SEACOR Holdings Announces Results for Its First Quarter Ended March 31, 2016

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL--(Marketwired - Apr 26, 2016) -  SEACOR Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CKH) (the "Company") today announced its results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2016.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2016, net loss attributable to SEACOR Holdings Inc. was $27.2 million, or $1.62 per diluted share. For the preceding quarter ended December 31, 2015, net loss attributable to SEACOR Holdings Inc. was $56.9 million, or $3.36 per diluted share. A comparison of results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 with the preceding quarter ended December 31, 2015 is included in the "Highlights for the Quarter" discussion below.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, net loss attributable to SEACOR Holdings Inc. was $19.6 million, or $1.10 per diluted share.

Highlights for the Quarter

Offshore Marine Services - Operating loss was $16.6 million in the first quarter compared with $19.2 million in the preceding quarter. During the preceding quarter, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $13.4 million for the goodwill associated with its Offshore Marine Services business segment as a consequence of continuing difficult market conditions. Operating income (loss) before depreciation and amortization ("OIBDA" - see disclosure related to Non-GAAP measures in the segment information tables herein) was $(1.7) million on operating revenues of $59.9 million in the first quarter compared with $9.6 million, excluding the goodwill impairment charge, on operating revenues of $83.2 million in the preceding quarter.

Excluding wind farm utility vessels, but including cold-stacked vessels (those that are not currently available for active service), utilization of the fleet decreased from 59% to 52%, and average rates per day worked decreased by 22% from $13,495 to $10,545. Days available for time charter during the first quarter decreased by 3%. This release includes a table presenting time charter operating data by vessel class.

In the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, operating results, excluding the goodwill impairment charge of $13.4 million noted above, were $6.8 million lower in the first quarter compared with the preceding quarter. Time charter revenues for the U.S. anchor handling towing supply vessels were $7.8 million lower due to a reduction in offshore construction activity. Time charter revenues for the liftboat fleet were $3.4 million lower primarily due to weaker market conditions and seasonality. Operating expenses were $3.6 million lower in the first quarter compared with the preceding quarter primarily as a consequence of cold-stacking vessels. On a total fleet basis, including cold-stacked vessels, utilization dropped from 22% to 17%, and average rates per day worked decreased from $32,054 to $21,341. As of March 31, 2016, the Company had 21 of 32 owned and leased-in vessels cold-stacked in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico compared with 22 of 33 as of December 31, 2015. Of the 21 vessels cold-stacked, eleven were liftboats.

Operating results from international regions were $4.0 million lower in the first quarter compared with the preceding quarter primarily due to the seasonal conclusion of a term charter in Sakhalin. On a total fleet basis, excluding wind farm utility vessels but including cold-stacked vessels, utilization declined from 79% to 71%, and average day rates per day worked decreased from $10,553 to $9,109. As of March 31, 2016, the Company had five of 101 owned and leased-in vessels cold-stacked in international regions compared with four of 100 as of December 31, 2015.

Derivative gains, net of $2.9 million in the first quarter were primarily due to unrealized gains on equity options.

Foreign currency losses, net of $1.6 million in the first quarter were primarily due to the weakening of the pound sterling in relation to the euro underlying certain of the Company's debt balances.

Inland River Services - Operating loss was $0.9 million in the first quarter compared with operating income of $9.2 million in the preceding quarter. OIBDA was $6.2 million on operating revenues of $39.6 million in the first quarter compared with $16.3 million on operating revenues of $58.4 million in the preceding quarter.

Operating results were $10.2 million lower in the first quarter compared with the preceding quarter primarily due to reduced activity levels for the dry-cargo barge pools following the seasonal harvest and poor operating conditions as a consequence of flooding during most of the first quarter. On April 15, 2016, the Company sold the assets used in its liquid unit tow operation for $90.0 million.

Foreign currency gains, net of $1.4 million in the first quarter were primarily due to the strengthening of the Colombian peso in relation to the U.S. dollar underlying certain of the Company's intercompany lease obligations.

During the first quarter, the Company recognized $2.8 million of equity losses in its 50% owned joint venture operating on the Parana-Paraguay River Waterway. In addition, the Company recognized interest income (not a component of segment profit) of $0.8 million during the first quarter on notes due from this joint venture.

Shipping Services - Operating income was $16.3 million in the first quarter compared with $19.8 million in the preceding quarter. OIBDA was $22.9 million (of which $8.0 million is attributable to noncontrolling interests) on operating revenues of $57.1 million in the first quarter compared with $26.3 million (of which $8.6 million is attributable to noncontrolling interests) on operating revenues of $61.4 million in the preceding quarter.

Operating results were $3.4 million lower in the first quarter primarily due to lower charter hire revenue for one U.S. flag product tanker and lower short-sea cargo shipping demand.

Illinois Corn Processing - Segment profit was $1.4 million (of which $0.4 million is attributable to noncontrolling interests) on operating revenues of $49.6 million in the first quarter compared with $0.1 million on operating revenues of $38.7 million in the preceding quarter. Segment profit was $1.3 million higher primarily due to an improvement in industry-wide fuel ethanol margins and lower operating costs as a consequence of increased production rates.

Debt Extinguishment Gains - During the first quarter, the Company purchased $13.9 million in principal amount of its 7.375% Senior Notes for $11.9 million resulting in gains on debt extinguishment of $1.8 million and purchased $20.2 million in principal amount of its 2.5% Convertible Senior Notes for $18.9 million resulting in gains on debt extinguishment of $1.4 million.

