertical development projects. We believe that, due to our low carrying cost of real estate land investments, we are well situated to promote future projects with third-party developers while limiting our financial risk. Our revenue from the Real Estate segment, and associated expense, can fluctuate significantly based upon the timing of closings and the type of real estate being sold, causing volatility in the Real Estate segment’s operating results from period to period.

Recent Trends, Risks and Uncertainties
Together with those risk factors we have identified in our Form 10-K, we have identified the following important factors (as well as risks and uncertainties associated with such factors) that could impact our future financial performance or condition:

The timing and amount of snowfall can have an impact on Mountain and Lodging revenue particularly in regards to skier visits and the duration and frequency of guest visitation. To help mitigate this impact, we sell a variety of season pass products prior to the beginning of the ski season resulting in a more stabilized stream of lift revenue. Additionally, our season pass products provide a compelling value proposition to our guests, which in turn creates a guest commitment predominately prior to the start of the ski season. During fiscal year 2015, pass revenue represented approximately 40% of total lift revenue. Due primarily to increased pass sales for the 2015/2016 ski season compared to the 2014/2015 ski season, season pass revenue increased approximately $22.8 million, or 21.1%, for the three months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the same period in the prior year. Additionally, deferred revenue related to U.S. season pass sales was $124.1 million as of January 31, 2016 (compared to $107.8 million as of January 31, 2015), which will be almost entirely recognized as lift revenue during our third fiscal quarter ending April 30, 2016.

22




Although many key economic indicators in the U.S. have held steady through the beginning of calendar year 2016, including consumer confidence and the unemployment rate, the growth in the U.S. economy may be challenged by declining or slowing growth in economies outside of the U.S., accompanied by devaluation of currencies against the U.S. dollar and lower commodity prices. Given these economic trends and uncertainties, we cannot predict what the impact will be on overall travel and leisure spending or more specifically, on our guest visitation, guest spending or other related trends for the remainder of the 2015/2016 U.S. ski season.

On June 30, 2015, we acquired the entities that operate Perisher Ski Resort (“Perisher”) in New South Wales, Australia for total cash consideration of AU$176.2 million (approximately US$134.8 million), excluding cash acquired and assumed working capital. The cash purchase price was funded through borrowings from the revolving portion of our senior credit facility (“Credit Agreement”). We expect that Perisher will positively contribute to our results of operations with its peak operating season occurring during our first and fourth fiscal quarters. However, we cannot predict whether we will realize all of the synergies expected from the operations of Perisher and the ultimate impact Perisher will have on our future results of operations.

The estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Perisher acquisition are preliminary and are based on the information that was available as of the acquisition date to estimate the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. We believe that information provides a reasonable basis for estimating the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, but we are obtaining additional information necessary to finalize those fair values. Therefore, the preliminary measurements of fair value reflected within the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of January 31, 2016 are subject to change.

As of January 31, 2016, we had $45.4 million in cash and cash equivalents, as well as $262.9 million available under the revolver component of our Credit Agreement (which represents the total commitment of $400.0 million less outstanding borrowings of $64.5 million and certain letters of credit outstanding of $72.6 million). In addition, during the three months ended October 31, 2015 we repurchased 377,830 shares of our common stock at a total cost of approximately $40.0 million, and during the three months ended January 31, 2016 we completed the acquisition of a ski area, Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin, for cash consideration of approximately $20.2 million. We believe that the terms of our Credit Agreement allow for sufficient flexibility in our ability to make future acquisitions, investments, distributions to stockholders and incur additional debt. This, combined with the continued positive cash flow from operating activities of our Mountain and Lodging segments, primarily occurring during our second and third fiscal quarters, less resort capital expenditures has and is anticipated to continue to provide us with substantial liquidity. We believe our liquidity will allow us to consider strategic investments and other forms of returning value to our stockholders including additional share repurchases and the continued payment of a quarterly cash dividend, of which, on March 9, 2016 our Board of Directors approved an approximate 30% increase in our regular quarterly cash dividend on our common stock to $0.81 per share (or approximately $29.4 million quarterly based upon shares outstanding as of January 31, 2016).

Real Estate Reported EBITDA is highly dependent on, among other things, the timing of closings on condominium units available for sale, which determines when revenue and associated cost of sales is recognized. Changes to the anticipated timing or mix of closing on one or more real estate projects, or unit closings within a real estate project, could materially impact Real Estate Reported EBITDA for a particular quarter or fiscal year. As of January 31, 2016, we had six units at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail and two units at One Ski Hill Place in Breckenridge available for sale with a remaining book value of approximately $18.7 million for both projects as of January 31, 2016. We cannot predict the ultimate number of units that we will sell, the ultimate price we will receive, or when the units will sell, although we currently anticipate the selling process will take less than two years to complete assuming continued stability in resort real estate markets.

In accordance with GAAP, we test goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually as well as on an interim basis to the extent factors or indicators become apparent that could reduce the fair value of our reporting units or indefinite-lived intangible assets below book value. We also evaluate long-lived assets for potential impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. We evaluate the recoverability of our goodwill by estimating the future discounted cash flows of our reporting units and terminal values of the businesses using projected future levels of income, as well as business trends, prospects and market and economic conditions. We evaluate the recoverability of indefinite-lived intangible assets using the income approach based upon estimated future revenue streams, and we evaluate long-lived assets based upon estimated undiscounted future cash flows. Our fiscal 2015 annual impairment test did not result in a goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment. However, if lower than projected levels of cash flows were to occur due to prolonged abnormal weather conditions or a prolonged weakness in general economic conditions, among other risks, it could cause less than expected growth and/or a reduction in terminal values and cash flows and could result in an impairment charge attributable to

23



certain goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and/or long-lived assets, negatively affecting our results of operations and stockholders’ equity.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Summary
Below is a summary of operating results for the three and six months ended January 31, 2016, compared to the three and six months ended January 31, 2015 (in thousands):

 
 
 
Three Months Ended January 31,
 
Six Months Ended January 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Mountain Reported EBITDA
 
$
236,555

 
$
194,265

 
$
187,172

 
$
139,424

Lodging Reported EBITDA
 
5,496

 
5,437

 
8,345

 
6,176

Resort Reported EBITDA
 
242,051

 
199,702

 
195,517

 
145,600

Real Estate Reported EBITDA
 
(301
)
 
(2,029
)
 
865

 
(4,260
)
Income before provision for income taxes
 
189,254

 
146,526

 
93,010

 
44,425

Net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
 
$
116,982

 
$
115,762

 
$
57,395

 
$
51,486

A discussion of the segment results and other items can be found below.

