Box Ships Inc. Reports Financial Results For The Fourth Quarter And Year Ended December 31, 2013

ATHENS, Greece, March 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/—Box Ships Inc. (NYSE: TEU) (the “Company”), a global shipping company specializing in the seaborne transportation of containers, announced today its results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2013. Mr. Michael Bodouroglou, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Box Ships Inc., commented: “The fourth quarter of 2013 was a challenging one, despite being our eleventh consecutive profitable quarter as a public company. The containership market continues to be pressured by the extended weakness in Europe and the United States, and charter rates have continued to decline during the fourth quarter. The Box Queen, formerly known as the Maersk Diadema, was redelivered to us upon expiration of its time charter with Maersk and was subsequently rechartered to MSC at a rate that was $21,900 per day less than its previous employment. The CMA CGM Kingfish and CMA CGM Marlin have both extended their charters with CMA CGM for a period of four to seven months at a rate which is $16,000 per day less than their previous employment. This continued decline in rates, coupled with the fact that we have another vessel employed at a charter rate well above the current market levels expiring in 2014, has caused the Board of Directors to refrain from paying a common stock dividend with respect to the fourth quarter of 2013 in an effort to maintain our liquidity and ensure the sustainability of the Company going forward. The Board of Directors will continue to evaluate the market conditions at regular intervals to consider a potential reinstatement of the common stock dividend when the market recovers, as we remain committed to our policy of paying out excess free cash flow in the form of dividends.” Results of Operations Three months ended December 31, 2013 compared to three months ended December 31, 2012 During the fourth quarter of 2013, we operated an average of 9 vessels. Our Net Income and Adjusted Net Income during the fourth quarter of 2013 was $3.0 million and $5.2 million, respectively, resulting in basic earnings per share of $0.10 and basic adjusted earnings per share of $0.19. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2013 was $8.8 million and $11.0 million, respectively. During the fourth quarter of 2012, we operated an average of 9 vessels. Our Net Income and Adjusted Net Income during the fourth quarter of 2012 was $2.9 million and $4.9 million, respectively, resulting in basic earnings per share of $0.12 and basic adjusted earnings per share of $0.21. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $9.2 million and $11.2 million, respectively. Net revenues Net revenues represent charter hire earned, net of commissions. During the fourth quarter of 2013 and 2012, our vessels operated a total of 797 and 801 days, respectively, out of a total of 828 calendar days in both periods. Currently, all vessels in our fleet are employed under fixed rate time charters. Following the extension of charters for the Box Voyager, CMA CGM Kingfish and CMA CGM Marlin, discussed below, we have an average weighted remaining charter duration of 12 months (weighted by aggregate contracted charter hire). The Company reported net revenues for the fourth quarter of 2013 of $16.9 million, which represented a decrease of 4.5% compared to net revenue for the fourth quarter of 2012 of $17.7 million, mainly due to 31 idle days of the Box Queen in the fourth quarter of 2013. Our net revenues are also net of the amortization of above/below market time charters, which decreased our revenues and net income for the fourth quarter of 2013 and 2012 by $1.3 million for both periods, or $0.05 and $0.07 per common share, respectively. Our average time charter equivalent rate, or TCE rate, for the fourth quarter of 2013 was $20,591 per vessel per day, which was 3.2% below our TCE rate of $21,276 per vessel per day during the fourth quarter of 2012, due to the redelivery of the Box Queen on November 30, 2013 from the charterers, which was partially offset by the higher rate achieved on the charter extension of the Box Trader in the fourth quarter of 2013 and the higher voyage expenses incurred during the fourth quarter of 2012. Our adjusted TCE rate was $22,237 per vessel per day in the fourth quarter of 2013, 3.0% lower than our adjusted TCE of $22,933 for the fourth quarter of 2012, for the same reasons outlined above. TCE rate is not a recognized measurement under GAAP. Please see the table at the back of this release for a reconciliation of TCE rates to time charter revenues, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Voyage expenses Voyage expenses for the fourth quarter of 2013 and 2012 amounted to $0.5 million and $0.6 million, respectively, and mainly relate to war risk insurance costs and bunkers consumed during the periods that vessels were in between employment. Voyage expenses for the