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8-K - Rand Logistics, Inc.e610462_8k-rand.htm
Rand Logistics, Inc.
 
RAND LOGISTICS REPORTS THIRD QUARTER FISCAL YEAR 2013 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Operating Income Plus Depreciation and Amortization Increased by 1.3% on a Year-To-Date Basis

New York, NY – February 7, 2013 - Rand Logistics, Inc. (Nasdaq: RLOG) (“Rand”) today announced financial and operational results for its fiscal year 2013 third quarter ended December 31, 2012.
 
Three Months Ended December 31, 2012 Financial Highlights
Versus Three Months Ended December 31, 2011
•           Marine freight revenue (excluding fuel and other surcharges, and outside charter revenue) increased by $1.4 million, or 4.0%, to $37.3 million from $35.9 million. This increase was primarily attributable to a stronger Canadian dollar and contractual price increases.
•           Total revenue increased by $0.2 million, or 0.4%, to $49.5 million from $49.3. This increase was primarily attributable to a stronger Canadian dollar and higher freight revenue, offset by reduced fuel surcharges.
           Marine freight revenue per Sailing Day decreased by $2,203, or 7.4%, to $27,480 per Sailing Day compared to $29,683 per Sailing Day. This decrease was attributable to unfavorable weather conditions, including Hurricane Sandy (resulting in a cumulative loss of 30 Sailing Days), low water levels, uneven customer demand, and a reduction in salt tonnage due to an abnormally dry winter in the Great Lakes region. These events impacted the efficiency of our trade patterns.
           Vessel operating expenses increased by $2.6 million, or 8.2%, to $34.7 million from $32.1 million. This increase was primarily due to increased Sailing Days attributable to two additional vessels sailed in the quarter but not sailed in the comparable quarter last year and to operating inefficiencies associated with the start up of a vessel introduced into service during the quarter. These cost increases were partially offset by lower fuel prices.
           Operating income decreased by $3.9 million to $6.1 million from $10.0 million.
           Operating income plus depreciation and amortization decreased by $2.7 million, or 19.2%, to $11.3 million from $14.0 million.

Nine Months Ended December 31, 2012 Financial Highlights
Versus Nine Months Ended December 31, 2011
•           Marine freight revenue (excluding fuel and other surcharges, and outside charter revenue) increased by $10.9 million, or 10.7%, to $112.7 million from $101.8 million. This increase in revenue was attributable to contractual price increases and 253 net additional Sailing Days. The net additional Sailing Days were comprised of the addition of 267 Sailing Days from the two vessels acquired during the nine month period ended December 31, 2011,  offset by a loss of 14 Sailing Days on the balance of the fleet.
•           Marine freight revenue per Sailing Day increased by $943, or 3.2%, to $30,315 per Sailing Day compared to $29,372 per Sailing Day. This increase was somewhat offset by unfavorable weather conditions, including Hurricane Sandy and low water levels, a weaker Canadian dollar, an approximately 29% year-to-date decrease in salt tonnage hauled versus the same year-ago period due to an abnormally dry winter in the Great Lakes region, and inconsistent customer demand which impacted the efficiency of our trade patterns.
•           Operating income decreased by $2.4 million, or 9.3%, to $23.5 million compared to $25.9 million.
•           Operating income plus depreciation and amortization increased by $0.5 million, or 1.3%, or to $38.3 million from $37.8 million.
 
 
 

 
 
Management Comments

Scott Bravener, President of Lower Lakes, stated, “As we have previously described, we experienced significant incidents on two of our vessels during the 2012 sailing season – one in the first fiscal quarter and one at the end of the second fiscal quarter. Combined, these incidents resulted in 123 lost Sailing Days. In total, these two incidents resulted in a decline in our reported results for the nine months ended December 31, 2012 of approximately $4.0 million as compared to the nine month period ended December 31, 2011.”

“Overall, we would characterize demand in the 2012 sailing season as adequate but not optimal. While we operated all of our vessels in the 2012 sailing season, we were not able to optimize our trade patterns for a number of reasons, including weather conditions, a reduction in salt and grain tonnage, erratic order patterns by our customers, softness in the stone markets, particularly in the July through December period, and unexpected events experienced by our customers including a work stoppage and an extended plant maintenance shutdown. As a result of these factors, we were not able to maximize the percentage of time that our vessels operated in revenue-loaded condition.”

