ATHENS, Greece, May 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- TOP Tankers Inc (Nasdaq: TOPT) today announced its operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2007.
For the three months ended March 31, 2007, the Company reported net income of $947,000, or $0.03 per share, compared with net income of $30,161,000, or $1.05 per share, for the first quarter of 2006. The weighted average numbers of basic shares used in the computations were 32,331,129 and 28,099,212 for the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively. The results for the first quarter of 2007 and 2006 include net (revenues) / charges of ($980,000), or ($0.03) per share and $2,672,000, or $0.10 per share, respectively, of special items(1) that affected the Company's net income for the first quarter of 2007 and 2006 that are typically excluded by securities analysts in their published estimates of the Company's financial results, which are described in Appendix A of this release. For the three months ended March 31, 2007, operating income was $1,396,000, compared with operating income of $37,970,000 for the first quarter of 2006. Adjusted EBITDA(1) for the first quarter of 2007 was $10,787,000, compared with $55,607,000 for the first quarter of 2006. Voyage revenues for the first quarter of 2007 were $73,988,000, compared to $101,746,000 recorded in the first quarter of 2006.
Evangelos J. Pistiolis, President and Chief Executive Officer of TOP Tankers Inc, commented, "During the first quarter of 2007, we focused on improving the quality of our fleet management by bringing more vessels back under our own full management. We are also exploring various plans to reduce our financial expenses and otherwise increase our shareholders value. Lastly, in order to increase the trading liquidity of our stock, we have proposed to our Annual General Meeting of Shareholders the 2:1 reverse split of our stock."
The following key indicators serve to highlight changes in the financial performance of the Company's fleet during the first quarters ended March 31, 2006 and 2007:
Suezmax Fleet
Three Months Ended March 31,
(In U.S. Dollars unless otherwise stated) 2006 2007 Change
Total available ship days 1,170 1,170 0.0%
Total operating days 1,112 1,084 -2.5%
Utilization 95.0% 92.6% -2.5%
TCE(2) per ship per day under spot voyage
charter 61,802 38,565 -37.6%
TCE per ship per day under time charter 39,108 35,123 -10.2%
Average TCE 52,741 37,428 -29.0%
Other vessel operating expenses per ship
per day 7,634 8,231* 7.8%
Handymax Fleet
Three Months Ended March 31,
(In U.S. Dollars unless otherwise stated) 2006 2007 Change
Total available ship days 1,260 990 -21.4%
Total operating days 1,236 911 -26.3%
Utilization 98.1% 92.0% -6.2%
TCE per ship per day under spot voyage
charter -- -- --
TCE per ship per day under time charter 21,735 20,279 -6.7%
Average TCE 21,735 20,279 -6.7%
Other vessel operating expenses per ship
per day 5,397 6,576 21.9%
Total Fleet
Three Months Ended March 31,
(In U.S. Dollars unless otherwise stated) 2006 2007 Change
Total available ship days 2,430 2,160 -11.1%
Total operating days 2,348 1,995 -15.0%
Utilization 96.6% 92.4% -4.4%
TCE per ship per day under spot voyage
charter 61,802 38,565 -37.6%
TCE per ship per day under time charter 26,326 24,467 -7.1%
Average TCE 36,419 29,597 -18.7%
Other vessel operating expenses per ship
per day 6,474 7,473* 15.4%
General and administrative expenses per
ship per day** 3,024 2,406 -20.4%
* The daily Other vessel operating expenses for the Suezmax Fleet and
Total Fleet include approximately $332 and $180, respectively for the
ballast tank cleaning process of the M/T Faultless, that are not
expected to be covered by the insurance underwriters.
** The daily General and Administrative expenses include approximately
$1,630 and $218 for the first quarter of 2006 and 2007, respectively,
of non-cash restricted stock expense, general compensation provision,
specific legal and auditing fees and depreciation for other fixed
assets.
Fleet Report:
As of March 31, 2007, the Company's fleet size was 24 vessels, or 2.5 million dwt (including 18 vessels sold and leased back for a period of 5 to 7 years) as compared to 27 vessels, or 2.6 million dwt on March 31, 2006.
In April 2007, the Company sold the Suezmax tanker M/T Errorless for $52.5 million, resulting in a book gain of $2.0 million, which will be recognized in the second quarter of 2007. The vessel was delivered to its new owners on April 30, 2007.
Fleet Deployment:
During the first quarter of 2007, the Company had approximately 64% of the fleet's operating days on long-term employment contracts. Fifteen of the Company's 24 tankers were on time charter contracts with an average term of over three years with all but three of the time charters including profit sharing agreements.
