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Long-Term Debt
 12 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2023
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Long-Term Debt Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt as of July 31, 2023 and 2022 is summarized as follows (in thousands):
MaturityJuly 31,
2023		July 31,
2022
Vail Holdings Credit Agreement revolver (a)
2026$— $— 
Vail Holdings Credit Agreement term loan (a)
20261,015,625 1,078,125 
6.25% Notes (b)
2025600,000 600,000 
0.0% Convertible Notes (c)
2026575,000 575,000 
Whistler Credit Agreement revolver (d)
2028— 11,717 
EPR Secured Notes (e)
2034-2036
114,162 114,162 
Employee housing bonds (f)
2027-2039
52,575 52,575 
Canyons obligation (g)
2063363,386 357,607 
NRP Loan (h)
203640,399 — 
Whistler Blackcomb employee housing leases (i)
204229,491 — 
Other (j)
2023-2036
35,011 17,860 
Total debt2,825,649 2,807,046 
Less: Unamortized premiums, discounts and debt issuance costs (k)
5,814 72,997 
Less: Current maturities (l)
 69,160 63,749 
Long-term debt, net$2,750,675 $2,670,300 
(a)On August 31, 2022, Vail Holdings, Inc. (“VHI”), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, along with other certain subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and certain lenders entered into the Fifth Amendment (the “Fifth Amendment”) to the Eighth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Vail Holdings Credit Agreement”), which extended the maturity date to September 23, 2026. Additionally, the Fifth Amendment contains customary LIBOR replacement language, including, but not limited to, the use of rates based on SOFR. SOFR is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash in the overnight U.S. Treasury repo market and is administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The Fifth Amendment modified the calculation of interest under the Vail Holdings Credit Agreement from being calculated based on LIBOR to being calculated based on SOFR. No other material terms of the Vail Holdings Credit Agreement were amended.

As of July 31, 2023, the Vail Holdings Credit Agreement consists of a $500.0 million revolving credit facility and a $1.0 billion outstanding term loan facility. The term loan facility is subject to quarterly amortization of principal of approximately $15.6 million, in equal installments, for a total of 5% of principal payable in each year and the final payment of all amounts outstanding, plus accrued and unpaid interest due in upon maturity. The proceeds of the loans made under the Vail Holdings Credit Agreement may be used to fund the Company’s working capital needs, capital expenditures, acquisitions, investments and other general corporate purposes, including the issuance of letters of credit. Borrowings under the Vail Holdings Credit Agreement, including the term loan facility, bear interest annually at SOFR plus a spread of 1.60% as of July 31, 2023 (6.92% as of July 31, 2023). Interest rate margins may fluctuate based upon the ratio of the Company’s Net Funded Debt to Adjusted EBITDA on a trailing four-quarter basis. The Vail Holdings Credit Agreement also includes a quarterly unused commitment fee, which is equal to a percentage determined by the Net Funded Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio, as each such term is defined in the Vail Holdings Credit Agreement, multiplied by the daily amount by which the Vail Holdings Credit Agreement commitment exceeds the total of outstanding loans and outstanding letters of credit (0.30% as of July 31, 2023). The Company is party to various interest rate swap agreements which hedge the cash flows associated with the SOFR-based variable interest rate component of $400.0 million in principal amount of its Vail Holdings Credit Agreement until September 23, 2024, at an effective rate of 1.38%.
(b)On May 4, 2020, the Company completed its offering of $600 million aggregate principal amount of 6.25% senior notes due 2025 at par (the “6.25% Notes”). The Company pays interest on the 6.25% Notes on May 15 and November 15 of each year, which commenced on November 15, 2020. The 6.25% Notes will mature on May 15, 2025. The 6.25% Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time on or after May 15, 2022 at the redemption prices specified in an indenture dated as of May 4, 2020 (the “6.25% Indenture”) plus accrued and unpaid interest. The 6.25% Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company, are guaranteed by certain of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries, and rank equally in right of
payment with existing and future senior indebtedness of the Company and the guarantors (as defined in the 6.25% Indenture).
