Attached files

file filename
8-K - Rand Logistics, Inc.e608050_8k-rand.htm
EX-99.2 - Rand Logistics, Inc.e608050_ex99-2.htm
Rand Logistics, Inc.



 
 
RAND LOGISTICS REPORTS THIRD QUARTER FISCAL 2011 FINANCIAL RESULTS
 
 
Free cash flow projected to be in the range of $1.15 to $1.30 per common share in FY 2012
 

New York, NY – February 14, 2011 – Rand Logistics, Inc. (Nasdaq: RLOG) (“Rand”) today announced financial and operational results for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 ended December 31, 2010.

Quarter Ended December 31, 2010 Financial Highlights
Versus Quarter Ended December 31, 2009

 
·
Marine freight revenue (excluding fuel and other surcharges, and outside charter revenue) was $27.3 million, a decrease of 4.4% from $28.6 million. The decrease in marine freight revenue was primarily attributable to 15 less sailing days and both less favorable weather conditions and commodity mix.  The decrease was partially offset by a stronger Canadian dollar.
 
 
·
Marine freight revenue per sailing day decreased by $823, or 3.1%, to $26,030 from $26,853. This decrease was attributable to inefficiencies in our trade patterns that resulted from the mechanical incidents in the prior quarter.
 
 
·
Vessel operating expenses per sailing day increased by $476, or 2.2%, to $22,275 from $21,799. This increase was primarily attributable to higher fuel costs and a stronger Canadian dollar.
 
 
·
Operating income plus depreciation and amortization decreased by $470,000 to $7.9 million from $8.4 million.
 

Nine Months Ended December 31, 2010 Financial Highlights
Versus Nine Months Ended December 31, 2009

 
·
Marine freight revenue (excluding fuel and other surcharges, and outside charter revenue) was $86.0 million, an increase of 6.4% from $80.9 million. The increase in marine freight revenue was primarily attributable to 177 more sailing days in the nine month period this year versus last year, price increases and a stronger Canadian dollar, partially offset by inefficiencies in trade patterns resulting from the major mechanical incidents experienced in the first half of the year.
 
 
·
Marine freight revenue per sailing day increased by $113 or 0.4%, to $27,281 from $27,168, as a result of a stronger Canadian dollar. This increase was partially offset by inefficiencies in trade patterns due to mechanical incidents that occurred in the first half of the year.
 
 
·
Vessel operating expenses per sailing day increased by $2,788, or 13.7%, to $23,181 from $20,393. The increase was primarily attributable to repair costs below the insurance deductible and associated inefficiencies due to the mechanical incidents on five of our vessels, a one-time insurance assessment, an increase in fuel expense and a stronger Canadian dollar.
 
 
·
Operating income plus depreciation and amortization (excluding a GE Amendment Fee of $446,000 in fiscal 2010) decreased $2.6 million to $24.9 million from $27.5 million.  The reduction in operating income resulting from the previously disclosed operational incidents totaled $4.9 million, including $1.1 million repair costs below insurance deductibles, $2.5 million of lost margin resulting from 113 days of downtime and a one-time insurance assessment of $1.3 million.
 
 
1

 
 
Subsequent Events
On February 11, 2011, Rand acquired two Jones Act compliant, self-unloading integrated tug/barge units from KK Integrated Shipping (KKIS). Management anticipates that this acquisition will be accretive to Rand’s fiscal year ending March 31, 2012 results and will add between $0.25 and $0.30 in free cash flow per share. The acquisition was structured with $35.5 million cash paid at closing (including $31.0 million financed with third party debt), $5.1 million of attractively priced junior seller paper and 1,305,963 shares of the Company’s common stock. Further details regarding this transaction are included in the Company’s Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission today, February 14, 2011.
 