24




Mountain Segment

Three months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the three months ended January 31, 2015
Mountain segment operating results for the three months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015 are presented by category as follows (in thousands, except effective ticket price (“ETP”)):

 
 
Three Months Ended January 31,
 
Percentage
Increase
(Decrease)
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
Net Mountain revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lift
 
$
287,685

 
$
239,288

 
20.2
 %
Ski school
 
62,040

 
57,295

 
8.3
 %
Dining
 
44,738

 
38,619

 
15.8
 %
Retail/rental
 
102,975

 
95,012

 
8.4
 %
Other
 
35,434

 
32,817

 
8.0
 %
Total Mountain net revenue
 
$
532,872

 
$
463,031

 
15.1
 %
Mountain operating expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Labor and labor-related benefits
 
$
114,794

 
$
102,470

 
12.0
 %
Retail cost of sales
 
38,262

 
35,546

 
7.6
 %
Resort related fees
 
28,452

 
24,866

 
14.4
 %
General and administrative
 
48,762

 
43,550

 
12.0
 %
Other
 
65,986

 
62,534

 
5.5
 %
Total Mountain operating expense
 
$
296,256

 
$
268,966

 
10.1
 %
Mountain equity investment (loss) income, net
 
(61
)
 
200

 
(130.5
)%
Mountain Reported EBITDA
 
$
236,555

 
$
194,265

 
21.8
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total skier visits
 
4,581

 
4,071

 
12.5
 %
ETP
 
$
62.80

 
$
58.78

 
6.8
 %

Mountain Reported EBITDA includes $3.3 million and $3.0 million of stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Mountain Reported EBITDA for the three months ended January 31, 2016 increased $42.3 million, or 21.8%, compared to the three months ended January 31, 2015. Our results for the three months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the same period in the prior year reflect very strong U.S. pass sales growth for the 2015/2016 ski season; a very strong rebound at our Tahoe resorts; and improved results at our Colorado resorts and at Park City; as well as strong ancillary guest spend for ski school, dining and retail/rental operations. Our Tahoe resorts saw a significant increase in skier visitation during the three months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the same period in the prior year as a result of improved weather and snow conditions compared to the same period in the prior year. Additionally, our Colorado resorts and Park City realized strong increases in skier visitation during the three months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the same period in the prior year which we believe is in part due to the significant capital improvements we have made at Park City. However, these results were partially offset by a decline during the three months ended January 31, 2016 in international visitation, which we believe is due to the strong U.S. dollar, and off-season fixed operating expenses for Perisher (acquired June 30, 2015) which has its peak operating season from June through early October.

Lift revenue increased $48.4 million, or 20.2%, for the three months ended January 31, 2016, compared to the same period in the prior year, resulting from a $25.6 million, or 19.5%, increase in lift revenue excluding season pass revenue, as well as a $22.8 million, or 21.1%, increase in season pass revenue. The increase in lift revenue excluding season pass revenue was driven by an increase in ETP excluding season pass holders of 11.9%, along with higher visitation at our Tahoe resorts and at Park City. The increase in season pass revenue was driven by a combination of both an increase in pricing and units sold, and was favorably impacted by increased pass sales to Destination guests. Total ETP increased $4.02, or 6.8%, due to price increases in both our lift ticket products at our U.S. mountain resorts and season pass products, partially offset by higher average visitation by season pass holders during the three months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the same period in the prior year.


25



Ski school revenue increased $4.7 million, or 8.3%, for the three months ended January 31, 2016, compared to the same period in the prior year, driven by increases in ski school revenue at our Colorado, Tahoe and Park City resorts, which was primarily driven by overall increases in skier visitation.

Dining revenue increased $6.1 million, or 15.8%, for the three months ended January 31, 2016, compared to the three months ended January 31, 2015, which benefited from overall increases in skier visitation at our Colorado, Tahoe and Park City resorts. In addition, the increase in dining revenue was further attributable to the earlier opening of terrain and on-mountain dining facilities at our Tahoe resorts compared to the prior year, and from both the opening of a new on-mountain dining venue and upgrades of existing on-mountain dining venues at Park City.

Retail/rental revenue increased $8.0 million, or 8.4%, for the three months ended January 31, 2016, compared to the same period in the prior year, resulting from both an increase in retail sales and rental revenue of $5.5 million, or 7.9%, and $2.5 million, or 9.4%, respectively. The increase in retail sales was driven primarily by an increase in sales volume at stores proximate to our Tahoe resorts and in the San Francisco Bay Area due to improved weather conditions and snowfall in the Tahoe region. The increase in rental revenue was primarily driven by stores proximate to our Tahoe and Colorado resorts which experienced higher volumes due to overall increased skier visitation.

Other revenue mainly consists of mountain activities revenue, employee housing revenue, guest services revenue, commercial leasing revenue, marketing and internet advertising revenue, private club revenue (which includes both club dues and amortization of initiation fees), municipal services revenue and other recreation activity revenue. For the three months ended January 31, 2016, other revenue increased $2.6 million, or 8.0%, compared to the three months ended January 31, 2015, primarily due to increases in marketing revenue driven by higher revenue from our strategic partners, increased base area services, including parking revenue, and other mountain activities revenue driven by increased visitation.

Operating expense increased $27.3 million, or 10.1%, for the three months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the three months ended January 31, 2015, including incremental expenses of $4.2 million from Perisher. Excluding Perisher, operating expenses increased $23.1 million, or 8.6%. Labor and labor-related benefits (excluding Perisher) increased $10.8 million, or 10.5%, due to wage adjustments, increased staffing levels to support higher volumes primarily in ski school, mountain operations and on-mountain dining and increased bonus expense. Retail cost of sales increased $2.7 million, or 7.6%, due to an increase in retail sales of $5.5 million, or 7.9%. Resort related fees increased $3.6 million, or 14.4%, due to overall increases in revenue upon which those fees are based. General and administrative expense (excluding Perisher) increased $4.7 million, or 10.9%, primarily due to higher Mountain segment component of allocated corporate costs, including increased sales and marketing expense. Other expense (excluding Perisher) increased $1.3 million, or 2.1%, primarily driven by higher operating expenses including rent expense, food and beverage cost of sales commensurate with increased dining revenue, repairs and maintenance expense and supplies expense, partially offset by lower fuel expense.

Mountain equity investment (loss) income, net, primarily includes our share of income from the operations of a real estate brokerage joint venture.