The 6.25% Indenture requires that, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the 6.25% Indenture), the Company shall offer to purchase all of the outstanding 6.25% Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the outstanding principal amount of the 6.25% Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest. If the Company or certain of its subsidiaries dispose of assets, under certain circumstances, the Company will be required to either invest the net cash proceeds from such assets sales in its business within a specified period of time, repay certain senior secured debt or debt of its non-guarantor subsidiaries, or make an offer to purchase a principal amount of the 6.25% Notes equal to the excess net cash proceeds at a purchase price of 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
The 6.25% Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, restrict the ability of the Company and the guarantors to incur liens on assets; merge or consolidate with another company or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or engage in Sale and Leaseback Transactions (as defined in the 6.25% Indenture). The 6.25% Indenture does not contain any financial maintenance covenants. Certain of the covenants will not apply to the 6.25% Notes so long as the 6.25% Notes have investment grade ratings from two specified rating agencies and no event of default has occurred and is continuing under the 6.25% Indenture. The 6.25% Indenture includes customary events of default, including failure to make payment, failure to comply with the obligations set forth in the 6.25% Indenture, certain defaults on certain other indebtedness, certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, and invalidity of the guarantees of the 6.25% Notes issued pursuant to the 6.25% Indenture.
(c)On December 18, 2020, the Company completed an offering of $575.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 0.0% Convertible Notes due 2026 in a private placement conducted pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “0.0% Convertible Notes”). The 0.0% Convertible Notes were issued under an indenture dated December 18, 2020 (the “Convertible Indenture”) between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee. The 0.0% Convertible Notes do not bear regular interest and the principal amount does not accrete. The 0.0% Convertible Notes mature on January 1, 2026, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted.
The 0.0% Convertible Notes are general senior unsecured obligations of the Company. The 0.0% Convertible Notes rank senior in right of payment to any future debt that is expressly subordinated, equal in right of payment with the Company’s existing and future liabilities that are not so subordinated, and are subordinated to all of the Company’s existing and future secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt. The 0.0% Convertible Notes will also be structurally subordinated to all of the existing and future liabilities and obligations of the Company’s subsidiaries, including such subsidiaries’ guarantees of the 6.25% Notes.
The initial conversion rate was 2.4560 shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes, which represents an initial conversion price of approximately $407.17 per share, and is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain specified events as described in the Convertible Indenture, including the payment of cash dividends. As of July 31, 2023, the conversion rate of the 0.0% Convertible Notes, adjusted for cash dividends paid since the issuance date, was 2.5972 shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes (the “Conversion Rate”), which represents a conversion price of $385.03 per share (the “Conversion Price”). The principal amount of the 0.0% Convertible Notes is required to be settled in cash. The Company will settle the in the money component of conversions by paying cash, delivering shares of its common stock, or a combination of the two, at its option.
Holders may convert their notes, at their option, only under the following circumstances:
•during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on March 31, 2021 if the last reported sale price per share of our common stock exceeds 130% of the Conversion Price for each of at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter;
•during the five consecutive business days immediately after any 10 consecutive trading day period (such 10 consecutive trading day period, the “Measurement Period”) in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes for each trading day of the Measurement Period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price per share of our common stock on such trading day and the Conversion Rate on such trading day;
•upon the occurrence of certain corporate events or distributions on our common stock, as described in the Convertible Indenture;
•if the Company calls the 0.0% Convertible Notes for redemption; or
•at any time from, and including, July 1, 2025 until the close of business on the scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date.
The 0.0% Convertible Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option at any time, and from time to time, on or after January 1, 2024 and on or before the 25th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, at a cash redemption price equal to the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid special and additional interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date, but only if the last reported sale price per share of the Company’s common stock exceeds 130% of the Conversion Price for a specified period of time. If the Company elects to redeem less than all of the 0.0% Convertible Notes, at least $50.0 million aggregate principal amount of notes must be outstanding and not subject to redemption as of the relevant redemption notice date. Calling any 0.0% Convertible Notes for redemption will constitute a make-whole fundamental change with respect to such notes, in which case the Conversion Rate applicable to the conversion of such notes will be increased in certain circumstances if such notes are converted after they are called for redemption.
In addition, upon the occurrence of a fundamental change (as defined in the Convertible Indenture), holders of the 0.0% Convertible Notes may require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of their notes at a cash repurchase price equal to the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus any accrued and unpaid special and additional interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable repurchase date. If certain fundamental changes referred to as make-whole fundamental changes (as defined in the Convertible Indenture) occur, the Conversion Rate for the 0.0% Convertible Notes may be increased for a specified period of time.
The Convertible Indenture includes customary events of default, including failure to make payment, failure to comply with the obligations set forth in the Convertible Indenture, certain defaults on certain other indebtedness, and certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization. The Company may elect, at its option, that the sole remedy for an event of default relating to certain failures by the Company to comply with certain reporting covenants in the Convertible Indenture will consist exclusively of the right of the holders of the 0.0% Convertible Notes to receive additional interest on the notes for up to 360 days following such failure.
