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ICV CAPITAL PARTNERS ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF ENTERTAINMENT CRUISES
Combination of Premier Yachts, Inc. and Spirit Cruises Creates Nation’s Leading Dining and Entertainment Cruise Operator
NEW YORK, September 19, 2006 -- ICV Capital Partners, LLC (ICV), a private investment firm focused on investments in smaller middle market companies, announced today the formation of Entertainment Cruises Inc. with the combination of Spirit Cruises, LLC and portfolio company Premier Yachts, Inc., creating the leading operator of dining and entertainment cruises in the United States. Entertainment Cruises now has annual revenues of approximately $85 million and serves more than 1.5 million passengers each year.
Spirit Cruises, based in Norfolk, VA, is the largest operator of river and harbor dining and entertainment cruises in the United States with 12 vessels operating in New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Norfolk. Spirit began its operations in 1978 providing service in Norfolk and has grown significantly during the last 28 years. In 2005, approximately 1 million people cruised on Spirit vessels. Spirit’s regular cruises provide a buffet dinner, entertainment and dancing. Spirit’s Bateaux brand in New York is a European-style fine-dining event with a jazz theme aboard Manhattan’s only all-glass dining vessel.
Lloyd Metz, a principal at ICV, said, “This transaction is a great example of our strategy of investing in growing companies with leading market positions, strong brand recognition and experienced management teams. The dining and entertainment cruise sector is a fragmented industry and this combination of two strong players creates a clear market leader with additional opportunities to grow organically and by select add-on
acquisitions. We look forward to partnering with CEO Michael Higgins, and Lorna Donatone, both accomplished leaders at their respective companies.”
ICV recently completed its oversubscribed $313 million ICV Partners II. Both Premier Yachts and Spirit are Fund II investments.
Mr. Higgins, said, "I'm very excited about our new partnership with the Spirit organization and this transaction represents the next logical step in our strategic growth plan that creates a company capable of providing a range of entertainment services to a broad customer base. This is a good move for our industry that will help grow the overall dining and entertainment market.” He continued, "The support of our partners at ICV has been instrumental in the execution of our strategic vision and we look forward to working with Lorna to make our company better."
“The entire Spirit team is energized by our new affiliation with Entertainment Cruises and rarely does the opportunity present itself to create a company with such complementary talent and products,” said Ms Donatone, President of Spirit Cruises. “The essence of a Spirit cruise is a memorable experience and we have a particularly keen understanding of what people are seeking. All of us look forward to creating an exciting future for our employees, our customers and our shareholders.”
The transaction was financed with a $61 million senior debt facility from a syndicate led by Madison Capital Funding, LLC. Both Spirit and Premier Yachts management, as well as an investor group led by ICV, provided the cash equity. J.H. Chapman Group’s David Epstein and Robert Hill advised Entertainment Cruises and ICV. The J.H. Chapman Group is a leading investment bank specializing in the food and restaurant industries with offices in Chicago and Paris. Markus Bolsinger, Susan Zachman and Jason Quintana of Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisors to ICV.
About Spirit Cruises, LLC:
Spirit Cruises, LLC is the largest harbor cruise company in the United States and operates a fleet
of 12 ships cruising in seven of America's most popular port cities, including Boston, Chicago, New York
and Weehawken, NJ (New York Harbor), Norfolk, VA, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Spirit offers
lunch and dinner cruises that include energetic live song and dance entertainment, buffet dining, dancing
to a DJ and sightseeing. In addition to its Spirit vessels, it operates Bateaux New York, a luxury glass
dining yacht; and Elite Yacht Charters, which are private charter vessels. To learn more, go to the Spirit
Cruises website at www.spiritcruises.com.
About Entertainment Cruises, Inc:
Entertainment Cruises, Inc operates dining and entertainment cruises in Chicago, Boston and
Washington, D.C. Their Odyssey brand provides elegant, fine dining cruises with live entertainment and
dancing (www.odysseycruises.com). The Mystic Blue brand offers a more casual atmosphere with buffet
meals and DJ entertainment (www.MysticBlueCruises.com). Seadog brand offers excursion cruises in
turbo-charged speedboats that provide unparalled views of the Chicago skyline
(www.Seadogcruises.com). All three formats can be found at Chicago’s world famous Navy Pier while
Boston and Washington, DC customers enjoy the Odyssey offering from Rowe’s Wharf and Gangplank
Marina, respectively.
About ICV Capital Partners, LLC:
ICV Capital Partners is a private investment firm with over $440 million in committed capital
from well known institutional investors. ICV is investing from its $313 million second fund, ICV II.
ICV pursues a value-oriented investment strategy to invest in strong companies with market leading
positions in partnership with management. ICV is managed by four senior investment professionals who
have extensive experience in sponsoring management teams and building businesses. In addition, ICV
has two co-sponsors, the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (founded by Harvard Business School
Professor Michael E. Porter) and American Securities Capital Partners, L.P. (a $2 billion New York-based
private equity firm). Additional information is available at www.icvcapital.com.
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