26



Six months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2015
Mountain segment operating results for the six months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015 are presented by category as follows (in thousands, except ETP):

 
 
Six Months Ended January 31,
 
Percentage
Increase
(Decrease)
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
Net Mountain revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lift
 
$
307,838

 
$
239,288

 
28.6
 %
Ski school
 
65,424

 
57,295

 
14.2
 %
Dining
 
57,093

 
46,658

 
22.4
 %
Retail/rental
 
135,364

 
124,485

 
8.7
 %
Other
 
68,086

 
55,691

 
22.3
 %
Total Mountain net revenue
 
$
633,805

 
$
523,417

 
21.1
 %
Mountain operating expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Labor and labor-related benefits
 
$
166,593

 
$
145,475

 
14.5
 %
Retail cost of sales
 
54,741

 
52,336

 
4.6
 %
Resort related fees
 
30,344

 
26,150

 
16.0
 %
General and administrative
 
85,976

 
75,566

 
13.8
 %
Other
 
109,760

 
101,391

 
8.3
 %
Total Mountain operating expense
 
$
447,414

 
$
400,918

 
11.6
 %
Gain on litigation settlement
 

 
16,400

 
(100.0
)%
Mountain equity investment income, net
 
781

 
525

 
48.8
 %
Mountain Reported EBITDA
 
$
187,172

 
$
139,424

 
34.2
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total skier visits
 
5,016

 
4,071

 
23.2
 %
ETP
 
$
61.37

 
$
58.78

 
4.4
 %
Mountain Reported EBITDA includes $6.7 million and $6.2 million of stock-based compensation expense for the six months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Mountain Reported EBITDA for the six months ended January 31, 2016 increased $47.7 million, or 34.2%, compared to the six months ended January 31, 2015. This increase is primarily due to strong U.S. pass sales growth for the 2015/2016 ski season; a very strong rebound at our Tahoe resorts; and improved results at our Colorado resorts and at Park City; as well as strong ancillary guest spend for ski school, dining and retail/rental operations. Mountain Reported EBITDA for the six months ended January 31, 2016 was also positively impacted by the addition of Perisher (acquired in June 2015) which has its peak operating season from June through early October, increased summer activities revenue and the elimination of transaction, integration and litigation expenses incurred in the same period in the prior year related to Park City. These favorable impacts were partially offset by a decline during the three months ended January 31, 2016 in international visitation to our U.S. resorts, the $16.4 million non-cash gain on Park City litigation settlement recognized during the six months ended January 31, 2015 and by recording a full non-peak fiscal quarter of operating results for Park City during the period ended October 31, 2015 compared to the same period in the prior year due to the acquisition of Park City Mountain Resort in September 2014.

As our U.S. resorts opened for ski season operations during our second fiscal quarter, the results of the six months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015 for lift revenue and ski school revenue at our U.S. resorts are the same as the three months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015 as previously discussed. Additionally, during the three months ended October 31, 2015, we generated $20.2 million and $3.4 million of lift revenue and ski school revenue, respectively, from Perisher’s ski season operations which comprises the majority of Perisher’s revenue for the current fiscal year.

Dining revenue increased $10.4 million, or 22.4%, for the six months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2015, and was primarily attributable to overall increases in summer and skier visitation at our U.S. mountain resorts combined with incremental dining revenue from Perisher. Additionally, dining revenue benefited from the earlier opening of terrain and on-mountain dining facilities at our Tahoe resorts compared to the prior year, and from both the opening of a new on-mountain dining venue and upgrades of existing on-mountain dining venues at Park City.


27



Retail/rental revenue increased $10.9 million, or 8.7%, for the six months ended January 31, 2016, compared to the same period in the prior year, which was driven by an increase in both retail sales and rental revenue of $6.2 million, or 6.5%, and $4.7 million, or 16.8%, respectively. The increase in retail sales was primarily attributable to increases in sales volume at stores proximate to our Tahoe resorts and in the San Francisco Bay Area due to improved weather conditions and snowfall in the Tahoe region. The increase in rental revenue was primarily driven by stores proximate to our mountain resorts in Tahoe and Colorado which experienced higher volumes due to increased overall skier visitation, and incremental rental revenue from Perisher.

Other revenue mainly consists of summer visitation and mountain activities revenue, employee housing revenue, guest services revenue, commercial leasing revenue, marketing and internet advertising revenue, private club revenue (which includes both club dues and amortization of initiation fees), municipal services revenue and other recreation activity revenue. Other revenue is also comprised of Perisher lodging and transportation revenue. For the six months ended January 31, 2016, other revenue increased $12.4 million, or 22.3%, compared to the six months ended January 31, 2015, primarily attributable to incremental revenue from Perisher, increases in summer activities revenue from improved summer visitation at both our Colorado and Tahoe mountain resorts combined with the expansion of our on-mountain summer activities offerings, increases in marketing revenue driven by higher revenue from our strategic partners, and higher base area services and parking revenue due to increased visitation.

Operating expense increased $46.5 million, or 11.6%, for the six months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2015, including incremental expenses from Perisher of $19.7 million. Additionally, current year results were favorably impacted by the elimination of transaction, integration and litigation expenses incurred in the same period in the prior year related to Park City. Excluding Perisher and transaction, integration and litigation expenses related to Park City, operating expenses increased $30.7 million, or 7.7%. Labor and labor-related benefits (excluding Perisher) increased $12.6 million, or 8.6%, due to wage adjustments, increased staffing levels to support higher volumes primarily in ski school, mountain operations and on-mountain dining, and increased bonus expense. Retail cost of sales increased $2.4 million, or 4.6%, compared to an increase in retail sales of $6.2 million, or 6.5%, reflecting an improvement in the gross profit margin percentage at our retail outlets. Resort related fees (excluding Perisher) increased $3.9 million, or 14.8%, due to overall increases in revenue upon which those fees are based. General and administrative expense (excluding Perisher) increased $8.2 million, or 10.9%, primarily due to higher Mountain segment component of allocated corporate costs, including increased sales and marketing expense. Other expense (excluding Perisher from the current period and Park City transaction, integration and litigation expenses from the prior period) increased $4.3 million, or 4.4%, driven by higher operating expenses including food and beverage cost of sales commensurate with the increase in dining revenue, rent expense, supplies expense and repairs and maintenance expense, partially offset by lower fuel expense.

Mountain equity investment income, net, primarily includes our share of income from the operations of a real estate brokerage joint venture.



