Form 10-Q for the Period Ended March 31, 2004
Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission file number 001-32108

 

Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware   72-1375844

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification

Number)

 

103 NORTHPARK BOULEVARD, SUITE 300

COVINGTON, LA 70433

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

(985) 727-2000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  ¨     No  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  ¨     No  x

 

The total number of shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, outstanding as of May 6, 2004 was 20,774,214.

 



Table of Contents

HORNBECK OFFSHORE SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2004

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION    1

Item 1

  —Financial Statements    1

Item 2

 

—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   10
   

General

   10
   

Critical Accounting Policies

   12
   

Results of Operations

   12
   

Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2003

   14
   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

   16
   

Contractual Obligations

   18
   

Forward Looking Statements

   19

Item 3

 

—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   20

Item 4

 

—Controls and Procedures

   20

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

   22

Item 1

 

—Legal Proceedings

   22

Item 2

 

—Changes In Securities and Use of Proceeds

   22

Item 3

 

—Defaults Upon Senior Securities

   22

Item 4

 

—Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   22

Item 5

 

—Other Information

   22
   

Recent Developments

   22

Item 6

 

—Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

   23

SIGNATURE

   26

 

 

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PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1—Financial Statements

 

HORNBECK OFFSHORE SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(DOLLARS AND SHARES IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

     March 31,
2004


   December 31,
2003


     (Unaudited)
ASSETS          

Current assets:

             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 42,677    $ 12,899

Accounts and claims receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $294 and $454, respectively

     14,213      17,124

Prepaid insurance

     1,751      291

Property taxes receivable

     1,429      2,144

Other current assets

     1,598      1,081
    

  

Total current assets

     61,668      33,539

Property, plant and equipment, net

     321,557      316,715

Goodwill, net

     2,628      2,628

Deferred charges, net

     11,915      12,316

Other assets

     44      44
    

  

Total assets

   $ 397,812    $ 365,242
    

  

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          

Current liabilities:

             

Accounts payable

   $ 6,856    $ 3,884

Accrued interest

     3,096      7,799

Accrued payroll and benefits

     1,804      3,911

Other accrued liabilities

          247
    

  

Total current liabilities

     11,756      15,841

Revolving credit facility

          40,000

Long-term debt, net of original issue discount of $2,223 and $2,323, respectively

     172,777      172,677

Deferred tax liabilities, net

     24,941      23,567

Other liabilities

     921      762
    

  

Total liabilities

     210,395      252,847

Stockholders’ equity:

             

Preferred stock: $0.01 par value; 5,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding

     —        —  

Common stock: $0.01 par value; 100,000 shares authorized, 20,648 and 14,528 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

     206      145

Additional paid-in capital

     162,974      90,351

Retained earnings

     24,221      21,883

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     16      16
    

  

Total stockholders’ equity

     187,417      112,395
    

  

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 397,812    $ 365,242
    

  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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HORNBECK OFFSHORE SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(DOLLARS AND SHARES IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


 
     2004

    2003

 
     (Unaudited)  

Revenues

   $ 31,347     $ 27,347  

Costs and expenses:

                

Operating expenses

     14,351       10,474  

Depreciation and amortization

     5,207       3,621  

General and administrative expenses

     2,960       2,894  
    


 


       22,518       16,989  
    


 


Operating income

     8,829       10,358  

Interest expense

     (5,145 )     (4,217 )

Interest income

     38       72  

Other income (expense), net

     (10 )     706  
    


 


Income before income taxes

     3,712       6,919  

Income tax expense

     (1,374 )     (2,629 )
    


 


Net income

   $ 2,338     $ 4,290  
    


 


Basic net income per share of common stock

   $ 0.16     $ 0.35  
    


 


Diluted net income per share of common stock

   $ 0.15     $ 0.35  
    


 


Weighted average basic shares outstanding

     14,925       12,122  
    


 


Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

     15,306       12,340  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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HORNBECK OFFSHORE SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


 
     2004

    2003

 
     (Unaudited)  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

                

Net income

   $ 2,338     $ 4,290  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                

Depreciation

     4,157       3,044  

Amortization

     1,050       577  

Provision for bad debts

     (160 )     (31 )

Deferred tax expense

     1,374       2,670  

Gain on sale of assets

     —         (713 )

Amortization of financing costs

     393       374  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                

Accounts and claims receivable

     3,071       621  

Prepaid insurance and other current assets

     (1,256 )     (951 )

Deferred charges and other assets

     (879 )     (1,056 )

Accounts payable

     2,716       1,561  

Accrued liabilities and other liabilities

     (1,900 )     (2,163 )

Accrued interest

     (4,703 )     (4,619 )
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     6,201       3,604  
    


 


CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

                

Construction of new vessels

     (6,239 )     (12,880 )

Proceeds from the sale of vessel

     —         1,650  

Capital expenditures

     (2,793 )     (9,209 )
    


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (9,032 )     (20,439 )
    


 


CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

                

Net proceeds (payments) from borrowings under revolving credit facility

     (40,000 )     7,400  

Deferred financing costs

     (65 )     (5 )

Gross proceeds from initial public offering

     78,000       —    

Payments for initial public offering costs

     (6,111 )     —    

Net cash proceeds from common stock issued

     795       9  
    


 


Net cash provided by financing activities

     32,619       7,404  
    


 


Effects of exchange rate changes on cash

     (10 )     —    
    


 


Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     29,778       (9,431 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     12,899       22,228  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 42,677     $ 12,797  
    


 


SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW ACTIVITIES:

                

Interest paid

   $ 10,258     $ 9,319  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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HORNBECK OFFSHORE SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

(DOLLARS AND SHARES IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

1. Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements do not include certain information and footnote disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The interim financial statements and notes are presented as permitted by instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the interim financial statements have been included and consist only of normal recurring items. The financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”). The results of operations for the three month period ended March 31, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2004. Certain amounts reported in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the 2004 presentation.

 

2. Earnings (Net Income) Per Share and Reverse Stock Split

 

Basic net income per share of common stock was calculated by dividing net income applicable to common stock by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share of common stock was calculated by dividing net income applicable to common stock by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus the effect of dilutive stock options. Weighted average number of common shares outstanding was calculated by using the sum of the shares determined on a daily basis divided by the number of days in the period. At March 31, 2004 and 2003 the Company had dilutive stock options of 381 and 218, respectively, which were assumed exercised using the treasury stock method. In the first quarter of 2004, stock options representing 360 shares were excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share of common stock because their exercise price was greater than the market price of the common stock at March 31, 2004.

 

On March 5, 2004, the Company effected a 1-for-2.5 reverse stock split of its common stock that caused the number of outstanding shares to decrease from 36,320 to 14,528. For all periods, the share amounts and per share data reflected throughout these financial statements have been adjusted to give effect to the reverse stock split. Basic and diluted net income per common share are each calculated based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the periods adjusted for the effect of the reverse stock split.

 

3. Initial Public Offering

 

The Company completed an initial public offering of 6,000 shares of its common stock at $13.00 per share, for total gross proceeds of $78 million on March 31, 2004. The Company plans to use the net proceeds of the offering of approximately $71.4 million to fund a portion of the costs of the construction of ocean-going, double-hulled tank barges, the retrofit of certain existing vessels, possible future acquisitions or additional new vessel construction,

 

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HORNBECK OFFSHORE SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

and for general corporate purposes. Pending such uses, on March 31, 2004, the Company used a portion of the proceeds to repay the outstanding balance under its revolving credit facility. The Company’s shares of common stock trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HOS.”

 

4. Long-Term Debt

 

On July 24, 2001, the Company issued $175,000 in principal amount of 10 5/8% senior notes. The Company realized net proceeds of approximately $165,000, a substantial portion of which was used to repay and fully extinguish all of the then existing credit facilities. The senior notes mature on August 1, 2008 and require semi-annual interest payments at an annual rate of 10 5/8% on February 1 and August 1 of each year until maturity. The effective interest rate on the senior notes is 11.18%. No principal payments are due until maturity. The senior notes are unsecured senior obligations and rank equally in right of payment with other existing and future senior indebtedness and senior in right of payment to any subordinated indebtedness incurred by the Company in the future. The senior notes are guaranteed by all of the Company’s subsidiaries. The Company may, at its option, redeem all or part of the senior notes from time to time at specified redemption prices and subject to certain conditions required by the indenture. The Company is permitted under the terms of the indenture to incur additional indebtedness in the future, provided that certain financial conditions set forth in the indenture are satisfied by the Company. The Company completed an exchange offer on January 18, 2002, whereby the 10 5/8% Series A senior notes, due August 1, 2008, were exchanged for 10 5/8% Series B senior notes with the same terms, the offering of which was publicly registered.

