MONACO, April 20, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scorpio Bulkers Inc. (NYSE:SALT) (“Scorpio Bulkers,” or the “Company”) today reported its results for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 and 2016

For the first quarter of 2017 the Company’s GAAP net loss was $34.6 million, or $0.48 loss per diluted share.  For the same period in 2016 the Company’s GAAP net loss was $58.3 million, or $1.96 loss per diluted share.

For the first quarter of 2017, the Company’s adjusted net loss was $16.4 million or $0.23 adjusted loss per diluted share, which excludes a write down of assets held for sale of $17.7 million, and a write off of deferred financing costs on the credit facility related to those specific vessels of $0.5 million.  For the first quarter of 2016, the Company’s adjusted net loss was $33.4 million or $1.12 adjusted loss per diluted share, which excludes a write down of assets held for sale of $12.4 million, the write off of deferred financing costs of $2.5 million and a charterhire contract termination fee of $10.0 million (see Non-GAAP Financial Measures below). 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

As of April 19, 2017, the Company had approximately $135.3 million in cash and cash equivalents.

TCE Revenue

TCE Revenue Earned during the First Quarter of 2017

• Our Kamsarmax fleet earned $9,164 per day
• Our Ultramax fleet earned $8,230 per day

Voyages Fixed thus far in the Second Quarter of 2017

• Kamsarmax fleet: approximately $9,914 per day for 59% of the days
• Ultramax fleet: approximately $8,852 per day for 57% of the days

Recent Significant Events

Agreement for the Sale of Vessels

During the first quarter of 2017, we entered into agreements with an unaffiliated third party to sell the SBI Charleston and SBI Cakewalk, two 2014 built Kamsarmax vessels, for approximately $22.5 million each.

As such, as of March 31, 2017, we classified these vessels as held for sale, recorded a loss of $17.1 million and wrote off $0.5 million of deferred financing costs. We also classified the related debt of approximately $20.1 million as a current liability.  Net cash proceeds after paying off the related debt, as well as the termination fees and commissions, is approximately $24.2 million. 

The sales are expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2017.

Newbuilding Vessels Deliveries

During the first quarter of 2017, the Company took delivery of the following newbuilding vessels:

• SBI Samson, an Ultramax vessel, delivered from Chengxi Shipyard Co. Ltd.
• SBI Parapara, a Kamsarmax vessel, delivered from Hudong-Zhonghua (Group) Co., Ltd.
• SBI Swing, a Kamsarmax vessel, delivered from Hudong-Zhonghua (Group) Co., Ltd.
• SBI Phoenix, an Ultramax vessel, delivered from Chengxi Shipyard Co. Ltd.
• SBI Mazurka, a Kamsarmax vessel, delivered from Hudong-Zhonghua (Group) Co., Ltd.

Since April 1, 2017, the Company took delivery of the final vessel in our newbuilding program:

• SBI Jive, a Kamsarmax vessel, delivered from Hudong-Zhonghua (Group) Co., Ltd.

All 48 vessels in our newbuilding program have successfully been delivered.  As of March 31, 2017, all contracted amounts have been paid in full and we have no further obligations due to any shipyard.

Debt and Liquidity Overview

We made the following drawdowns, gross of any simultaneous prepayments from our credit facilities during the first quarter of 2017:

The Company’s outstanding debt balance, gross of unamortized deferred financing costs as of March 31, 2017 and April 19, 2017 are as follows (dollars in thousands). The Company expects to pay off the $39.6 Million Credit Facility in full upon the completion of the sale of the two Kamsarmax vessels. 

The Company’s projected quarterly debt repayments through 2019, including the repayment of debt on the two Kamsarmaxes that we agreed to sell, is as follows (dollars in thousands):

Financial Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016

The Company had a GAAP net loss of $34.6 million, or $0.48 loss per diluted share for the first quarter of 2017 compared with a GAAP net loss of $58.3 million, or $1.96 loss per diluted share for the first quarter of 2016.

Excluding a write down of assets held for sale of $17.7 million and the write off of deferred financing costs on the credit facility related to the vessels held for sale of $0.5 million, adjusted net loss for the first quarter of 2017 was $16.4 million or $0.23 adjusted loss per diluted share.  Similarly, excluding a write down of assets held for sale of $12.4 million, the write off of deferred financing costs of $2.5 million and a charterhire contract termination fee of $10.0 million, adjusted net loss for the first quarter of 2016 was $33.4 million or $1.12 adjusted loss per diluted share (see Non-GAAP Financial Measures below).

Time charter equivalent (TCE) revenue, a Non-GAAP financial measure, is vessel revenues less voyage expenses (including bunkers, port charges, broker fees and other miscellaneous expenses that we are unable to recoup under time charter and pool arrangements). TCE revenue is included herein because it is a standard shipping industry performance measure used primarily to compare period-to-period changes in a shipping company’s performance irrespective of changes in the mix of charter types (i.e., spot charters, time charters, and pool charters), and it provides useful information to investors and management.

