COVINGTON, La., May 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. (NYSE:HOS) announced today results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016.  Following are highlights for this period and the Company's future outlook:

• 1Q2016 diluted EPS was $(0.21), an incremental loss of $0.14 from 4Q2015 diluted EPS of $(0.07)
• 1Q2016 revenues were $76.8 million, a decrease of $11.9 million, or 13%, from 4Q2015 revenues of $88.7 million
• 1Q2016 EBITDA was $28.2 million, a decrease of $4.0 million, or 12%, from 4Q2015 EBITDA of $32.2 million
• 1Q2016 operating loss was (1)% of revenues, down from 4Q2015 operating income margin of 5%
• 1Q2016 average new gen OSV dayrates were $24,601, an increase of $568, or 2%, from the sequential quarter
• 1Q2016 utilization of the Company's new gen OSV fleet was 35%, down from 46% sequentially
• 1Q2016 effective utilization of the Company's active new gen OSVs was 77%, down from 84% sequentially
• 1Q2016 effective new gen OSV dayrates were $8,635, a decrease of $2,492, or 22%, from the sequential quarter
• Final four MPSV newbuild deliveries are still expected during 2Q2016, 3Q2016, 2Q2017 and 4Q2017
• Total cash of $256 million with only $104 million of growth capex remaining to be funded under the 24-vessel newbuild program
• Total of 42 new gen OSVs stacked (including five 300 class OSVs), with four more stackings planned (including one 300 class OSV)
• By the end of June 2016, the Company now expects to have stacked a total of 46 new gen OSVs, up from 33 since last reported
• Annualized cash opex and G&A savings due to proactive cost containment measures are now $185 million, up from $160 million

The Company recorded a net loss for the first quarter of 2016 of $(7.5) million, or $(0.21) per diluted share, compared to net income of $35.9 million, or $0.99 per diluted share, for the year-ago quarter; and a net loss of $(2.7) million, or $(0.07) per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2015. Included in the Company's first quarter 2015 net income was a gain of $33.1 million ($20.7 million after-tax or $0.57 per diluted share) related to the February 2015 sale of three 250EDF class OSVs to the U.S. Navy.   Excluding the impact of such gain on sale of assets, net income and diluted EPS for the first quarter of 2015 would have been $15.2 million, and $0.42 per share, respectively.  Diluted common shares for the first quarter of 2016 were 36.1 million compared to 36.1 million and 35.9 for the first quarter and the fourth quarter of 2015, respectively.  GAAP requires the use of basic shares outstanding for diluted EPS when reporting a net loss.  EBITDA for the first quarter of 2016 was $28.2 million compared to $94.8 million in the first quarter of 2015 and $32.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.  Excluding the impact of the first quarter 2015 gain on sale of assets, EBITDA for such quarter would have been $61.7 million.  For additional information regarding EBITDA as a non-GAAP financial measure, please see Note 10 to the accompanying data tables. 

Revenues. Revenues were $76.8 million for the first quarter of 2016, a decrease of $57.8 million, or 42.9%, from $134.6 million for the first quarter of 2015; and a decrease of $11.9 million, or 13.4%, from $88.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2015.  The year-over-year decrease in revenues was primarily due to soft market conditions worldwide, which led to the Company's decision to stack 32 incremental OSVs on various dates since December 2014.  As of March 31, 2016, the Company had 37 OSVs stacked.  For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company had an average of 33.7 vessels stacked compared to 9.5 vessels stacked in the prior-year quarter and 26.8 in the sequential quarter.  The year-over-year decrease in revenue was partially offset by $9.8 million in revenue earned from the full or partial-period contribution of six vessels that were placed in service since December 2014 under the Company's fifth OSV newbuild program and a newbuild HOSMAX 300 class OSV that was converted into a HOSMAX 300 class MPSV and returned to service during the second quarter of 2015.  Operating loss was $(0.8) million, or (1.0)% of revenues, for the first quarter of 2016, compared to operating income of $33.8 million, or 25.1% of revenues, for the comparably calculated prior-year quarter; and operating income of $4.5 million, or 5.1% of revenues, for the fourth quarter of 2015.  Average new generation OSV dayrates for the first quarter of 2016 were $24,601 compared to $26,705 for the same period in 2015 and $24,033 for the fourth quarter of 2015.  New generation OSV utilization was 35.1% for the first quarter of 2016 compared to 64.7% for the year-ago quarter and 46.3% for the sequential quarter.  Excluding stacked vessel days, the Company's new generation OSV effective utilization was 77.4%, 76.6% and 84.4% for the same periods, respectively.  The year-over-year decrease in utilization is primarily due to soft market conditions for high-spec OSVs operating in the GoM and the incremental vessels that were stacked.  Utilization-adjusted, or effective, new generation OSV dayrates for the first quarter of 2016 were $8,635 compared to $17,278 for the same period in 2015 and $11,127 for the fourth quarter of 2015. 