 

On February 13, 2004, the Company amended and restated its senior secured revolving credit facility to extend its maturity and increase its nominal size to $100,000. The current borrowing base is $60,000. The expiration date of the facility is February 13, 2009. The maturity of this facility will automatically accelerate to March 31, 2008, if by that date the Company has not redeemed its senior notes or refinanced them with debt having a maturity later than July 31, 2009. As of March 31, 2004, the Company had no outstanding balance under the revolving credit facility. As of such date, seven OSVs and four ocean-going tugs and associated personalty collateralized the revolving credit facility. Borrowings under the revolving credit facility accrue interest, at our option, at either (1) the prime rate announced by Citibank, N.A. in New York, plus a margin of up to 1.0%, or (2) the London Interbank Offered Rate, plus a margin of 1.5% to 3.5%. As of March 31, 2004, the weighted average interest rate was 4.19% under such facility. Unused commitment fees are payable quarterly at the annual rate of one-quarter to three-eighths of one percent on the unused but available amounts under the revolving credit facility, based on the leverage ratio as defined in the credit facility agreement.

 

The revolving credit facility and indenture impose certain operating and financial restrictions on the Company. Such restrictions affect, and in many cases limit or prohibit, among other things, the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, make capital expenditures, redeem equity, create liens, sell assets and make dividend or other restricted payments.

 

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HORNBECK OFFSHORE SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Interest expense excludes capitalized interest related to new vessel construction of $0.4 million in the first quarter of 2004 and $0.9 million in the first quarter of 2003.

 

5. Incentive Compensation Plan

 

The Company established an incentive compensation plan that provides the Company with the ability to grant options for a maximum of 3,500 shares of common stock. The purchase price of the stock subject to each option is determined by the Board of Directors of the Company and cannot be less than the fair market value of the stock at the date of grant.

 

In December 2002, SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure—An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 123”, was issued by the FASB and amends SFAS 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” This Statement provides alternative methods of transition for an entity that voluntarily changes to the fair-value-based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and amends the disclosure provisions of SFAS 123 to require prominent disclosure about the effects on reported net income of an entity’s accounting policy decisions with respect to stock-based employee compensation. We have not adopted either of the alternative methods of transition and continue to apply Accounting Principles Board Opinion, APB, No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” Additionally, SFAS 148 amends APB No. 28, “Interim Financial Reporting,” to require disclosure about those effects in interim financial information.

 

SFAS 123 also allows an entity to continue to measure stock-based compensation cost using the intrinsic value method of APB 25. Entities electing to retain the accounting prescribed in APB 25 must make pro forma disclosures of net income assuming dilution as if the fair-value-based method of accounting defined in SFAS 123 had been applied. The Company retained the provisions of APB 25 for expense recognition purposes. Under APB 25, where the exercise price of the Company’s stock options equals the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant, no compensation expense is recognized.

 

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HORNBECK OFFSHORE SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

If compensation cost for the Company’s stock options had been determined based on the fair value at the grant date consistent with the method under SFAS 123, the Company’s income available to common stockholders for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 would have been as indicated below:

 

     2004

    2003

 

Income available to common stockholders:

                

As reported

   $ 2,338     $ 4,290  

Deduct: stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effect

     (292 )     (257 )
    


 


Pro forma

   $ 2,046     $ 4,033  
    


 


Basic net income per share of common stock::

                

As reported

   $ 0.16     $ 0.35  

Deduct: stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effect

     (0.02 )     (0.02 )
    


 


Pro forma

   $ 0.14     $ 0.33  
    


 


Diluted net income per share of common stock:

                

As reported

   $ 0.15     $ 0.35  

Deduct: stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effect

     (0.02 )     (0.02 )
    


 


Pro forma

   $ 0.13     $ 0.33  
    


 


 

6. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Vessel Construction

 

At March 31, 2004, the Company was committed under vessel construction contracts with a shipyard affiliated with the Company’s former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, who currently serves on the Board of Directors, to construct one double-hulled tank barge and with an unrelated third party shipyard for the construction of one additional double-hulled tank barge. At that date, the remaining amount expected to be incurred during 2004 to complete construction with respect to such contracts was approximately $28.3 million. The Company is obligated under the terms of the contracts to remit funds to the shipyards based on vessel construction milestones, which are subject to change during vessel construction.

 

Contingencies

 

In the normal course of its business, the Company becomes involved in various claims and legal proceedings in which monetary damages are sought. It is management’s opinion that the Company’s liability, if any, under such claims or proceedings would not materially affect its financial position or results of operations.

 

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HORNBECK OFFSHORE SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

7. Segment Information

 

The Company provides marine transportation services through two business segments. The Company operates new generation offshore supply vessels in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and select international markets through its offshore supply vessel segment. The offshore supply vessels principally support complex exploration and production projects by transporting cargo to offshore drilling rigs and production facilities and provide support for specialty services. The tug and tank barge segment primarily operates ocean-going tugs and tank barges in the northeastern United States and in Puerto Rico. The ocean-going tugs and tank barges provide coastwise transportation of refined and bunker grade petroleum products from one port to another. The following table shows reportable segment information prepared on the same basis as the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


     2004

   2003

Operating revenue:

             

Offshore supply vessels

   $ 15,565    $ 13,172

Tugs and tank barges

     15,782      14,175
    

  

Total

   $ 31,347    $ 27,347
    

  

Operating expenses:

             

Offshore supply vessels

   $ 6,803    $ 4,057

Tugs and tank barges

     7,548      6,417
    

  

Total

   $ 14,351    $ 10,474
    

  

Depreciation and amortization:

             

Offshore supply vessels

   $ 2,919    $ 1,861

Tugs and tank barges

     2,288      1,760
    

  

Total

   $ 5,207    $ 3,621
    

  

General and administrative expenses:

             

Offshore supply vessels

   $ 1,049    $ 1,203

Tugs and tank barges

     1,911      1,691
    

  

Total

   $ 2,960    $ 2,894
    

  

Operating income:

             

Offshore supply vessels

   $ 4,793    $ 6,050

Tugs and tank barges

     4,036      4,308
    

  

Total

   $ 8,829    $ 10,358
    

  

Capital expenditures:

             

Offshore supply vessels

   $ 2,959    $ 14,175

Tugs and tank barges

     5,767      7,845

Corporate

     306      69
    

  

Total

   $ 9,032    $ 22,089
    

  

 

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HORNBECK OFFSHORE SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

     As of
March 31,
2004


   As of
December 31,
2003


Identifiable assets:

             

Offshore supply vessels

   $ 279,195    $ 276,567

Tugs and tank barges

     73,780      68,589

Corporate

     44,837      20,086
    

  

Total

   $ 397,812    $ 365,242
    

  

Long-lived assets:

             

Offshore supply vessels

   $ 259,303    $ 258,076

Tugs and tank barges

     60,346      56,914

Corporate

     1,908      1,725
    

  

Total

   $ 321,557    $ 316,715
    

  

 

8. Subsequent Events

 

On April 28, 2004, the Company issued an additional 126 shares of its common stock pursuant to the exercise by the underwriters in the initial public offering of an option to purchase additional shares, which resulted in incremental gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $1.6 million.

 

On April 30, 2004, the Company exercised the first of its three fixed-price options with a shipyard for the construction of one additional double-hulled tank barge. This will be the third vessel to be constructed under the Company’s current tank barge newbuild program, which is based on a proprietary new tank barge design developed in-house by the Company.

 

 

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Item 2—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The following management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read together with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. In this Form 10-Q, “company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries, except as otherwise indicated. The term “new generation,” when referring to OSVs, mean deepwater-capable vessels subject to the regulations promulgated under the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, which was adopted by the United States and made effective for all U.S.-flagged vessels in 1992.