“Additionally, one of the two vessels that we acquired in September 2011 was delayed in being introduced into service until October 23, 2012 instead of our projected introduction date of August 1, 2012. This sailing delay was caused by the modifications necessary for the vessel to meet Great Lakes standards, taking longer than anticipated. In addition, the second acquired vessel encountered a series of start-up issues, and lost approximately 77 Sailing Days during the season due to weakness in the grain market and an early layup for further modifications. We remain enthusiastic about the prospects for both of these vessels and expect them both to be fully operational for the 2013 sailing season. Aside from the aforementioned four vessels that encountered operating incidents and start up issues, the combined results from our remaining 12 vessels exceeded our 2012 sailing season earnings guidance.”

Laurence S. Levy, Chairman and CEO of Rand, commented, “We are continuing to evaluate our customers’ capacity needs for the 2013 sailing season. We are targeting key business opportunities that are well suited to our fleet, allow for future growth, and will be accretive to our profitability. At the present time, the demand environment in our markets looks very similar to the 2012 sailing season. We do not anticipate integrating any new vessels into our fleet or managing any major vessel modification projects during  the 2013 sailing season, and therefore our sole focus will be to execute our business plan. Notwithstanding the challenges that we faced over the last nine months, the fundamentals of our business remain intact, including our low cost operating structure, our non-duplicatable asset portfolio, and our extensive customer network.  We believe that these attributes will allow us to continue to create long term shareholder value.”
 
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Rand Logistics, Inc.
Summary Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
(U.S. Dollars 000's except for Shares and Per Share data)
 
   
Three months ended December 31,
   
Nine months ended December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2012
   
2011
 
Revenue
                       
  Freight and related revenue
  $ 37,345     $ 35,917     $ 112,712     $ 101,775  
  Fuel and other surcharges
    11,994       12,800       35,576       36,972  
  Outside voyage charter revenue
    203       619       1,437       1,321  
      49,542       49,336       149,725       140,068  
Expenses
                               
  Outside voyage charter fees
    202       615       1,447       1,312  
  Vessel operating expenses
    34,695       32,076       99,838       91,907  
  Repairs and maintenance
    110       36       767       1,068  
  General and administrative
    3,145       2,558       9,290       7,987  
  Depreciation and amortization of drydock costs and intangibles
    5,283       4,017       14,800       11,890  
  Loss (gain) on foreign exchange
    48       16       34       (51 )
      43,483       39,318       126,176       114,113  
Operating Income
  $ 6,059     $ 10,018     $ 23,549     $ 25,955  
                                 
Net income applicable to common stockholders
  $ 2,612     $ 6,643     $ 7,049     $ 15,096  
Net income per share – basic
  $ 0.15     $ 0.38     $ 0.40     $ 0.95  
Net income per share – diluted
  $ 0.15     $ 0.37     $ 0.40     $ 0.93  

Management will host a conference call to discuss the results at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, February 7, 2013. Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing 877-218-9317 (706-758-6006 for international callers), Conference ID#88681802. Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin.

A telephonic replay of the conference call may be accessed approximately two hours after the completion of the call through April 7, 2013. Dial 855-859-2056 (404-537-3406 for international callers), Conference ID#88681802 to access the phone replay.
 
The conference call will be webcast simultaneously on the Rand Logistics, Inc. website at www.randlogisticsinc.com/presentations.html.  The webcast replay will be archived for 12 months.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. For all forward-looking statements, we claim the protection of the Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy or are otherwise beyond our control and some of which might not even be anticipated.  Future events and actual results, affecting our strategic plan as well as our financial position, results of operations and cash flows, could differ materially from those described in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements.  Important factors that contribute to such risks include, but are not limited to, the effect of the economic downturn in our markets; the weather conditions on the Great Lakes; and our ability to maintain and replace our vessels as they age.
 
For a more detailed description of these uncertainties and other factors, please see the "Risk Factors" section in Rand's Annual Report on Form 10-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 8, 2012.
 
 
 

 
 
About Rand Logistics
Rand Logistics, Inc. is a leading provider of bulk freight shipping services throughout the Great Lakes region. Through its subsidiaries, the Company operates a fleet of four conventional bulk carriers and twelve self-unloading bulk carriers including four tug/barge units. The Company is the only carrier able to offer significant domestic port-to-port services in both Canada and the U.S. on the Great Lakes. The Company's vessels operate under the U.S. Jones Act – which reserves domestic waterborne commerce to vessels that are U.S. owned, built and crewed, – and the Canada Coasting Trade Act – which reserves domestic waterborne commerce to Canadian registered and crewed vessels that operate between Canadian ports.
 
