Life Time Fitness Announces First Quarter 2010 Financial Results

Company Reports Revenue Growth of 6.5%, Net Income Growth of 18% and Earnings Per Diluted Share of $0.44 for the Quarter

CHANHASSEN, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Life Time Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:LTM) today reported its operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

Revenue for the first quarter of 2010 grew 6.5% to $219.8 million from $206.4 million during the same period last year. Net income during the quarter was $17.8 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, compared with $15.1 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, for 1Q 2009.

"During the first quarter, we continued to focus on reducing attrition and growing same-center revenue," said Bahram Akradi, Life Time Fitness chairman, president and chief executive officer. "I am pleased to report positive trends in both areas, which are reflected in our improved operating results. We achieved an attrition rate of 8.5% for the quarter, driven by our relentless commitment to members' experiences and the growing impact of our connectivity initiatives. At the same time, we saw our third consecutive quarter of mature same-center revenue improvement. This is indicative of our clear focus on delivering programs and services that truly help members achieve success with their fitness goals. Moving forward, we remain focused on improving these key metrics and implementing our healthy way of life initiatives that demonstrate just how different Life Time is when it comes to changing members' lives for the better."

During the first quarter, Life Time Fitness opened two new large format centers. These included the January opening of Beachwood, Ohio (the Company's first location in the Cleveland market) and the March opening of Lenexa, Kansas (the Company's second location in the Kansas City market). In February, the Company also opened a new Pilates, yoga and personal training boutique in Scottsdale, Arizona. A new Pilates and yoga boutique is planned to open in the third quarter in Minneapolis and the third new large format center opening in 2010 is planned for the Denver market in the fourth quarter.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2010, Financial Highlights:

Total revenue for the first quarter grew 6.5% to $219.8 million, driven by growth in membership dues and in-center revenue.


(Period-over-period growth)                               1Q 2010 vs. 1Q 2009

-- Membership dues                                        5.7%

-- Enrollment fees                                        (2.3%)

-- In-center revenue                                      10.5%

-- Same-center revenue (13th month of operation)          2.6%

-- Mature same-center revenue (37th month of operation)   (1.2%)

-- Average center revenue per membership                  $369 - up 4.7%

-- Average in-center revenue per membership               $111 - up 8.3%



Memberships grew 2.3% to 613,882 at March 31, 2010, from 599,919 at March 31, 2009.

    --  Attrition in 1Q 2010 was 8.5% compared with 9.8% in 1Q 2009.
    --  Trailing 12-month attrition through March 31, 2010, improved to 39.3%.

Total operating expenses during 1Q 2010 totaled $182.1 million compared to $173.9 million for 1Q 2009. Operating margin was 17.1% for 1Q 2010, compared to 15.7% in the prior-year period.


(Expense as a percent of total revenue)   1Q 2010 vs. 1Q 2009

    --  Center operations                 62.5% vs. 61.5%

    --  Advertising and marketing         3.1% vs. 4.0%

    --  General and administrative        4.9% vs. 5.7%

    --  Other operating                   2.0% vs. 2.4%

    --  Depreciation and amortization     10.4% vs. 10.7%



Net income during 1Q 2010 was $17.8 million compared with $15.1 million in 1Q 2009. Net income margin for 1Q 2010 was 8.1% compared with 7.3% in the prior-year period.

EBITDA for 1Q 2010 grew 10.6% to $60.7 million from $54.9 million in 1Q 2009. As a percentage of total revenue, EBITDA was 27.6% in 1Q 2010, compared to 26.6% in the prior-year period.

Cash flows from operations for 1Q 2010 were $53.9 million as compared with $49.7 million in the prior-year period. Free cash flow for 1Q 2010 was $30.8 million.

Weighted average diluted shares for 1Q 2010 totaled 40.8 million as compared with 39.4 million in the prior-year period.

Updated 2010 Business Outlook:

The following statements are based on the Company's current expectations for fiscal year 2010 subject to the risks and uncertainties described below:

    --  Revenue is expected to be $880-895 million (updated from $870-895
        million), driven primarily by membership dues and in-center revenue
        growth.
    --  Net income is expected to be $76.5-79.5 million (up from $75-79
        million), driven by revenue growth and cost efficiencies.
    --  Diluted earnings per common share is expected to be $1.88-1.96 (up from
        $1.85-1.95).