 

General

 

We own and operate a fleet of 23 technologically advanced, new generation OSVs. Currently, 19 of our OSVs are operating in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, three of our OSVs are operating offshore Trinidad & Tobago and one is working offshore Mexico. We also operate 12 ocean-going tugs and 16 ocean-going tank barges in the northeastern United States, primarily New York Harbor, in Puerto Rico and in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

 

While OSVs service existing oil and gas production platforms as well as exploration and development activities, incremental OSV demand depends primarily upon the level of drilling activity, which can be influenced by a number of factors, including oil and natural gas prices and drilling budgets of exploration and production companies. As a result, utilization rates have historically been tied to oil and natural gas prices and drilling activity. However, the relatively large capital commitments, longer lead times and investment horizons associated with deepwater and deep well projects have diminished the significance of these factors.

 

Although the current U.S. Gulf of Mexico OSV market remains soft, we believe certain trends could have a favorable impact on this segment. First, certain operators have recently reaffirmed their commitments to continue developing large deepwater and other complex projects in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico for drilling in late-2004 and 2005. Second, there has been an increase in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico drilling permits issued from 59 in February 2004 to 98 in March 2004, a level not seen since April 2002. Third, additional floating production platform installations are expected to commence activity during 2004. Fourth, as we have anticipated, we are beginning to see an accelerated attrition rate of older, conventional 180 ft. supply boats working in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Many such vessels are being written off by competitors and are expected to be removed from service. Fifth, in addition to the traditional sources of demand for modern U.S.-flagged vessels, including deep gas and other complex drilling applications, our new generation OSVs have increasingly been working on the shelf supporting conventional drilling projects. Finally, more new generation OSVs are leaving the U.S. Gulf of Mexico for foreign markets. A combination of all of these factors, could suggest improving market conditions in this segment.

 

The primary demand drivers for our tug and tank barge services are population growth, the strength of the U.S. economy, changes in weather, oil prices and competition from alternate energy sources. The tug and tank barge market, in general, is marked by steady

 

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demand over time. Results for the first and fourth quarters of a given year are typically higher due to normal seasonal weather patterns that typically result in a drop-off of activity during the second and third quarters. We generally take advantage of this seasonality to prepare the tug and tank barge fleet for peak demand periods by performing our regulatory drydocking and maintenance programs during the second and third quarters. In addition, we continuously evaluate our customers’ needs and often elect to accelerate scheduled drydockings to take advantage of certain market opportunities.

 

As expected, activity during the first quarter of 2004 was seasonally higher than the fourth quarter of 2003 due to the peak demand caused by winter-related activity. Second quarter 2004 results for this segment should return to their normal, historical levels.

 

As the peak summer travel season approaches, higher gasoline prices are not expected to decrease demand. In fact, the Energy Information Administration has predicted that daily gasoline use in the United States could be up to 9.3 million barrels in 2004 compared to 9.1 million barrels in 2003. Usage in the summer of 2004 at these projected levels would be a new seasonal record high and reflects that gasoline demand continues to rise annually. In addition, the EIA stated that U.S. spring season gasoline stocks are currently at one of the lowest levels in the last 30 years. These factors support our reason for optimism in this segment.

 

As the next major Oil Pollution Act of 1990, or OPA 90, milestone approaches on January 1, 2005, customer demand for double-hulled equipment has led to increases in dayrates for this equipment, particularly for tank barges in black oil service. We are actively working to ensure that our fleet is well positioned to take advantage of these opportunities as they develop. In November 2003, we commenced a new double-hulled tank barge newbuild construction program to address our need to replace three single-hulled tank barges that are required under OPA 90 to be retired from service prior to January 1, 2005. Our current newbuild program is based on a proprietary new tank barge design that we have developed in-house to replace and expand our existing fleet of ocean-going tank barges. The design of these vessels is intended to maximize transit speed, improve cargo through-put rates and enhance crew safety features.

 

Our operating costs are primarily a function of fleet size and utilization levels. The most significant direct operating costs are wages paid to vessel crews, maintenance and repairs and marine insurance. Because most of these expenses remain payable regardless of vessel utilization, our direct operating costs as a percentage of revenues may fluctuate considerably with changes in dayrates and utilization.

 

In addition to the operating costs described above, we incur fixed charges related to the depreciation of our fleet and costs for routine drydock inspections and maintenance and repairs necessary to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and to maintain certifications for our vessels with the U.S. Coast Guard and various classification societies. The aggregate number of drydockings and other repairs undertaken in a given period determines the level of maintenance and repair expenses and marine inspection amortization charges. We generally capitalize costs incurred for drydock inspection and regulatory compliance and amortize such costs over the period between such drydockings, typically 30 or 60 months.

 

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Applicable maritime regulations require us to drydock our vessels twice in a five-year period for inspection and routine maintenance and repair. If we undertake a large number of drydockings in a particular fiscal period, comparative results may be affected.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses our unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by generally accepted accounting principles. In other circumstances, we are required to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that we believe are reasonable based upon information available. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions. Our significant accounting policies are discussed in note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003. There were no significant changes to our critical accounting policies as reported in our Form 10-K during the three months ended March 31, 2004.

 

 

Results of Operations

 

The table below sets forth, by segment, the average dayrates and utilization rates for our vessels and the average number of vessels owned during the periods indicated. These offshore supply vessels and tugs and tank barges generate substantially all of our revenues and operating profit.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


 
     2004(4)

    2003(4)

 

Offshore Supply Vessels:

                

Average number of vessels

     22.3       13.2  

Average utilization rate (1)

     78.4 %     89.7 %

Average dayrate (2)

   $ 9,629     $ 12,397  

Tugs and Tank Barges:

                

Average number of tank barges

     16.0       15.5  

Average fleet capacity (barrels)

     1,156,330       1,111,264  

Average barge capacity (barrels)

     72,271       71,515  

Average utilization rate (1)

     91.2 %     83.4 %

Average dayrate (3)

   $ 11,503     $ 11,442  

(1) Utilization rates are average rates based on a 365-day year. Vessels are considered utilized when they are generating revenues.
(2) Average dayrates represent average revenue per day, which includes charter hire and brokerage revenue, based on the number of days during the period that the OSVs generated revenue.
(3) Average dayrates represent average revenue per day, including time charters, brokerage revenue, revenues generated on a per-barrel-transported basis, demurrage, shipdocking and fuel surcharge revenue, based on the number of days during the period that the tank barges generated revenue. For purposes of brokerage arrangements, this calculation excludes that portion of revenue that is equal to the cost paid by customers of in-chartering third party equipment.
(4) On March 3, 2004, we placed the HOS Silverstar in service, the fourth new 240 ED class OSV added to our fleet and the last vessel to be constructed under our most recent OSV newbuild program. The March 31, 2003 averages give effect to our sale of the Energy 5502 on January 28, 2003, and our acquisition of the Energy 8001 on February 28, 2003.

 

In March 2003, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, adopted rules regulating the use of non-GAAP financial measures, such as EBITDA, in filings with the SEC,

 

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disclosures and press releases. These rules require non-GAAP financial measures to be presented with and reconciled to the most nearly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

 

EBITDA consists of earnings (net income) before interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization. This term, as we define it, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies and is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income, net income or loss, cash flows provided by operating, investing and financing activities, or other income or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 for a description of how management uses, and why we believe investors use, EBITDA in evaluating the Company’s operating performance.

 

The following table reconciles EBITDA with our net income for each of our business segments and in the aggregate, for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively (dollars in thousands).