Management Comments
Scott Bravener, President of Lower Lakes stated, “Our third quarter results were in line with our expectations as we enjoyed consistent customer demand throughout the quarter. This demand continued across our end markets into January 2011, as we operated for an above average 144 sailing days in the month. While I am disappointed by the previously discussed operational incidents that we incurred during the sailing season, we still expect operating income plus depreciation and amortization will exceed $19 million for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011, notwithstanding incurring approximately $4.9 million of one-time costs and lost margin due to these incidents.”
 
Outlook
Laurence S. Levy, Chairman and CEO of Rand, commented, “Despite the negative financial impact to our fiscal year 2011 results to-date from the mechanical incidents, we continue to believe that the long term fundamentals of our business and end markets remain strong. We are very enthusiastic about the highly strategic nature of the KKIS acquisition and project that this purchase will be accretive to Rand’s results in fiscal year 2012. The SS Michipicoten repowering project, which began in December 2010, is on track and will also be accretive to our fiscal year 2012 results, as we estimate that this investment will generate an unlevered annual return on invested funds in the mid teens. Based on current economic conditions, we are adjusting our prior guidance of $0.90 to $1.00 of free cash flow per common share to $1.15 to $1.30, reflecting the anticipated benefits to be derived from the newly acquired vessels.”
 
“Our outlook for fiscal year 2012 is very positive, given our current order book as well as additional customer demand expected in connection with the KKIS acquisition. Based on contracts in hand, our expanded fleet is fully booked for the 2011 sailing season.  Over the next 24 months, we have the opportunity to accelerate our free cash flow growth as we improve the profitability of our existing fleet by better aligning our assets to the trade patterns that they are best suited for and gain greater flexibility in the scheduling of our expanded fleet. Continued improvement in vessel utilization combined with increased customer demand reinforces our confidence in a positive future for Rand, our customers, employees and shareholders.”
 
 
2

 
 
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,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Revenue
                       
  Freight and related revenue
  $ 27,331     $ 28,598     $ 86,043     $ 80,879  
  Fuel and other surcharges
    6,432       5,633       19,117       14,409  
  Outside voyage charter revenue
    2,850       3,088       7,056       7,525  
      36,613       37,319       112,216       102,813  
Expenses
                               
  Outside voyage charter fees
    2,831       3,089       7,032       7,509  
  Vessel operating expenses
    23,389       23,216       73,113       60,710  
  Repairs and maintenance
    74       68       118       785  
  General and administrative
    2,416       2,569       7,080       6,762  
  Depreciation and amortization of deferred drydock costs and intangibles
    2,808       3,329       8,319       9,728  
  Loss on foreign exchange
    2       6       7       14  
      31,520       32,277       95,669       85,508  
Operating Income
    5,093       5,042       16,547       17,305  
                                 
Net income applicable to common stockholders
  $ 3,240     $ 2,914     $ 11,203     $ 10,176  
Net income per share – basic
  $ 0.24     $ 0.22     $ 0.84     $ 0.78  
Net income per share – diluted
  $ 0.24     $ 0.22     $ 0.82     $ 0.75  
 
Management will host a conference call to discuss the results at 8:30 a.m. ET on Monday, February 14, 2011. Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing 877-218-9317 (706-758-6006 for international callers), Conference ID# 41829430. 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 14, 2011. Dial 800-642-1687 (706-645-9291 for international callers), Conference ID# 4182943, 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 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 16, 2010.


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 fifteen vessels consisting of twelve self-unloading bulk carriers, including eight River Class vessels and one River Class integrated tug/barge unit, and three conventional bulk carriers, of which one is operated under a contract of affreightment.  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 Marine Act – which requires only Canadian registered and crewed ships to operate between Canadian ports.
 
 
3

 
 
CONTACT:
-OR-
INVESTOR RELATIONS COUNSEL:
Rand Logistics, Inc.
 