fourth quarter of 2013 include approximately $0.1 million, relating to war risk insurance costs and $0.2 million, relating to bunkers consumed by the Box Queen during the period the vessel was unemployed. Voyage expenses for the fourth quarter of 2012 include approximately $0.4 million, relating to war risk insurance costs and $0.1 million, relating to bunkers consumed by the Box Trader and the Box Voyager during the periods the vessels were unemployed. Vessels operating expenses Vessels operating expenses comprise crew wages and related costs, insurance and vessel registry costs, repairs and maintenance expenses (excluding dry-docking expenses), the cost of spares and consumable stores, regulatory fees, non-cash amortization of other intangible assets and other miscellaneous expenses. The amortization of other intangible assets for each of the fourth quarters of 2013 and 2012 amounted to $0.3 million. During the fourth quarter of 2013, vessels operating expenses including the amortization of other intangible assets amounted to $4.7 million, or $4.4 million on an adjusted basis to exclude the amortization of other intangible assets, compared to $4.9 million, or $4.6 million on an adjusted basis, during the fourth quarter of 2012. On average, our vessels’ operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2013 decreased to $5,622 per vessel per day, or $5,300 per vessel per day on an adjusted basis, compared to $5,874 per vessel per day, or $5,552 per vessel per day on an adjusted basis, in the fourth quarter of 2012, an improvement of approximately 4.5% period over period on a cash basis after adjusting for non-cash items. Management fees charged by a related party Management fees charged by Allseas Marine S.A (our “Manager” or “Allseas”) for the fourth quarters of 2013 and 2012 were $0.7 million, or $871 (€643.77) per vessel per day, and $822 (€634.88) per vessel per day, for the fourth quarter of 2013 and 2012, respectively. Management fees charged by a related party represent fees for management and technical services in accordance with our management agreements and are adjusted annually in accordance with the official Eurozone inflation rate. This fee is charged on a daily basis per vessel and is affected by the number of vessels in our fleet, the number of calendar days during the period, the official Eurozone inflation rate and the U.S. Dollar/Euro exchange rate at the beginning of each month. Depreciation Depreciation for our fleet for the fourth quarters of 2013 and 2012 was $3.8 million and $4.2 million, respectively. Effective January 1, 2013, the Company revised its scrap rate estimate prospectively from $150 to $300 per lightweight ton. The change in accounting estimate does not have a retrospective effect in the financial statements previously reported. The effect of this change was to decrease depreciation expense and to increase net income by approximately $0.3 million, or $0.01 per basic common share, for the three months ended December 31, 2013. General and administrative expenses General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses for the fourth quarters of 2013 and 2012 were $2.7 million and $2.2 million, or $3,303 and $2,610 per vessel per day, respectively. The increase in G&A expenses period over period was primarily due to increased executive services fees paid to our Manager and increased share-based compensation expense. During the fourth quarter of 2013 and 2012, expenses related to the provision of our executive services by our Manager and incentive compensation amounted to $1.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively, and share-based compensation amounted to $0.6 million and $0.4 million, respectively. Insurance claims recoveries Insurance claims recoveries amounted to $0.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2013 (2012: Nil), relating to the settlement of a hull and machinery claim for the Box Voyager, incurred in 2012. Interest and finance costs Interest and finance costs amounted to $2.0 million and $2.2 million for the fourth quarters of 2013 and 2012, respectively. This decrease in interest and finance costs is due to the decrease in our average borrowings outstanding period over period. Net cash from Operating Activities Net cash from Operating Activities for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $38.2 million. Our vessels generated positive cash flows from revenues, net of commissions, of $75.2 million, while we paid $37.0 million for expenses, of which $7.0 million relates to the payment of interest on our bank loans and on our related party loan with Paragon Shipping Inc. (“Paragon Shipping”). Net cash from Operating Activities for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $32.5 million. Our vessels generated positive cash flows from revenues, net of commissions, of $69.4 million, while we paid $36.9 million for expenses, of which $7.2 million relates to the payment of interest on our bank loans and on our related party loan with Paragon Shipping. Net cash