 

     Three months ended
March 31,


     2004

   2003

EBITDA:

             

Offshore supply vessels:

             

Net income

   $ 349    $ 1,664

Plus:

             

Interest expense

     4,149      3,391

Income tax expense

     245      1,019

Depreciation and amortization

     2,919      1,860
    

  

EBITDA

   $ 7,662    $ 7,934
    

  

Tugs and tank barges:

             

Net income

   $ 1,989    $ 2,626

Plus:

             

Interest expense

     996      826

Income tax expense

     1,129      1,610

Depreciation and amortization

     2,288      1,761
    

  

EBITDA

   $ 6,402    $ 6,823
    

  

Consolidated Total:

             

Net income

   $ 2,338    $ 4,290

Plus:

             

Interest expense

     5,145      4,217

Income tax expense

     1,374      2,629

Depreciation and amortization

     5,207      3,621
    

  

EBITDA

   $ 14,064    $ 14,757
    

  

 

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Summarized financial information is shown below in the following table (dollars in thousands):

 

     Three months ended
March 31,


     2004

   2003

Revenues:

             

Offshore supply vessels

   $ 15,565    $ 13,172

Tugs and tank barges

     15,782      14,175
    

  

     $ 31,347    $ 27,347
    

  

Operating expenses:

             

Offshore supply vessels

   $ 6,803    $ 4,057

Tugs and tank barges

     7,548      6,417
    

  

     $ 14,351    $ 10,474
    

  

Depreciation and amortization:

             

Offshore supply vessels

   $ 2,919    $ 1,861

Tugs and tank barges

     2,288      1,760
    

  

     $ 5,207    $ 3,621
    

  

General and administrative expenses:

   $ 2,960    $ 2,894
    

  

Interest expense

   $ 5,145    $ 4,217
    

  

Interest income

   $ 38    $ 72
    

  

Income tax expense

   $ 1,374    $ 2,629
    

  

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2003

 

Revenues. Revenues were $31.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, compared to $27.3 million for the same period in 2003, an increase of $4.0 million or 14.7%. This net increase in revenues is primarily the result of the year-over-year growth of our fleet. Our operating fleet grew from an average of 41 vessels during the first quarter of 2003 to an average of 50 vessels during the first quarter of 2004. The additional revenues generated by these nine vessels accounted for $4.5 million of the increase in our revenues. We also experienced a $0.5 million decrease in revenues from our vessels that were in service during each of the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and 2003.

 

Revenues from our OSV segment increased to $15.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, compared to $13.2 million for the same period in 2003, an increase of $2.4 million or 18.2%. The net increase in segment revenue is due to the addition of 10 new generation OSVs since mid-March 2003. Our OSV utilization rate was 78.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2004, which was lower than the 89.7% utilization rate we achieved in the same period of 2003. The utilization rate was lower for the three months ended March 31, 2004 primarily due to having more OSVs working in the spot market under weak market conditions in the U.S Gulf of Mexico. To a lesser degree, OSV utilization was impacted by the drydocking of vessels, including discretionary modifications to prepare certain vessels for international service, for 65 days out of service compared to 23 days in the 2003 quarter. Spot market contracts are more susceptible to fluctuations in utilization and day rates, particularly in soft market conditions, which we are currently experiencing. Our OSV average dayrates were $9,629 for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to

 

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$12,397 for the same period of 2003, a decrease of $2,768 or 22.3%. Average dayrates for the three months ended March 31, 2004 were lower compared to the same period in 2003 due primarily to continued weak market conditions in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and the change in the average vessel size of our fleet complement after the mid-2003 acquisition of six 220’ vessels.

 

Revenues from our tug and tank barge segment totaled $15.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to $14.2 million for the same period in 2003, an increase of $1.6 million or 11.3%. The increase in revenue resulted primarily from the sale of the Energy 5502 in January 2003 and the purchase of the Energy 8001 in February 2003 and weather related demurrage charges. The Energy 5502 was generating bareboat charter revenue during the first quarter of 2003, which was substantially less than the time charter revenue generated by the double-hulled Energy 8001. Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2004 included $1.4 million derived from in-chartering third-party equipment compared to $1.2 million for the same period in 2003. Our utilization rate increased to 91.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2004, compared to 83.4% for the same period in 2003. The increase in utilization was primarily the result of colder than average weather patterns and having fewer vessels drydocked during the first quarter of 2004 compared to the first quarter of 2003. Our average dayrate of $11,503 for the three months ended March 31, 2004 was roughly flat compared to $11,442 for the same period of 2003, an increase of $61 or 0.5%. The slight increase in dayrates was primarily related to having two months less of bareboat charter revenue from the Energy 5502, which we sold on January 28, 2003

 

Operating Expense. Our operating expense increased to $14.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, compared to $10.5 million for the same period in 2003, an increase of $3.9 million or 37.1%. The increase in operating expense resulted primarily from the addition to our fleet of 10 new generation OSVs since mid-March 2003 and the addition of one double-hulled tank barge in February 2003.

 

Operating expense for our OSV segment increased to $6.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, compared to $4.1 million for the same period in 2003, an increase of $2.7 million or 65.9%. This increase was primarily related to having an average of nine additional new generation OSVs in service for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to the same period in 2003., Average daily operating costs per vessel for the three months ended March 31, 2004 decreased over the same period in 2003, commensurate with the change in our fleet complement with the addition of six 220’ vessels in mid-2003.

 

Operating expense for our tug and tank barge segment increased to $7.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to $6.4 million for the same period in 2003, an increase of $1.1 million or 17.2%. Operating expense for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, included $0.5 million and $0.8 million, for the cost of in-chartering third-party equipment. Average daily operating costs per vessel, excluding in-chartering expenses, for the three months ended March 31, 2004 increased over the same period of 2003 due primarily to the acquisition of the double-hulled Energy 8001 in February 2003.

 

Depreciation and Amortization. Our depreciation and amortization expenses of $5.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 increased $1.6 million or 44.4% compared to the $3.6 million for the same period in 2003. Depreciation and amortization were higher in

 

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2004 as a result of having an average of nine more vessels in our fleet and increased drydocking activity during 2003. These expenses are expected to increase with the delivery of newly constructed vessels and when these vessels undergo their initial 30 and 60 month recertifications.

 

General and Administrative Expense. Our general and administrative expenses of $3.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 remained fairly constant with $2.9 million reported for the same period in 2003. We expect these costs to increase for the remainder of 2004 to accommodate our increased reporting obligations under federal securities laws and the new corporate governance legislation and regulations.

 

Interest Expense. Interest expense was $5.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, compared to $4.2 million for the same period in 2003, an increase of $0.9 million or 21.4%. Capitalization of interest costs relating to new vessel construction was approximately $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, compared to $0.9 million for the same period in 2003. The average balance outstanding under our revolving credit facility for the first three months of 2004 was $46.5 million compared to $5.4 million for the same period in 2003. The outstanding balance under this facility was fully paid on March 31, 2004.

 

Interest Income. Interest income was $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, and was fairly constant with the same period in 2003. Average cash balances were $27.8 million and $17.5 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, which contributed to a slight decrease in interest income during the three months ended March 31, 2004.

 

Income Tax Expense. Our effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2004 was 37% compared to 38% during the three months ended March 31, 2003. Our income tax expense primarily consists of deferred taxes due to our federal net operating loss carryforwards. Our income tax rate is higher than the federal statutory rate due primarily to expected state and foreign tax liabilities and items not deductible for federal income tax purposes.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our capital requirements have historically been financed with cash flow from operations, issuances of our common equity and debt securities, and borrowings under our credit facilities. We require capital to fund ongoing operations, the construction of new vessels, acquisitions, vessel recertifications, discretionary capital expenditures and debt service. The nature of our capital requirements and the types of our financing sources are not expected to significantly change during 2004.

 

Pursuant to an amendment and restatement of our revolving credit facility on February 13, 2004, we have a five-year $100 million senior secured revolving credit facility with a borrowing base of $60 million. As of December 31, 2003, we had $40 million outstanding and $20 million of available borrowing capacity under the then-existing facility. As of March 31, 2004, following the closing of our initial public offering, and pending other uses described in the related prospectus, our outstanding balance on the revolving credit facility was paid and we had $60 million of credit immediately available under such facility. We have

 

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made, and may make additional, short-term draws on our revolving credit facility from time to time to satisfy scheduled capital expenditure requirements or for other corporate purposes. Any liquidity in excess of our planned capital expenditures will be utilized to repay debt or finance the implementation of our growth strategy, which includes expanding our fleet through the construction, retrofit of existing or acquisition of additional vessels, including OSVs and ocean-going tugs and tank barges, as needed to take advantage of the demand for such vessels. The three double-hulled tank barges currently being constructed will replace single-hulled vessels that are required to be retired under OPA 90 prior to January 1, 2005.

 

We believe that our current working capital, projected cash flow from operations and available capacity under our revolving credit facility, will be sufficient to meet our cash requirements for the foreseeable future. Although we expect to continue generating positive working capital through our operations, events beyond our control, such as mild winter conditions, a reduction in domestic consumption of refined petroleum products, or declines in expenditures for exploration, development and production activity may affect our financial condition or results of operations. The net proceeds generated by our initial public offering in March 2004 will allow us to further implement our growth strategy. However, depending on the market demand for OSVs, tugs and tank barges and other growth opportunities that may arise, we may require additional debt or equity financing.