As announced on April 8, 2010, the Company will hold a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its first quarter 2010 results. Bahram Akradi, Michael Robinson, executive vice president and chief financial officer, and Kenneth Cooper, vice president of finance, will host the conference call. The conference call will be Web cast and may be accessed via the Company's Investor Relations section of its Web site at lifetimefitness.com. A replay of the call will be available via the Company's Web site beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m. ET today.

The Company also announced on April 8, 2010, that its Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held at the Life Time Fitness headquarters (2902 Corporate Place in Chanhassen, Minnesota) at 2:00 p.m. ET today. The meeting will be Web cast and may be accessed live via the Company's Investor Relations section of its Web site at lifetimefitness.com. A replay of the Web cast will be available beginning at approximately 5:00 p.m. ET today, and remain available for 30 days.

About Life Time Fitness, Inc.

Life Time Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:LTM) is a healthy way of life company based in Chanhassen, Minnesota. The Company is dedicated to providing programs and services that help its members connect and engage with their areas of interest, and achieve success with their health and fitness goals. Life Time Fitness designs and operates distinctive, multi-use sports, professional fitness, family recreation and spa/resort centers that help members lead healthy and active lives. As of April 22, 2010, the Company operated 87 centers in 19 states and 24 markets. Additional information about Life Time Fitness centers, programs and services is available at www.lifetimefitness.com.

Risks and Uncertainties

Certain information contained in this press release may be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results in the future to differ materially from its historical results and those presently anticipated or projected. Among these factors are attracting and retaining members, risks related to our debt levels and debt covenants, our ability to access existing credit facilities and obtain additional financing, strains on our business from continued growth, risks related to maintenance of our data, competition from other health and fitness centers, delays in opening new centers, identifying and acquiring suitable sites for new centers and other factors set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Diluted earnings per share could also be affected by the number of shares outstanding, which depends on factors such as the number of shares issued upon exercise of stock options and future grants of awards pursuant to equity-based incentive plans as well as stock offerings. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after such date. All remarks made during the Company's financial results conference call will be current at the time of the call and the Company undertakes no obligation to update the replay.


LIFE TIME FITNESS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

                                              March 31,      December 31,

                                                2010           2009

                                              (Unaudited)

ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS:

 Cash and cash equivalents                    $ 12,955       $ 6,282

 Accounts receivable, net                       3,638          4,026

 Center operating supplies and inventories      15,222         14,621

 Prepaid expenses and other current assets      16,540         12,938

 Deferred membership origination costs          19,435         20,278

 Deferred income taxes                          -              660

  Total current assets                          67,790         58,805

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net                     1,513,385      1,512,993

RESTRICTED CASH                                 2,434          2,941

DEFERRED MEMBERSHIP ORIGINATION COSTS           7,748          8,716

OTHER ASSETS                                    47,483         48,070

  TOTAL ASSETS                                $ 1,638,840    $ 1,631,525

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 Current maturities of long-term debt         $ 12,815       $ 16,716

 Accounts payable                               17,453         14,429

 Construction accounts payable                  9,499          9,882

 Accrued expenses                               57,485         48,235

 Deferred revenue                               38,154         36,939

  Total current liabilities                     135,406        126,201

LONG-TERM DEBT, net of current portion          622,056        643,630

DEFERRED RENT LIABILITY                         30,197         29,048

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES                           76,105         77,189

DEFERRED REVENUE                                8,445          8,819

OTHER LIABILITIES                               9,297          9,207

  Total liabilities                             881,506        894,094

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

 Common stock                                   835            829

 Additional paid-in capital                     396,413        395,121

 Retained earnings                              361,931        344,095

 Accumulated other comprehensive loss           (1,845    )    (2,614    )

  Total shareholders' equity                    757,334        737,431

  TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY  $ 1,638,840    $ 1,631,525




LIFE TIME FITNESS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands except per share data)

(Unaudited)

                                          For the

                                          Three Months Ended

                                          March 31,

                                            2010         2009

REVENUE:

 Membership dues                          $ 145,165    $ 137,397

 Enrollment fees                            6,324        6,473

 In-center revenue                          65,532       59,302

  Total center revenue                      217,021      203,172

 Other revenue                              2,750        3,262

  Total revenue                             219,771      206,434

OPERATING EXPENSES:

 Center operations                          137,584      126,974

 Advertising and marketing                  6,772        8,298

 General and administrative                 10,700       11,708

 Other operating                            4,308        4,887

 Depreciation and amortization              22,765       22,064

  Total operating expenses                  182,129      173,931

  Income from operations                    37,642       32,503

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

 Interest expense, net                      (8,097  )    (7,474  )

 Equity in earnings of affiliate            301          337

  Total other income (expense)              (7,796  )    (7,137  )

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES                  29,846       25,366

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES                  12,010       10,252

NET INCOME                                $ 17,836     $ 15,114

BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE           $ 0.45       $ 0.39

DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE         $ 0.44       $ 0.38

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES

 OUTSTANDING - BASIC                        39,746       39,226

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES

 OUTSTANDING - DILUTED                      40,780       39,392




LIFE TIME FITNESS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

                                                        For the

                                                        Three Months Ended

                                                        March 31,

                                                          2010         2009

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 Net income                                             $ 17,836     $ 15,114

 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
 provided by operating activities:

  Depreciation and amortization                           22,765       22,064

  Deferred income taxes                                   (1,826  )    303

  Loss on disposal of property and equipment, net         104          119

  Amortization of deferred financing costs                849          669

  Share-based compensation                                1,775        2,234

  Equity in earnings of affiliate                         (301    )    (337    )

  Dividend received from equity investment                350          350

  Changes in operating assets and liabilities             12,238       7,868

  Other                                                   85           1,276

   Net cash provided by operating activities              53,875       49,660

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 Purchases of property and equipment                      (23,039 )    (48,900 )

 Proceeds from sale of property and equipment             20           4

 Increase in other assets                                 (237    )    (1,634  )

 Decrease in restricted cash                              507          144

   Net cash used in investing activities                  (22,749 )    (50,386 )

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 Proceeds from long-term borrowings                       -            4,813

 Repayments of long-term borrowings                       (32,666 )    (3,694  )

 Proceeds from (repayments of) revolving credit           7,800        (300    )
 facility, net

 Decrease (increase) in deferred financing costs          42           (346    )

 Proceeds from exercise of stock options                  371          -

   Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities    (24,453 )    473

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS          6,673        (253    )

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - Beginning of period           6,282        10,829

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - End of period               $ 12,955     $ 10,576



Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release and the related conference call disclose certain non-GAAP financial measures.

EBITDA. Earnings Before Interest, Income Taxes and Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) is a non-GAAP disclosure consisting of net income plus interest expense, net, provision for income taxes and depreciation and amortization. This term, as the Company defines it, may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure used by other companies and is not a measure of performance presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses EBITDA as a measure of operating performance. The funds depicted by EBITDA are not necessarily available for discretionary use if they are reserved for particular capital purposes, to maintain compliance with debt covenants, to service debt or to pay taxes. EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute for net income, net cash provided by operating activities or other income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additional details related to EBITDA are provided in the Form 8-K that the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date of this press release.

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to EBITDA:


RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

                               For the Three Months Ended

                               March 31,

                                 2010      2009

Net income                     $ 17,836  $ 15,114

Interest expense, net            8,097     7,474

Provision for income taxes       12,010    10,252

Depreciation and amortization    22,765    22,064

EBITDA                         $ 60,708  $ 54,904



Free Cash Flow. Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure consisting of net cash provided by operating activities, less purchases of property and equipment. This term, as the Company defines it, may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure used by other companies and does not represent the total increase or decrease in the cash balance presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses free cash flow as a measure of cash generated after spending on property and equipment. Free cash flow should not be considered as a substitute for net cash provided by operating activities prepared in accordance with GAAP.

The following table provides a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to free cash flow:


RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED BY

OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO FREE CASH FLOW

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

                                           For the Three Months Ended

                                           March 31,

                                             2010         2009

Net cash provided by operating activities  $ 53,875     $ 49,660

Less: Purchases of property and equipment    (23,039 )    (48,900 )

Free cash flow                             $ 30,836     $ 760




    Source: Life Time Fitness, Inc.