UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One) | ||
x | QUARTERLY report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | |
o | For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003 | |
OR | ||
o | TRANSITION report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the transition period from | to | |||||
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Commission file number | 0-26420 | |
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AMBASSADORS GROUP, INC.
Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation of organization) |
91-1957010 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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Dwight D. Eisenhower Building | ||
110 South Ferrall Street | ||
Spokane, Washington | 99202 | |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (509) 534-6200
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.
Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer as defined in the Securities and Exchange Act Rule 12b-2.
Yes x No o
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuers classes of common stock, as of the latest practical date:
Common shares outstanding as of April 30, 2003: 9,892,601
AMBASSADORS GROUP, INC.
FORM 10-Q QUARTERLY REPORT
Table of Contents
PART I | FINANCIAL INFORMATION | Page | ||
Item 1. |
Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) |
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Consolidated Balance Sheets
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3 |
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Consolidated Statements of Operations
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4 |
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Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
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5 |
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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
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6 |
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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7-10 |
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Item 2. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
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11-15 |
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Item 3. |
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risk
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16 |
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Item 4. |
Controls and Procedures
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16 |
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PART II |
OTHER INFORMATION |
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Item 6. |
Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
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17 |
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SIGNATURES AND CERTIFICATIONS |
18-21 |
2
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AMBASSADORS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002
(dollars in thousands)
March 31, | December 31, | ||||||||||
2003 | 2002 | ||||||||||
(Unaudited) | (Audited) | ||||||||||
ASSETS |
|||||||||||
Current assets: |
|||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 49,661 | $ | 29,491 | |||||||
Restricted cash equivalents |
12 | 12 | |||||||||
Available-for-sale securities |
22,043 | 21,896 | |||||||||
Foreign currency exchange contracts |
2,480 | 1,642 | |||||||||
Prepaid program costs and expenses |
5,410 | 1,516 | |||||||||
Other current assets |
961 | 91 | |||||||||
Total current assets |
80,567 | 54,648 | |||||||||
Property and equipment, net |
1,772 | 1,914 | |||||||||
Deferred tax asset |
1,687 | 1,711 | |||||||||
Other assets |
234 | 244 | |||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 84,260 | $ | 58,517 | |||||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
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Current liabilities: |
|||||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 379 | $ | 2,181 | |||||||
Accrued expenses |
2,027 | 2,060 | |||||||||
Participants deposits |
54,297 | 25,901 | |||||||||
Deferred tax liability |
786 | 515 | |||||||||
Total current liabilities |
57,489 | 30,657 | |||||||||
Stockholders equity: |
|||||||||||
Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 2,000,000 shares
authorized; none issued and outstanding |
| | |||||||||
Common stock, $.01 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized;
9,889,098 and 9,877,702 shares issued and outstanding |
99 | 99 | |||||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
15,900 | 15,808 | |||||||||
Retained earnings |
9,082 | 10,798 | |||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
1,690 | 1,155 | |||||||||
Total stockholders equity |
26,771 | 27,860 | |||||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders equity |
$ | 84,260 | $ | 58,517 | |||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
3
AMBASSADORS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
For the three-months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002
(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)
2003 | 2002 | ||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 1,037 | $ | 667 | |||||
Operating expenses: |
|||||||||
Selling and tour promotion |
2,905 | 2,380 | |||||||
General and administrative |
954 | 1,113 | |||||||
3,859 | 3,493 | ||||||||
Operating loss |
(2,822 | ) | (2,826 | ) | |||||
Other income: |
|||||||||
Interest and dividend income |
222 | 193 | |||||||
Loss before income taxes |
(2,600 | ) | (2,633 | ) | |||||