 

Operating Activities. We rely primarily on cash flows from operations to provide working capital for current and future operations. Cash flows from operating activities totaled $6.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to $3.6 million for the same period in 2003. The increase in operating cash flows during these periods was primarily due to the growth of our fleet. Our cash flow from operations for 2004 should reflect a full year of revenue contribution from the nine vessels we added to our fleet in 2003 and nine months of activity for one OSV that entered service in March 2004. However, continued soft market conditions in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico could temper cash flows from operations. Cash flows from operations were also impacted by cash outlays for drydock recertification activity during the three months ended March 31, 2004. During calendar 2004, we expect to drydock a total of eight OSVs, six tugs, and eight tank barges for recertification and/or discretionary vessel enhancements at an estimated total cost of approximately $12.8 million.

 

As of December 31, 2003, we had federal tax net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $37.4 million available through 2018 to offset future taxable income. These tax net operating losses were generated primarily through accelerated tax depreciation applied to our vessels. Our use of these federal tax net operating losses and additional tax benefits may be limited due to U.S. tax laws. Based on the age and composition of our current fleet, however, we expect to continue generating federal tax net operating losses over the near term.

 

Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities was $9.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to $20.4 million for the same period in 2003. Cash utilized in investing activities for both periods were primarily for the construction of new vessels and miscellaneous capital expenditures, and, for the three months ended March 31, 2003, the acquisition of a double-hulled tank barge, offset by $1.7 million in cash proceeds from the sale of a single-hulled tank barge during such period. For the remainder of 2004,

 

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investing activities are anticipated to include costs for new vessel construction related to three double-hulled tank barges, the purchase of two tugs and capital expenditures comprised of vessel modifications and miscellaneous corporate equipment purchases, as well as the potential construction or acquisition of additional vessels.

 

Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities was $32.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, primarily relating to net proceeds from our initial public offering of common stock that was completed on March 31, 2004 after payment of our outstanding borrowings under our revolving credit facility. For the three months ended March 31, 2003, net cash provided by financing activities was $7.4 million, which primarily resulted from the proceeds of borrowings under our revolving credit facility for the purchase of a double-hulled tank barge. On April 28, 2004, we received net proceeds of $1.5 million from the issuance of additional shares of common stock pursuant to the exercise of an option by the underwriters related to our initial public offering. For the remainder of 2004, we expect to generate cash from financing activities resulting from borrowings under our revolving credit facility as needed.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

We have a $100 million revolving credit facility with a borrowing base of $60 million. As of March 31, 2004, the weighted average interest rate was 4.19% under such facility. As of March 31, 2004, we had no outstanding balance, as we used a portion of the net proceeds from our initial public offering to pay all borrowings thereunder, and thus we have $60.0 million of borrowing capacity immediately available under the facility.

 

As of March 31, 2004, we had outstanding debt of $172.8 million, net of original issue discount, under our unsecured senior notes. The effective interest rate on the senior notes is 11.18% and is payable semi-annually each February 1 and August 1. The senior notes do not require any payments of principal prior to their stated maturity on August 1, 2008, but pursuant to the indenture under which the senior notes are issued, we are required to make offers to purchase the senior notes upon the occurrence of specified events, such as certain asset sales or a change in control. For additional information with respect to our revolving credit facility and our senior notes, please refer to note 4 of our unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein.

 

As of December 31, 2003, we were committed under vessel construction contracts to complete construction of one new generation OSV under our most recent OSV newbuild program, and two double-hulled tank barges under our current tank barge newbuild program. During the three months ended March 31, 2004, we expended $5.9 million for new vessel construction, before allocation of construction period interest, which was comprised of $1.5 million for the OSV and $4.4 million for the tank barge newbuild program. Aggregate construction costs before allocation of construction period interest for the four OSVs constructed under our most recent OSV newbuild program was $52.2 million or $0.8 million less than our original $53 million estimate for this program. We recently announced the exercise of an option with a shipyard for the construction of a third double-hulled tank barge under our current tank barge newbuild program. The three barges now under construction, along with two higher horsepower tugs that we expect to purchase this year as power sources

 

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for these larger barges, are expected to cost approximately $64.0 million in the aggregate, of which about $7.9 million has already been incurred and paid during the fourth quarter of 2003 and the first quarter of 2004. We expect to incur the remaining balance of $56.1 million as follows: $49.2 million during the remainder of 2004 and $6.9 million in 2005. The timing of the incurrence of these costs is subject to change among periods based on the achievement of shipyard milestones and the actual acquisition date of the tugs. However, the amounts are not expected to change materially in the aggregate.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2004, we expended approximately $3.3 million for drydocking-related expenses for vessels, of which $1.9 million was accounted for as deferred charges and $1.4 million for other vessel capital improvements. During the three months ended March 31, 2004, we also expended approximately $0.3 million for miscellaneous non-vessel related additions to property, plant and equipment.

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

We make forward-looking statements in this Form 10-Q, including certain information set forth in the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” We have based these forward-looking statements on our current views and assumptions about future events and our future financial performance. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by the appearance in such a statement of words like “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should” or “will” or other comparable words or the negative of these words. When you consider our forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors we describe and other cautionary statements we make in this Form 10-Q.

 

Among the risks, uncertainties and assumptions to which these forward-looking statements may be subject are:

 

  activity levels in the energy markets;

 

  changes in oil and natural gas prices;

 

  increases in supply of new vessels;

 

  the effects of competition;

 

  our ability to complete vessels under construction without significant delays or cost overruns;

 

  our ability to integrate acquisitions successfully;

 

  demand for refined petroleum products or in methods of delivery;

 

  loss of existing customers and our ability to attract new customers;

 

  changes in laws;

 

  changes in international economic and political conditions;

 

  financial stability of our customers;

 

  retention of skilled employees;

 

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  our ability to finance our operations on acceptable terms and access the debt and equity markets to fund our capital requirements, which depend on general market conditions and our financial condition at the time;

 

  our ability to charter our vessels on acceptable terms; and

 

  our success at managing these risks.

 

Our forward-looking statements are only predictions based on expectations that we believe are reasonable. Actual events or results may differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statement. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. To the extent these risks, uncertainties and assumptions give rise to events that vary from our expectations, the forward-looking events discussed in this Form 10-Q may not occur.

 

Item 3—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

We have not entered into any derivative financial instrument transactions to manage or reduce market risk or for speculative purposes.

 

We are subject to interest rate risk on our long-term fixed interest rate senior notes. In general, the fair market value of debt with a fixed interest rate will increase as interest rates fall. Conversely, the fair market value of debt will decrease as interest rates rise. The senior notes accrue interest at the rate of 10 5/8% per annum and mature on August 1, 2008. Our revolving credit facility has a variable interest rate and, therefore, is not subject to interest rate risk. As of March 31, 2004, we had no drawings under such facility.

 

Our operations are primarily conducted between U.S. ports, including along the coast of Puerto Rico, and historically we have not been exposed to significant foreign currency fluctuation. However, as we expand our operations in international markets, our exposure to certain risks typically associated with foreign currency fluctuation is expected to increase. To date, we have not hedged against any foreign currency rate fluctuations associated with foreign currency VAT payments or other foreign currency denominated transactions arising in the normal course of business. We continually monitor the currency exchange risks associated with conducting international operations. As of March 31, 2004, there were no material changes in our market or interest rate risk or material gains or losses associated with currency fluctuations since last reported on our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2003.

 

Item 4—Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, our disclosure controls and procedures were

 

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effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

 

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

We also maintain a system of internal accounting controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that our books and records accurately reflect our transactions and that our policies and procedures are followed. There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1—Legal Proceedings

 

We are not currently a party to any material legal proceedings, although we may from time to time be subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business.

 

Item 2—Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

In September 2003 we filed a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-108943) (as amended, the “Registration Statement”), in connection with our initial public offering of common stock. The SEC declared the Registration Statement effective on March 25, 2004. On March 31, 2004, we completed the initial public offering of 6,000,000 shares of common stock at $13.00 per share for gross proceeds of $78 million. The lead managing underwriters were Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Jefferies & Company, Inc. The net proceeds to us from the initial public offering, after deducting $6.6 million in underwriting commissions and discounts and our estimated offering expenses, were approximately $71.4 million. The Company plans to use the net proceeds of the offering to fund a portion of the costs of the construction of ocean-going, double-hulled tank barges, the retrofit of certain existing vessels, possible future acquisitions or additional new vessel construction, and for general corporate purposes. Pending such uses, we used a portion of the net proceeds of the offering to repay the outstanding balance under our revolving credit facility on March 31, 2004.

