Safe Bulkers, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2015 Results and Declares Quarterly Dividend on Common Stock
(firmenpresse) - MONACO -- (Marketwired) -- 06/08/15 -- Safe Bulkers, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE: SB), an international provider of marine drybulk transportation services, announced today its unaudited financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2015. The Board of Directors of the Company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.01 per share of the common stock for the first quarter of 2015.
Net revenue for the first quarter of 2015 decreased by 22% to $32.1 million from $41.3 million during the same period in 2014.
Net loss for the first quarter of 2015 was $6.0 million from net income of $11.2 million, during the same period in 2014. Adjusted net loss(1) for the first quarter of 2015 was $4.6 million from Adjusted net income of $8.6 million, during the same period in 2014.
EBITDA(2) for the first quarter of 2015 decreased by 68% to $7.6 million from $23.7 million during the same period in 2014. Adjusted EBITDA(3) for the first quarter of 2015 decreased by 57% to $9.1 million from $21.1 million during the same period in 2014.
Loss per share(4) and Adjusted loss per share(4) for the first quarter of 2015 was $0.11 and $0.10 respectively, calculated on a weighted average number of shares of 83,462,059, compared to earnings per share(4) ("EPS") of $0.13 and Adjusted EPS of $0.09 in the first quarter 2014, calculated on a weighted average number of shares of 83,441,135.
The Board of Directors of Company declared a dividend of $0.01 per share for the first quarter of 2015.
In January 2015, the Company took delivery of Kypros Bravery (Hull No. 822), a 78,000 dwt, Japanese eco-design newbuild Panamax class vessel. Upon her delivery, the vessel was employed in the spot charter market.
In March 2015, the Company took delivery of Kypros Sky (Hull No. 1689), a 77,100 dwt, Japanese eco-design newbuild Panamax class vessel. Upon her delivery, the vessel was employed on a 10 year charter at an average net daily charter hire rate of $15,400.
We are currently in discussions with the builder of Hull No. 1148 for a number of outstanding issues, upon the successful completion of which, we expect to take delivery of the vessel.
As of June 4, 2015 the Company's operational fleet comprised of 34 drybulk vessels with an average age of 5.9 years and an aggregate carrying capacity of 3.1 million dwt. The fleet consists of 13 Panamax class vessels, 7 Kamsarmax class vessels, 11 Post-Panamax class vessels and 3 Capesize class vessels, all built from 2003 onwards.
As of June 4, 2015, the Company had contracted to acquire 10 eco-design newbuild vessels, comprised of 3 Japanese Panamax class vessels, 3 Japanese Post-Panamax class vessels, 2 Japanese Kamsarmax class vessels and 2 Chinese Kamsarmax class vessels. Upon delivery of all of our newbuilds, assuming we do not acquire any additional vessels or dispose of any of our vessels, our fleet will comprise of 44 vessels, 15 of which will be eco-design vessels, having an aggregate carrying capacity of 3.9 million dwt.
Set out below is a table showing the contracted employment of the Company's vessels as of June 4, 2015:
The contracted employment of fleet ownership days as of June 4, 2015 was:
As of March 31, 2015, the Company had agreed to acquire 10 newbuild vessels, with two to be delivered in 2015; four to be delivered in 2016, three to be delivered in 2017 and one to be delivered in 2018. The remaining capital expenditure requirements to shipyards or sellers for the delivery of these 10 newbuilds, before minor adjustments for shipyards' costs related to such delayed deliveries, amounted to $259.5 million, of which $77.6 million was scheduled to be paid in 2015, $91.7 million in 2016, $69.9 million in 2017 and $20.3 million in 2018.
As of March 31, 2015, the Company had liquidity of $430.7 million consisting of $90.9 million in cash, $40.7 million in restricted cash, $95.1 million available under existing revolving credit facilities, $16.0 million available under a committed loan facility for one delivered vessel and $188.0 million under committed loan facilities for 10 newbuild vessels.
As of March 31, 2015, the Company was not in compliance with the covenants of two out of fifteen of its loan facilities in relation to the ratio of the fair market value of the security vessels versus the loan outstandings. We have subsequently restored compliance of the covenants in both cases, the first with the placement of additional collateral liquidity and the second after committing to refinance the loan facility.