Income tax benefit |
884 | 868 | |||||||
Net loss |
$ | (1,716 | ) | $ | (1,765 | ) | |||
Net loss per share basic and diluted |
$ | (0.17 | ) | $ | (0.18 | ) | |||
Weighted-average common shares
outstanding basic and diluted |
9,881 | 9,817 | |||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
4
AMBASSADORS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
For the three-months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002
(dollars in thousands)
2003 | 2002 | |||||||
Net loss |
$ | (1,716 | ) | $ | (1,765 | ) | ||
Unrealized gain on foreign
currency exchange contracts, net of
income tax provision of
$285 and $131 |
553 | 179 | ||||||
Unrealized loss on
available-for-sale securities, net of
income tax benefit of $14 |
(17 | ) | | |||||
Comprehensive loss |
$ | (1,180 | ) | $ | (1,586 | ) | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
5
AMBASSADORS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
For the three-months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002
(dollars in thousands)
2003 | 2002 | |||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
||||||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (1,716 | ) | $ | (1,765 | ) | ||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net
cash provided by (used in) operating activities: |
||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
191 | 191 | ||||||||||
Deferred income tax provision |
24 | | ||||||||||
Change in assets and liabilities: |
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Prepaid program costs and expenses |
(3,894 | ) | (1,655 | ) | ||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
(1,835 | ) | (1,624 | ) | ||||||||
Participants deposits |
28,396 | 25,121 | ||||||||||
Other current assets |
(870 | ) | (337 | ) | ||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
20,296 | 19,931 | ||||||||||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
||||||||||||
Purchase of available-for-sale securities |
(6,794 | ) | (8,072 | ) | ||||||||
Proceeds from sale or maturities of
available-for-sale securities |
6,617 | 11,083 | ||||||||||
Purchase of property and equipment |
(41 | ) | (4 | ) | ||||||||
Net cash (used in) provided by
investing activities |
(218 | ) | 3,007 | |||||||||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
||||||||||||
Proceeds from exercise of stock options |
92 | | ||||||||||
Net dividend to Ambassadors (former parent) |
| (20,435 | ) | |||||||||
Contribution from Ambassadors (former parent) |
| 10,400 | ||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities |
92 | (10,035 | ) | |||||||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |
20,170 | 12,903 | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
29,491 | 16,518 | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
$ | 49,661 | $ | 29,421 | ||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
6
AMBASSADORS GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. | ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION: | |
Ambassadors Group, Inc., (Company or Group) is a leading educational travel company that organizes and promotes international and domestic programs for students, athletes, and professionals. These programs provide opportunities for grade school, junior, and senior high school students to visit foreign and domestic destinations to learn about the history, government, economy and culture of such areas, as well as for junior and senior high school athletes to participate in international sports challenges. The Companys professional programs emphasize meetings and seminars between participants and persons in similar professions abroad. | ||
The business of the Company has been active since its former parent, Ambassadors International, Inc., (Ambassadors) was founded in 1967. In 1995, in connection with Ambassadors initial public offering, the business of Ambassadors was transferred to the Company and the Company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Ambassadors. On February 28, 2002, the Company was spun-off to the stockholders of Ambassadors. | ||
Beginning February 28, 2002, Group operated as an independent stand-alone company. Prior to February 28, 2002, Group was a wholly owned subsidiary of Ambassadors. | ||
On January 25, 2002 the Board of Directors of Ambassadors approved the distribution of all of the Companys common stock to Ambassadors stockholders (the spin-off). The Ambassadors Board of Directors declared a dividend of the Companys common stock to the Ambassadors stockholders of record on February 4, 2002. The dividend was distributed after the close of business on February 28, 2002, in the amount of one share of the Companys common stock for each outstanding share of Ambassadors common stock. The distribution of common stock was intended to be tax-free to the Company and to its stockholders, and Ambassadors received a favorable Internal Revenue Service private letter ruling to that effect. The trading of the common stock of the Company on the Nasdaq National Market began on March 1, 2002 under the ticker symbol EPAX. Prior to February 28, 2002, the Company comprised the operations of the former Education Group segment of its parent, Ambassadors International, Inc. | ||
In anticipation of the spin-off transaction, the Companys common stock was split in April 2001 and February 2002 and 9,813,140 shares became issued and outstanding. Shares outstanding have been retroactively adjusted for the stock split. |
7
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
