Diana Containerships Inc. Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter and Six Months Ended June 30, 2017

ATHENS, Greece, July 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diana Containerships Inc. (NASDAQ:DCIX), (the “Company”), a global shipping company specializing in the ownership of containerships, today reported net income of $36.5 million, and earnings per common share of $18.39 (basic) and $17.27 (diluted) for the second quarter of 2017, compared to a net loss of $8.0 million, and a loss per common share of $6.13 (basic and diluted) for the same period in 2016. Net income for the second quarter of 2017 included a gain from a debt write-off, arising from the settlement agreement with respect to the secured loan facility with The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (“RBS”), which was signed on June 30, 2017. The specific gain, net of related expenses, amounted to $42.2 million.

As of June 30, 2017 and following the aforementioned settlement agreement, the Company had a cash balance of $11.6 million and outstanding debt balance, net of unamortized deferred financing costs, of $117.2 million, compared to a cash balance of $17.3 million and outstanding debt balance, net of unamortized deferred financing costs, of $172.7 million as of December 31, 2016.

Time charter revenues, net of prepaid charter revenue amortization, were $5.5 million for the second quarter of 2017, compared to $8.0 million for the same period in 2016, mainly due to reduced employment opportunities and lower time charter rates.

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2017 amounted to $29.1 million, and earnings per common share of $17.53 (basic) and $16.84 (diluted), compared to a net loss of $13.8 million, and a loss per common share of $10.55 (basic and diluted) for the same period in 2016. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2017 included a gain from the RBS loan write-off, which amounted to $42.2 million, net of related expenses.  Time charter revenues, net of prepaid charter revenue amortization, for the six months ended June 30, 2017, amounted to $9.3 million, compared to $19.8 million for the same period in 2016.

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(1) Time charter equivalent rates, or TCE rates, are defined as our time charter revenues, net, less voyage expenses during a period divided by the number of our available days during the period, which is consistent with industry standards.  Voyage expenses include port charges, bunker (fuel) expenses, canal charges and commissions.  TCE is a non-GAAP measure.  TCE rate is a standard shipping industry performance measure used primarily to compare daily earnings generated by vessels on time charters with daily earnings generated by vessels on voyage charters, because charter hire rates for vessels on voyage charters are generally not expressed in per day amounts while charter hire rates for vessels on time charters are generally expressed in such amounts.

(2) Daily vessel operating expenses, which include crew wages and related costs, the cost of insurance and vessel registry, expenses relating to repairs and maintenance, the costs of spares and consumable stores, lubricant costs, tonnage taxes, regulatory fees, environmental costs, lay-up expenses and other miscellaneous expenses, are calculated by dividing vessel operating expenses by ownership days for the relevant period.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

The Company’s management will conduct a conference call and simultaneous Internet webcast to review these results at 9:00 A.M. (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, July 25, 2017.

Investors may access the webcast by visiting the Company’s website at www.dcontainerships.com, and clicking on the webcast link. The conference call also may be accessed by telephone by dialing 1-877-407-8029 (for U.S.-based callers) or 1-201-689-8029 (for international callers), and asking the operator for the Diana Containerships Inc. conference call.

A replay of the webcast will be available soon after the completion of the call and will be accessible for 30 days on www.dcontainerships.com. A telephone replay also will be available for 30 days by dialing 1-877-660-6853 (for U.S.-based callers) or 1-201-612-7415 (for international callers), and providing the Replay ID number 13665615.

About the Company

Diana Containerships Inc. is a global provider of shipping transportation services through its ownership of containerships. The Company’s vessels are employed primarily on time charters with leading liner companies carrying containerized cargo along worldwide shipping routes. 

Cautionary Statement Regarding 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," "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 containership capacity, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, 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, vessel 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.

(See financial tables attached)