Operating Expenses.  Operating expenses were $40.4 million for the first quarter of 2016, a decrease of $21.0 million, or 34.2%, from $61.4 million for the first quarter of 2015; and a decrease of $5.0 million, or 11.0%, from $45.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2015.  The year-over-year decrease in operating expenses was primarily due to vessels that the Company removed from its active fleet count since December 2014, which resulted in a substantial reduction in mariner headcount and other operating expenses.  This decrease was partially offset by $3.8 million of operating costs related to the full or partial-period contribution from newbuilds added to the Company's fleet since December 2014.   

General and Administrative ("G&A").  G&A expenses of $8.7 million for the first quarter of 2016 were 11.3% of revenues compared to $11.9 million, or 8.8% of revenues, for the first quarter of 2015; and $11.2 million, or 12.6% of revenues, for the fourth quarter of 2015.  The year-over-year decrease in G&A expenses was primarily attributable to lower short-term and long-term shoreside incentive compensation expense.  

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense was $28.5 million for the first quarter of 2016, or $1.0 million and $0.8 million higher than the year-ago quarter and sequential quarter, respectively.  Depreciation increased by $2.2 million over the year-ago quarter primarily due to the contribution of six HOSMAX vessels that were placed in service since December 2014 and the MPSV conversion of one HOSMAX 300 class OSV.  The depreciation increase was partially offset by a decrease in amortization expense of $1.2 million, which was mainly driven by postponed recertifications for certain of the Company's stacked OSVs.  Depreciation expense is expected to increase from current levels as the vessels under the Company's current newbuild program are placed in service.  Amortization expense is expected to decrease as the result of the deferral of regulatory recertification activities for vessels that have been stacked.

Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets.  Included in first quarter 2016 results was a $45,000 ($31,000 after-tax or $0.00 per diluted share) loss on the sale of the Company's last remaining non-core conventional OSV, the Cape Breton, which closed on March 30, 2016.  Included in first quarter 2015 results was a $33.1 million ($20.7 million after-tax and $0.57 per diluted share) gain on the sale of three 250EDF class OSVs, the HOS Arrowhead, the HOS Eagleview and the HOS Westwind, to the U.S. Navy, which closed on February 27, 2015. 

Interest Expense. Interest expense was $11.1 million during the first quarter of 2016, or $0.8 million higher than the prior-year quarter.  The increase was primarily due to the Company capitalizing a lower percentage of interest compared to the prior-year period driven by a lower average construction work-in-progress balance under the Company's newbuild program.  The Company recorded $5.0 million of capitalized construction period interest, or roughly 31% of its total interest costs, for the first quarter of 2016 compared to $5.8 million, or roughly 36% of its total interest costs, for the year-ago quarter.

Future Outlook

Based on the key assumptions outlined below and in the attached data tables, the following statements reflect management's current expectations regarding future operating results and certain events.  These statements are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially given the volatility inherent in the Company's industry.  Other than as expressly stated, these statements do not include the potential impact of any significant further decline in commodity prices for oil and natural gas; any additional future repositioning voyages; unexpected vessel repairs or shipyard delays; or future capital transactions, such as vessel acquisitions or divestitures, business combinations, possible additional share repurchases,  financings or the unannounced expansion of existing newbuild programs that may be commenced after the date of this disclosure.  Additional cautionary information concerning forward-looking statements can be found on page 8 of this news release.

Forward Guidance

The Company's forward guidance for selected operating and financial data, outlined below and in the attached data tables, reflects the current state of depressed commodity prices and planned decreases in the capital spending budgets of its customers. 