Prior to the spin-off from Ambassadors, the Company transferred cash to Ambassadors as a dividend. Additionally, prior to the spin-off, Ambassadors funded business acquisitions and certain working capital requirements of the Company and has not charged any interest on these advances. These transactions have been recorded as contributions from the parent company. In connection with the spin-off, Group entered into agreements with Ambassadors that separated the Companys business operations from Ambassadors. These agreements also govern ongoing relationships. During 2002, prior to its spin-off from Ambassadors and pursuant to the Master Separation and Distribution Agreement, the Company paid to Ambassadors a cash dividend approximating $2.08 per outstanding share. Ambassadors also contributed to the Company a capital contribution approximating $10.4 million. | ||
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Ambassadors Group, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Ambassador Programs, Inc., Ambassadors Sports Group, Inc., Ambassadors Specialty Group, Inc., and Ambassadors Unlimited, LLC. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. The unaudited financial statements include all adjustments consisting of normal recurring accruals that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of the interim periods. | ||
The consolidated financial statements, for the period from January 1, 2002 through February 28, 2002, have been carved out from the consolidated financial statements of Ambassadors using the historical operating results and historical bases of the assets and liabilities of Ambassadors business of which the Company was comprised. Accordingly, the historical financial information presented herein does not necessarily reflect what the Companys financial position, operating results and cash flows would have been had the Company been a separate, stand-alone entity during the periods presented. | ||
The consolidated financial statements include certain costs incurred by Ambassadors, which have been allocated to the Company through February 28, 2002, the date of the spin-off. These costs are primarily corporate personnel, finance, travel, marketing and other general and administrative costs. The costs have been allocated to the Company primarily based on headcount or revenues of the Company relative to the total consolidated headcount or revenues of Ambassadors. Management believes the cost allocations are reasonable within the consolidated parent company. If the Company operated as a separate entity without Ambassadors, however, management believes that these expenses would have increased due to increased costs associated with being a stand-alone public company and the additional personnel costs, marketing costs, and other general administrative costs associated therewith. Management believes that these expenses would have increased on an unaudited, proforma basis by approximately $171,000 for the two months ended February 28, 2002. | ||
The Company has a single operating segment consisting of the educational travel and sports programs for students, athletes and professionals. These programs have similar economic characteristics, offer comparable products to participants, and utilize similar processes for program marketing. |
8
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
2. | LOSS PER SHARE: | |
Net loss per share basic is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Net loss per share diluted is computed in the same manner as net loss per share basic, but includes additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the dilutive potential common shares had been issued. However, due to the net loss during the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, such shares have been excluded from the computation, as they are anti-dilutive. | ||
The following table presents a reconciliation of basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) computations and the number of dilutive securities (stock options) that were not included in the dilutive EPS calculation because they were antidilutive (in thousands, except per-share amounts): |
For the three months ended | |||||||||
March 31, | |||||||||
2003 | 2002 | ||||||||
Numerator: |
|||||||||
Net loss for basic and
diluted earnings per share |
$ | (1,716 | ) | $ | (1,765 | ) | |||
Denominator: |
|||||||||
Weighted-average shares
outstanding basic |
9,881 | 9,817 | |||||||
Effect of dilutive common
stock options (A) |
(A | ) | (B | ) | |||||
Weighted-average shares
outstanding diluted |
9,881 | 9,817 | |||||||
Net loss per share basic and diluted |
$ | (0.17 | ) | $ | (0.18 | ) | |||
(A) | For the three months ended March 31, 2003, the effects of approximately 149,000 stock options have been excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share because their effect would be antidilutive. | |
(B) | For the three months ended March 31, 2002, the effects of approximately 304,000 stock options have been excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share because their effect would be antidilutive. |
9
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
3. | STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN: | |
In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148 Accounting for Stock- Based Compensation Transition and Disclosure an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123 (FAS 148). This statement amends SFAS No. 123 Accounting for Stock Based Compensation (FAS 123) to provide alternative methods of voluntarily transitioning to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. FAS 148 also amends the disclosure requirements of FAS 123 to require disclosure of the method used to account for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method on reported results in both annual and interim financial statements. | ||
