MONACO - 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.
Summary of First Quarter 2015 Results
- 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 loss1 for the first quarter of 2015 was $4.6 million from Adjusted net income of $8.6 million, during the same period in 2014.
- EBITDA2 for the first quarter of 2015 decreased by 68% to $7.6 million from $23.7 million during the same period in 2014. Adjusted EBITDA3 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 share4 and Adjusted loss per share4 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 share4 (“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.
Fleet and Employment Profile
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:
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| Vessel Name |
DWT |
Year Built(1) |
Country of construction |
Charter Rate (2) SD/day |
Charter Duration (3) |
| Panamax |
| Maria |
76,000 |
2003 |
Japan |
7,464 |
Feb 2015 - Aug 2015 |
| Koulitsa |
76,900 |
2003 |
Japan |
13,250 |
Jun 2014 - Jul 2015 |
| Paraskevi |
74,300 |
2003 |
Japan |
7,000 |
Apr 2015 - Jul 2015 |
| Vassos |
76,000 |
2004 |
Japan |
7,500 |
Mar 2015 - Jul 2015 |
| Katerina |
76,000 |
2004 |
Japan |
BPI(4) + 6% |
Apr 2015 - Apr 2016 |
| Maritsa |
76,000 |
2005 |
Japan |
6,200 |
May 2015 - Sep 2015 |
| Efrossini |
75,000 |
2012 |
Japan |
6,825 |
May 2015 - Sep 2015 |
| Zoe |
75,000 |
2013 |
Japan |
6,950 |
Jun 2015 - Sep 2015 |
| Kypros Land |
77,100 |
2014 |
Japan |
5,750 |
May 2015 - Jun 2015 |
| Kypros Sea |
77,100 |
2014 |
Japan |
7,500 |
May 2015 - Aug 2015 |
| Kypros Unity |
78,000 |
2014 |
Japan |
6,000 |
May 2015 - Jul 2015 |
| Kypros Bravery |
78,000 |
2015 |
Japan |
7,800 |
Jan 2015 - Jun 2015 |
| Kypros Sky |
77,100 |
2015 |
Japan |
15,400 |
Apr 2015 - Apr 2025 |
| Kamsarmax |
| Pedhoulas Merchant |
82,300 |
2006 |
Japan |
12,650 |
May 2015 - Jul 2015 |
| Pedhoulas Trader |
82,300 |
2006 |
Japan |
BPI(4) + 6.5% |
Aug 2013 - Jul 2015 |
| Pedhoulas Leader |
82,300 |
2007 |
Japan |
5,150 |
May 2015 - Jun 2015 |
| Pedhoulas Commander |
83,700 |
2008 |
Japan |
6,250 |
Apr 2015 - Jun 2015 |
| Pedhoulas Builder |
81,600 |
2012 |
China |
7,700 |
Mar 2015 - Jul 2015 |
| Pedhoulas Fighter |
81,600 |
2012 |
China |
7,000 |
May 2015 - Nov 2015 |
| Pedhoulas Farmer |
81,600 |
2012 |
China |
11,000 |
Sep 2014 - Aug 2015 |
| Post-Panamax |
| Stalo |
87,000 |
2006 |
Japan |
|
|
| Marina |
87,000 |
2006 |
Japan |
8,250 |
Apr 2015 - Jul 2015 |
| Xenia |
87,000 |
2006 |
Japan |
11,650 |
Feb 2015 - Jun 2015 |
| Sophia |
87,000 |
2007 |
Japan |
10,500 |
Jun 2015 - Jul 2015 |
| Eleni |
87,000 |
2008 |
Japan |
11,200 |
May 2015 - Jul 2015 |
| Martine |
87,000 |
2009 |
Japan |
BPI(4) + 10% |
Apr 2015 - Mar 2016 |
| Andreas K |
92,000 |
2009 |
South Korea |
11,900 |
Mar 2015- Jul 2015 |
| Panayiota K |
92,000 |
2010 |
South Korea |
4,250 |
Apr 2015 - Jun 2015 |
| Venus Heritage |
95,800 |
2010 |
Japan |
P1A(5) + 10% |
Jun 2015 - Sep 2015 |
| Venus History |
95,800 |
2011 |
Japan |
9,833 |
Sep 2014 - Jun 2015 |
| Venus Horizon |
95,800 |
2012 |
Japan |
5,500 |
Apr 2015 - Jun 2015 |
| Capesize |
| Kanaris |
178,100 |
2010 |
China |
25,928 |
Sep 2011 - Jun 2031 |
| Pelopidas |
176,000 |
2011 |
China |
38,000 |
Feb 2012 - Dec 2021 |
| Lake Despina |
181,400 |
2014 |
Japan |
24,376 (6) |
Jan 2014 - Jan 2024 |
| Total dwt of existing fleet |
3,096,800 |
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| 1) |
For existing vessels the year represents the year built; for newbuilds the year represents the estimated year of delivery. |
| 2) |
Charter rate represents recognized gross daily charter rate. For charter parties with variable rates among periods or consecutive charter parties with the same charterer, the recognized gross daily charter rates represents the weighted average gross charter rate over the duration of the applicable charter period or series of charter periods, as applicable. Charter agreements may provide for additional payments, namely ballast bonus, to compensate for vessel repositioning. |
| 3) |
The start dates listed reflect either actual start dates or, in the case of contracted charters that had not commenced as of June 4, 2015, scheduled start dates. Actual start dates and redelivery dates may differ from the scheduled start and redelivery dates depending on the terms of the charter and market conditions. |