TCE revenue was $34.6 million for the first quarter of 2017 and is associated with a day weighted average of 47 vessels owned and one vessel time chartered-in compared to $10.2 million during the prior year quarter, which was associated with a day weighted average of 31 vessels owned and seven vessels time chartered-in. TCE revenue per day was $8,608 and $3,404 for the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively.  TCE rates continued the sequential quarter on quarter growth experienced since recovering from the all-time lows experienced in the first quarter of 2016.  The increase in rates is attributable to increased worldwide demand across all bulk sectors, regions and commodities, as well as a diminishing supply side as fewer vessels are now on order. Overall TCE revenue increased significantly versus the prior year period due to the increase in rates combined with the increase in revenue days associated with the growth of our fleet.

Vessel operating costs were $21.8 million and included approximately $1.1 million of takeover costs associated with new deliveries, and $0.9 million of non-operating expenses and related to 47 vessels owned, on average, during the period.  Takeover costs will be eliminated upon the delivery of the final vessel in the second quarter of 2017.  Vessel operating costs for the prior year quarter were $15.3 million and related to 31 vessels owned, on average, during the period. Sequentially, daily operating costs, excluding take over and other non-operating costs, remained relatively flat at $5,019 in the first quarter of 2017 versus $5,037 in the fourth quarter of 2016. We expect that the per day cost will decrease due to certain measures undertaken to increase awareness and responsibility. 

Charterhire expense decreased to $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2017 from $8.5 million in the prior year period, reflecting the reduction in the number of vessels time chartered-in from seven vessels to one vessel, on a day weighted average, respectively.  We also recorded a charterhire contract termination fee of $10.0 million to terminate four time charter-in agreements during the first quarter of 2016. The remaining time chartered-in vessel is expected to be redelivered in July 2017.

Depreciation increased to $11.6 million in the first quarter of 2017 from $7.3 million in the prior year period, reflecting the increase in our weighted average vessels owned to 47 from 31.

General and administrative expense decreased slightly to $7.7 million from $7.8 million in the prior year period as decreases in restricted stock amortization, due to the run off of awards granted at a higher fair value, were offset by an increase in commercial management fees, primarily reflecting the growth of our fleet.

During the first quarter of 2017, we recorded a write down on assets held for sale of $17.1 million related to the sale of two Kamsarmax vessels to an unaffiliated third party and also recorded a $0.6 million adjustment related to vessels previously sold.  During the first quarter of 2016, the Company recorded a write down of vessels and assets held for sale of $12.4 million of which $11.6 million related to the cancellation of a shipbuilding contract for a Kamsarmax bulk carrier and $0.8 million in additional expenses related to vessels held for sale at December 31, 2015.

During the first quarters of 2017 and 2016, we wrote off $0.5 million and $2.5 million, respectively, of deferred financing costs accumulated on credit facilities for which the related vessels were sold or the commitments were otherwise reduced.

Time chartered-in vessel

The Company currently has time chartered-in one dry bulk vessel. The terms of the contract is summarized as follows:

Conference Call Details:

Thursday, April 20, 2017 at 9:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time / 3:00 PM Central European Time.

Participants should dial into the call 10 minutes before the scheduled time using the following numbers: 1 (866) 219-5268 (U.S.) or 1 (703) 736-7424 (International). The conference participant passcode is 7616205.  The information provided on the teleconference is only accurate at the time of the conference call, and the Company will take no responsibility for providing updated information.

Slides and Audio Webcast:

There will also be a simultaneous live webcast over the internet, through the Scorpio Bulkers Inc. website www.scorpiobulkers.com. Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.
Webcast URL: http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/fevw4kr2 

About Scorpio Bulkers Inc.

Scorpio Bulkers Inc. is a provider of marine transportation of dry bulk commodities. Upon completion of the above mentioned sales, Scorpio Bulkers Inc. will own 46 vessels, consisting of 18 Kamsarmax vessels and 28 Ultramax vessels. The Company also time charters-in one dry bulk Kamsarmax vessel. The owned fleet will have a total carrying capacity of approximately 3.2 million deadweight tonnes. Additional information about the Company is available on the Company’s website www.scorpiobulkers.com, which is not a part of this press release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures (unaudited)

This press release describes adjusted net loss and related per share amounts, which is not a measure prepared in accordance with GAAP. We believe the non-GAAP financial measure presented in this press release provides investors with a means of evaluating and understanding how the Company’s management evaluates the Company’s operating performance.  These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, as substitutes for, nor superior to financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Adjusted net loss

In thousands, except per share data

Forward-Looking Statements

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,” “intend,” “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 failure of counterparties to fully perform their contracts with us, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for dry bulk vessel capacity, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking 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.