ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE: HGV) (“HGV” or “the Company”) today announced that the Company has withdrawn its previous full-year 2020 guidance and authorized a new $200 million share repurchase program.
Update on Full-Year 2020 Guidance
HGV disclosed in its Q4 2019 earnings announcement that its 2020 Adjusted EBITDA and Contract Sales Growth guidance did not include the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. Given increased uncertainty around the impact of the coronavirus on the Company’s financial results, the Company is withdrawing its full-year 2020 guidance.
“As a result of continued uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus, including recent government actions and travel restrictions, we are withdrawing our full-year 2020 guidance,” said Mark Wang, president and CEO of Hilton Grand Vacations. “The health and safety of our owners, guests and team members remains our highest priority. While the situation continues to evolve, we continue to believe in the resilience of our business over time, which we have witnessed during prior periods of volatility.”
Board Authorizes New Repurchase Program
HGV’s Board of Directors approved a new $200 million share repurchase authorization for the Company’s common stock, replacing the previous authorization dated May 2019, which had approximately $45 million in purchases remaining.
“We are pleased with the new share repurchase authorization, which gives us flexibility in current market conditions,” said Wang. “Our strong balance sheet and liquidity position, along with a strict focus on operations and the execution of our core strategy, is the best path to maximizing value for our shareholders over the long-term. We believe we can continue to opportunistically return excess capital to shareholders while maintaining financial discipline and remaining within our target leverage ratio of 1.5-2.0 times.”
Important Notice
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements convey management’s expectations as to the future of HGV, and are based on management’s beliefs, expectations, assumptions and such plans, estimates, projections and other information available to management at the time HGV makes such statements. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by terminology such as the words “outlook,” “believe,” “expect,” “potential,” “goal,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “projects,” predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” “future,” “guidance,” “target,” or the negative version of these words or other comparable words, although not all forward-looking statements may contain such words. The forward-looking statements contained in press release include statements related to HGV’s future leverage ratio and maximum amount of currently approved share repurchase plan, as well as other anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. HGV cautions you that its forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of HGV to be materially different from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by its forward-looking statements. HGV’s forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and you should not place undue reliance on such statements. Factors that could cause HGV’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by its forward-looking statements include risks associated with: the inherent business, financial and operating risks of the timeshare industry, including limited underwriting standards due to the real-time nature of industry sales practices, and the intense competition associated with the industry; HGV’s ability successfully market and sell VOIs; HGV’s development and other activities to source inventory for VOI sales; significant increases in defaults on HGV’s vacation ownership mortgage receivables; the ability of managed homeowner associations to collect sufficient maintenance fees; general volatility in the economy and/or the financial and credit markets; adverse economic or market conditions and trends in the tourism and hospitality industry, which may impact the purchasing and vacationing decisions of consumers; actions of HGV or the occurrence of other events that could cause a breach under or termination of the HGV’s license agreement with Hilton that could affect or terminate HGV’s access to the Hilton brands and programs, or actions of Hilton that affect the reputation of the licensed marks or Hilton’s programs; Hilton’s sole and discretionary consent right with respect to any acquisition or similar transaction by a third party of HGV pursuant to the license agreement; economic and operational uncertainties related to HGV’s expanding global operations, including HGV’s ability to manage the outcome and timing of such operations and compliance with anti-corruption, data privacy and other applicable laws and regulations affecting HGV’s international operations; the effects of foreign currency exchange; changes in tax rates and exposure to additional tax liabilities; the impact of future changes in legislation, regulations or accounting pronouncements; HGV’s acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic alliances that may not result in expected benefits, including the termination of material fee-for-service agreements; HGV’s dependence on third-party development activities to secure just-in-time inventory; HGV’s use of social media platforms; cyber-attacks, security vulnerabilities, and information technology system failures resulting in disclosure of personal data, company data loss, system outages or disruptions of online services, which could lead to reduced revenue, increased costs, liability claims, harm to user engagement, and harm to HGV’s reputation or competitive position; the impact of claims against HGV that may result in adverse outcomes, including regulatory proceedings or litigation; HGV’s credit facilities, indenture and other debt agreements and instruments, including variable interest rates, operating and financial restrictions, HGV’s ability to make scheduled payments, and its ability to refinance its debt on acceptable terms, or at all; the continued service and availability of key executives and employees; and catastrophic events, geo-political conditions or global health crisis, including war, terrorist activity, political strife, natural disasters, pandemic outbreak, such as the coronavirus, that may disrupt HGV’s operations in key vacation destinations. Any one or more of the foregoing factors could adversely impact HGV’s operations, revenue, operating margins, financial condition and/or credit rating.
For additional information regarding factors that could cause HGV’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release, please see the risk factors discussed in “Part I—Item 1A. Risk Factors” of HGV’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2019, and those described from time to time in other periodic reports that HGV files with the SEC. There may be other risks and uncertainties that HGV is unable to predict at this time or that HGV currently does not expect to have a material adverse effect on its business. Except for HGV’s ongoing obligations to disclose material information under the federal securities laws, HGV undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, changes in management’s expectations, or otherwise.
About Hilton Grand Vacations Inc.
Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV) is recognized as a leading global timeshare company. With headquarters in Orlando, Florida, Hilton Grand Vacations develops, markets and operates a system of brand-name, high-quality vacation ownership resorts in select vacation destinations. The Company also manages and operates two innovative club membership programs: Hilton Grand Vacations Club® and The Hilton Club®, providing exclusive exchange, leisure travel and reservation services for more than 325,000 club members. For more information, visit www.hiltongrandvacations.com.