28



Lodging Segment

Three months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the three months ended January 31, 2015
Lodging segment operating results for the three months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015 are presented by category as follows (in thousands, except average daily rates (“ADR”) and revenue per available room (“RevPAR”)):
 
 
 
Three Months Ended January 31,
 
Percentage
Increase
(Decrease)
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
Lodging net revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Owned hotel rooms
 
$
12,045

 
$
11,333

 
6.3
 %
Managed condominium rooms
 
21,063

 
19,648

 
7.2
 %
Dining
 
8,841

 
8,222

 
7.5
 %
Transportation
 
8,293

 
8,497

 
(2.4
)%
Other
 
9,425

 
9,059

 
4.0
 %
 
 
59,667

 
56,759

 
5.1
 %
Payroll cost reimbursements
 
3,140

 
2,605

 
20.5
 %
Total Lodging net revenue
 
$
62,807

 
$
59,364

 
5.8
 %
Lodging operating expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Labor and labor-related benefits
 
$
27,026

 
$
25,943

 
4.2
 %
General and administrative
 
9,410

 
8,849

 
6.3
 %
Other
 
17,735

 
16,530

 
7.3
 %
 
 
54,171

 
51,322

 
5.6
 %
Reimbursed payroll costs
 
3,140

 
2,605

 
20.5
 %
Total Lodging operating expense
 
$
57,311

 
$
53,927

 
6.3
 %
Lodging Reported EBITDA
 
$
5,496

 
$
5,437

 
1.1
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Owned hotel statistics:
 
 
 
 
 
 
ADR
 
$
255.44

 
$
246.68

 
3.6
 %
RevPar
 
$
161.66

 
$
148.42

 
8.9
 %
Managed condominium statistics:
 
 
 
 
 
 
ADR
 
$
403.76

 
$
409.37

 
(1.4
)%
RevPar
 
$
159.75

 
$
145.16

 
10.1
 %
Owned hotel and managed condominium statistics (combined):
 
 
 
 
 
 
ADR
 
$
353.96

 
$
352.72

 
0.4
 %
RevPar
 
$
160.21

 
$
145.94

 
9.8
 %
The Lodging segment ADR and RevPAR statistics presented above for the three months ended January 31, 2015 have been adjusted to exclude resort fee revenue from the calculations for ADR and RevPAR, as stipulated by the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry, Eleventh Revised Edition.

Lodging Reported EBITDA includes $0.8 million and $0.7 million of stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Total Lodging net revenue (excluding payroll cost reimbursements) for the three months ended January 31, 2016 increased $2.9 million, or 5.1%, as compared to the three months ended January 31, 2015. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in transient guest visitation at our lodging properties and managed condominium rooms at or proximate to our mountain resorts due to increased skier visitation (as discussed in the Mountain segment).

Revenue from owned hotel rooms increased $0.7 million, or 6.3%, for the three months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the same period in the prior year, driven by an 8.9% increase in RevPar primarily resulting from a 3.1 percentage point increase in occupancy. Occupancy for owned lodging properties was favorably impacted by increased skier visitation at our Colorado mountain resorts. Revenue from managed condominium rooms increased $1.4 million, or 7.2%, for the three months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the three months ended January 31, 2015, which was primarily attributable to increased transient guest visitation

29



at our managed condominium rooms in Colorado, Tahoe and Park City, as well as increased group business at our managed condominium rooms in Colorado and Park City, which drove a 10.1% increase in RevPar.

Dining revenue for the three months ended January 31, 2016 increased $0.6 million, or 7.5%, as compared to the three months ended January 31, 2015, primarily generated at our Colorado and Park City lodging properties as a result of increased skier visitation. Other revenue increased $0.4 million, or 4.0%, for the three months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the three months ended January 31, 2015, primarily due to an increase in revenue from conference services provided to our group business at our Colorado and Park City lodging properties.

Operating expense (excluding reimbursed payroll costs) increased $2.8 million, or 5.6%, for the three months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the three months ended January 31, 2015. Labor and labor-related benefits increased $1.0 million, or 4.2%, resulting from wage increases and higher staffing levels associated with increased overall occupancy. General and administrative expense increased $0.6 million, or 6.3%, due to higher allocated corporate costs. Other expense increased $1.2 million, or 7.3%, primarily due to higher operating expenses (such as commissions, repairs and maintenance and credit card fees) and higher advertising expenses.

Revenue from payroll cost reimbursement and the corresponding reimbursed payroll costs relate to payroll costs at managed hotel properties where we are the employer and all payroll costs are reimbursed by the owners of the properties under contractual arrangements. Since the reimbursements are made based upon the costs incurred with no added margin, the revenue and corresponding expense have no effect on our Lodging Reported EBITDA.


30



Six months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2015
Lodging segment operating results for the six months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015 are presented by category as follows (in thousands, except ADR and RevPAR):
 
 
 
Six Months Ended January 31,
 
Percentage
Increase
(Decrease)
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
Lodging net revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Owned hotel rooms
 
$
29,351

 
$
26,251

 
11.8
 %
Managed condominium rooms
 
29,310

 
27,759

 
5.6
 %
Dining
 
23,882

 
21,760

 
9.8
 %
Transportation
 
10,613

 
10,814

 
(1.9
)%
Golf
 
8,502

 
7,644

 
11.2
 %
Other
 
19,595

 
18,782

 
4.3
 %
 
 
121,253

 
113,010

 
7.3
 %
Payroll cost reimbursements
 
5,840

 
4,847

 
20.5
 %
Total Lodging net revenue
 
$
127,093

 
$
117,857

 
7.8
 %
Lodging operating expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Labor and labor-related benefits
 
$
55,721

 
$
53,318

 
4.5
 %
General and administrative
 
17,379

 
16,366

 
6.2
 %
Other
 
39,808

 
37,150

 
7.2
 %
 
 
112,908

 
106,834

 
5.7
 %
Reimbursed payroll costs
 
5,840

 
4,847

 
20.5
 %
Total Lodging operating expense
 
$
118,748

 
$
111,681

 
6.3
 %
Lodging Reported EBITDA
 
$
8,345

 
$
6,176

 
35.1
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Owned hotel statistics:
 
 
 
 
 
 
ADR
 
$
219.94

 
$
211.09

 
4.2
 %
RevPar
 
$
143.94

 
$
129.98

 
10.7
 %
Managed condominium statistics:
 
 
 
 
 
 
ADR
 
$
316.44

 
$
315.85

 
0.2
 %
RevPar
 
$
101.59

 
$
93.04

 
9.2
 %
Owned hotel and managed condominium statistics (combined):
 
 
 
 
 
 
ADR
 
$
272.20

 
$
267.79

 
1.6
 %
RevPar
 
$
114.02

 
$
103.70

 
10.0
 %
The Lodging segment ADR and RevPAR statistics presented above for the six months ended January 31, 2015 have been adjusted to exclude resort fee revenue from the calculations for ADR and RevPAR, as stipulated by the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry, Eleventh Revised Edition.