Prior to the adoption of ASU 2020-06 on August 1, 2022, the Company separately accounted for the liability and equity components of the 0.0% Convertible Notes. The liability component at issuance was recognized at estimated fair value based on the fair value of a similar debt instrument that does not have an embedded convertible feature, and was determined to be $465.3 million and was recorded within long-term debt, net on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. The excess of the principal amount of the 0.0% Convertible Notes over the initial fair value of the liability component represented a debt discount of $109.7 million and was being amortized to interest expense, net over the term through July 31, 2022 (prior to the adoption of ASU 2020-06). The balance of the unamortized debt discount was $76.7 million as of July 31, 2022. The carrying amount of the equity component representing the conversion option was approximately $109.7 million and was determined by deducting the initial fair value of the liability component from the total proceeds of the 0.0% Convertible Notes of $575.0 million. Additionally, the Company recorded deferred tax liabilities of approximately $27.5 million related to the equity component of the 0.0% Convertible Notes on the date of issuance, which decreased the recorded value of the equity component. As of July 31, 2022, the equity component was recorded within additional paid-in-capital on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company adopted ASU 2020-06 on August 1, 2022 using the modified retrospective method, and as a result, the Company reclassified the equity component of its 0.0% Convertible Notes to long-term debt, net, and no longer records non-cash interest expense related to the amortization of the debt discount effective as of the adoption date. Refer to Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, for further information on ASU 2020-06.
(d)Whistler Mountain Resort Limited Partnership (“Whistler LP”) and Blackcomb Skiing Enterprises Limited Partnership (“Blackcomb LP” and together with Whistler LP, the “WB Partnerships”) are party to a credit agreement consisting of a C$300.0 million credit facility which was originally dated as of November 12, 2013, by and among Whistler LP, Blackcomb LP, certain subsidiaries of Whistler LP and Blackcomb LP party thereto as guarantors, the financial institutions party thereto as lenders and The Toronto-Dominion Bank, as administrative agent. On April 14, 2023, the WB Partnerships along with other parties to the original agreement entered into the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as amended, the “Whistler Credit Agreement”). The amended Whistler Credit Agreement (i) extended the maturity date of the revolving credit facility to April 14, 2028; (ii) contained customary LIBOR replacement language for the use of rates based on SOFR with regard to borrowings under the facility made in U.S. dollars; and (iii) contained customary forward-looking transition language for the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (“CDOR”) with regard to borrowings under the facility made in Canadian dollars, including, but not limited to, the use of rates based on the Canadian Overnight Repo Rate Average, which is a measure of the cost of overnight general collateral funding using Government of Canada treasury bills and bonds as collateral for repurchase transactions, and for which such transition is expected to occur no later than June 2024. No other significant terms of the agreement were amended. As of July 31, 2023, there were no borrowings under the Whistler Credit Agreement. The Whistler Credit Agreement also includes a quarterly unused commitment fee based on the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio, which as of July 31, 2023 is equal to 0.39% per annum. The Whistler Credit Agreement provides for affirmative and negative covenants that restrict, among other things, the WB Partnerships’ ability
to incur indebtedness and liens, dispose of assets, make capital expenditures, make distributions and make investments. In addition, the Whistler Credit Agreement includes the restrictive financial covenants (leverage ratios and interest coverage ratios) customary for facilities of this type.
(e)In September 2019, in conjunction with the acquisition of Peak Resorts, Inc. (“Peak Resorts”), the Company assumed various secured borrowings (the “EPR Secured Notes”) under the master credit and security agreements and other related agreements, as amended, (collectively, the “EPR Agreements”) with EPT Ski Properties, Inc. and its affiliates (“EPR”). The EPR Secured Notes include the following:
i.The Alpine Valley Secured Note. The $4.6 million Alpine Valley Secured Note provides for interest payments through its maturity on December 1, 2034. As of July 31, 2023, interest on this note accrued at a rate of 11.72%.
ii.The Boston Mills/Brandywine Secured Note. The $23.3 million Boston Mills/Brandywine Secured Note provides for interest payments through its maturity on December 1, 2034. As of July 31, 2023, interest on this note accrued at a rate of 11.24%.
iii.The Jack Frost/Big Boulder Secured Note. The $14.3 million Jack Frost/Big Boulder Secured Note provides for interest payments through its maturity on December 1, 2034. As of July 31, 2023, interest on this note accrued at a rate of 11.24%.
iv.The Mount Snow Secured Note. The $51.1 million Mount Snow Secured Note provides for interest payments through its maturity on December 1, 2034. As of July 31, 2023, interest on this note accrued at a rate of 12.32%.
v.The Hunter Mountain Secured Note. The $21.0 million Hunter Mountain Secured Note provides for interest payments through its maturity on January 5, 2036. As of July 31, 2023, interest on this note accrued at a rate of 9.03%.
