Press Releases
Euroseas Ltd. Reports Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2016
Maroussi, Athens, Greece - May 24, 2016 - Euroseas Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESEA), an owner and operator of drybulk and container carrier vessels and provider of seaborne transportation for drybulk and containerized cargoes, announced today its results for the three month period ended March 31, 2016.
First Quarter 2016 Highlights:
•Total net revenues of $6.5 million. Net loss of $2.8 million; net loss attributable to common shareholders (after a $0.4 million of dividend on Series B Preferred Shares) of $3.3 million or $0.40 loss per share basic and diluted. Adjusted net loss attributable to common shareholders1 for the period was $3.0 million or $0.38 loss per share basic and diluted.
•Adjusted EBITDA1 was ($0.1) million.
•An average of 11.54 vessels were owned and operated during the first quarter of 2016 earning an average time charter equivalent rate of $6,565 per day.
•The Company declared its ninth dividend of $0.4 million on its Series B Preferred shares; the dividend was paid in-kind by issuing additional Series B Preferred Shares.
•Finally, as previously announced, the Company sold its vessel, M/V Captain Costas, a 1992-built containership for scrap for approximately $2.8 million in gross proceeds. The vessel was delivered to its buyers in May 2016.
1Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net loss and Adjusted loss per share are not recognized measurements under GAAP. Refer to a subsequent section of the Press Release for the definitions and reconciliation of these measurements to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Aristides Pittas, Chairman and CEO of Euroseas commented: "The beginning of 2016 found both the drybulk and containership markets at historical low levels with drybulk rates in particular staying below operating cost levels. While the drybulk market improved in April, it has given up some of the gains in May with rates currently hovering around operating cost levels. Containership rates for our vessels are just above operating cost levels having not recovered after the Chinese New Year as it was expected. In midst of such a challenging environment, a significant supply side correction is under way, especially in the drybulk sector, with high levels of scrapping but more importantly with cancellation of newbuilding projects. These reactions alongside the very low level of new orders placed provide the best hope for the medium term recovery of the markets. In the absence of a meaningful recovery of demand, which depends mainly on developments in China for the drybulk market and Europe for the containership one, we expect both segments to struggle to find a clear direction in the remaining of the year.
"We have been focusing in managing our cash flow and liquidity due to the dire markets but at the same time trying to take advantage of this very market to renew our fleet most optimally. In February, we refinanced part of our indebtedness extending the maturity and reducing debt repayments; our efforts in this front are continuing and promising. Also, in February, we took delivery of our first Kamsarmax newbuilding, M/V Xenia, which commenced a four-year charter at a daily rate significantly above the present market levels. We expect to take delivery of two of the remaining vessels of our newbuilding program, two Ultramaxes, in 2016 according to the schedule provided by the yard. The remaining third vessel of our newbuilding program, a Kamsarmax, is scheduled for 2018. On the investment front, we are looking for opportunities to replace our older vessels with vessels several years younger with minimal incremental investment as prices for vessels older than 15-years, especially containerships, have been squeezed around scrap prices. In that context, we sold in May our vessel M/V Captain Costas, one of our eldest containerships; we intend to replace it with a vessel several years younger and looking for opportunities to that respect."
Tasos Aslidis, Chief Financial Officer of Euroseas commented: "The results of the first quarter of 2016 reflect the continued depressed state of the drybulk and container markets. Comparing our results for the first quarter of 2016 with the same period of 2015, our net revenues declined by about $1.6 million and incurred $0.1 million lower voyage expenses. Operating expenses, including management fees and general and administrative expenses decreased by approximately $2.4 million as compared to the first quarter of 2015. This was mainly due to the operation of 11.54 vessels during the first quarter of 2016 versus 15 vessels during the same period of last year; on a per-vessel-per-day basis, operating expenses, including management fees and general and administrative expenses declined by 6.3% during the first quarter of 2016 as compared to the same period in 2015. General and administrative expenses, which increased by about $0.03 million (i.e. 3.3%) as compared to the first quarter of 2015, show a larger increase if expressed on a per-vessel-per-day basis again due to the fewer vessels operated during the quarter. We believe that we continue to maintain one of the lowest operating cost structures amongst the public shipping companies which, we believe, is one of our competitive advantages.
"Adjusted EBITDA during the first quarter of 2016 was ($0.1) million versus $(1.8) million in the first quarter of last year.
"As of March 31, 2016, our outstanding debt (excluding the unamortized loan fees) is about $55.0 million versus restricted and unrestricted cash of about $12.6 million. We are compliance with all our loan covenants subject to finalization of documentation of an in-principle agreement for the relaxation of loan-to-value covenant with certain of our banks."