The Company has adopted the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS No. 123 and as amended by SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure. Accordingly, no compensation expense has been recognized in the first quarter of 2003 and 2002 for unexercised options related to the stock option plan. Had compensation cost for the Companys stock option plan been determined based on fair value at the grant dates under the plan consistent with the method of SFAS No. 123, the Companys net loss and net loss per share amounts for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, would have been changed to the pro forma amounts indicated below (in thousands except per share data): |
For the three months ended | ||||||||
March 31, | ||||||||
2003 | 2002 | |||||||
Net loss as reported |
$ | (1,716 | ) | $ | (1,765 | ) | ||
Total stock-based employee
compensation expense determined
under fair value based method for
all awards, net of related tax
effects |
(95 | ) | (72 | ) | ||||
Pro forma net loss |
$ | (1,811 | ) | $ | (1,837 | ) | ||
Pro forma net loss per share
basic and diluted |
$ | (0.18 | ) | $ | (0.19 | ) | ||
The Company is currently considering the adoption of the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based compensation. |
10
Item 2. MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements regarding the Companys actual and expected financial performance, the reasons for variances between quarter-to-quarter results. Forward-looking statements, which are included per the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Companys actual results and performance in future periods to be materially different from any future results or performance suggested by the forward-looking statements in this report. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report, and could involve risks including the war with Iraq, conflict in the Middle East, international unrest, outbreak of disease, changes in direct mail environment, conditions in the travel industry, changes in economic conditions and changes in the competitive environment. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to provide public updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements found herein to reflect any changes in Company expectations or any change in events. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. For a more complete discussion of these and other factors, please refer to the Companys Form 10-K filed on March 21, 2003.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The discussion and analysis of the Companys financial condition and results of operations are based upon the consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Management evaluates estimates, including those related to cash and cash equivalents, available-for-sale securities, intangible assets, income taxes, derivative financial instruments and contingencies on an ongoing basis. Management bases these estimates on historical experience and on other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. A description of critical accounting policies and related judgment and estimates that affect the preparation of the consolidated financial statements is set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.
11
COMPARISON OF THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2003 TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2002
GROSS PROGRAM RECEIPTS
Gross program receipts increased to $2.6 million in the first quarter ended March 31, 2003 from $2.4 million in the first quarter ended March 31, 2002. The $0.2 million increase is due primarily to a vendor rebate totaling $0.2 million received during the first quarter of 2003.
NET REVENUE
Net revenue was $1.0 million in the first quarter ended March 31, 2003 compared to $0.7 million in the first quarter ended March 31, 2002, an increase of $0.3 million. The increase is primarily attributed to a vendor rebate as stated above. Gross margin (revenue as a percentage of gross program receipts) increased from 28% to 40% due to the vendor rebate described above and the mix of programs traveling at higher gross margins in the first quarter of 2003 as compared to the first quarter of 2002.
SELLING AND TOUR PROMOTION EXPENSES
The Companys policy is to expense all selling and tour promotion costs as they are incurred.
Selling and tour promotion expenses increased to $2.9 million in the first quarter ended March 31, 2003, from $2.4 million in the comparable quarter of 2002. The $0.5 million increase in expenses was primarily the result of increases in marketing costs and increased staffing.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
General and administrative expenses were comparable at $1.0 million and $1.1 million during the first quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
OPERATING LOSS
Operating loss was comparable at $2.8 million in the first quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002.
OTHER INCOME
Other income consists primarily of interest income generated by cash and available-for-sale securities. As of March 31, 2003, the Company had $71.7 million in cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities, an increase of $22.0 million from $49.7 million at March 31, 2002. The Company realized interest income of $0.2 million in the first quarter of 2003 and 2002. The primary reason that interest income is comparable even though the cash balance is higher in 2003 is due to lower rates of return incurred in the first quarter of 2003 compared to the first quarter of 2002.
