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Safe Bulkers, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2013 Results and Declares Quarterly Dividend

SB
Safe Bulkers, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2013 Results and Declares Quarterly Dividend
http://media.marketwire.com/attachments/200805/426957_safe.jpghttp://at.marketwire.com/accesstracking/AccessTrackingLogServlet?PrId=1017870&ProfileId=051205&sourceType=1

ATHENS, GREECE -- (Marketwired) -- 05/15/13 -- Safe Bulkers, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE: SB), an international provider of marine drybulk transportation services, announced today its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. The Company's Board of Directors also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share for the first quarter of 2013.

Summary of First Quarter 2013 Results

  • Net revenue for the first quarter of 2013 remained almost unchanged at $44.2 million from $44.1 million during the same period in 2012.
  • Net income for the first quarter of 2013 decreased by 25% to $16.1 million from $21.6 million during the same period in 2012. Adjusted net income(1) for the first quarter of 2013 decreased by 30% to $16.0 million from $22.9 million during the same period in 2012.
  • EBITDA(2) for the first quarter of 2013 decreased by 10% to $27.5 million from $30.7 million during the same period in 2012. Adjusted EBITDA(1) for the first quarter of 2013 decreased by 14% to $27.4 million from $31.9 million during the same period in 2012.
  • Earnings per share ("EPS") and Adjusted EPS(1) for the first quarter of 2013 were $0.21 and $0.21, respectively, calculated on a weighted average number of shares of 76,673,484, compared to $0.30 and $0.32, respectively, in the first quarter 2012, calculated on a weighted average number of shares of 71,868,950.
  • The Company's Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.05 per share for the first quarter of 2013.

Fleet and Employment Profile

In January 2013, the Company took early redelivery of the Maritsa, ahead of the contracted earliest redelivery date of January 29, 2015, following the early termination of the charter agreement and agreed to employ the vessel with the same charterer on a period time charter. In connection with this early redelivery the Company received a cash compensation payment of $13.1 million, which will be amortized over the period of the new period time charter.

In March 2013, the Company took delivery of the Pedhoulas Commander, a second-hand, 83,700 dwt, Japanese, 2008-built, Kamsarmax class vessel, for a purchase price of $19.4 million.

In April 2013, the Company took early redelivery of the Sophia ahead of the contracted earliest redelivery date of September 19, 2013. In connection with this early redelivery, the Company recognized early redelivery income of $3.0 million, net of commissions, consisting of cash compensation paid by the relevant charterer. The Company has employed the Sophia with a new charterer in the spot market.

In May 2013, the Company took early redelivery of the Vassos, ahead of the contracted earliest redelivery date of October 1, 2013. In connection with this early redelivery, the Company recognized early redelivery income of $2.3 million, consisting of cash compensation paid by the relevant charterer of $2.6 million, net of commissions, less accrued revenue of $0.3 million. The Company has employed the Vassos with a new charterer in the spot market.

In May 2013, the Company expects to take early redelivery of the Katerina, ahead of the contracted earliest redelivery date of January 1, 2014. In connection with this early redelivery, the Company expects to recognize early redelivery income of $1.8 million, consisting of cash compensation to be paid by the relevant charterer of $2.1 million, net of commissions, less accrued revenue of $0.3 million. The Company has employed the Katerina with a new charterer on a period time charter.

In April 2013, the Company entered into two shipbuilding contracts with a Japanese yard for the construction of two eco-design, 77,000 dwt, Panamax class vessels. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery during the second half of 2014, and the second for the first half of 2015. Each has a purchase price of $28.0 million.

As of May 15, 2013, the Company's operational fleet comprised of 26 drybulk vessels with an average age of 5.1 years and an aggregate carrying capacity of 2.4 million dwt. The fleet consists of seven Panamax class vessels, seven Kamsarmax class vessels, ten Post-Panamax class vessels and two Capesize class vessels, all built 2003 onwards.

As of May 15, 2013, the Company had contracted to acquire eight additional drybulk newbuild vessels, with deliveries scheduled at various dates through 2015. The orderbook consists of five Panamax class vessels, two Post-Panamax class vessels and one Capesize class vessel.