The EPR Secured Notes are secured by all or substantially all of the assets of Peak Resorts and its subsidiaries, including mortgages on the Alpine Valley, Boston Mills, Brandywine, Jack Frost, Big Boulder, Mount Snow and Hunter Mountain ski resorts. The EPR Secured Notes bear interest at specified interest rates, as discussed above, which are subject to increase each year by the lesser of (i) three times the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) or (ii) a capped index (the “Capped CPI Index”), which is 1.75% for the Hunter Mountain Secured Note and 1.50% for all other notes. The EPR Agreements provide for affirmative and negative covenants that restrict, among other things, the ability of Peak Resorts and its subsidiaries to incur indebtedness, dispose of assets, make distributions and make investments. In addition, the EPR Agreements include restrictive covenants, including maximum leverage ratio and consolidated fixed charge ratio. An additional contingent interest payment would be due to EPR if, on a calendar year basis, the gross receipts from the properties securing any of the individual EPR Secured Notes (the “Gross Receipts”) are more than the result (the “Interest Quotient”) of dividing the total interest charges for the EPR Secured Notes by a specified percentage rate (the “Additional Interest Rate”). In such a case, the additional interest payment would equal the difference between the Gross Receipts and the Interest Quotient multiplied by the Additional Interest Rate. This calculation is made on an aggregated basis for the notes secured by the Jack Frost, Big Boulder, Boston Mills, Brandywine and Alpine Valley ski resorts, where the Additional Interest Rate is 10.0%; on a standalone basis for the note secured by the Company’s Mount Snow ski resort, where the Additional Interest Rate is 12.0%; and on a standalone basis for the note secured by the Company’s Hunter Mountain ski resort, where the Additional Interest Rate is 8.0%. Peak Resorts does not have the right to prepay the EPR Secured Notes. The EPR Secured Notes were recorded at their estimated fair value in conjunction with the acquisition of Peak Resorts on September 24, 2019. The EPR Agreements grant EPR certain other rights including the option to purchase the Boston Mills, Brandywine, Jack Frost, Big Boulder or Alpine Valley resorts, which is exercisable no sooner than two years and no later than one year prior to the maturity dates of the applicable EPR Secured Note for such properties, with any closings to be held on the applicable maturity dates; and, if EPR exercises the purchase option, EPR will enter into an agreement with the Company for the lease of each acquired property for an initial term of 20 years, plus options to extend the lease for two additional periods of ten years each.
In addition, Peak Resorts is required to maintain a debt service reserve account which amounts are applied to fund interest payments and other amounts due and payable to EPR. As of July 31, 2023, the Company had funded the EPR debt service reserve account in an amount equal to approximately $5.4 million, which was included in other current assets in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(f)The Company has recorded the outstanding debt of four Employee Housing Entities (each an “Employee Housing Entity” and collectively the “Employee Housing Entities”): Breckenridge Terrace, Tarnes, BC Housing and Tenderfoot. The proceeds of the Employee Housing Bonds were used to develop apartment complexes designated primarily for use by
the Company’s seasonal employees at its Colorado mountain resorts. The Employee Housing Bonds are variable rate, interest-only instruments with interest rates tied to SOFR plus 0% to 0.20% (5.32% to 5.52% as of July 31, 2023).
Interest on the Employee Housing Bonds is paid monthly in arrears and the interest rate is adjusted weekly. No principal payments are due on the Employee Housing Bonds until maturity. Each Employee Housing Entity’s bonds were issued in two series. The bonds for each Employee Housing Entity are backed by letters of credit issued under the Vail Holdings Credit Agreement. The table below presents the principal amounts outstanding for the Employee Housing Bonds as of July 31, 2023 (in thousands):    
MaturityTranche ATranche BTotal
Breckenridge Terrace2039$14,980 $5,000 $19,980 
Tarnes20398,000 2,410 10,410 
BC Housing20279,100 1,500 10,600 
Tenderfoot20355,700 5,885 11,585 
Total
 $37,780 $14,795 $52,575 
(g)On May 24, 2013, VR CPC Holdings, Inc. (“VR CPC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a transaction agreement with affiliate companies of Talisker Corporation (“Talisker”) pursuant to which the parties entered into a master lease agreement (the “Park City Lease”) and certain ancillary transaction documents on May 29, 2013 related to the former stand-alone Canyons Resort (“Canyons”), pursuant to which the Company assumed the resort operations of the Canyons. The Park City Lease between VR CPC and Talisker has an initial term of 50 years with six 50-year renewal options. The Park City Lease provides for $25 million in annual payments, which increase each year by an inflation-linked index of CPI less 1% per annum, with a floor of 2%. Vail Resorts has guaranteed the payments under the Park City Lease. The obligation at July 31, 2023 represents future lease payments for the remaining initial lease term of 50 years (including annual increases at the floor of 2%) discounted using an interest rate of 10%, and includes accumulated accreted interest expense of approximately $58.1 million.