12
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAX BENEFIT
Loss before income tax benefit was comparable at $2.6 million in the first quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002.
INCOME TAX BENEFIT
The Company has recorded an income tax benefit of approximately $0.9 million for the first quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002. The income tax benefit has been recorded based upon the estimated annual effective income tax rate applied to the pre-tax income.
NET LOSS
Net loss was comparable at $1.7 million and $1.8 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
SEASONALITY
The Companys businesses are highly seasonal. The Company recognizes gross program receipts, revenues and program pass-through expenses upon the departure of the program participants. The majority of the Companys travel programs are scheduled during June through August of each year, and the Company anticipates that this trend will continue for the foreseeable future. Substantially all of the Companys operating income is generated in this period, which historically has offset the operating losses incurred during the rest of the year. The Companys annual results and cash flows would be adversely affected if the Companys revenues were to be substantially below seasonal norms during the second and third quarters of the year. For a more complete discussion of these and other factors, please refer to the Companys 10-K filed on March 21, 2003.
FACTORS AFFECTING BUSINESS AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, and the response by the United States had a very negative impact on domestic and international air travel and the travel industry in general. Furthermore, the war with Iraq has affected and will continue to affect the travel industry, as well as the markets in which the Company operates. The potential and long-term effects of the war, conflict in the Middle East, and the SARS epidemic are uncertain for the Companys customers, the market for the Companys common stock, the markets for the Companys services, the strength of the U.S. dollar and the U.S. economy. The consequences of the war with Iraq and conflict in the Middle East, and or geopolitical unrest and or the SARS epidemic are unpredictable and the Company is not able to determine whether the impact will be material or highly material on the Companys business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
13
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Companys business is not capital intensive. However, the Company does retain funds for operating purposes in order to conduct sales and marketing efforts for future programs and to facilitate acquisitions of other companies.
Net cash provided by operations for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, was $20.3 million and $19.9 million, respectively. The increase of $0.4 million in cash flow from operations was primarily related to an increase in participants deposits for future travel programs of $3.3 million offset by an increase in prepaid program costs and expenses of $2.2 million.
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, was $(0.2) million and $3.0 million, respectively. The $3.2 million decrease was primarily related to net activities with the sale or maturity and purchase of available-for-sale securities.
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, was $0.1 million and $(10.0) million, respectively. In the first quarter of 2002, concurrent with the spin-off in February 2002, the Company paid a net dividend to Ambassadors of approximately $10.0 million. As the Company has been a separate entity effective March 1, 2002 forward, no such activities occurred in the first quarter of 2003 ended March 31, 2003.
The Company does not have any material capital expenditure commitments for 2003. Ambassadors has agreed to provide a credit facility to the Company for up to $20.0 million for on-going operations and potential acquisition needs through August 2003. As of March 31, 2003, the Company has not drawn upon the Ambassador credit facility. For a more complete discussion of these and other factors, please refer to the Companys Form 10-K filed on March 21, 2003.
At March 31, 2003, the Company had $71.7 million of cash, cash equivalents, and available-for-sale securities, including program participant funds of $54.3 million. Under the Companys cancellation policy, a program participant may be entitled to a refund of a portion of his or her deposit, less certain charges, depending on the time of cancellation. Should a greater number of participants cancel their travel in comparison to that which is part of the Companys ongoing operations, due to circumstances such as international or domestic unrest, terrorism, or general economic downturn, the Companys cash balances could be significantly reduced. Cash balances could also be reduced significantly if the financial institutions, which held balances beyond that federally insured, were to become insolvent.
The Company is continuing to pursue further acquisitions of related travel businesses that may require the use of cash and cash equivalents. No such acquisitions are currently pending and no assurance can be given that definitive agreements for any such acquisitions will be entered into, or, if they are entered into, that they will be on terms favorable to the Company.
14
Management believes that existing cash and cash equivalents and cash flows from operations, combined with the Companys $20.0 million credit facility with Ambassadors, will be sufficient to fund the Companys anticipated operating needs, capital expenditures, and acquisitions through 2003.