Lodging Reported EBITDA includes $1.5 million and $1.3 million of stock-based compensation expense for the six months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Total Lodging net revenue (excluding payroll cost reimbursements) for the six months ended January 31, 2016 increased $8.2 million, or 7.3%, as compared to the six months ended January 31, 2015, which is primarily due to an increase in transient guest visitation to our lodging properties and managed condominium rooms at or proximate to our mountain resorts due to increased skier visitation; an increase in transient business from improved summer visitation at GTLC and our Colorado mountain resort properties; and improved group business at our Colorado mountain resort properties.

Revenue from owned hotel rooms increased $3.1 million, or 11.8%, for the six months ended January 31, 2016, as compared to the same period in the prior year. Owned room revenue was positively impacted from an increase in transient guest visitation attributable to increased skier visits at our Colorado mountain resorts and improved summer visitation, generating a $1.4 million increase in revenue from owned hotel rooms; and an increase in transient guest visitation and ADR at GTLC for the three months ended October 31, 2015 compared to the same period in the prior year, resulting in a $1.7 million increase in revenue from owned

31



hotel rooms. Revenue from managed condominium rooms increased $1.6 million, or 5.6%, for the six months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to increased transient guest visitation at our managed condominium rooms at or proximate to our mountain resorts, as well as increased group business at our managed condominium rooms in Colorado and Park City which drove a 9.2% increase in RevPar.

Dining revenue for the six months ended January 31, 2016 increased $2.1 million, or 9.8%, as compared to the six months ended January 31, 2015, primarily due to increased dining revenue generated at our Colorado lodging properties as a result of increased summer visitation and skier visits, as well as increased revenue at GTLC during the three months ended October 31, 2015. Golf revenue for the six months ended January 31, 2016 increased $0.9 million, or 11.2%, as compared to the six months ended January 31, 2015 primarily due to incremental revenue from reimbursable expenses for managing the Canyons golf course beginning in the summer of 2015. Other revenue increased $0.8 million, or 4.3%, for the six months ended January 31, 2016 as compared to the six months ended January 31, 2015, primarily due to an increase in ancillary revenue from improved visitation at GTLC during the three months ended October 31, 2015, an increase in revenue from conference services provided to our group business at our Colorado and Park City lodging properties, and increased revenue from our central reservations booking services.

Operating expense (excluding reimbursed payroll costs) increased $6.1 million, or 5.7%, for the six months ended January 31, 2016, compared to the six months ended January 31, 2015. Labor and labor-related benefits increased $2.4 million, or 4.5%, resulting from wage increases and higher staffing levels associated with increased overall occupancy. General and administrative expense increased $1.0 million, or 6.2%, due to higher allocated corporate costs, including increased information technology expense, increased marketing and sales expenses, and increased human resources expense. Other expense increased $2.7 million, or 7.2%, primarily due to higher operating expenses (such as food and beverage cost of sales, repairs and maintenance, and credit card fees) and higher advertising expenses.

Revenue from payroll cost reimbursement and the corresponding reimbursed payroll costs relate to payroll costs at managed hotel properties where we are the employer and all payroll costs are reimbursed by the owners of the properties under contractual arrangements. Since the reimbursements are made based upon the costs incurred with no added margin, the revenue and corresponding expense have no effect on our Lodging Reported EBITDA.

Real Estate Segment

Three months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the three months ended January 31, 2015
Real Estate segment operating results for the three months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015 are presented by category as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended
January 31,
 
Percentage
Increase
(Decrease)
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
Total Real Estate net revenue
 
$
3,684

 
$
7,842

 
(53.0
)%
Real Estate operating expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales (including sales commission)
 
2,785

 
6,127

 
(54.5
)%
Other
 
1,832

 
3,744

 
(51.1
)%
Total Real Estate operating expense
 
4,617

 
9,871

 
(53.2
)%
Gain on sale of real property
 
632

 

 
nm

Real Estate Reported EBITDA
 
$
(301
)
 
$
(2,029
)
 
85.2
 %
Real Estate Reported EBITDA includes $0.2 million and $0.3 million of stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Our Real Estate net revenue is primarily determined by the timing of closings and the mix of real estate sold in any given period. Different types of projects have different revenue and profit margins; therefore, as the real estate inventory mix changes it can greatly impact Real Estate segment net revenue, operating expense and Real Estate Reported EBITDA.


32



Three months ended January 31, 2016
Real Estate segment net revenue for the three months ended January 31, 2016 was primarily driven by the closing of one condominium unit at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail ($3.4 million of revenue and a price per square foot of $1,535). The price per square foot for the project is driven by the premier location and the comprehensive and exclusive amenities related to the project. Real Estate net revenue also included $0.1 million of rental revenue from placing unsold units into our rental program. Additionally, we recorded a gain on sale of real property of $0.6 million (net of $0.2 million in related land basis and costs) for a land parcel which sold for $0.8 million.

Operating expense for the three months ended January 31, 2016 included cost of sales of $2.6 million resulting from the closing of one condominium unit at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail (a cost per square foot of $1,183). The cost per square foot for The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail project is reflective of the high-end features and amenities and the high construction costs associated with mountain resort development. Additionally, sales commissions of approximately $0.2 million were incurred commensurate with revenue recognized. Other operating expense of $1.8 million (including $0.2 million of stock-based compensation expense) was primarily comprised of general and administrative costs, which includes marketing expense for real estate available for sale (including those units that have not yet closed), carrying costs for units available for sale and overhead costs, such as labor and labor-related benefits and allocated corporate costs.

Three months ended January 31, 2015
Real Estate segment net revenue for the three months ended January 31, 2015 was driven by the closing of four condominium units at One Ski Hill Place ($3.9 million of revenue with an average selling price of $1.0 million and an average price per square foot of $1,134) and one condominium unit at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail ($3.3 million of revenue with a price per square foot of $1,496). Real Estate net revenue also included $0.3 million of rental revenue from placing unsold units into our rental program.

Operating expense for the three months ended January 31, 2015 included cost of sales of $5.7 million resulting from the closing of four condominium units at One Ski Hill Place (average cost per square foot of $902) and one condominium unit at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail (a cost per square foot of $1,172). Additionally, sales commissions of approximately $0.4 million were incurred commensurate with revenue recognized. Other operating expense of $3.7 million (including $0.3 million of stock-based compensation expense) was primarily comprised of general and administrative costs.