| 4) |
A period time charter at a gross daily charter rate linked to the Baltic Panamax Index (“BPI”) plus a premium. |
| 5) |
A period time charter at a gross daily charter rate linked to the Baltic Panamax Index for transatlantic round voyage (“P1A”) plus a premium. |
| 6) |
A period time charter of ten years at a gross daily charter rate of $23,100 for the first two and a half years and of $24,810 for the remaining period. The charter agreement grants the charterer an option to purchase the vessel at any time beginning at the end of the seventh year of the charter, at a price of $39 million less 1.00% commission, decreasing thereafter on a pro-rated basis by $1.5 million per year. The Company holds a right of first refusal to buy back the vessel in the event that the charterer exercises its option to purchase the vessel and subsequently offers to sell such vessel to a third party. The charter agreement also grants the charterer the option to extend the period time charter for an additional twelve months at a time, at a gross daily charter rate of $26,330, less 1.25% total commissions, which option may be exercised by the charterer a maximum of two times. |
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The contracted employment of fleet ownership days as of June 4, 2015 was:
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| 2015 (remaining) |
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35% |
| 2015 (full year) |
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61% |
| 2016 |
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12% |
| 2017 |
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9% |
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Capital expenditure requirements and liquidity
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.
Dividend Declaration on the Common Stock
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.
Management Commentary
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.”
Conference Call
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).
Please quote “Safe Bulkers” 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#
Slides and Audio Webcast
There will also be a live, and then archived, webcast of the conference call, available through the Company’s website (
www.safebulkers.com). Participants in the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.
Management Discussion of First Quarter 2015 Results
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.
Unaudited Interim Financial Information and Other Data
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| SAFE BULKERS, INC. |
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| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME/(LOSS) (UNAUDITED) |
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| (In thousands of U.S. Dollars except for share and per share data) |
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Three-Month Period Ended March 31, |
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2014 |
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2015 |
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| REVENUES: |
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Revenues |
42,806 |
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33,287 |
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Commissions |
(1,463 |
) |
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(1,233 |
) |
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Net revenues |
41,343 |
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|
32,054 |
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| EXPENSES: |
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Voyage expenses |
(4,355 |
) |
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(4,819 |
) |
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Vessel operating expenses |
(12,648 |
) |
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(14,349 |
) |
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Depreciation |
(10,267 |
) |
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(11,099 |
) |
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General and administrative expenses |
(3,004 |
) |
|
(3,227 |
) |