(h)On August 3, 2022 in conjunction with the acquisition of Andermatt-Sedrun (see Note 7, Acquisitions), the Company assumed the New Regional Policy loan between Andermatt-Sedrun and the Canton of Uri and Canton of Graubünden dated June 24, 2016 (the “NRP Loan”), with an initial principal balance of CHF 40.0 million. Amounts outstanding under the NRP Loan bear interest at 0.63% per annum until the maturity date, which is September 30, 2036, with semi-annual required payments of principal amortization and accrued interest. In addition, the NRP Loan agreement includes restrictive covenants requiring certain minimum financial results (as defined in the agreement).
(i)During the year ended July 31, 2023, the Company entered into new finance lease agreements for employee housing units at Whistler Blackcomb. The leases have a term of 20 years with no renewal options. The obligation at July 31, 2023 represents future lease payments for the remaining initial lease term of 20 years (including annual increases at the floor of 3%) discounted using an interest rate of 6.95%.
(j)During the year ended July 31, 2019, the Company completed two real estate sales transactions that were accounted for as financing arrangements as a result of the Company’s continuing involvement with the underlying assets that were sold, including but not limited to, the obligation to repurchase finished commercial space from the development projects upon completion. The Company received approximately $12.8 million of proceeds for these sales transactions through the year ended July 31, 2023, which are reflected within long-term debt, net.
(k)In connection with the issuance of the 0.0% Convertible Notes, the Company recorded a debt discount under previous accounting guidance, which represented the excess of the principal amount of the 0.0% Convertible Notes over the fair value of the liability component, as discussed above. The Company adopted ASU 2020-06 on August 1, 2022 using the modified retrospective method, and as a result, the Company reclassified the equity component of its 0.0% Convertible Notes to long-term debt, net, and therefore no longer records non-cash interest expense related to the amortization of the debt discount. In connection with the acquisition of Peak Resorts, the Company estimated the acquisition date fair values of the debt instruments assumed, including the EPR Secured Notes, and recorded any difference between such estimated fair values and the par value of debt instruments as unamortized premiums and discounts, which is amortized and recorded to interest expense, net on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations over the respective term of the applicable debt instruments. Additionally, certain costs incurred with regard to the issuance of debt instruments are capitalized and included as a reduction in the net carrying value of long-term debt, net of accumulated amortization, with the exception of costs incurred related to line-of-credit arrangements, which are included in deferred charges and other assets, net of
accumulated amortization. Amortization of such deferred financing costs are recorded to interest expense, net on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations over the respective term of the applicable debt instruments.
(l)Current maturities represent principal payments due in the next 12 months.
Aggregate maturities for debt outstanding, including finance lease obligations, as of July 31, 2023 reflected by fiscal year are as follows (in thousands):
  
Total
2024$69,930 
2025676,010 
2026643,789 
2027851,407 
20284,834 
Thereafter579,679 
Total debt$2,825,649 
The Company recorded interest expense of $153.0 million, $148.2 million and $151.4 million for the years ended July 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, of which $6.7 million, $5.9 million and $4.9 million, respectively, was amortization of deferred financing costs. The Company was in compliance with all of its financial and operating covenants required to be maintained under its debt instruments for all periods presented.
In connection with the acquisition of Whistler Blackcomb, VHI funded a portion of the purchase price through an intercompany loan to Whistler Blackcomb, which was effective as of November 1, 2016 and requires foreign currency remeasurement to Canadian dollars, the functional currency for Whistler Blackcomb. As a result, foreign currency fluctuations associated with the loan are recorded within the Company’s results of operations. The Company recognized approximately $(2.9) million, $(2.7) million and $8.3 million of non-cash foreign currency (loss) gain on the intercompany loan to Whistler Blackcomb during the years ended July 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, on its Consolidated Statements of Operations.