Vessel Counts.  As of March 31, 2016, the Company's fleet consisted of 62 new generation OSVs and six MPSVs.  The forecasted vessel counts presented in this press release reflect the anticipated fiscal 2016 and 2017 MPSV newbuild deliveries discussed below.  With an average of 42.1 new generation OSVs projected to be stacked during fiscal 2016, the Company's active fleet for 2016 is expected to be comprised of an average of 19.8 new generation OSVs and 6.9 MPSVs.  With an assumed average of 46.0 new generation OSVs projected to be stacked during fiscal 2017, the Company's active fleet for 2017 is expected to be comprised of an average of 16.0 new generation OSVs and 8.7 MPSVs. 

Operating Expenses.  Aggregate cash operating expenses are projected to be in the range of $37.0 million to $42.0 million for the second quarter of 2016, and $150.0 million to $165.0 million for the full-year 2016.  Reflected in the cash opex guidance range above are the anticipated results of several cost containment measures initiated by the Company due to prevailing market conditions, including, among other actions, the stacking of 42 new generation OSVs, including five 300 class OSVs, on various dates since October 1, 2014, as well as company-wide headcount reductions and across-the-board pay-cuts for shoreside and vessel personnel.  The Company currently plans to stack four additional OSVs, including one 300 class OSV, during the second quarter of 2016 and may choose to stack additional vessels as market conditions warrant.  The cash operating expense estimate above is exclusive of any additional repositioning expenses the Company may incur in connection with the potential relocation of more of its vessels into international markets or back to the GoM, and any customer-required cost-of-sales related to future contract fixtures that are typically recovered through higher dayrates.

G&A Expenses.  G&A expenses are expected to be in the approximate range of $11.0 million to $12.0 million for the second quarter of 2016, and $42.0 million to $47.0 million for the full-year 2016.  

Other Financial Data.  Quarterly depreciation, amortization, net interest expense, cash income taxes, cash interest expense, weighted-average basic shares outstanding and weighted-average diluted shares outstanding for the second quarter of 2016 are projected to be $22.8 million, $5.8 million, $11.7 million, $0.5 million, $11.3 million, 36.2 million and 37.0 million, respectively.  Guidance for depreciation, amortization, net interest expense, cash income taxes and cash interest expense for the full fiscal years 2016 and 2017 is provided on page 12 of this press release.  The Company's annual effective tax rate is expected to be roughly 31.5% for fiscal 2016 and 33.0% for fiscal 2017.

Capital Expenditures Outlook

Update on OSV Newbuild Program #5.  The Company's fifth OSV newbuild program consists of four 300 class OSVs, five 310 class OSVs, ten 320 class OSVs, three 310 class MPSVs and two 400 class MPSVs.  As of May 4, 2016, the Company has placed 20 vessels in-service under this program.  The four remaining vessels under this 24-vessel domestic newbuild program are currently expected to be delivered in accordance with the table below:

Based on recent deliveries during the first quarter of 2016, the Company now owns 62 new generation vessels.  These vessel deliveries result in an average new generation OSV fleet complement of 61.9 and 62.0 vessels for the fiscal years 2016 and 2017, of which 42.1 and 46.0 vessels are projected to be stacked, respectively.  Based on the above schedule of projected vessel in-service dates, the Company expects to own and operate eight and ten MPSVs as of December 31, 2016, and 2017, respectively.  These vessel additions result in a projected average MPSV fleet complement of 6.9, 8.7 and 10.0 vessels for the fiscal years 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.  The aggregate cost of the Company's fifth OSV newbuild program, excluding construction period interest, is expected to be approximately $1,335.0 million, of which $98.3 million and $35.0 million are expected to be incurred in fiscal years 2016 and 2017, respectively.  From the inception of this program through March 31, 2016, the Company has incurred $1,231.2 million, or 92.2%, of total expected project costs, including $29.5 million that was spent during the first quarter of 2016.  The Company expects to incur newbuild project costs of $41.8 million during the second quarter of 2016.

Update on Maintenance Capital Expenditures.  Please refer to the attached data table on page 11 of this press release for a summary, by period and by vessel type, of historical and projected data for drydock downtime (in days) and maintenance capital expenditures for each of the quarterly and/or annual periods presented for the fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017.  Maintenance capital expenditures, which are recurring in nature, primarily include regulatory drydocking charges incurred for the recertification of vessels and other vessel capital improvements that extend or maintain a vessel's economic useful life.  The Company expects that its maintenance capital expenditures for its fleet of vessels will be approximately $9.8 million and $20.3 million for the full fiscal years 2016 and 2017, respectively. These cash outlays are expected to be incurred over approximately 130 and 312 days of aggregate commercial downtime in 2016 and 2017, respectively, during which the vessels will not earn revenue. 