Six months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2015
Real Estate segment operating results for the six months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015 are presented by category as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Six Months Ended
January 31,
 
Percentage
Increase
(Decrease)
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
Total Real Estate net revenue
 
$
13,032

 
$
17,225

 
(24.3
)%
Real Estate operating expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales (including sales commission)
 
10,551

 
13,879

 
(24.0
)%
Other
 
3,407

 
7,606

 
(55.2
)%
Total Real Estate operating expense
 
13,958

 
21,485

 
(35.0
)%
Gain on sale of real property
 
1,791

 

 
nm

Real Estate Reported EBITDA
 
$
865

 
$
(4,260
)
 
120.3
 %
Real Estate Reported EBITDA includes $0.2 million and $0.7 million of stock-based compensation expense for the six months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Six months ended January 31, 2016
Real Estate segment net revenue for the six months ended January 31, 2016 was primarily driven by the closing of three condominium units at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail ($9.3 million of revenue with an average selling price of $3.1 million and an average price per square foot of $1,586) and two condominium units at One Ski Hill Place ($2.5 million of revenue with an average selling price of $1.2 million and an average price per square foot of $1,129). Real Estate net revenue also included $0.1 million of rental revenue from placing unsold units into our rental program. Additionally, we recorded a gain on sale of real property of $1.8 million (net of $1.9 million in related land basis and costs) for land parcels which sold for $3.7 million.


33



Operating expense for the six months ended January 31, 2016 included cost of sales of $9.0 million resulting from the closing of three condominium units at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail (average cost per square foot of $1,198) and two condominium units at One Ski Hill Place (average cost per square foot of $931). Additionally, sales commissions of approximately $0.8 million were incurred commensurate with revenue recognized. Other operating expense of $3.4 million (including $0.2 million of stock-based compensation) was primarily comprised of general and administrative costs.

Six months ended January 31, 2015
Real Estate segment net revenue for the six months ended January 31, 2015 was driven by the closing of three condominium units at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail ($9.6 million of revenue with an average selling price of $3.2 million and an average price per square foot of $1,541) and six condominium units at One Ski Hill Place ($6.6 million of revenue with an average selling price of $1.1 million and an average price per square foot of $1,116). Real Estate net revenue also included $0.4 million of rental revenue from placing unsold units into our rental program.

Operating expense for the six months ended January 31, 2015 included cost of sales of $12.7 million resulting from the closing of three condominium units at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail (average cost per square foot of $1,208) and six condominium units at One Ski Hill Place (average cost per square foot of $888). Additionally, sales commissions of approximately $1.0 million were incurred commensurate with revenue recognized. Other operating expense of $7.6 million (including $0.7 million of stock-based compensation expense) was primarily comprised of general and administrative costs.


Other Items

In addition to segment operating results, the following material items contributed to our overall financial position.

Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense for the three and six months ended January 31, 2016 increased $3.2 million and $5.9 million, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior year, primarily due to assets acquired in the Perisher acquisition.

Change in fair value of Contingent Consideration. There was no change in fair value of the Contingent Consideration recorded during the six months ended January 31, 2016. A gain of $4.5 million was recorded during the six months ended January 31, 2015 related to a decrease in the estimated fair value of the participating contingent payments to Talisker under the lease for Canyons. Commensurate with the acquisition of Park City Mountain Resort, the fair value of the Contingent Consideration includes the resort operations of Park City Mountain Resort in the calculation of EBITDA on which participating contingent payments are made, and increases the EBITDA threshold before which participating contingent payments are made by 10% of the purchase price paid by the Company for Park City Mountain Resort along with all future capital expenditures associated with Park City Mountain Resort, or the combined resort of Park City (comprised of the former standalone Park City Mountain Resort acquired in September 2014 and the former Canyons Resort). The estimated fair value of the Contingent Consideration is $6.9 million as of January 31, 2016.

Interest expense. Interest expense for the three and six months ended January 31, 2016 decreased $2.9 million and $5.9 million, respectively, compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to the redemption of the remaining $215.0 million of our 6.50% Notes outstanding in May 2015 and the redemption of the entire $41.2 million of our Industrial Development Bonds outstanding in May 2015, partially offset by interest expense on the borrowings incurred under the $250.0 million term loan facility, bearing interest at 1.68% at January 31, 2016, used to fund the redemption of the 6.50% Notes and Industrial Development Bonds in May 2015.

Income taxes.  The effective tax rate (provision) / benefit for the three and six months ended January 31, 2016 was (38.2)% and (38.5)%, respectively, compared to (21.0)% and 15.6%, respectively, for the three and six months ended January 31, 2015.  The interim period effective tax rate is primarily driven by anticipated pre-tax book income for the full fiscal year adjusted for items that are deductible/non-deductible for tax purposes only (i.e., permanent items). Additionally, the income tax (provision) / benefit recorded for the three and six months ended January 31, 2015 reflects $23.8 million of income tax benefits due to the reversal of income tax contingencies, including accrued interest and penalties, resulting from a settlement with the IRS on the utilization of certain net operating losses (“NOLs”) relating to fresh start accounting from our reorganization in 1992.


34



Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

The following table reconciles from segment Reported EBITDA to net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended January 31,
 
Six Months Ended January 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Mountain Reported EBITDA
$
236,555

 
$
194,265

 
$
187,172

 
$
139,424

Lodging Reported EBITDA
5,496

 
5,437

 
8,345

 
6,176

Resort Reported EBITDA
242,051

 
199,702

 
195,517

 
145,600

Real Estate Reported EBITDA
(301
)
 
(2,029
)
 
865

 
(4,260
)
Total Reported EBITDA
241,750

 
197,673

 
196,382

 
141,340

Depreciation and amortization
(40,541
)
 
(37,376
)
 
(79,241
)
 
(73,345
)
Loss on disposal of fixed assets and other, net
(1,206
)
 
(26
)
 
(2,985
)
 
(781
)
Change in fair value of Contingent Consideration

 

 

 
4,550

Investment income, net
161

 
62

 
359

 
36

Interest expense
(10,910
)
 
(13,807
)
 
(21,505
)
 
(27,375
)
Income before (provision) benefit from income taxes
189,254

 
146,526

 
93,010

 
44,425

(Provision) benefit from income taxes
(72,383
)
 
(30,826
)
 
(35,809
)
 
6,951

Net income
116,871

 
115,700

 
57,201

 
51,376

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
111

 
62

 
194

 
110

Net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.
$
116,982

 
$
115,762

 
$
57,395

 
$
51,486

The following table reconciles Net Debt to long-term debt (in thousands):
 
 
 
January 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
Long-term debt
 
$
682,195

 
$
634,739

Long-term debt due within one year
 
13,340

 
1,196

Total debt
 
695,535

 
635,935

Less: cash and cash equivalents
 
45,368

 
36,578

Net Debt
 
$
650,167

 
$
599,357


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Significant Sources of Cash
Our second and third fiscal quarters historically result in seasonally high cash on hand as our U.S. mountain resorts and Urban ski areas are generally open for ski operations from mid-November to mid-April, from which we have historically generated a significant portion of our operating cash flows for the fiscal year. Additionally, cash provided by or used in operating activities can be significantly impacted by the timing or mix of closings on remaining inventory of real estate available for sale.