Marketable Security Transactions. - Marketable security losses, net included $21.7 million of unrealized losses on the Company's investment in 9,177,135 shares of Dorian LPG Ltd ("Dorian"), a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange trading under the symbol "LPG." Dorian's closing share price was $11.77, $9.40 and $10.51 as of December 31, 2015, March 31, 2016 and April 26, 2016, respectively.

Share Repurchases - During the first quarter, the Company acquired for treasury 47,455 shares of its common stock from its employees to cover their tax withholding obligations upon the lapsing of restrictions on share awards for an aggregate purchase price of $2.4 million. These shares were purchased in accordance with the terms of the Company's Share Incentive Plans and not pursuant to the repurchase authorizations granted by SEACOR's Board of Directors. As of March 31, 2016, the Company had 17,294,810 of common shares outstanding.

Capital Commitments - The Company's capital commitments as of March 31, 2016 by year of expected payment were as follows (in thousands):

Shipping Services' capital commitments included three U.S.-flag product tankers, one U.S.-flag chemical and petroleum articulated tug barge and two U.S.-flag harbor tugs. Offshore Marine Services' capital commitments included eight fast support vessels, four supply vessels, two specialty offshore support vessels and one wind farm utility vessel. Inland River Services' capital commitments included 50 dry-cargo barges, one 30,000 barrel liquid tank barge and five inland river towboats.

Liquidity and Debt - As of March 31, 2016, the Company's balances of cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and construction reserve funds totaled $862.7 million and its total outstanding debt was $1,054.0 million. In addition, the Company had $97.5 million of borrowing capacity under its subsidiary credit facilities.

SEACOR and its subsidiaries are in the business of owning, operating, investing in and marketing equipment, primarily in the offshore oil and gas, shipping and logistics industries. SEACOR offers customers a diversified suite of services and equipment, including offshore marine, inland river storage and handling, distribution of petroleum, chemical and agricultural commodities, and shipping. SEACOR is dedicated to building innovative, modern, "next generation," efficient marine equipment while providing highly responsive service with the highest safety standards and dedicated professional employees. SEACOR is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol CKH.

Certain statements discussed in this release as well as in other reports, materials and oral statements that the Company releases from time to time to the public constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Generally, words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "plan," "target," "forecast" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements concern management's expectations, strategic objectives, business prospects, anticipated economic performance and financial condition and other similar matters. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual events or results may differ significantly from these statements. Actual events or results are subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors, including decreased demand and loss of revenues as a result of a decline in the price of oil and resulting decrease in capital spending by oil and gas companies, as well as an oversupply of newly built offshore support vessels, additional safety and certification requirements for drilling activities in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and delayed approval of applications for such activities, the possibility of U.S. government implemented moratoriums directing operators to cease certain drilling activities in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and any extension of such moratoriums (the "Moratoriums"), weakening demand for the Company's services as a result of unplanned customer suspensions, cancellations, rate reductions or non-renewals of vessel charters or failures to finalize commitments to charter vessels in response to a decline in the price of oil, an oversupply of newly built offshore support vessels and Moratoriums, increased government legislation and regulation of the Company's businesses could increase cost of operations, increased competition if the Jones Act is repealed, liability, legal fees and costs in connection with the provision of emergency response services, including the Company's involvement in response to the oil spill as a result of the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon in April 2010, decreased demand for the Company's services as a result of declines in the global economy, declines in valuations in the global financial markets and a lack of liquidity in the credit sectors, including, interest rate fluctuations, availability of credit, inflation rates, change in laws, trade barriers, commodity prices and currency exchange fluctuations, the cyclical nature of the oil and gas industry, activity in foreign countries and changes in foreign political, military and economic conditions, changes in foreign and domestic oil and gas exploration and production activity, safety record requirements related to Offshore Marine Services and Shipping Services, decreased demand for Shipping Services due to construction of additional refined petroleum product, natural gas or crude oil pipelines or due to decreased demand for refined petroleum products, crude oil or chemical products or a change in existing methods of delivery, compliance with U.S. and foreign government laws and regulations, including environmental laws and regulations and economic sanctions, the dependence of Offshore Marine Services, Inland River Services, Shipping Services and Illinois Corn Processing on several customers, consolidation of the Company's customer base, the ongoing need to replace aging vessels, industry fleet capacity, restrictions imposed by the Shipping Acts on the amount of foreign ownership of the Company's Common Stock, operational risks of Offshore Marine Services, Inland River Services and Shipping Services, effects of adverse weather conditions and seasonality, the level of grain export volume, the effect of fuel prices on barge towing costs, variability in freight rates for inland river barges, the effect of international economic and political factors on Inland River Services' operations, the effect of the spread between the input costs of corn and natural gas compared with the price of alcohol and distillers grains on Illinois Corn Processing's operations, adequacy of insurance coverage, the potential for a material weakness in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting and the Company's ability to remediate such potential material weakness, the attraction and retention of qualified personnel by the Company, and various other matters and factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control as well as those discussed in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of the Company's Annual report on Form 10-K. It should be understood that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, the preceding should not be considered to be a complete discussion of all potential risks or uncertainties. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they are made. The Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to provide any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is based, except as required by law. It is advisable, however, to consult any further disclosures the Company makes on related subjects in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K (if any). These statements constitute the Company's cautionary statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.