Set out below is a table showing the Company's existing and newbuild vessels and their contracted employment as of May 15, 2013:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Year
  Vessel             Built  Country of    Charter Rate     Charter Duration
    Name      DWT     (1)  construction    (2)USD/day            (3)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                CURRENT FLEET
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Panamax
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maria         76,000  2003        Japan           11,300 Mar 2013 - Jun 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Koulitsa      76,900  2003        Japan            8,500 Dec 2012 - Feb 2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paraskevi     74,300  2003        Japan            8,000 Jan 2013 - Jul 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vassos        76,000  2004        Japan            9,300 May 2013 - Jun 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Katerina      76,000  2004        Japan            9,500 May 2013 - Sep 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maritsa       76,000  2005        Japan       27,649 (4) Mar 2013 - Dec 2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Efrossini     75,000  2012        Japan            9,500 Feb 2013 - May 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kamsarmax
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pedhoulas                                   18,350 BPI + Aug 2011 - Jul 2013
 Merchant     82,300  2006        Japan             9.5% Jul 2013 - Jan 2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pedhoulas                                   41,850 BPI + Aug 2008 - Jul 2013
 Trader       82,300  2006        Japan         6.5% (5) Aug 2013 - Jul 2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pedhoulas
 Leader       82,300  2007        Japan           13,250 Jun 2012 - May 2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pedhoulas
 Commander    83,700  2008        Japan            8,000 May 2013 - Jun 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pedhoulas
 Builder      81,600  2012        China            8,450 Oct 2012 - Nov 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pedhoulas                                     (BPI + 4%)
 Fighter      81,600  2012        China       -1,000 (6) Aug 2012 - Sep 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pedhoulas
 Farmer       81,600  2012        China            8,000 Sep 2012 - Sep 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post-Panamax
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stalo         87,000  2006        Japan           34,160 Mar 2010 - Feb 2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marina        87,000  2006        Japan           41,557 Dec 2008 - Dec 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sophia        87,000  2007        Japan           11,000 Apr 2013 - May 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eleni         87,000  2008        Japan           41,738 Apr 2010 - Mar 2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Martine       87,000  2009        Japan           10,000 May 2013 - Jun 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andreas K     92,000  2009  South Korea           10,000 Dec 2012 - Feb 2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Panayiota
 K            92,000  2010  South Korea            7,750 Mar 2013 - Jun 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Venus
 Heritage     95,800  2010        Japan            9,000 May 2013 - Jul 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Venus
 History      95,800  2011        Japan            8,000 Jan 2013 - May 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Venus
 Horizon      95,800  2012        Japan            9,500 Feb 2013 - May 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capesize
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kanaris      178,100  2010        China           25,928 Sep 2011 - Jun 2031
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelopidas    176,000  2011        China           38,000 Feb 2012 - Dec 2021
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal   2,366,100
============================================================================
                                 NEW BUILDS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Panamax
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hull No.                2H
 814          75,000  2013        Japan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hull No.                1H
 1659         76,600  2014        Japan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hull No.                1H
 1660         76,600  2014        Japan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hull No.                2H
 821          77,000  2014        Japan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hull No.                1H
 822          77,000  2015        Japan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post-Panamax
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hull No.                2H
 2396         84,000  2015        Japan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hull No.                2H
 2397         84,000  2015        Japan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capesize
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hull No.                1H
 8126        181,000  2014        Japan       24,376 (7) Jan 2014 - Jan 2024
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal     731,200
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total      3,097,300
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

   1)  For newbuilds, the dates shown reflect the expected delivery date.
   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 May 15,
       2013, 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)  Following the early redelivery of the Maritsa, in January 2013 the
       Company received a cash compensation payment of $13.1 million, which
       will be amortized over the period of the new period time charter with
       the same charterer. The agreed gross daily charter rate is $8,000.
   5)  A period time charter with forward delivery in August 2013 at a gross
       daily charter rate linked to the Baltic Panamax Index ("BPI") plus a
       premium of 6.5%.
   6)  A period time charter at a gross daily charter rate linked to the BPI
       plus a premium of 4%. Net daily charter rate payable will be reduced
       by an amount equal to $1,000 per day.
   7)  The charter agreement 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. The charter agreement also grants the charterer an option to
       purchase the vessel at any time beginning at the end of the seventh
       year of the period time charter period, 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 contracted employment of fleet ownership days is:

2013 (remaining) .......................56%
2013 (full year) ........................72%
2014 ......................................29%
2015 .......................................12%

Capital Expenditure Requirements and Liquidity

As of March 31, 2013, the remaining capital expenditure requirements to shipyards or sellers, net of commissions for the delivery of six newbuilds amounted to $171.5 million, of which $46.1 million was scheduled to be paid in 2013, $74.2 million in 2014 and $51.2 million in 2015.