We had $45.4 million of cash and cash equivalents as of January 31, 2016, compared to $36.6 million as of January 31, 2015. We currently anticipate that our Mountain and Lodging segment operating results will continue to provide a significant source of future operating cash flows (primarily those generated in our second and third fiscal quarters) combined with proceeds from the sale of remaining inventory of real estate available for sale from the completed Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail and One Ski Hill Place at Breckenridge projects, and occasional land sales.

At January 31, 2016, we also had available $262.9 million under the Credit Agreement (which represents the total commitment of $400.0 million less outstanding borrowings of $64.5 million and certain letters of credit outstanding of $72.6 million). We expect that our liquidity needs in the near term will be met by continued use of operating cash flows, borrowings under the Credit Agreement, if needed, and proceeds from future real estate closings. We believe the Credit Agreement, which matures in 2020, provides adequate flexibility and is priced favorably with any new borrowings currently priced at LIBOR plus 1.125%.


35



Six months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2015
We generated $309.5 million of cash from operating activities during the six months ended January 31, 2016, an increase of $35.3 million compared to $274.2 million of cash generated during the six months ended January 31, 2015. The increase in operating cash flows was primarily a result of improved Mountain (including the addition of Perisher) and Lodging segment operating results for the six months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2015, excluding the non-cash gain on litigation settlement of $16.4 million recorded in the prior period; increased season pass sales for the 2015/2016 ski season compared to the 2014/2015 ski season of which only a portion has been reflected in operating results; decreased cash interest payments during the six months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the same period in the prior year; and a $10.0 million Park City litigation payment to Talisker during the six months ended January 31, 2015. These increases in operating cash inflows were partially offset by a net increase in cash outflows of $32.5 million from the combination of estimated income tax payments made during the six months end January 31, 2016 and the receipt of an income tax refund during the six months ended January 31, 2015 in conjunction with the settlement reached with the IRS regarding the utilization of Federal NOLs, and receipt of a $12.5 million legal settlement during the six months ended January 31, 2015. Additionally, we generated $11.5 million in proceeds from real estate development project closings (net of sales commissions and deposits previously received) during the six months ended January 31, 2016 compared to $15.6 million in proceeds (net of sales commissions and deposits previously received) from real estate closings that occurred in the six months ended January 31, 2015.

Cash used in investing activities for the six months ended January 31, 2016 decreased by $162.3 million compared to the six months ended January 31, 2015, primarily due to the acquisition of Park City Mountain Resort for $182.5 million during the six months ended January 31, 2015 as compared to the acquisition of Wilmot Mountain for $20.2 million during the six months ended January 31, 2016.

Cash used in financing activities increased $179.1 million during the six months ended January 31, 2016, compared to the six months ended January 31, 2015, due to a decrease in net borrowings under the revolver portion of our Credit Agreement primarily resulting from the usage of our Credit Agreement to fund the acquisition of Park City Mountain Resort during the six months ended January 31, 2015; repurchases of our common stock of $40.0 million; and an increase in dividends paid of $15.1 million during the six months ended January 31, 2016 compared to the same period in the prior year.

Significant Uses of Cash
Our cash uses include providing for working capital needs and capital expenditures for assets to be used in resort operations.

We have historically invested significant amounts of cash in capital expenditures for our resort operations, and we expect to continue to do so subject to operating performance particularly as it relates to discretionary projects. Current planned capital expenditures primarily include investments that will allow us to maintain our high quality standards, as well as certain incremental discretionary improvements at our mountain resorts and Urban ski areas and throughout our owned hotels. We evaluate additional discretionary capital improvements based on an expected level of return on investment. We currently anticipate we will spend approximately $100 million of resort capital expenditures for calendar year 2016, excluding capital expenditures for summer related activities and one-time transformational investments at Wilmot. Included in these estimated capital expenditures is approximately $60 million of maintenance capital expenditures, which are necessary to maintain appearance and level of service appropriate to our resort operations, including routine replacement of snow grooming equipment and rental fleet equipment. Discretionary expenditures for calendar year 2016 include, among other projects, a new 500-seat restaurant at the top of the Peak 7 chairlift in Breckenridge, upgrading the Sun Up chairlift at Vail Mountain (Chair 17) from a fixed grip triple to a high-speed four-passenger chairlift, renovation of the Pines Lodge in Beaver Creek, revamping our primary websites to a single ‘responsive’ desktop/mobile platform which will be integrated with our data-based and personalized marketing technology, and further upgrading our customer database and our call center technology. In addition, we expect to spend approximately $14 million on new summer activities related to our Epic Discovery program at Vail, Breckenridge and Heavenly, and approximately $13 million on improvements at Wilmot. We currently plan to utilize cash on hand, borrowings available under our Credit Agreement and/or cash flow generated from future operations to provide the cash necessary to complete our capital plans.

Principal payments on the vast majority of our long-term debt ($648.8 million of the total $695.5 million debt outstanding as of January 31, 2016) are not due until fiscal 2020 and beyond. As of January 31, 2016 and 2015, total long-term debt (including long-term debt due within one year) was $695.5 million and $635.9 million, respectively.

Our debt service requirements can be impacted by changing interest rates as we had $364.0 million of variable-rate debt outstanding as of January 31, 2016. A 100-basis point change in LIBOR would cause our annual interest payments to change by approximately $3.6 million. Additionally, the annual payments associated with the financing of the Canyons transaction increase by the greater of CPI less 1%, or 2%. The fluctuation in our debt service requirements, in addition to interest rate and inflation

36



changes, may be impacted by future borrowings under our Credit Agreement or other alternative financing arrangements we may enter into. Our long term liquidity needs depend upon operating results that impact the borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement, which can be mitigated by adjustments to capital expenditures, flexibility of investment activities and the ability to obtain favorable future financing. We can also respond to liquidity impacts of changes in the business and economic environment by managing our capital expenditures.

Our share repurchase program is conducted under authorizations made from time to time by our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors initially authorized the repurchase of up to 3,000,000 shares of common stock (March 9, 2006) and later authorized additional repurchases of up to 3,000,000 additional shares (July 16, 2008). On December 4, 2015, our Board of Directors approved an increase in the number of shares authorized to be repurchased under the share repurchase program by an additional 1,500,000 shares. During the six months ended January 31, 2016, we repurchased 377,830 shares of common stock at a cost of $40.0 million. Since inception of this stock repurchase program through January 31, 2016, we have repurchased 5,326,941 shares at a cost of approximately $233.2 million. As of January 31, 2016, 2,173,059 shares remained available to repurchase under the existing repurchase authorization. Shares of common stock purchased pursuant to the repurchase program will be held as treasury shares and may be used for the issuance of shares under the Company’s share award plan. Repurchases under the program may be made from time to time at prevailing prices as permitted by applicable laws, and subject to market conditions and other factors. The timing as well as the number of shares that may be repurchased under the program will depend on several factors, including our future financial performance, our available cash resources and competing uses for cash that may arise in the future, the restrictions in our Credit Agreement, prevailing prices of our common stock and the number of shares that become available for sale at prices that we believe are attractive. The share repurchase program has no expiration date.

