Safe Bulkers, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2012 Results and Declares Quarterly Dividend
(firmenpresse) - ATHENS, GREECE -- (Marketwire) -- 05/08/12 -- Safe Bulkers, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE: SB), an international provider of marine drybulk transportation services, announced today its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. The Company's Board of Directors also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share for the first quarter of 2012.
Net revenue for the first quarter of 2012 increased by 4% to $44.1 million from $42.3 million during the same period in 2011.
Net income for the first quarter of 2012 decreased by 21% to $21.6 million from $27.3 million, during the same period in 2011. Adjusted net income(1) for the first quarter of 2012 decreased by 16% to $22.9 million from $27.4 million, during the same period in 2011.
EBITDA(2) for the first quarter of 2012 decreased by 11% to $30.7 million from $34.4 million during the same period in 2011. Adjusted EBITDA(1) for the first quarter of 2012 decreased by 7% to $31.9 million from $34.5 million during the same period in 2011.
Earnings per share ("EPS") and Adjusted EPS(1) for the first quarter of 2012 of $0.30 and $0.32 respectively, calculated on a weighted average number of shares of 71,868,950, compared to $0.41 and $0.42 in the first quarter 2011, calculated on a weighted average number of shares of 65,881,600.
The Company's Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.15 per share for the first quarter of 2012.
As of May 4, 2012, the Company's operational fleet was comprised of 20 drybulk vessels with an average age of 4.2 years and the Company had contracted to acquire nine newbuild drybulk vessels with deliveries scheduled at various times through 2014.
Set out below is a table showing our existing and newbuild vessels and their contracted employment:
The charter coverage(3) based on the Company's best estimates as of May 4, 2012 was:
As of May 4, 2012, the remaining capital expenditure requirements to shipyards or sellers, net of commissions for the delivery of the nine newbuilds, amounted to $236.8 million, of which $98.4 million is scheduled to be paid in 2012, $59.6 million in 2013 and $78.8 million in 2014.
As of May 4, 2012, the Company had $59.1 million in cash and short term time deposits, $5.4 million in long term restricted cash, and estimated aggregate borrowing capacity of $179.6 million, consisting of $38.0 million available in undrawn or committed loan facilities, $101.6 million available under existing revolving credit facilities and $40.0 million undrawn availability against our $50.0 million floating rate note.
Additionally, the Company has the operational cash flow supported by our contracted period time charters and the possibility to borrow additional amounts secured by one or more of the seven debt-free newbuild vessels, upon their delivery to us.
The Company's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend on the Company's common stock of $0.15 per share payable on or about May 31, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of trading of the Company's common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") on May 23, 2012.
The Company has 76,651,416 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of May 8, 2012.
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) our earnings, financial condition and cash requirements and available sources of liquidity, (ii) decisions in relation to our growth strategies, (iii) provisions of Marshall Islands and Liberian law governing the payment of dividends, (iv) restrictive covenants in our existing and future debt instruments and (v) global financial conditions. Dividends might not be paid in the future.
During March 2012, the Company consummated an underwritten public equity offering of 5,750,000 shares of common stock, which was priced at $6.50 per share to the public.
The total net proceeds to the Company from the offering, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses, were $35.3 million.
The Company plans to use the net proceeds of this offering for vessel acquisitions, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes, which may include repayment of indebtedness.
Dr. Loukas Barmparis, President of the Company, said: "Our Board of Directors has declared our sixteenth consecutive dividend since our IPO, continuing our policy to pay out a portion of the Company's free cash flow, while we reserve remaining free cash flow to finance our future development. Our financial position is supported by our charter coverage. In addition to our existing newbuild program, we may continue to expand or renew our current fleet by taking advantage of attractive vessel acquisition opportunities. Our newbuild strategy focuses on vessels with new, energy-efficient designs by leading shipyards that will comply with upcoming regulations and incorporate the latest technological and environmental advancements."
On Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 9:30 A.M. EDT, 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 May 16, 2012 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 are requested to register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.
Net income decreased by 21% to $21.6 million for the first quarter of 2012 from $27.3 million for the first quarter of 2011, mainly due to the following factors:
Net revenues: Net revenues increased by 4% to $44.1 million for the first quarter of 2012, compared to $42.3 million for the same period in 2011, mainly due to an increased number of operating days. The Company operated 18.88 vessels on average during the first quarter of 2012, earning a TCE rate of $24,890, compared to 16.00 vessels and a TCE rate of $29,322 during the same period in 2011.
Vessel operating expenses: Vessel operating expenses increased by 42% to $8.1 million for the first quarter of 2012, compared to $5.7 million for the same period in 2011. The increase in operating expenses is mainly attributable to an increase in ownership days by 19% to 1,718 days for the first quarter of 2012 from 1,440 days for the same period in 2011 and the initial cost of supplies of our two new newbuilds delivered in this period. Daily vessel operating expenses increased by 18% to $ 4,713 for the first quarter of 2012 compared to $3,989 for the same period in 2011, mainly due to increased supplies for the deliveries of our two newbuild vessels.
Depreciation: Depreciation increased to $7.3 million for the first quarter of 2012, compared to $5.6 million for the same period in 2011, as a result of the increase in the average number of vessels operated by the Company during the first quarter of 2012.
Voyage expenses: Voyage expenses increased to $1.3 million for the first quarter of 2012, compared to $0.1 million for the same period in 2011, as a result of expenses related to repositioning two vessels compared to none in the first quarter of 2011.
Loss on derivatives: Loss on derivatives increased to $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared to almost zero for the same period in 2011, 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 2.5 years as of March 31, 2012. The valuation of these interest rate swap transactions at the end of each quarter is affected by the prevailing interest rates at that time.
EBITDA represents net income before interest, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA before gain/(loss) on sale of assets, early redelivery income/(cost) and gain/(loss) on derivatives and 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/(loss) on sale of assets, early redelivery income/(cost) and gain/(loss) on derivatives and foreign currency, items which may vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to overall operating performance.
EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA 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, are not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies due to differences in methods of calculation.
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 is listed on the NYSE, where it trades under the symbol "SB". The Company's current fleet consists of 20 drybulk vessels, all built post-2003, and the Company has contracted to acquire nine additional drybulk newbuild vessels to be delivered at various times through 2014.
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, Adjusted EPS and Adjusted EBITDA represent Net Income, EPS and EBITDA before gain/(loss) on sale of assets, early redelivery income/(cost) and gain/(loss) on derivatives and foreign currency respectively. See Table 1.
(2) EBITDA represents net income plus interest expense, tax, depreciation and amortization. See Table 1.
(3) Charter coverage is defined as the ratio of total contracted days divided by the total ownership days for existing and newbuild vessels upon their delivery to us, for the referenced period.
Dr. Loukas Barmparis
President
Safe Bulkers, Inc.
Athens, Greece
Tel.: +30 (210) 899-4980
Fax: +30 (210) 895-4159
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: 08.05.2012 - 14:05 Uhr
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