As of March 31, 2013, the Company had liquidity of $162.5 million, consisting of $12.8 million in cash and short-term time deposits, $37.2 million in short-term restricted cash, $3.9 million in long-term restricted cash, $68.6 million available under existing revolving credit facilities and $40.0 million undrawn availability against the Company's $50.0 million floating rate note.

Apart from the above loan and credit facilities and commitments, the Company utilizes cash flows from operations generated by its contracted period time charters and cash compensation to be received in connection to early redeliveries. The Company also has the ability to borrow additional amounts secured by the Company's newbuild vessels, on which additional financing may be contracted, upon delivery of such vessels to the Company as and if required.

Dividend Declaration

The Company's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend on the Company's common stock of $0.05 per share payable on or about June 7, 2013 to shareholders of record at the close of trading of the Company's common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") on May 27, 2013.

The Company has 76,676,508 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, the Company may reduce or not pay dividends in the future.

Management Commentary

Dr. Loukas Barmparis, President of the Company, said: "Our Board of Directors has declared our twentieth consecutive dividend since our IPO in the amount of $0.05 per share. We continue to be focused on reducing our counterparty risk through early redeliveries while strengthening our cash position. We closely monitor the newbuild and secondhand markets and have contracted to acquire two eco-design newbuild Panamax class vessels each at an attractive price to better position ourselves before the next recovery in the shipping cycle."

Conference Call

On Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 9:00 A.M. EDT, 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 May 27, 2013 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 2013 Results

Net income decreased by 25% to $16.1 million for the first quarter of 2013 from $21.6 million for the first quarter of 2012, mainly due to the following factors:

Net revenues: Net revenues remained almost unchanged at $44.2 million for the first quarter of 2013, compared to $44.1 million for the same period in 2012. The Company operated 24.97 vessels on average during the first quarter of 2013, earning a TCE(1) rate of $18,113, compared to 18.88 vessels and a TCE rate of $24,890 during the same period in 2012.

Vessel operating expenses: Vessel operating expenses increased by 22% to $9.9 million for the first quarter of 2013, compared to $8.1 million for the same period in 2012. The increase in operating expenses is mainly attributable to an increase in ownership days by 31% to 2,247 days for the first quarter of 2013 from 1,718 days for the same period in 2012.

Depreciation: Depreciation increased to $8.8 million for the first quarter of 2013, compared to $7.3 million for the same period in 2012, as a result of an increase in the average number of vessels operated by the Company during the first quarter of 2013.

Interest expense: Interest expense increased by 44% to $ 2.6 million in the first quarter of 2013 from $1.8 million for the same period in 2012 as a result of the increase in the average amount of loans and credit facilities by the Company during the first quarter of 2013.

Gain/(loss) on derivatives: Gain on derivatives was $0.1 million in the first quarter of 2013, compared to a loss of $1.2 million for the same period in 2012, as a result of the mark-to-market valuation of the Company's interest rate swap transactions that are employed to manage the risk relating to 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 is 2.8 years as of March 31, 2013. 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(4): Daily vessel operating expenses decreased by 6% to $4,412 for the first quarter of 2013, compared to $4,713 for the same period in 2012. The decrease is mainly attributable to the decrease in lubricant and store expenses in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012, during which initial supplies for two newbuild vessels were acquired.

Daily general and administrative expenses(4): Daily general and administrative expenses decreased by 13% to $1,176 for the first quarter of 2013, compared to $1,358 for the same period in 2012. The decrease is mainly attributable to the higher number of ownership days during the first quarter of 2013, compared to the first quarter of 2012.