Update on Other Capital Expenditures.  Please refer to the attached data tables on page 11 of this press release for a summary, by period, of historical and projected data for other capital expenditures, for each of the quarterly and/or annual periods presented for the fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017.  Other capital expenditures, which are generally non-recurring, are comprised of the following: (i) commercial-related vessel improvements, such as the addition of cranes, ROVs, helidecks, living quarters and other specialized vessel equipment, or the modification of vessel capacities or capabilities, such as DP upgrades and mid-body extensions, which costs are typically included in and offset, in whole or in part, by higher dayrates charged to customers, and the speculative relocation of vessels from one geographic market to another; and (ii) non-vessel related capital expenditures, including costs related to the Company's shore-based facilities, leasehold improvements and other corporate expenditures, such as information technology or office furniture and equipment.  The Company expects miscellaneous incremental commercial-related vessel improvements and non-vessel capital expenditures to be approximately $15.0 million and $1.0 million, respectively, for the full fiscal years 2016 and 2017, respectively.  These cash outlays are expected to be incurred over approximately 185 days of aggregate commercial downtime in 2016, during which the vessels will not earn revenue.   

Liquidity Outlook

As of March 31, 2016, the Company had a cash balance of $255.8 million and an undrawn $300.0 million revolving credit facility.  Together with cash on-hand, the Company expects to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to cover all of its growth capital expenditures for the remaining four HOSMAX vessels under construction, commercial-related capital expenditures, and all of its annually recurring cash debt service, maintenance capital expenditures and cash income taxes through the completion of the newbuild program, as well as discretionary share repurchases from time to time, without ever having to use its currently undrawn revolving credit facility.  The Company has three tranches of funded unsecured debt outstanding that mature in fiscal 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively.  While the Company has an authorized share repurchase program, it will continue to prioritize its usage of cash appropriate to the current market cycle. 

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2016 financial results and recent developments at 10:00 a.m. Eastern (9:00 a.m. Central) tomorrow, May 5, 2016. To participate in the call, dial (412) 902-0030 and ask for the Hornbeck Offshore call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. To access it live over the Internet, please log onto the web at http://www.hornbeckoffshore.com, on the "Investors" homepage of the Company's website at least fifteen minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software.  Please call the Company's investor relations firm, Dennard-Lascar, at (713) 529-6600 to be added to its e-mail distribution list for future Hornbeck Offshore news releases. An archived version of the web cast will be available shortly after the call for a period of 60 days on the "Investors" homepage of the Company's website. Additionally, a telephonic replay will be available through May 12, 2016, and may be accessed by calling (201) 612-7415 and using the pass code 13634982#.

Attached Data Tables

The Company has posted an electronic version of the following four pages of data tables, which are downloadable in Microsoft Excel™ format, on the "Investors" homepage of the Hornbeck Offshore website for the convenience of analysts and investors.

In addition, the Company uses its website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with disclosure obligations under SEC Regulation FD. Such disclosures will be included on the Company's website under the heading "Investors." Accordingly, investors should monitor that portion of the Company's website, in addition to following the Company's press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls and webcasts.

Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. is a leading provider of technologically advanced, new generation offshore service vessels primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and Latin America. Hornbeck Offshore currently owns a fleet of 68 vessels primarily serving the energy industry and has four additional ultra high-spec Upstream vessels under construction for delivery through 2017.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Press Release contains "forward-looking statements," as contemplated by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, in which the Company discusses factors it believes may affect its performance in the future. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than historical facts, such as statements regarding assumptions, expectations, beliefs and projections about future events or conditions. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by the appearance in such a statement of words like "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "remain," "should," "will," or other comparable words or the negative of such words. The accuracy of the Company's assumptions, expectations, beliefs and projections depends on events or conditions that change over time and are thus susceptible to change based on actual experience, new developments and known and unknown risks. The Company gives no assurance that the forward-looking statements will prove to be correct and does not undertake any duty to update them. The Company's actual future results might differ from the forward-looking statements made in this Press Release for a variety of reasons, including sustained low oil and natural gas prices; significant and sustained or additional declines in oil and natural gas prices; a sustained weakening of demand for the Company's services; unplanned customer suspensions, cancellations, rate reductions or non-renewals of vessel charters, vessel management contracts or failures to finalize commitments to charter or manage vessels; sustained or further reductions in capital spending budgets by customers; the inability to accurately predict vessel utilization levels and dayrates; fewer than anticipated deepwater and ultra-deepwater drilling units operating in the GoM or other regions where the Company operates; the effect of inconsistency by the United States government in the pace of issuing drilling permits and plan approvals in the GoM or other drilling regions; the Company's inability to successfully complete the remainder of its current vessel newbuild program on-time and on-budget, which involves the construction and integration of highly complex vessels and systems; the inability to successfully market the vessels that the Company owns, is constructing or might acquire; the government's cancellation or non-renewal of the management, operations and maintenance ("O&M") contracts for vessels; an oil spill or other significant event in the United States or another offshore drilling region that could have a broad impact on deepwater and other offshore energy exploration and production activities, such as the suspension of activities or significant regulatory responses; the imposition of laws or regulations that result in reduced exploration and production activities or that increase the Company's operating costs or operating requirements; environmental litigation that impacts customer plans or projects; disputes with customers; bureaucratic, administrative or operating barriers that delay vessels in foreign markets from going on-hire or result in contractual penalties or deductions imposed by foreign customers; industry risks; the impact stemming from the reduction of Petrobras' announced plans for or administrative barriers to exploration and production activities in Brazil; less than expected growth in Mexican offshore activities; age or other restrictions imposed on our vessels by customers; unanticipated difficulty in effectively competing in or operating in international markets; less than anticipated subsea infrastructure and field development demand in the GoM and other markets affecting our MPSVs; the level of fleet additions by the Company and its competitors that could result in vessel over capacity in the markets in which the Company competes; economic and geopolitical risks; weather-related risks; the shortage of or the inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, when needed, including vessel personnel for active and newly constructed vessels; the inability of the Company to obtain amendments under its revolving credit facility on terms acceptable to the Company; any success in unionizing the Company's U.S. fleet personnel; regulatory risks; the repeal or administrative weakening of the Jones Act or changes in the interpretation of the Jones Act related to the U.S. citizenship qualification; drydocking delays and cost overruns and related risks; vessel accidents, pollution incidents, or other events resulting in lost revenue, fines, penalties or other expenses that are unrecoverable from insurance policies or other third parties; unexpected litigation and insurance expenses; or fluctuations in foreign currency valuations compared to the U.S. dollar and risks associated with expanded foreign operations, such as non-compliance with or the unanticipated effect of tax laws, customs laws, immigration laws, or other legislation that result in higher than anticipated tax rates or other costs or the inability to repatriate foreign-sourced earnings and profits. In addition, the Company's future results may be impacted by adverse economic conditions, such as inflation, deflation, or lack of liquidity in the capital markets, that may negatively affect it or parties with whom it does business resulting in their non-payment or inability to perform obligations owed to the Company, such as the failure of customers to fulfill their contractual obligations or the failure by individual banks to provide funding under the Company's credit agreement, if required.  Further, the Company can give no assurance regarding when and to what extent it will effect share repurchases.  Should one or more of the foregoing risks or uncertainties materialize in a way that negatively impacts the Company, or should the Company's underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Company's actual results may vary materially from those anticipated in its forward-looking statements, and its business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected and, if sufficiently severe, could result in noncompliance with certain covenants of the Company's currently undrawn revolving credit facility, which would require an amendment of such facility. Additional factors that you should consider are set forth in detail in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as other filings the Company has made and will make with the Securities and Exchange Commission which, after their filing, can be found on the Company's website www.hornbeckoffshore.com.

Regulation G Reconciliation

This Press Release also contains references to the non-GAAP financial measures of earnings, or net income, before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA. The Company views EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA primarily as liquidity measures and, therefore, believes that the GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to such measure is cash flows provided by operating activities. Reconciliations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to cash flows provided by operating activities are provided in the table below. Management's opinion regarding the usefulness of EBITDA to investors and a description of the ways in which management uses such measure can be found in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as in Note 10 to the attached data tables.

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SOURCE Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.