The Board of Directors of the Company declared a cash dividend on the Company's common stock of $0.01 per share payable on or about June 26, 2015 to shareholders of record at the close of trading of the Company's common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") on June 19, 2015.
The Company has 83,466,179 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of today's date.
The Board of Directors of the Company is continuing a policy of paying out a portion of the Company's free cash flow at a level it considers prudent in light of the current economic and financial environment. The declaration and payment of dividends, if any, will always be subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company. The timing and amount of any dividends declared will depend on, among other things: (i) the Company's earnings, financial condition and cash requirements and available sources of liquidity, (ii) decisions in relation to the Company's growth strategies, (iii) provisions of Marshall Islands and Liberian law governing the payment of dividends, (iv) restrictive covenants in the Company's existing and future debt instruments and (v) global financial conditions. Accordingly, dividends might be reduced or not be paid in the future.
Dr. Loukas Barmparis, President of the Company, said: "We have reduced our quarterly dividend to $0.01 per common share in line with the present weak charter market conditions, which have now lasted for more than one year. We have a strong balance sheet and lean operations targeting to preserve our liquidity throughout the adverse part of the shipping cycle."
On Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. ET, the Company's management team will host a conference call to discuss the financial results.
Participants should dial into the call 10 minutes before the scheduled time using the following numbers: 1 (866) 819-7111 (US Toll Free Dial In), 0(800) 953-0329 (UK Toll Free Dial In) or +44 (0)1452-542-301 (Standard International Dial In). to the operator.
A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available until June 16, 2015 by dialing 1 (866) 247-4222 (US Toll Free Dial In), 0(800) 953-1533 (UK Toll Free Dial In) or +44 (0)1452 550-000 (Standard International Dial In). Access Code: 1859591#
There will also be a live, and then archived, webcast of the conference call, available through the Company's website (). Participants in the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.
Net loss was $6.0 million for the first quarter of 2015 compared to net income of $11.2 million for the first quarter of 2014, mainly due to the following factors:
Net revenues: Net revenues decreased by 22% to $32.1 million for the first quarter of 2015, compared to $41.3 million for the same period in 2014, mainly due to a decrease in charter rates. The Company operated 32.72 vessels on average during the first quarter of 2015, earning a TCE(5) rate of $9,440, compared to 29.86 vessels and a TCE rate of $13,921 during the same period in 2014.
Voyage expenses: Voyage expenses increased by 9% to $4.8 million for the first quarter of 2015 compared to $4.4 million for the same period in 2014, mainly due to an increase in the vessels' repositioning expenses.
Vessel operating expenses: Vessel operating expenses increased by 13% to $14.3 million for the first quarter of 2015, compared to $12.6 million for the same period in 2014. The increase in operating expenses is mainly attributable to an increase in ownership days by 10% to 2,945 days for the first quarter of 2015 from 2,687 days for the same period in 2014.
Depreciation: Depreciation increased to $11.1 million for the first quarter of 2015, compared to $10.3 million for the same period in 2014, as a result of the increase in the average number of vessels owned by the Company during the first quarter of 2015.
Loss from inventory valuation: Loss from inventory valuation amounted to $0.5 million for the first quarter of 2015, compared to nil for the same period in 2014, resulting from the valuation of the bunkers remaining on board our vessels, which was affected by the decline of bunker market prices during the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.
Gain on asset purchase cancellation: During the first quarter of 2014, we recorded a gain on asset purchase cancellation, of $3.6 million, which related to the cancellation of the newbuild Hull J1031. There was no such instance during the first quarter of 2015.
Loss on derivatives: Loss on derivatives increased to $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2015, compared to a loss of $0.4 million for the same period in 2014, as a result of the mark-to-market valuation of the Company's interest rate swap transactions that we employ to manage the risk and interest rate exposure of our loan and credit facilities. These swaps economically hedge the interest rate exposure of the Company's aggregate loans outstanding. The average remaining period of our swap contracts was 2.4 years as of March 31, 2015. The valuation of these interest rate swap transactions at the end of each quarter is affected by the prevailing interest rates at that time.
Daily vessel operating expenses(6): Daily vessel operating expenses increased by 4% to $4,872 for the first quarter of 2015 compared to $4,707 for the same period in 2014, mainly due to increase of repairs, maintenance, dry-docking costs and tonnage taxes.