           Unaudited Interim Financial Information and Other Data

                             SAFE BULKERS, INC.
          CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
     (In thousands of U.S. Dollars except for share and per share data)

                                                  Three-Months Period Ended
                                                          March 31,
                                                 --------------------------
                                                     2012          2013
                                                 ------------  ------------
REVENUES:
  Revenues                                             44,804        45,172
  Commissions                                            (732)         (945)
  Net revenues                                         44,072        44,227
EXPENSES:
  Voyage expenses                                      (1,311)       (4,035)
  Vessel operating expenses                            (8,097)       (9,914)
  Depreciation                                         (7,322)       (8,836)
  General and administrative expenses                  (2,333)       (2,642)
  Operating income                                     25,009        18,800

OTHER (EXPENSE) / INCOME:
  Interest expense                                     (1,825)       (2,575)
  Other finance costs                                    (390)         (216)
  Interest income                                         282           271
  (Loss)/gain on derivatives                           (1,241)           63
  Foreign currency (loss)/gain                            (10)           36
  Amortization and write-off of deferred finance
   charges                                               (211)         (310)
  Net income                                           21,614        16,069

  Earnings per share                                     0.30          0.21
Weighted average number of shares                  71,868,950    76,673,484



                             SAFE BULKERS, INC.
              CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
                       (In thousands of U.S. Dollars)

                                                  December 31,    March 31,
                                                      2012          2013
                                                  ------------  ------------
ASSETS
  Cash, time deposits & restricted cash                125,524        50,004
  Other current assets                                  46,305        47,791
  Vessels, net                                         810,001       834,424
  Advances for vessel acquisition and vessels
   under construction                                   39,902        42,165
  Restricted cash non-current                            3,923         3,923
  Long-term investment                                  50,000        50,000
  Other non-current assets                               6,559         6,294
  Total assets                                       1,082,214     1,034,601

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
  Current portion of long-term debt                     19,199        22,576
  Other current liabilities                             28,294        31,165
  Long-term debt, net of current portion               596,468       527,944
  Other non-current liabilities                         12,397        14,794
  Shareholders' equity                                 425,856       438,122
  Total liabilities and equity                       1,082,214     1,034,601



                                  TABLE 1
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED NET INCOME, EBITDA, ADJUSTED EBITDA AND ADJUSTED
                                     EPS

                                                        Three-Months
                                                   Period Ended March 31,
                                                 --------------------------
(In thousands of U.S. Dollars except for share
 and per share data)                                 2012          2013
                                                 ------------  ------------
Net Income - Adjusted Net Income
Net Income                                             21,614        16,069
Plus Loss/(gain) on Derivatives                         1,241           (63)
Plus Foreign Currency Loss/(gain)                          10           (36)
Adjusted Net Income                                    22,865        15,970

EBITDA - Adjusted EBITDA
Net Income                                             21,614        16,069
Plus Net Interest Expense                               1,543         2,304
Plus Depreciation                                       7,322         8,836
Plus Amortization                                         211           310
EBITDA                                                 30,690        27,519
Plus Loss/(gain) on Derivatives                         1,241           (63)
Plus Foreign Currency Loss/(gain)                          10           (36)
ADJUSTED EBITDA                                        31,941        27,420

EPS - Adjusted EPS
Net Income                                             21,614        16,069
Adjusted Net Income                                    22,865        15,970
Weighted average number of shares                  71,868,950    76,673,484
EPS                                                      0.30          0.21
Adjusted EPS                                             0.32          0.21

Adjusted Net Income represents net income before gain/(loss) on derivatives and foreign currency.

EBITDA represents net income before interest, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA before gain/(loss) on derivatives and foreign currency. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are not recognized measurements under US GAAP. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA assist the Company's management and investors by increasing the comparability of the Company's fundamental performance from period to period and against the fundamental performance of other companies in the Company's industry that provide EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA information. The Company believes that EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are useful in evaluating the Company's operating performance compared to that of other companies in the Company's industry because the calculation of EBITDA generally eliminates the effects of financings, income taxes and the accounting effects of capital expenditures and acquisitions and the calculation of adjusted EBITDA generally further eliminates the effects of early redelivery income/(cost) and gain/(loss) on derivatives and foreign currency, items which may vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to overall operating performance.

EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS have limitations as analytical tools, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported under US GAAP. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as substitutes for net income and other operations data prepared in accordance with US GAAP or as a measure of profitability. While EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are frequently used as measures of operating results and performance, they are not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies due to differences in methods of calculation.


              Table 2: Fleet Data and Average Daily Indicators

                                                        Three-Months
                                                        Period Ended
                                                          March 31,
                                                      2012          2013

FLEET DATA
Number of vessels at period's end                          20            26
Average age of fleet (in years)                          4.10          4.96
Ownership days (1)                                      1,718         2,247
Available days (2)                                      1,718         2,219
Operating days (3)                                      1,715         2,214
Fleet utilization (4)                                    99.8%         98.5%
Average number of vessels in the period (5)             18.88         24.97

AVERAGE DAILY INDICATORS
Time charter equivalent rate (6)                  $    24,890   $    18,113
Daily vessel operating expenses (7)               $     4,713   $     4,412
Daily general and administrative expenses (8)     $     1,358   $     1,176


----------

  (1) Ownership days represent the aggregate number of days in a period
      during which each vessel in our fleet has been owned by us.
  (2) Available days represent the total number of days in a period during
      which each vessel in our fleet was in our possession net of off-hire
      days associated with scheduled maintenance, which includes major
      repairs, drydockings, vessel upgrades or special or intermediate
      surveys.
  (3) Operating days represent the number of our available days in a period
      less the aggregate number of days that our vessels are off-hire due to
      any reason, excluding scheduled maintenance.
  (4) Fleet utilization is calculated by dividing the number of our
      operating days during a period by the number of our ownership days
      during that period.
  (5) Average number of vessels in the period is calculated by dividing
      ownership days in the period by the number of days in that period.
  (6) Time charter equivalent rates, or TCE rates, represent our charter
      revenues less commissions and voyage expenses during a period divided
      by the number of our available days during the period.
  (7) Daily vessel operating expenses include the costs for crewing,
      insurance, lubricants, spare parts, provisions, stores, repairs,
      maintenance, statutory and classification expense, drydocking,
      intermediate and special surveys and other miscellaneous items. Daily
      vessel operating expenses are calculated by dividing vessel operating
      expenses by ownership days for the relevant period.
  (8) Daily general and administrative expenses include daily fixed and
      variable management fees payble to our Manager and daily costs payable
      to third parties in relation to our operation as a public company.
      Daily general and administrative expenses are calculated by dividing
      general and administrative expenses by ownership days for the relevant
      period.

About Safe Bulkers, Inc.

The Company is an international provider of marine drybulk transportation services, transporting bulk cargoes, particularly coal, grain and iron ore, along worldwide shipping routes for some of the world's largest users of marine drybulk transportation services. The Company's common stock is listed on the NYSE, where it trades under the symbol "SB". The Company's current fleet consists of 26 drybulk vessels, all built 2003 onwards, and the Company has contracted to acquire eight additional drybulk newbuild vessels to be delivered at various dates through 2015.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, and in Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events, the Company's growth strategy and measures to implement such strategy, including expected vessel acquisitions and entering into further time charters. Words such as "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "anticipates," "hopes," "estimates" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, changes in the demand for drybulk vessels, competitive factors in the market in which the Company operates, risks associated with operations outside the United States and other factors listed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

(1) Adjusted net income, Adjusted EPS and Adjusted EBITDA represent Net Income, EPS and EBITDA before gain/(loss) on derivatives and foreign currency, respectively. See Table 1.

(2) EBITDA represents net income before interest, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization.
See Table 1.

(3) Time charter equivalent rates, or TCE rates, represent the Company's charter revenues less commissions and voyage expenses during a period divided by the number of our available days during the period.

(4) See Table 2.

For further information please contact:

Company Contact:
Dr. Loukas Barmparis
President
Safe Bulkers, Inc.
Athens, Greece
Tel.: +30 (210) 899-4980
Fax: +30 (210) 895-4159
E-Mail: directors@safebulkers.com

Investor Relations / Media Contact:
Nicolas Bornozis
President
Capital Link, Inc.
230 Park Avenue, Suite 1536
New York, N.Y. 10169
Tel.: (212) 661-7566
Fax: (212) 661-7526
E-Mail: safebulkers@capitallink.com



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