First Quarter 2016 Results:
For the first quarter of 2016, the Company reported total net revenues of $6.5 million representing a 20.0% decrease over total net revenues of $8.2 million during the first quarter of 2015. The Company reported a net loss for the period of $2.8 million and a net loss attributable to common shareholders of $3.3 million, as compared to a net loss of $5.4 million and $5.8 million respectively for the first quarter of 2015. The results for the first quarter of 2016 include a $0.1 million unrealized loss on derivatives and a $0.1 million realized loss on derivatives, similar to the same period of 2015. There were no drydocking expenses during the first quarter of the year 2016 as compared to $0.5 million for the first quarter of 2015. Depreciation expense for the first quarter of 2016 amounts to $2.1 million compared to $2.9 million for the same period of 2015. On average, 11.54 vessels were owned and operated during the first quarter of 2016 earning an average time charter equivalent rate of $6,565 per day compared to 15.00 vessels in the same period of 2015 earning on average $6,501 per day.
Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2016 was ($0.1) million up from $(1.8) million achieved during the first quarter of 2015. Please see below for Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation to net loss and cash flow provided by operating activities.
Basic and diluted loss per share for the first quarter of 2016 was $0.40, calculated on 8,104,860 weighted average number of shares outstanding compared to basic and diluted loss per share of $1.00 for the first quarter of 2015, calculated on 5,783,231 weighted average number of shares outstanding.
Excluding the effect on the loss for the quarter of the unrealized loss and realized loss on derivatives, the adjusted loss per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 would have been $0.38 per share basic and diluted, compared to the loss, for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 of $0.97 per share basic and diluted. Usually, security analysts do not include the above items in their published estimates of earnings per share.
Fleet Profile:
The Euroseas Ltd. fleet profile including newbuild and secondhand vessels we agreed to construct or acquire is as follows:
Note: (*) Vessels are to be delivered in the second and third quarter of 2016 (two Ultramaxes) and first quarter of 2018 (Kamsarmax).
Summary Fleet Data:
(1) Average number of vessels is the number of vessels that constituted the Company's fleet for the relevant period, as measured by the sum of the number of calendar days each vessel was a part of the Company's fleet during the period divided by the number of calendar days in that period.
(2) Calendar days. We define calendar days as the total number of days in a period during which each vessel in our fleet was in our possession including off-hire days associated with major repairs, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys or days of vessels in lay-up. Calendar days are an indicator of the size of our fleet over a period and affect both the amount of revenues and the amount of expenses that we record during that period.
(3) The scheduled off-hire days including vessels laid-up are days associated with scheduled repairs, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys or days of vessels in lay-up.
(4) Available days. We define available days as the total number of days in a period during which each vessel in our fleet was in our possession net of scheduled off-hire days. We use available days to measure the number of days in a period during which vessels were available to generate revenues.
(5) Commercial off-hire days. We define commercial off-hire days as days waiting to find employment.
(6) Operational off-hire days. We define operational off-hire days as days associated with unscheduled repairs or other off-hire time related to the operation of the vessels.
(7) Voyage days. We define voyage days as the total number of days in a period during which each vessel in our fleet was in our possession net of commercial and operational off-hire days. We use voyage days to measure the number of days in a period during which vessels actually generate revenues.
(8) Fleet utilization. We calculate fleet utilization by dividing the number of our voyage days during a period by the number of our available days during that period. We use fleet utilization to measure a company's efficiency in finding suitable employment for its vessels and minimizing the amount of days that its vessels are off-hire for reasons such as unscheduled repairs or days waiting to find employment.
(9) Fleet utilization, commercial. We calculate commercial fleet utilization by dividing our available days net of commercial off-hire days during a period by our available days during that period.
(10) Fleet utilization, operational. We calculate operational fleet utilization by dividing our available days net of operational off-hire days during a period by our available days during that period.
(11) Time charter equivalent, or TCE, is a measure of the average daily revenue performance of a vessel on a per voyage basis. Our method of calculating TCE is determined by dividing revenue generated from voyage charters net of voyage expenses by voyage days for the relevant time period. Voyage expenses primarily consist of port, canal and fuel costs that are unique to a particular voyage, which would otherwise be paid by the charterer under a time charter contract. TCE is a standard shipping industry performance measure used primarily to compare period-to-period changes in a shipping company's performance despite changes in the mix of charter types (i.e., spot voyage charters, time charters and bareboat charters) under which the vessels may be employed between the periods.
(12) Daily vessel operating expenses, which includes crew costs, provisions, deck and engine stores, lubricating oil, insurance, maintenance and repairs and management fees are calculated by dividing vessel operating expenses by fleet calendar days for the relevant time period. Drydocking expenses are reported separately.
(13) Daily general and administrative expense is calculated by dividing general and administrative expense by fleet calendar days for the relevant time period.
(14) Total vessel operating expenses, or TVOE, is a measure of our total expenses associated with operating our vessels. TVOE is the sum of vessel operating expenses excluding drydocking expenses and general and administrative expenses. Daily TVOE is calculated by dividing TVOE by fleet calendar days for the relevant time period.
(15) Drydocking expenses, which include expenses during drydockings that would have been capitalized and amortized under the deferral method divided by the fleet calendar days for the relevant period. Drydocking expenses could vary substantially from period to period depending on how many vessels underwent drydocking during the period.