 

In March 2004, we issued 120,000 shares of our common stock to certain holders of options granted under our Incentive Compensation Plan upon exercise of such options. The total amount of consideration we received for the issuance of these shares was approximately $795,000, net of taxes. The issuance of these shares of our common stock was exempt from registration under Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Item 3—Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

Item 4—Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

None.

 

Item 5—Other Information

 

Recent Developments

 

On April 28, 2004, the Company issued an additional 126,400 shares of its common stock to the underwriters pursuant to the exercise of an option to purchase additional shares, which resulted in incremental gross proceeds from its initial public offering of approximately $1.6 million.

 

On April 30, 2004, the Company exercised one of its three fixed-price options with a shipyard for the construction of one additional double-hulled tank barge. This will be the third vessel to be constructed under the Company’s current tank barge newbuild program, which is based on a proprietary new tank barge design developed in-house by the Company.

 

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Item 6—Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

(a) Exhibits:

 

Exhibit
Number


  

Description of Exhibit


*1.1   

—Underwriting Agreement dated as of March 25, 2004 by and among the Company and the underwriters named therein.

3.1   

—Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 5, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2003).

3.2   

—Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 20, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 dated September 19, 2003, Registration No. 333-108943).

3.3   

—Third Restated Bylaws of the Company adopted February 17, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2003).

4.1   

—Indenture dated as of July 24, 2001 between Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association (as Trustee) and the Company, including table of contents and cross-reference sheet (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated September 21, 2001, Registration No. 333-69826).

4.2   

—Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 17, 2001, between Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association (as Trustee), the Company, Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC, (f.k.a. Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.), HORNBECK-LEEVAC Marine Operators, LLC, (f.k.a. HORNBECK-LEEVAC Marine Operators, Inc.), LEEVAC Marine, LLC and Energy Services Puerto Rico, LLC, with Notation of Subsidiary Guarantee by Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC, (f.k.a. Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.), HORNBECK-LEEVAC Marine Operators, LLC, (f.k.a. HORNBECK-LEEVAC Marine Operators, Inc.), LEEVAC Marine, LLC and Energy Services Puerto Rico, LLC attached (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1.1 to Amendment No. 2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated December 19, 2001, Registration No. 333-69826).

4.3   

—Second Supplemental Indenture and Amendment dated as of June 18, 2003, between Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association (as Trustee), the Company and HOS-IV, LLC, with Notation of Subsidiary Guarantee by HOS-IV, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 dated September 19, 2003, Registration No. 333-108943).

4.4   

—Third Supplemental Indenture and Amendment dated as of February 13, 2004, between Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association (as Trustee), the Company and Hornbeck Offshore Trinidad & Tobago, LLC, with Notation of Subsidiary Guarantee by Hornbeck Offshore Trinidad & Tobago, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2003).

4.5   

—Stockholders’ Agreement dated as of October 27, 2000 between the Company, Todd M. Hornbeck, Troy A. Hornbeck, Cari Investment Company and SCF-IV, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed September 19, 2003, Registration No. 333-108943).

 

23


Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number


  

Description of Exhibit


4.6   

—Rights Agreement dated as of June 18, 2003 between the Company and Mellon Investor Services LLC as Rights Agent, which includes as Exhibit A the Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, as Exhibit B the form of Right Certificate and as Exhibit C the form of Summary of Rights to Purchase Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 2, 2003).

4.7   

—Stockholders’ Agreement dated as of June 5, 1997 between the Company, Todd M. Hornbeck, Troy A. Hornbeck and Cari Investment Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed July 22, 2002, Registration No. 333-96833).

4.8   

—Registration Rights Agreement dated as of October 27, 2000 between the Company and SCF-IV, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed July 22, 2002, Registration No. 333-96833).

4.9   

—Registration Rights Agreement dated as of June 24, 2003 between the Company and certain purchasers of securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed September 19, 2003, Registration No. 333-108943).

4.10   

—Agreement Concerning Registration Rights dated as of October 27, 2000 between the Company, SCF-IV, LP, Joint Energy Development Investments II, LP and Sundance Assets, LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed July 22, 2002, Registration No. 333-96833).

4.11   

—Letter Agreement dated September 24, 2001 between the Company, Todd M. Hornbeck, Troy A. Hornbeck, Cari Investment Company and SCF-IV, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed September 19, 2003, Registration No. 333-108943).

4.12   

—Specimen 10 5/8% Series B Senior Note due 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated September 21, 2001, Registration No. 333-69826).

4.13   

—Specimen certificate for the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 dated March 10, 2004, Registration No. 333-108943).

4.14   

—Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of March 5, 2004 between the Company and Mellon Investor Services LLC as Rights Agent. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2003).

10.1   

—Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 13, 2004 among the Company and Hibernia National Bank, as agent, and Hibernia National Bank, Fortis Capital Corp., Southwest Bank of Texas, N.A., DVB Bank Aktiengesellscheft and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as lenders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2003).

*31.1   

—Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

*31.2   

—Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

*32.1   

—Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

24


Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number


  

Description of Exhibit


*32.2   

—Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


* Filed herewith

 

(b) Reports on Form 8-K.

 

During the quarter for which this report is filed, the registrant filed one Current Report on Form 8-K, as follows:

 

On February 19, 2004, we furnished a report on Form 8-K announcing that we had issued a press release that reported fourth quarter 2003 results, the delivery of the 240 ED class HOS Silverstar and the amendment and restatement of our revolving credit facility.

 

Since the end of the quarter for which this report is filed, the registrant filed one Current Report on Form 8-K, as follows:

 

On May 6, 2004, we furnished a report on Form 8-K announcing that we had issued a press release that reported first quarter 2004 results, the completion of our initial public offering and the construction of an additional double-hulled tank barge.

 

 

25


Table of Contents

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Quarterly report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

       

Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.

Date: May 11, 2004

      By:  

/s/    JAMES O. HARP, JR.        

           
           

James O. Harp, Jr.

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

26


Table of Contents

Exhibits Index

 

Exhibit
Number


  

Description of Exhibit


*1.1   

—Underwriting Agreement dated as of March 25, 2004 by and among the Company and the underwriters named therein.

3.1   

—Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 5, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2003)

3.2   

—Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 20, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 dated September 19, 2003, Registration No. 333-108943).

3.3   

—Third Restated Bylaws of the Company adopted February 17, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2003) .

4.1   

—Indenture dated as of July 24, 2001 between Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association (as Trustee) and the Company, including table of contents and cross-reference sheet (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated September 21, 2001, Registration No. 333-69826).

4.2   

—Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 17, 2001, between Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association (as Trustee), the Company, Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC, (f.k.a. Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.), HORNBECK-LEEVAC Marine Operators, LLC, (f.k.a. HORNBECK-LEEVAC Marine Operators, Inc.), LEEVAC Marine, LLC and Energy Services Puerto Rico, LLC, with Notation of Subsidiary Guarantee by Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC, (f.k.a. Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.), HORNBECK-LEEVAC Marine Operators, LLC, (f.k.a. HORNBECK-LEEVAC Marine Operators, Inc.), LEEVAC Marine, LLC and Energy Services Puerto Rico, LLC attached (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1.1 to Amendment No. 2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated December 19, 2001, Registration No. 333-69826).

4.3   

—Second Supplemental Indenture and Amendment dated as of June 18, 2003, between Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association (as Trustee), the Company and HOS-IV, LLC, with Notation of Subsidiary Guarantee by HOS-IV, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 dated September 19, 2003, Registration No. 333-108943).

4.4   

—Third Supplemental Indenture and Amendment dated as of February 13, 2004, between Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association (as Trustee), the Company and Hornbeck Offshore Trinidad & Tobago, LLC, with Notation of Subsidiary Guarantee by Hornbeck Offshore Trinidad & Tobago, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2003) .

4.5   

—Stockholders’ Agreement dated as of October 27, 2000 between the Company, Todd M. Hornbeck, Troy A. Hornbeck, Cari Investment Company and SCF-IV, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed September 19, 2003, Registration No. 333-108943).

 

27


Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number


  

Description of Exhibit


   4.6   

—Rights Agreement dated as of June 18, 2003 between the Company and Mellon Investor Services LLC as Rights Agent, which includes as Exhibit A the Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, as Exhibit B the form of Right Certificate and as Exhibit C the form of Summary of Rights to Purchase Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 2, 2003).