FOREIGN CURRENCY; HEDGING POLICY
A substantial majority of the Companys travel programs take place outside of the United States and most foreign suppliers require payment in currency other than the U.S. dollar. Accordingly, the Company is exposed to foreign currency risk relative to changes in foreign currency exchange rates between those currencies and the U.S. dollar. The Company has a program to provide a hedge against certain of these foreign currency risks with less than two years maturity. The Company uses forward contracts that allow the Company to acquire the foreign currency at a fixed price for a specified period of time. Some of the Companys forward contracts include a synthetic component if a pre-determined trigger occurs during the term of the contract. All of the Companys derivatives are designated as cash-flow hedges of forecasted transactions.
The Company accounts for these foreign exchange contracts and options in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 (SFAS 133), Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. The statement requires that all derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in current earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on whether a derivative is designated as part of a hedge transaction and, if it is, depending on the type of hedge transaction. For qualifying cash-flow hedge transactions in which the Company is hedging the variability of cash flows related to a forecasted transaction, changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument are reported in other comprehensive income. The gains and losses on the derivative instruments that are reported in other comprehensive income are reclassified as earnings in the periods in which earnings are impacted by the variability of the cash flows of the hedged item. The ineffective portion of all hedges is recognized in current period earnings. Unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency exchange contracts that are not qualifying cash flow hedges as defined by SFAS 133 are recorded in the statement of operations.
15
Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
A majority of the Companys travel programs take place outside of the United States and most foreign suppliers require payment in currency other than the U.S. dollar. Accordingly, the Company is exposed to foreign currency risk relative to changes in foreign currency exchange rates between those currencies and the U.S. dollar. The Company has a program to provide a hedge against certain of these foreign currency risks with less than two years maturity. Currently, the U.S. dollar has significantly weakened against the major currencies that the Company pays most foreign suppliers including the Euro dollar, British pound, Australian dollar and New Zealand dollar. If the U.S. dollar continues to weaken against these four major currencies, the Company faces increased costs to travel a delegate abroad and therefore increased pressure on the gross margin (revenue as a percentage of gross program receipts). The Company is not able to determine whether the impact of the weakening U.S. dollar will be material on the Companys business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Companys management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, conducted an evaluation of the Companys disclosure controls and procedures, as defined under Rule 13a-14(c) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, within 90 days of the filing date of this report. Based on their evaluation, the Companys principal executive officer and principal accounting officer concluded that the Companys disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
There have been no significant changes (including corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies or material weaknesses) in the Companys internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of the evaluation referenced in the paragraph above.
16
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.
(a) | Exhibits: |
99.1 Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
(b) | Reports on Form 8-K: |
(1) | The Company filed a report on Form 8-K on April 23, 2003, in connection with the dissemination of an earnings release* |
* Report containing information that is required to be furnished under Item 12 was instead furnished under Item 9 in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Release No. 33-8176. Pursuant to General Instruction B of Form 8-K and SEC Release No. 33-8176, the report submitted under Item 9 is not deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Company is not subject to the liabilities of that section. The Company is not incorporating, and will not incorporate by reference this report into a filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
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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.
AMBASSADORS GROUP, INC | ||
Date: May 14, 2003 |
By: /s/ Margaret M. Sestero
Margaret M. Sestero Chief Financial Officer |
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CERTIFICATIONS
I, Jeffrey D. Thomas, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Ambassadors Group, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;
4. The registrants other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:
a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;
b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the Evaluation Date); and
c) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;
5. The registrants other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrants auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal controls; and
6. The registrants other certifying officer and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
/s/ Jeffrey D. Thomas
Jeffrey D. Thomas Chief Executive Officer Date: May 14, 2003 |
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I, Margaret M. Sestero, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Ambassadors Group, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;
4. The registrants other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:
a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;
b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the Evaluation Date); and
c) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;
5. The registrants other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrants auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal controls; and
6. The registrants other certifying officer and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
/s/ Margaret M. Sestero
Margaret M. Sestero Chief Financial Officer Date: May 14, 2003 |
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