Conference Call and Webcast:
Later today, Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time, the Company's management will host a conference call to discuss the results.
Conference Call details:
Participants should dial into the call 10 minutes before the scheduled time using the following numbers: 1 866 819 7111 (from the US), 0800 953 0329 (from the UK) or +44 (0)1452 542 301 (international standard dial in). Please quote "Euroseas".
A replay of the conference call will be available until May 31, 2016. The United States replay number is 1(866) 247-4222; from the UK 0(800) 953-1533; the standard international replay number is (+44) (0) 1452 550 000 and the access code required for the replay is: 6973591#.
Audio webcast - Slides Presentation:
There will be a live and then archived audio webcast of the conference call, via the internet through the Euroseas website (www.euroseas.gr). Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast. A slide presentation on the First Quarter 2016 results in PDF format will also be available 10 minutes prior to the conference call and webcast accessible on the company's website (www.euroseas.gr) on the webcast page. Participants to the webcast can download the PDF presentation.
Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations
(All amounts expressed in U.S. Dollars except number of shares)
Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(All amounts expressed in U.S. Dollars - except number of shares)
(1) We have adopted the Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2015-03, Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30), Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, in the first quarter of 2016 and have retrospectively adjusted prior period current and long-term debt by $124,234 and $158,338, respectively. The guidance simplifies the presentation of debt issuance costs by requiring debt issuance costs to be presented as a deduction from the corresponding liability, consistent with debt discounts, instead of presenting debt issuance costs as long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
(2) The Company has not taken into consideration the debt restructuring of certain of its debt for which the documentation is currently being finalized.
Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(All amounts expressed in U.S. Dollars)
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to
Net Loss and Cash Flow Provided By / (Used In) Operating Activities
(All amounts expressed in U.S. Dollars)
Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation:
Euroseas Ltd. considers Adjusted EBITDA to represent net earnings / (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, gain / loss in derivatives. Adjusted EBITDA does not represent and should not be considered as an alternative to net income /(loss) or cash flow from operations, as determined by United States generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP, and the Company's calculation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to that reported by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA is included herein because it is a basis upon which the Company assesses its financial performance and liquidity position and because the Company believes that it presents useful information to investors regarding a company's ability to service and/or incur indebtedness. The Company's definition of Adjusted EBITDA may not be the same as that used by other companies in the shipping or other industries.
Reconciliation of Net loss to Adjusted net loss
(All amounts expressed in U.S. Dollars except share data and per share amounts)
"Adjusted net loss" and "Adjusted net loss per share" Reconciliation:
Euroseas Ltd. considers "Adjusted net loss" to represent net loss before gain / loss on derivatives. "Adjusted net loss" and "Adjusted net loss per share" is included herein because we believe it assists our management and investors by increasing the comparability of the Company's fundamental performance from period to period by excluding the potentially disparate effects between periods of gain / loss on derivatives, which items may significantly affect results of operations between periods.
"Adjusted Net loss" and "Adjusted net loss per share" do not represent and should not be considered as an alternative to net loss or loss per share, as determined by U.S. GAAP, The Company's definition of "Adjusted net loss" and "Adjusted net loss per share" may not be the same as that used by other companies in the shipping or other industries.
About Euroseas Ltd.
Euroseas Ltd. was formed on May 5, 2005 under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to consolidate the ship owning interests of the Pittas family of Athens, Greece, which has been in the shipping business over the past 136 years. Euroseas trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the ticker ESEA since January 31, 2007.
Euroseas operates in the dry cargo, drybulk and container shipping markets. Euroseas' operations are managed by Eurobulk Ltd., an ISO 9001:2008 certified affiliated ship management company which is responsible for the day-to-day commercial and technical management and operations of the vessels. Euroseas employs its vessels on spot and period charters and through pool arrangements.
The Company has a fleet of 11 vessels, including 3 Panamax drybulk carriers, 1 Handymax drybulk carrier and 1 Kamsarmax drybulk carrier, 2 Intermediate containership, 2 Handysize containerships, 2 Feeder containerships. Euroseas 5 drybulk carriers have a total cargo capacity of 351,272 dwt, its 6 containerships have a cargo capacity of 10,086 teu. The Company has also signed contracts for the construction of two Ultramax (63,500 dwt) fuel efficient drybulk carriers and one extra Kamsarmax (82,000 dwt) fuel efficient drybulk carrier. Including the three new-buildings, the total cargo capacity of the Company's drybulk vessels will be 560,272 dwt.
Forward Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events and 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 dry bulk vessels and container ships, 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 publicly 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.
Visit the Company's website www.euroseas.gr
Company Contact
Tasos Aslidis
Chief Financial Officer
Euroseas Ltd.
11 Canterbury Lane,
Watchung, NJ 07069
Tel. (908) 301-9091
E-mail: aha@euroseas.gr
Investor Relations / Financial Media
Nicolas Bornozis
President
Capital Link, Inc.
230 Park Avenue, Suite 1536
New York, NY 10169
Tel. (212) 661-7566
E-mail: euroseas@capitallink.com