   4.7   

—Stockholders’ Agreement dated as of June 5, 1997 between the Company, Todd M. Hornbeck, Troy A. Hornbeck and Cari Investment Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed July 22, 2002, Registration No. 333-96833).

   4.8   

—Registration Rights Agreement dated as of October 27, 2000 between the Company and SCF-IV, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed July 22, 2002, Registration No. 333-96833).

   4.9   

—Registration Rights Agreement dated as of June 24, 2003 between the Company and certain purchasers of securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed September 19, 2003, Registration No. 333-108943).

   4.10   

—Agreement Concerning Registration Rights dated as of October 27, 2000 between the Company, SCF-IV, LP, Joint Energy Development Investments II, LP and Sundance Assets, LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed July 22, 2002, Registration No. 333-96833).

   4.11   

—Letter Agreement dated September 24, 2001 between the Company, Todd M. Hornbeck, Troy A. Hornbeck, Cari Investment Company and SCF-IV, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed September 19, 2003, Registration No. 333-108943).

   4.12   

—Specimen 10 5/8% Series B Senior Note due 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated September 21, 2001, Registration No. 333-69826).

   4.13   

—Specimen certificate for the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 dated March 10, 2004, Registration No. 333-108943).

   4.14   

—Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of March 5, 2004 between the Company and Mellon Investor Services LLC as Rights Agent. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2003).

10.1   

—Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 13, 2004 among the Company and Hibernia National Bank, as agent, and Hibernia National Bank, Fortis Capital Corp., Southwest Bank of Texas, N.A., DVB Bank Aktiengesellscheft and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as lenders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2003).

*31.1   

—Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

*31.2   

—Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

28


Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number


  

Description of Exhibit


*32.1   

—Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

*32.2   

—Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


* Filed herewith

 

29

Underwriting Agreement

Exhibit 1.1

 

HORNBECK OFFSHORE SERVICES, INC.

 

Common Stock, par value $.01 per share

 


 

Underwriting Agreement

 

March 25, 2004

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.,

Jefferies & Company, Inc.

Simmons & Company International

Johnson Rice & Company L.L.C.

As representatives of the several Underwriters

named in Schedule I hereto,

c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.

1100 Louisiana Street, Suite 550

Houston, Texas 77002

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) an aggregate of 6,000,000 shares (the “Firm Shares”) and, at the election of the Underwriters, up to 900,000 additional shares (the “Optional Shares”) of common stock, par value $.01 per share (“Stock”) of the Company (the Firm Shares and the Optional Shares that the Underwriters elect to purchase pursuant to Section 2 hereof being collectively called the “Shares”).

 

1. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that:

 

(a) A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-108943) (the initial filing and all pre-effective amendments filed thereto collectively being referred to as the “Initial Registration Statement”) in respect of the Shares has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”); the Initial Registration Statement and, if applicable, any post-effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered to you, and, excluding exhibits thereto, to you for each of the other Underwriters, have been declared effective by the Commission in such form; other than a registration statement, if any, increasing the size of the offering (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), which became effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Initial Registration Statement has heretofore been filed with the Commission; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto, if applicable, or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in the Initial Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act is hereinafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus”; the various parts of the Initial Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, including all exhibits thereto and including the information contained in the form of final prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with


Section 5(a) hereof and deemed by virtue of Rule 430A under the Act to be part of the Initial Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective, each as amended at the time such part of the Initial Registration Statement became effective or such part of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes effective, are hereinafter collectively called the “Registration Statement”; and such final prospectus, in the form first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, is hereinafter called the “Prospectus”);

 

(b) No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co. expressly for use therein;

 

(c) The Registration Statement conforms, and the Prospectus and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, and as of the applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co. expressly for use therein;

 

(d) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Prospectus any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been, other than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, current or future consolidated financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”);

 

(e) The Company and its subsidiaries own no real property; the Company and its subsidiaries have good title to (i) all barges, tugs and other vessels (collectively, “Vessels”), and (ii) all other personal property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries; and none of the real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and, should their existing leases expire or terminate, the cost to secure new facilities would not be material;

 

(f) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and has been

 

2


duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and each subsidiary of the Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a limited liability company or other legal entity in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization;

 

(g) The Company’s authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock is as set forth in the Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of Stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and conform to the description of the Stock contained in the Prospectus; and all of the issued membership and other equity interests of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and, except as set forth in the Prospectus, are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims;

 

(h) The unissued Shares to be issued and sold by the Company to the Underwriters hereunder have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefore as provided herein, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will conform to the description of the Stock contained in the Prospectus;

 

(i) The issue and sale of the Shares to be sold by the Company and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated (A) will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (B) will not result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company, and (C) will not result in the violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Shares or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except the registration under the Act of the Shares and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters;

 

(j) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws (or other organizational documents) or in default in the performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound;

 

(k) The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Capital Stock”, insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Stock and under the caption “Underwriting”, insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate and fair;

 

(l) Other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;

 

3


(m) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares, will not be an “investment company”, as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”);

 

(n) Ernst & Young LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, are independent public accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

(o) The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess adequate licenses or other rights to use all trademarks, service marks, trade names and know-how necessary to conduct the businesses now or proposed to be operated by them as described in the Prospectus, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of conflict with (or knows of any such conflict with) asserted rights of others with respect to any trademarks, service marks, trade names or know-how which, if such assertion of conflict were sustained, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(p) The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, permits, certificates, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations from, and have made all declarations and filings with, all federal, state, local and other governmental authorities, the American Bureau of Shipping and all courts and other tribunals, including without limitation under any applicable Environmental Laws (as defined below), currently required or necessary to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate their properties and to carry on their business as now and proposed to be conducted as set forth in the Prospectus (“Permits”), except where the failure to obtain such Permits would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and its subsidiaries have fulfilled and performed all of their obligations with respect to such Permits and no event has occurred which allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Permit, except where the failure to perform such obligations or the occurrence of such event would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of any proceeding relating to revocation or modification of any such Permit, except as described in the Prospectus and except where such revocation or modification would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(q) The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns or have timely requested extensions thereof and have paid all taxes shown as due thereon or made adequate reserve or provision therefor; and other than tax deficiencies which the Company or any subsidiary is contesting in good faith and for which the Company or such Subsidiary has provided adequate reserves, there is no tax deficiency that has been asserted against the Company or any subsidiary that would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(r) To the best of the Company’s knowledge, the statistical and market-related data included in the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources which are reliable and accurate;

 

(s) Except as described in the Prospectus or as would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect (A) the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with and not subject to any known liability under applicable Environmental Laws (as defined below), (B) the Company and its subsidiaries have made all filings and provided all notices required under any applicable Environmental Laws, and have, and are in compliance with, all Permits required under any applicable Environmental Laws and each of them is in full force and effect, (C) there is no civil, criminal or administrative action, suit, demand, claim, hearing, notice of violation, investigation, proceeding, notice or demand letter or request for information pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or its subsidiaries under any Environmental Law, (D) no lien, charge, encumbrance or restriction has been recorded under any Environmental

 

4


Law with respect to any assets, facility or property owned, operated, leased or controlled by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (E) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice that it has been identified as a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“CERCLA”), or any comparable state law, (F) no property or facility of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is (i) listed or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, proposed for listing on the National Priorities List under CERCLA or (ii) listed in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, Liability Information System List promulgated pursuant to CERCLA, or on any comparable list maintained by any state or local governmental authority and (G) each Vessel complies with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, and has secured and carries on board a current U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Financial Responsibility (Water Pollution);

 

For purposes of this Agreement, “Environmental Laws” means the common law, all federal treaties and all applicable federal, state and local laws or regulations, codes, orders, decrees, judgments or injunctions issued, promulgated, approved or entered thereunder, relating to pollution or protection of public or employee health and safety or the environment, including, without limitation, laws relating to (i) emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of hazardous materials into the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, sea water, land surface or subsurface strata), (ii) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, generation, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of hazardous materials, and (iii) underground and above ground storage tanks and related piping, and emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases therefrom;

 

(t) There is no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or work stoppage with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries which is pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to or has any obligation under any collective bargaining agreement or other labor union contract, white paper or side agreement with any labor union or organization; except as described in the Prospectus, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no collective bargaining organizing activities are taking place with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and the Company has a policy on drug and alcohol abuse applicable to each of the Vessels that meets or exceeds the standards contained in the current edition of the Oil Companies International Marine Forum Guidelines for the Control of Drugs and Alcohol Onboard Ship;

 

(u) The Company and its subsidiaries carry insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as in their determination is adequate for the conduct of their business or the value of their properties; and

 

(v) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any liability for any prohibited transaction or funding deficiency or any complete or partial withdrawal liability with respect to any pension, profit sharing, 401(k) plan or other plan which is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries makes or ever has made a contribution and in which any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or has ever been a participant, except for such liabilities which would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and with respect to such plans, the Company and each of its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of ERISA.