In fiscal 2011, our Board of Directors approved the commencement of a regular quarterly cash dividend on our common stock of $0.15 per share, subject to quarterly declaration. Since the initial commencement of a regular quarterly cash dividend, our Board of Directors has annually approved an increase to our cash dividend on our common stock and on March 9, 2016, our Board of Directors approved an approximate 30% increase to our quarterly cash dividend to $0.81 per share (or approximately $29.4 million per quarter based upon shares outstanding as of January 31, 2016). During the six months ended January 31, 2016, the Company paid cash dividends of $1.2450 per share or $45.2 million in the aggregate. These dividends were funded through available cash on hand and borrowing under the revolving portion of our Credit Agreement. Subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors, applicable law and contractual restrictions, we anticipate paying regular quarterly cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. The amount, if any, of the dividends to be paid in the future will depend on our available cash on hand, anticipated cash needs, overall financial condition, restrictions contained in our Credit Agreement, future prospects for earnings and cash flows, as well as other factors considered relevant by our Board of Directors.

Covenants and Limitations
We must abide by certain restrictive financial covenants under our Credit Agreement. The most restrictive of those covenants include the following covenants: Net Funded Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio and the Interest Coverage ratio (each as defined in the Credit Agreement). In addition, our financing arrangements limit our ability to make certain restricted payments, pay dividends on or redeem or repurchase stock, make certain investments, make certain affiliate transfers and may limit our ability to enter into certain mergers, consolidations or sales of assets and incur certain indebtedness. Our borrowing availability under the Credit Agreement is primarily determined by the Net Funded Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio, which is based on our segment operating performance, as defined in the Credit Agreement.

We were in compliance with all restrictive financial covenants in our debt instruments as of January 31, 2016. We expect that we will meet all applicable financial maintenance covenants in our Credit Agreement, including the Net Funded Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio, throughout the year ending July 31, 2016. However, there can be no assurance we will meet such financial covenants. If such covenants are not met, we would be required to seek a waiver or amendment from the banks participating in the Credit Agreement. There can be no assurance that such waiver or amendment would be granted, which could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity.

OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

We do not have off balance sheet transactions that are expected to have a material effect on our financial condition, revenue, expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.


37



FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Except for any historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this Form 10-Q contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to analyses and other information available as of the date hereof, which are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These statements also relate to our contemplated future prospects, developments and business strategies.

These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “will” and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

prolonged weakness in general economic conditions, including adverse effects on the overall travel and leisure related industries;
unfavorable weather conditions or natural disasters;
willingness of our guests to travel due to terrorism, the uncertainty of military conflicts or outbreaks of contagious diseases, and the cost and availability of travel options;
adverse events that occur during our peak operating periods combined with the seasonality of our business;
competition in our mountain and lodging businesses;
high fixed cost structure of our business;
our ability to fund resort capital expenditures;
our reliance on government permits or approvals for our use of public land or to make operational and capital improvements;
risks related to federal, state, local and foreign government laws, rules and regulations;
risks related to our reliance on information technology;
our failure to maintain the integrity of our customer or employee data;
adverse consequences of current or future legal claims;
a deterioration in the quality or reputation of our brands, including from the risk of accidents at our mountain resorts;
our ability to hire and retain a sufficient seasonal workforce;
risks related to our workforce, including increased labor costs;
loss of key personnel;
our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses or future acquisitions;
our ability to realize anticipated financial benefits from Park City;
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, in particular the Australian dollar;
impairments or write downs of our assets;
changes in accounting estimates and judgments, accounting principles, policies or guidelines; and
a materially adverse change in our financial condition.

All forward-looking statements attributable to us or any persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.

If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Given these uncertainties, users of the information included in this Form 10-Q, including investors and prospective investors, are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements that we make for a number of reasons, including those described in this Form 10-Q and in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of the Form 10-K. All forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof. Except as may be required by law, we do not intend to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information, future events or other circumstances have made them incorrect or misleading.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our exposure to market risk has not materially changed since July 31, 2015.


38



ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Management of the Company, under the supervision and with participation of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) as of the end of the period covered by this report on Form 10-Q.
Based upon their evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, the CEO and the CFO concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and are effective to provide reasonable assurance that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms.
The Company, including its CEO and CFO, does not expect that the Company’s controls and procedures will prevent or detect all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived or operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this Form 10-Q that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
None.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
There have been no material changes from those risk factors previously disclosed in Item 1A to Part I of the Form 10-K.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
None.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None.

39




ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
The following exhibits are either filed herewith or, if so indicated, incorporated by reference to the documents indicated in parentheses, which have previously been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Exhibit
Number
Description
Sequentially
Numbered Page
 
 
 
10.1
Vail Resorts, Inc. 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 on Form 8-K of Vail Resorts, Inc. filed on December 7, 2015) (File Number 001-09614).

 
 
 
 
10.2
Form of Restricted Share Unit Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 on Form 8-K of Vail Resorts, Inc. filed on December 7, 2015) (File Number 001-09614).

 
 
 
 
10.3
Form of Share Appreciation Rights Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 on Form 8-K of Vail Resorts, Inc. filed on December 7, 2015) (File Number 001-09614).

 
 
 
 
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
42
 
 
 
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
43
 
 
 
32
Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
44
 
 
 
101
The following information from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and six months ended January 31, 2016 formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language: (i) Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of January 31, 2016, July 31, 2015, and January 31, 2015; (ii) Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended January 31, 2016 and January 31, 2015; (iii) Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and six months ended January 31, 2016 and January 31, 2015; (iv) Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the six months ended January 31, 2016 and January 31, 2015; (v) Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended January 31, 2016 and January 31, 2015; and (vi) Notes to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.
 


40





SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
 
 
Vail Resorts, Inc.
 
 
 
Date: March 10, 2016
By:
/s/ Michael Z. Barkin
 
 
Michael Z. Barkin
 
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 
Date: March 10, 2016
By:
/s/ Mark L. Schoppet
 
 
Mark L. Schoppet
 
 
Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
 
 
(Principal Accounting Officer)



41