(Montreal) Cirque du Soleil is in a much better financial position thanks to the relaunch of its shows. The Quebec company managed in March to reduce its debt by US$100 million and to refinance it at lower rates, despite monetary tightening by central banks.
Cirque du Soleil’s total debt now stands at US$550 million, the equivalent of just over CAN$750 million. “This is the lowest level of debt in recent years, underlines its chief financial officer, Emmanuelle Leclerc-Granger, in an interview. This refinancing will result in interest cost savings that are still substantial, but it will improve the financial situation of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group. »
Prior to the pandemic, Cirque du Soleil had racked up nearly $1 billion in debt to fund its growth plans. The pandemic, which forced the industry to lower the curtain, had pushed the company into bankruptcy.
In November 2020, Catalyst Capital Group injected US$375 million to replenish the company’s coffers, but it took until the summer of 2021 before the easing of sanitary measures allowed the resumption of shows.
Hard hit by the pandemic, the entertainment industry has finally resumed its activities. This more favorable context allowed Cirque du Soleil to obtain a better rate by refinancing its debt. “That represents savings of more than US$30 million annually,” illustrates Ms. Leclerc-Granger.
The terms of the refinancing include a US$100 million credit facility. The company does not intend to use this available credit, but it provides flexibility, if needed.
The chief financial officer points out that the rating agencies have recognized the improvement in Cirque du Soleil’s balance sheet. Standard
The pandemic eclipse did not overshadow the popularity of Cirque du Soleil. The return of spectators to the marquee enabled it to return to profitability. The company has been raking in more cash than it has spent for the past five consecutive quarters, Leclerc-Granger said.
Occupancy rates are still “a little below” pre-pandemic thresholds, as health measures have not yet been fully lifted in all markets where Cirque is present, explains the manager. The strong demand, however, allowed the group to increase the price of its tickets by almost 15%, on average. “The ticket price is so high that for us profitability is increased versus pre-pandemic levels. »
While rising interest rates raise questions about household behaviors, demand for Cirque du Soleil performances remains resilient at this time, Leclerc-Granger said. “We haven’t seen the signs of a recession showing up in our ticket sales yet,” she replies.
The presale of tickets suggests that the intentions of Cirque fans have not changed. “We continue to see ticket pre-sales that remain strong in all of our markets. Of course, from a financial governance perspective, we remain cautious in this macroeconomic context. »
The recovery will have allowed Cirque du Soleil to replenish its workforce at its international headquarters, located in Montreal. The confinement had forced the company to lay off the majority of its employees. The head office, which housed 1,558 workers in December 2019, only employed 200 people at the height of the pandemic.
With the resumption of activities, this number has gradually increased. There are now 945 workers at the company’s headquarters in Montreal.