Daily general and administrative expenses(6): General and administrative expenses, which include fixed and variable management fees payable to our Manager(7) and daily costs incurred in relation to our operation as a public company, decreased by 2% to $1,096 for the first quarter of 2015, compared to $1,118 for the same period in 2014.
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income available to common shareholders and Adjusted EPS are not recognized measurements under US GAAP.
Adjusted Net Income represents Net income/(loss) before gain on asset purchase cancellation, early redelivery cost, loss from inventory valuation, loss on derivatives and (loss)/gain on foreign currency.
Adjusted Net Income available to common shareholders represents Adjusted Net Income less preferred dividend.
EBITDA represents Net income/(loss) before interest, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA before gain on asset purchase cancellation, early redelivery cost, loss from inventory valuation, loss on derivatives and (loss)/gain on foreign currency. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not recognized measurements under US GAAP. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA assist the Company's management and investors by increasing the comparability of the Company's fundamental performance from period to period and against the fundamental performance of other companies in the Company's industry that provide EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA information. The Company believes that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are useful in evaluating the Company's operating performance compared to that of other companies in the Company's industry because the calculation of EBITDA generally eliminates the effects of financings, income taxes and the accounting effects of capital expenditures and acquisitions and the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA generally further eliminates the effects from gain on asset purchase cancellation, early redelivery cost, loss from inventory valuation, loss on derivatives and (loss)/gain on foreign currency, items which may vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to overall operating performance.
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income available to common shareholders and Adjusted Earnings per share have limitations as analytical tools, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported under US GAAP. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as substitutes for net income and other operations data prepared in accordance with US GAAP or as a measure of profitability. While EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are frequently used as measures of operating results and performance, they are not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies due to differences in methods of calculation.
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The Company is an international provider of marine drybulk transportation services, transporting bulk cargoes, particularly coal, grain and iron ore, along worldwide shipping routes for some of the world's largest users of marine drybulk transportation services. The Company's common stock, series B preferred stock, series C preferred stock and series D preferred stock are listed on the NYSE, and trade under the symbols "SB", "SB.PR.B", "SB.PR.C", and "SB.PR.D" respectively. The Company's current fleet consists of 34 drybulk vessels, all built 2003 onwards, and the Company has agreed to acquire 10 additional drybulk newbuild vessels to be delivered at various dates through 2018.
This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, and in Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events, the Company's growth strategy and measures to implement such strategy, including expected vessel acquisitions and entering into further time charters. Words such as "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "anticipates," "hopes," "estimates" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, changes in the demand for drybulk vessels, competitive factors in the market in which the Company operates, risks associated with operations outside the United States and other factors listed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.
(1) Adjusted net income/(loss) is a non-GAAP measure. Adjusted net income/(loss) represents Net income/(loss) before gain on asset purchase cancellation, early redelivery cost, loss from inventory valuation, loss on derivatives and (loss)/gain on foreign currency. See Table 1.
(2) EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure and represents Net income/(loss) plus net interest expense, tax, depreciation and amortization.
(3) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure and represents EBITDA before gain on asset purchase cancellation, early redelivery income/(cost), loss from inventory valuation, loss on derivatives and (loss)/gain on foreign currency. See Table 1.
(4) Earnings/(Loss) per share and Adjusted earnings/(Loss) per share represent Net income/(loss) and Adjusted net income/loss less preferred dividend divided by the weighted average number of shares respectively. See Table 1.
(5) Time charter equivalent rates, or TCE rates, represent the Company's charter revenues less commissions and voyage expenses during a period divided by the number of our available days during the period.
(6) See Table 2.
(7) Safety Management Overseas S.A., referred to in this press release as our "Manager".
Dr. Loukas Barmparis
President
Safe Bulkers, Inc.
Athens, Greece
Tel.: +30 2 111 888 400
Fax: +30 2 111 878 500
E-Mail:
Nicolas Bornozis, President
Capital Link, Inc.
230 Park Avenue, Suite 1536
New York, N.Y. 10169
Tel.: (212) 661-7566
Fax: (212) 661-7526
E-Mail:
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Datum: 08.06.2015 - 20:02 Uhr
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