Lesley Snyder
Laurence S. Levy, Chairman & CEO
 
(212) 863-9413
Edward Levy, President
 
LSnyder@randlogisticsinc.com
(212) 644-3450
   
 
 
###
 
 
4

 
 
Rand Logistics, Inc.
Consolidated 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,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
REVENUE
                       
Freight and related revenue
  $ 27,331     $ 28,598     $ 86,043     $ 80,879  
Fuel and other surcharges
    6,432       5,633       19,117       14,409  
Outside voyage charter revenue
    2,850       3,088       7,056       7,525  
TOTAL REVENUE
    36,613       37,319       112,216       102,813  
                                 
EXPENSES
                               
Outside voyage charter fees
    2,831       3,089       7,032       7,509  
Vessel operating expenses
    23,389       23,216       73,113       60,710  
Repairs and maintenance
    74       68       118       785  
General and administrative
    2,416       2,569       7,080       6,762  
Depreciation
    1,818       2,411       5,376       6,792  
Amortization of deferred drydock costs
    696       619       2,070       1,799  
Amortization of intangibles
    294       299       873       1,137  
Loss on foreign exchange
    2       6       7       14  
      31,520       32,277       95,669       85,508  
OPERATING INCOME
    5,093       5,042       16,547       17,305  
                                 
OTHER (INCOME) AND EXPENSES
                               
Interest expense
    1,503       1,409       4,161       4,320  
Interest income
    (11 )     -       (34 )     (5 )
Gain on interest rate swap contracts
    (508 )     (386 )     (131 )     (1,955 )
      984       1,023       3,996       2,360  
                                 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    4,109       4,019       12,551       14,945  
PROVISION (RECOVERY) FOR INCOME TAXES
                               
Current
    (178 )     15       (4 )     84  
Deferred
    450       600       (367 )     3,275  
      272       615       (371 )     3,359  
NET INCOME BEFORE PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
    3,837       3,404       12,922       11,586  
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
    597       490       1,719       1,410  
NET INCOME  APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
  $ 3,240     $ 2,914     $ 11,203     $ 10,176  
                                 
Net income per share basic
  $ 0.24     $ 0.22     $ 0.84     $ 0.78  
Net income per share diluted
  $ 0.24     $ 0.22     $ 0.82     $ 0.75  
Weighted average shares basic
    13,466,879       13,141,574       13,404,338       12,980,831  
Weighted average shares diluted
    13,466,879       15,560,929       15,823,693       15,400,186  
 
 
5

 
 
Rand Logistics, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
 (U.S. Dollars 000’s except for Shares and Per Share data)
 
   
December 31,
   
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2010
 
 ASSETS
           
 CURRENT
           
 Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 12,021     $ 943  
 Accounts receivable
    18,169       3,922  
 Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    3,637       3,506  
 Income taxes receivable
    -       159  
 Deferred income taxes
    491       262  
 Total current assets
    34,318       8,792  
                 
 PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
    104,510       98,479  
 LOAN TO EMPLOYEE
    250       250  
 OTHER ASSETS
    426       541  
 DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
    9,169       8,583  
 DEFERRED DRYDOCK COSTS, NET
    5,730       7,129  
 INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET
    13,456       14,000  
 GOODWILL
    10,193       10,193  
                 
 Total assets 
  $ 178,052     $ 147,967  
 LIABILITIES
               
 CURRENT
               
 Bank indebtedness
  $ -     $ -  
 Accounts payable
    4,639       7,864  
 Accrued liabilities
    13,332       11,085  
 Interest rate swap contracts
    2,202       2,298  
 Income taxes payable
    42       266  
 Deferred income taxes
    450       -  
 Current portion of long-term debt
    5,282       4,728  
 Total current liabilities
    25,947       26,241  
 LONG-TERM DEBT
    75,500       57,924  
 OTHER LIABILITIES
    238       238  
 DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
    12,163       12,086  
                 
 Total liabilities
    113,848       96,489  
 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 13,470,802 shares
         
 Additional paid-in capital
    64,639       63,906  
 Accumulated deficit
    (17,218 )     (28,421 )
 Accumulated other comprehensive income
    1,882       1,092  
                 
 Total stockholders’ equity
    64,204       51,478  
                 
 Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 178,052     $ 147,967  
 
 
###
 
 
6