On May 16, 2007, the Company announced a new time charter contract with a major South American oil company for its Suezmax M/T Flawless. The vessel is expected to earn approximately $44,500 net per day, for one year and charterers have the option to extend the contract for an additional one year.
The Company has secured approximately 63% of the estimated operating days for 2007 under time charter contracts. At the same time, the seven Suezmaxes that will operate in the spot market, together with the profit sharing component of the time charter contracts, expose approximately 55% of the Company's estimated operating days for 2007 to spot rates, which may be potentially higher.
Suezmax Fleet:
During the first quarter of 2007, nine of the Company's Suezmax tankers operated in the spot market, earning on average $38,565 per vessel per day on a time charter equivalent (TCE) basis.
During the first quarter of 2007, four of the Company's Suezmax tankers operated under time charter contracts, earning on average $35,123 per vessel per day on a time charter equivalent (TCE) basis.
As of the date of this release, the Company's Suezmax fleet for the second quarter of 2007 has been fixed for employment as follows:
Spot: 52% of operating days at average daily TCE of $45,000
Total (Spot and time charter, including profit sharing): 67% of operating
days at average daily TCE of $41,000.
Handymax Fleet:
All of the Company's Handymax tankers operate under long term employment agreements that provide for a base rate and additional profit-sharing.
During the first quarter of 2007, including the profit-sharing allocated to the Company the Handymax fleet earned on average $20,279 per vessel per day on a time charter equivalent (TCE) basis.
As of the date of this release, the Company's Handymax fleet for the second quarter of 2007 has been fixed for 66% of its operating days at average daily TCE of $21,000.
The following table presents the Company's expected fleet list and
employment:
Daily Profit Sharing
Year Charter Base Above Base
Dwt Built Type Expiry Rate Rate (2007)
12 Suezmax
Tankers
Timeless(C) 154,970 1991 Spot
Time
Flawless(C) 154,970 1991 Charter Q3/2008(A) $44,500 None
Stopless(C) 154,970 1991 Spot
Time 50%
Priceless(C) 154,970 1991 Charter Q3/2008 $35,000 thereafter
Faultless(D) 154,970 1992 Spot
Time
Noiseless(D) 149,554 1992 Charter Q2/2010 $37,000(1) None
Stainless(D) 149,599 1992 Spot
Time
Endless(D) 135,915 1992 Charter Q4/2008(E) $36,500 None
Limitless(D) 136,055 1993 Spot
Time
Stormless 150,038 1993 Charter Q4/2009 $36,900 None
Ellen P. 146,286 1996 Spot
Edgeless 147,048 1994 Spot
11 Handymax
Tankers
Time 50%
Victorious(B) 47,084 1991 Charter Q3/2009 $14,000 thereafter
Time 50%
Sovereign(B) 47,084 1992 Charter Q3/2009 $14,000 thereafter
Time 50%
Invincible(B) 47,084 1992 Charter Q3/2009 $14,000 thereafter
Time 50%
Relentless(B) 47,084 1992 Charter Q3/2009 $14,000 thereafter
Time 50%
Vanguard(C) 47,084 1992 Charter Q1/2010 $15,250 thereafter
Time 50%
Restless(B) 47,084 1991 Charter Q4/2009 $15,250 thereafter
Time 50%
Spotless(C) 47,094 1991 Charter Q1/2010 $15,250 thereafter
Time 50%
Doubtless(C) 47,076 1991 Charter Q1/2010 $15,250 thereafter
100% first
Time $500 + 50%
Faithful(C) 45,720 1992 Charter Q2/2010 $14,500 thereafter
100% first
Time $1,000 + 50%
Dauntless 46,168 1999 Charter Q1/2010 $16,250 thereafter
100% first
Time $1,000 + 50%
Ioannis P. 46,346 2003 Charter Q4/2010 $18,000 thereafter
Total
Tanker
DWT 2,304,253
A. Charterers have option to extend contract for an additional one-year
period
B. Vessels sold and leased back in August and September 2005 for a period
of 7 years
C. Vessels sold and leased back in March 2006 for a period of 5 years
D. Vessels sold and leased back in April 2006 for a period of 7 years
E. Charterers have option to extend contract for an additional four-year
period
1. Base rate will change to $36,000 in Q2 2007 and $35,000 in Q2 2008
until expiration.
Credit Facility
As of March 31, 2007, TOP Tankers had total indebtedness under senior secured credit facilities of $225.7 million with its lenders, the Royal Bank of Scotland ("RBS") and HSH Nordbank ("HSH"), maturing in 2015 and 2013 respectively.