used in Investing Activities For the year ended December 31, 2013, there was no cash used in investing activities. Net cash used in Investing Activities for the year ended December 31, 2012, was $62.4 million, relating to the acquisition of OOCL Hong Kong and OOCL China, including attached intangibles. Net cash from / (used in) Financing Activities Net cash used in Financing Activities for the year ended December 31, 2013, was $30.8 million. On March 18, 2013, we completed the public offering and issuance of 4,000,000 of our common shares, resulting in net proceeds of $19.9 million, net of underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering expenses paid by us of $1.1 million in aggregate. In July, October and November 2013, we completed the public offering and issuance of an aggregate of 916,333 shares of our 9.00% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Shares (the “Series C Preferred Shares”), resulting in net proceeds of $20.5 million, net of underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering expenses paid by us of $1.5 million in aggregate. $19.7 million out of the net proceeds from the Series C Preferred Shares offering and our cash reserves were used to redeem and retire all of our outstanding Series B-1 Preferred Shares. During the year ended December 31, 2013, we repaid $36.7 million of our debt, including our related party loan with Paragon Shipping, paid financing costs of $0.2 million and paid dividends to our preferred and common shareholders of $1.7 million and $12.9 million, in aggregate, respectively. Net cash from Financing Activities for the year ended December 31, 2012, was $29.9 million. Included in the $29.9 million are the proceeds from the issuance of 1,333,333 units, each unit consisting of one 9.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Share (the “Series B Preferred Shares”) and one warrant to purchase one of our common shares, which amounted to $38.4 million in aggregate, net of related costs of $0.1 million, together with the drawdown of $24.7 million under a secured loan agreement, net of financing fees of $0.3 million, which were used to finance the acquisition of OOCL Hong Kong and OOCL China. On July 18, 2012, we completed the public offering and issuance of 4,285,715 of our common shares, resulting in net proceeds of $28.0 million, net of underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering costs of $2.0 million in the aggregate. We used a portion of the net proceeds of the public offering to redeem 692,641 of the Series B Preferred Shares at a price equal to the liquidation preference of $30.00 per share, or $20.8 million in the aggregate. During the year ended December 31, 2012, we repaid $19.9 million of our debt and paid dividends to our preferred and common shareholders of $0.7 million and $19.8 million, respectively. Liquidity: As of December 31, 2013, our cash and restricted cash (current and non-current) amounted to $24.5 million in aggregate, of which $10.0 million is considered restricted for minimum liquidity purposes under our loan agreements. As of December 31, 2013, we had total outstanding indebtedness of $179.6 million, of which $22.7 million is scheduled to be repaid in the forthcoming 12-month period, of which $5.7 million has already been repaid as of the date of this release. Furthermore, as of December 31, 2013, we were in compliance with all of the covenants contained in our loan agreements, as amended to give effect to the waivers we were granted during the second and third quarter of 2013. As of December 31, 2013, had the waivers not been granted, the Company would not have been in compliance with certain of its financial covenants and security cover ratios contained in the loan agreements. The waivers are due to expire during 2014, commencing on January 1, 2014, and in accordance with U.S. GAAP, unless the waivers are extended for a period of more than one year after the balance sheet date or the loans are refinanced prior to the issuance of the consolidated financial statements, our total debt is required to be presented as current even though the Company was in compliance as of December 31, 2013. In addition, we have no borrowing capacity under our existing loan facilities and no capital commitments. We anticipate that our current financial resources, together with cash generated from operations will be sufficient to fund the operations of our current fleet, including our working capital requirements, for the next 12 months, assuming that the debt will not be accelerated by our lenders. Dividends: Our Board of Directors has determined that in an effort to maintain our liquidity and help ensure the sustainability of the Company going forward, we will not pay a common stock dividend with respect to the fourth quarter of 2013. The Board of Directors will continue to evaluate the market conditions at regular intervals to consider a potential reinstatement of the dividend when the market recovers, as we remain committed to our policy of paying out excess