CONTACT:
Rand Logistics, Inc.
Laurence S. Levy, Chairman & CEO
Edward Levy, President 
(212) 644-3450
-OR-
INVESTOR RELATIONS COUNSEL:
Lesley Snyder
(212) 863-9413
LSnyder@randlogisticsinc.com
 
 
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Rand Logistics, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
(U.S. Dollars 000's except for Shares and Per Share data)
 
   
Three months
ended
   
Three months
ended
   
Nine months
ended
   
Nine months
ended
 
   
December 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
   
December 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
REVENUE
                       
Freight and related revenue
  $ 37,345     $ 35,917     $ 112,712     $ 101,775  
Fuel and other surcharges
    11,994       12,800       35,576       36,972  
Outside voyage charter revenue
    203       619       1,437       1,321  
TOTAL REVENUE
    49,542       49,336       149,725       140,068  
                                 
EXPENSES
                               
Outside voyage charter fees
    202       615       1,447       1,312  
Vessel operating expenses
    34,695       32,076       99,838       91,907  
Repairs and maintenance
    110       36       767       1,068  
General and administrative
    3,145       2,558       9,290       7,987  
Depreciation
    4,075       2,903       11,186       8,636  
Amortization of drydock costs
    878       792       2,630       2,263  
Amortization of intangibles
    330       322       984       991  
Loss (gain) on foreign exchange
    48       16       34       (51 )
      43,483       39,318       126,176       114,113  
OPERATING INCOME
    6,059       10,018       23,549       25,955  
                                 
OTHER (INCOME) AND EXPENSES
                               
Interest expense
    2,705       2,346       7,645       6,786  
Interest income
    (1 )     (2 )     (7 )     (4 )
Gain on interest rate swap contracts
    (282 )     (397 )     (824 )     (488 )
Loss on extinguishment of debt
    -       -       3,339       -  
      2,422       1,947       10,153       6,294  
                                 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    3,637       8,071       13,396       19,661  
PROVISION (RECOVERY) FOR INCOME TAXES
                               
Current
    (49 )     95       (49 )     417  
Deferred
    270       618       4,052       2,079  
      221       713       4,003       2,496  
NET INCOME BEFORE PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
    3,416       7,358       9,393       17,165  
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
    804       715       2,344       2,069  
NET INCOME APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
  $ 2,612     $ 6,643     $ 7,049     $ 15,096  
                                 
Net income per share basic
  $ 0.15     $ 0.38     $ 0.40     $ 0.95  
Net income per share diluted
  $ 0.15     $ 0.37     $ 0.40     $ 0.93  
Weighted average shares basic
    17,726,879       17,671,114       17,723,793       15,894,463  
Weighted average shares diluted
    17,726,879       20,141,349       17,723,793       18,399,571  
 
 
 

 
 
Rand Logistics, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
 (U.S. Dollars 000's except for Shares and Per Share data)
 
   
December 31,
   
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2012
 
 ASSETS            
 CURRENT
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 4,737     $ 5,563  
Accounts receivable
    23,850       5,343  
Income tax receivable
    33       -  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    6,782       6,510  
Deferred income taxes
    265       284  
 Total current assets
    35,667       17,700  
                 
 PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
    216,320       200,862  
 LOAN TO EMPLOYEE
    250       250  
 OTHER ASSETS
    1,003       1,528  
 DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
    448       1,318  
 DEFERRED DRYDOCK COSTS, NET
    9,675       9,879  
 INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET
    13,248       16,101  
 GOODWILL
    10,193       10,193  
                 
 Total assets 
  $ 286,804     $ 257,831  
 LIABILITIES
               
 CURRENT
               
Bank indebtedness
  $ 10,021     $ -  
Accounts payable
    15,459       19,301  
Accrued liabilities
    19,893       18,175  
Interest rate swap contracts
    264       1,088  
Income taxes payable
    3       76  
Deferred income taxes
    354       418  
Current portion of deferred payment liability
    431       431  
Current portion of long-term debt
    3,658       9,686  
 Total current liabilities
    50,083       49,175  
 LONG-TERM PORTION OF DEFERRED PAYMENT LIABILITY
    1,742       2,063  
 LONG-TERM DEBT
    141,739       123,915  
 OTHER LIABILITIES
    242       242  
 DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
    6,337       3,091  
                 
 Total liabilities
    200,143       178,486  
                 
 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
               
 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Preferred stock, $.0001 par value,
    14,900       14,900  
Authorized 1,000,000 shares, Issued and outstanding 300,000 shares
               
Common stock, $.0001 par value,
    1       1  
Authorized 50,000,000 shares, Issuable and outstanding 17,729,826 shares
 
Additional paid-in capital
    88,306       87,853  
Accumulated deficit
    (18,300 )     (25,349 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    1,754       1,940  
                 
 Total stockholders’ equity
    86,661       79,345  
                 
 Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 286,804     $ 257,831  
 
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