As of March 31, 2007, the Company has three interest rate swap agreements with RBS for the amounts of $31.7 million, $10 million and $10 million for a period of four, seven and seven years, respectively. Under these agreements the interest rate is fixed at an effective annual rate of 4.66% (in addition to the applicable margin), 4.23% and 4.11%, respectively. The Company also has one interest rate swap agreement with HSH for the amount of $40.2 million for a period of five years, at a fixed interest rate of 4.80% in addition to the applicable margin. In addition, the Company has two interest rate swap agreements with Deutsche Bank and Egnatia Bank for the amounts of $50 million and $10 million for a period of seven and seven years, respectively. Under these agreements the interest rate is fixed at an effective annual rate of 4.45% and 4.76%, respectively. The above swaps of $10 million, $10 million, $50 million and $10 million, include steepening terms based on the 2 and 10 year swap difference, which is calculated quarterly in arrears. The interest rate for the remaining balance of the loans is LIBOR, plus the margin.
On March 31, 2007, the Company's ratio of indebtedness to total capital was approximately 53.0%.
Conference Call and Webcast
TOP Tankers' management team will host a conference call to review the results and discuss other corporate news and its outlook on Thursday, May 17, 2007, at 11:00 AM EDT.
Participants should dial into the call 10-15 minutes before the scheduled time using the following numbers: 877 407 8035 (from the US and Canada) or +1 201 689 8035 (from outside the US and Canada). A live webcast of the conference call will also be accessible via the Internet at www.toptankers.com, or by going to www.investorcalendar.com.
The telephonic replay of the conference call will be available by dialing 877 660-6853 (from the US and Canada) or +1 201 612-7415 (from outside the US and Canada) and by entering account number 286 and conference ID number 242486. An online archive will also be available immediately following the call at the sites noted above. Both are available for one week, through May 24, 2007.
About TOP Tankers Inc
TOP Tankers Inc is an international provider of worldwide seaborne crude oil and petroleum products transportation services. The Company operates a fleet of 23 tankers, consisting of 12 double-hull Suezmax tankers and 11 double-hull Handymax tankers, with a total carrying capacity of approximately 2.3 million dwt, of which 85% are sister ships. Sixteen of the Company's 23 tankers are on time charter contracts with an average term of over three years with all but four of the time charters including profit sharing agreements.
Forward-Looking Statements
Matters discussed in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance and may include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.
The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although TOP Tankers believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, TOP Tankers cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.
Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including changes in charterhire rates and vessel values, failure of a seller to deliver one or more vessels, failure of a buyer to accept delivery of a vessel, inability to procure acquisition financing, changes in demand for oil and petroleum products, the effect of changes in OPEC's petroleum production levels and worldwide oil consumption and storage, changes in demand that may affect attitudes of time charterers, scheduled and unscheduled drydocking, changes in our voyage and operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, changes in governmental rules and regulations including requirements for double-hull tankers or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents and political events or acts by terrorists.
Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by TOP Tankers with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available in the SEC's "EDGAR" database on its website, www.sec.gov.
Contact: Michael Mason (investors) Stamatis Tsantanis, CFO
Allen & Caron Inc TOP Tankers Inc
212 691 8087 011 30 210 812 8199
michaelm@allencaron.com snt@toptankers.com
TABLES FOLLOW
TOP TANKERS INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars - except
for share and per share data)
Three Months Ended March 31,
2006 2007
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
REVENUES:
Voyage revenues $101,746 $73,988
EXPENSES:
Voyage expenses 16,234 14,942
Charter hire expense 7,638 29,498
Amortization of deferred gain on sale
and leaseback of vessels (812) (2,433)
Other vessel operating expenses 15,731 16,141
Depreciation and amortization 17,575 9,275
General and administrative expenses 7,348 5,198
Foreign currency (gains) / losses, net 62 (29)
Operating income 37,970 1,396
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES):
Interest and finance costs (8,066) (1,262)
Interest income 261 825
Other, net (4) (12)
Total other expenses, net (7,809) (449)
Net Income $30,161 $947
Earnings per share, basic and diluted $1.05 $0.03
Weighted average common shares
outstanding, basic 28,099,212 32,331,129
Weighted average common shares
outstanding, diluted 28,140,381 32,357,064
TOP TANKERS INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars - except
for share and per share data)
December 31, March 31,
2006 2007
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents $29,992 $24,617
Other current assets 42,807 37,142
Vessel held for sale -- 50,013
Total current assets 72,799 111,772
ADVANCES FOR VESSELS UNDER CONSTRUCTION 28,683 43,461
VESSELS, NET 306,418 251,166
OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS 64,835 69,516
RESTRICTED CASH 50,000 50,000
Total assets $522,735 $525,915
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current portion of long-term debt $16,588 $32,440
Other current liabilities 24,021 23,520
Total current liabilities 40,609 55,960
INTEREST RATE SWAPS 3,384 1,673
LONG-TERM DEBT, net of current portion 201,464 191,444
DEFERRED GAIN ON SALE AND LEASEBACK OF VESSELS 79,423 77,885
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 197,855 198,953
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $522,735 $525,915
TOP TANKERS INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
Three Months Ended March 31,
2006 2007
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Cash Flows from (used in) Operating Activities:
Net income $30,161 $947
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 19,229 9,483
Stock-based compensation 1,396 151
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps (248) (1,711)
Amortization of deferred gain on sale
and leaseback of vessels (812) (2,433)
Loss on sale of other fixed assets -- 61
Payments for dry-docking -- (6,791)
Change in operating assets and liabilities (5,658) 5,165
Net Cash from Operating Activities 44,068 4,872
Cash Flows from (used in) Investing Activities:
Advances for vessels under construction -- (14,778)
Net proceeds from sale of vessels 251,502 --
Other (165) (1,219)
Net Cash from (used in) Investing Activities 251,337 (15,997)
Cash Flows from (used in) Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt -- 10,000
Payments of long-term debt (140,996) (4,250)
Payment of financing costs (63) --
Dividends paid (146,951) --
Net Cash from (used in) Financing Activities (288,010) 5,750
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents 7,395 (5,375)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
of period 17,462 29,992
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $24,857 $24,617
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Interest paid $6,644 $1,443
APPENDIX A - SPECIFIC ITEMS AFFECTING NET INCOME AND RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA
Set forth below are some of the significant items of income and expense that affected the Company's net income for the first quarter of 2006 and 2007, all of which items are typically excluded by securities analysts in their published estimates of the Company's financial results:
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars - except
for share and per share data)
Three Months Ended
Description March 31, 2006 March 31, 2007
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
$ Per Share $ Per Share
Reported net income 30,161 1.05 947 0.03
Restricted share plan to officers
and personnel 1,396 0.05 151 0.00
Gain from termination of interest
rate swap (650) (0.02) -- --
Change of fair value of interest
rate swaps (574) (0.02) (1,711) (0.05)
Specific legal fees -- -- 192 0.01
Bonus compensation provision to
officers and personnel 2,500 0.09 -- --
Specific repairs -- -- 388 0.01
Total 2,672 0.10 (980) (0.03)
Net income / (loss) after
specific items 32,833 1.15 (33) (0.00)
ADJUSTED EBITDA RECONCILIATION (3)
(Expressed in Thousands of U.S. Dollars)
Three Months Ended March 31,
2006 2007
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
NET INCOME 30,161 947
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION* 17,641 9,403
INTEREST AND FINANCE COSTS, NET 7,805 437
ADJUSTED EBITDA 55,607 10,787
* The first quarter of 2006 and 2007 includes $66 and $128, respectively,
of depreciation of other fixed assets, classified in general and
administrative expenses
_________________________________
(1) See Appendix A to this release for information about special items and
reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA.
(2) Consistent with general practice in the tanker shipping industry, 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 consistent with industry standards and is
determined by dividing net voyage revenue by voyage days for the
relevant time period. Net voyage revenues are voyage revenues minus
voyage expenses. 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, as
well as commissions.
(3) Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before interest and finance costs,
interest income, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Interest and
finance costs, net includes interest expense, interest income,
amortization of deferred financing fees, other financial costs, gain
or loss from termination of swaps and swap fair value changes.
Adjusted EBITDA is included in this report because we believe it
provides investors with an understanding of operating performance over
comparative periods. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a
substitute for operating income or net income (all as determined in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) for the
purpose of analyzing our operating performance, as Adjusted EBITDA is
not defined by generally accepted accounting principles. We presented
Adjusted EBITDA, however, because it is commonly used by certain
investors and analysts to analyze and compare companies on the basis
of operating performance and to determine a company's ability to
service and/or incur debt.
SOURCE TOP Tankers Inc
-0- 05/17/2007
/CONTACT: Investors, Michael Mason of Allen & Caron Inc, +1-212-691-8087,
michaelm@allencaron.com, for TOP Tankers Inc; or Stamatis Tsantanis, CFO of
TOP Tankers Inc, 011 30 210 812 8199, snt@toptankers.com/
/Web site: http://www.toptankers.com /
(TOPT)
CO: TOP Tankers Inc
ST: Greece
IN: MAR TRN
SU: ERN CCA
LP
-- LATH021 --
7307 05/17/2007 07:35 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com