free cash flow in the form of dividends. On January 2, 2014, we paid our second dividend of $0.5 million with respect to our Series C Preferred Shares, for the period from October 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013. As of December 31, 2013, 916,333 Series C Preferred Shares were outstanding. Dividends on our Series C Preferred Shares accrue cumulatively at a rate of 9.00% per annum per $25.00 stated liquidation preference per Series C Preferred Share and are payable, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year. Our ability to pay dividends will be subject, among other things, to the restrictions in our loan agreements, the provisions of Marshall Islands law and other factors to be considered by our Board of Directors. Chartering Update and Strategy: In January 2014, the Box Queen entered into a time charter with Mediterranean Shipping Company (“MSC”), for a period of 8 to 10 months, at a gross daily charter rate of $6,100. In February 2014, the Box Voyager extended its time charter with Chenglie Navigation Co. (“CNC”), for an additional period of 6 to 8 months, commencing on March 13, 2014, at a gross daily charter rate of $7,350. In February 2014, each of the CMA CGM Kingfish and the CMA CGM Marlin extended their time charters with CMA CGM, for an additional period of 4 to 7 months, commencing on March 15, 2014 and March 20, 2014, respectively, each at a gross daily charter rate of $7,000. Pursuant to our chartering strategy, we focus on containerships with carrying capacities ranging from 1,700 TEU to 7,000 TEU employed on short- to medium-term time charters of one to five years with staggered maturities, which provide us with the benefit of stable cash flows from a diversified portfolio of charterers, while preserving the flexibility to capitalize on potentially rising rates when the current time charters expire. We may also, under certain circumstances, opportunistically enter our vessels into shorter-term charters or our vessels may operate on the spot market. Based on the earliest redelivery dates, and following the extensions of charters discussed above, the Company has secured under such contracts 61% and 20% of its fleet capacity for the remainder of 2014 and 2015, respectively. For future updates on the employment of our vessels, please visit the employment section of our website at www.box-ships.com/fleet-employment.php. The information contained on the Company’s website does not constitute part of this press release.    Fleet List: The following table provides additional information about our fleet as of March 11, 2014. Conference Call and Webcast details: The Company’s management will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2013 results on March 12, 2014 at 9:00 am ET. Participants should dial into the call 10 minutes before the scheduled time using the following numbers: +1-877-300-8521 (USA) or +1-412-317-6026 (international). A replay of the conference call will be available for seven days and can be accessed by dialing +1-877-870-5176 (domestic) and +1-858-384-5517 (international) and using passcode 10042562. There will also be a simultaneous live webcast over the Internet, through the Company’s website (www.box-ships.com). Participants in the live webcast should register on the website approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the webcast. About Box Ships Inc.: Box Ships Inc. is an Athens, Greece-based international shipping company specializing in the transportation of containers. The Company’s current fleet consists of nine containerships with a total carrying capacity of 43,925 TEU and a TEU weighted average age of 9.1 years. The Company’s common shares and Series C Preferred Shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols “TEU” and “TEUPRC”, respectively. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statement Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements 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 Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “intends,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “potential,” “may,” “should,” “expect,” “pending” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe 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, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. In addition to these important factors, other 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 fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for container shipping capacity, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, charter counterparty performance, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in such financing arrangements, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. Contacts: Box Ships Inc. Robert Perri, CFA Chief Financial Officer Tel. +30 (210) 8914600 E-mail: [email protected] Investor Relations / Media Allen & Caron Inc. Michael Mason (Investors) Tel. +1 (212) 691-8087 E-mail: [email protected] Len Hall (Media) Tel. +1 (949) 474-4300 E-mail: [email protected] - Tables Follow –