 

2. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, (a) the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price per share of $12.09, the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and (b) in the event and to the extent that the Underwriters shall exercise the election to purchase Optional Shares as provided below, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the

 

5


Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price per share set forth in clause (a) of this Section 2, that portion of the number of Optional Shares as to which such election shall have been exercised (to be adjusted by you so as to eliminate fractional shares) determined by multiplying such number of Optional Shares by a fraction, the numerator of which is the maximum number of Optional Shares which such Underwriter is entitled to purchase as set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the denominator of which is the maximum number of Optional Shares that all of the Underwriters are entitled to purchase hereunder.

 

The Company hereby grants to the Underwriters the right to purchase at their election up to 900,000 Optional Shares, at the purchase price per share set forth in the paragraph above, for the sole purpose of covering sales of shares in excess of the number of Firm Shares provided that the purchase price per Optional Share shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Shares but not payable on the Optional Shares. Any such election to purchase Optional Shares may be exercised only by written notice from you to the Company, given within a period of 30 calendar days after the date of this Agreement, and setting forth the aggregate number of Optional Shares to be purchased and the date on which such Optional Shares are to be delivered, as determined by you but in no event earlier than the First Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4 hereof) or, unless you and the Company otherwise agree in writing, earlier than two or later than ten business days after the date of such notice.

 

3. Upon the authorization by you of the release of the Firm Shares, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Shares for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

 

4. (a) The Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder, in definitive form, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as Goldman, Sachs & Co. may request upon at least forty-eight hours’ prior notice to the Company shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to Goldman, Sachs & Co., through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Company to Goldman, Sachs & Co. at least forty-eight hours in advance. The Company will cause the certificates representing the Shares to be made available for checking and packaging at least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery (as defined below) with respect thereto at the office of DTC or its designated custodian (the “Designated Office”). The time and date of such delivery and payment shall be, with respect to the Firm Shares, 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on March 31, 2004 or such other time and date as Goldman, Sachs & Co. and the Company may agree upon in writing, and, with respect to the Optional Shares, 9:30 a.m., New York time, on the date specified by Goldman, Sachs & Co. in the written notice given by Goldman, Sachs & Co. of the Underwriters’ election to purchase such Optional Shares, or such other time and date as Goldman, Sachs & Co. and the Company may agree upon in writing. Such time and date for delivery of the Firm Shares is herein called the “First Time of Delivery”, such time and date for delivery of the Optional Shares, if not the First Time of Delivery, is herein called the “Second Time of Delivery”, and each such time and date for delivery is herein called a “Time of Delivery”.

 

(b) The documents to be delivered at each Time of Delivery by or on behalf of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 7 hereof, including the cross receipt for the Shares and any additional documents requested by the Underwriters pursuant to Section 7(k) hereof, will be delivered at the offices of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., 2300 First City Tower, 1001 Fannin Street, Houston, Texas 77002-6760 (the “Closing Location”), and the Shares will be delivered at the Designated Office, all at such Time of Delivery. A meeting will be held at the Closing Location at 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next preceding such Time of Delivery, at which meeting the final drafts of the documents to be delivered pursuant to the preceding sentence will be

 

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available for review by the parties hereto. For the purposes of this Underwriting Agreement, “New York Business Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

5. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters:

 

(a) To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by you and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 430A(a)(3) under the Act; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus which shall be disapproved by you promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed and to furnish you with copies thereof; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or prospectus, of the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or prospectus or suspending any such qualification, promptly to use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

 

(b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as you may reasonably request to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the securities laws of such state jurisdictions as you may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Shares, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;

 

(c) Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with written and electronic copies of the Prospectus in New York City in such quantities as you may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at any time prior to the expiration of nine months after the time of issue of the Prospectus in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such period to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, to notify you and upon your request to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many written and electronic copies as you may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, and in case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus in connection with sales of any of the Shares at any time nine months or more after the time of issue of the Prospectus, upon your request but at the expense of such Underwriter, to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many written and electronic copies as you may request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act;

 

(d) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined

 

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in Rule 158(c) under the Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158);

 

(e) During the period beginning from the date hereof and continuing to and including the date 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of, except as provided hereunder any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Shares, including but not limited to any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, Stock or any such substantially similar securities (other than (i) pursuant to employee stock option plans existing on, or upon the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as of, the date of this Agreement or (ii) Stock totaling up to 10% of the issued and outstanding Stock immediately after the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby, issued as consideration in acquisitions, provided that any recipient of Stock issued as consideration in any acquisition or acquisitions of a business or entity shall agree in writing to be bound by the provisions of the lock up agreement for the remainder of the 180-day period), without your prior written consent;

 

(f) To furnish to its stockholders as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year an annual report (including a balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries certified by independent public accountants) and, as soon as practicable after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the second fiscal quarter ending after the effective date of the Registration Statement), to make available to its stockholders consolidated summary financial information of the Company and its subsidiaries for such quarter in reasonable detail;

 

(g) During a period of five years from the effective date of the Registration Statement, to furnish to you copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to stockholders, and to deliver to you (i) as soon as they are available, copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which any class of securities of the Company is listed; and (ii) such additional information concerning the business and financial condition of the Company as you may from time to time reasonably request (such financial statements to be on a consolidated basis to the extent the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries are consolidated in reports furnished to its stockholders generally or to the Commission);

 

(h) To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement in the manner specified in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”;

 

(i) To use its best efforts to list, subject to notice of issuance, the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”).

 

(j) To file with the Commission such information on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K as may be required by Rule 463 under the Act;

 

(k) If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 p.m., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the Act; and

 

(l) Upon request of any Underwriter, to furnish, or cause to be furnished, to such Underwriter an electronic version of the Company’s trademarks, servicemarks and corporate logo for use on the website, if any, operated by such Underwriter for the purpose of facilitating the on-line offering of the Shares (the “License”); provided, however, that the License shall be used solely for the purpose described above, is granted without any fee and may not be assigned or transferred.

 

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6. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Shares under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, the Blue Sky Memorandum, closing documents (including any compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky survey (iv) all fees and expenses in connection with listing the Shares on the Exchange; (v) the filing fees incident to, and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, securing any required review by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Shares; (vi) the cost of preparing stock certificates; (vii) the cost and charges of any transfer agent or registrar; and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section, and Sections 8 and 11 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, stock transfer taxes on resale of any of the Shares by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

 

7. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, as to the Shares to be delivered at each Time of Delivery, shall be subject, in their discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company herein are, at and as of such Time of Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

 

(a) The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 p.m., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to your reasonable satisfaction;

 

(b) Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to you such written opinion or opinions (a draft of each such opinion is attached as Annex II(a) hereto), dated such Time of Delivery, with respect to the matters covered in paragraphs (i), (ii), (vii), (xi) and (xiii) of subsection (c) below as well as such other related matters as you may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters;

 

(c) Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C., counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to you their written opinion (a draft of such opinion is attached as Annex II(b) hereto), dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect that:

 

(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with the corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus;

 

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(ii) The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal matters to the description thereof set forth in the Prospectus, and all of the issued Stock of the Company (including the Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery) has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable; and the Shares conform to the description of the Stock contained in the Prospectus;

 

(iii) The Company has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect (such counsel being entitled to rely in respect of the opinion in this clause upon opinions of local counsel and in respect of matters of fact upon certificates of officers of the Company, provided that such counsel shall state that they believe that both you and they are justified in relying upon such opinions and certificates and shall provide the representatives with copies thereof);

 

(iv) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a limited liability company or other legal entity in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; and all of the issued membership or other equity interests of each such subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except as described in the Prospectus (such counsel being entitled to rely in respect of the opinion in this clause upon opinions of local counsel and in respect to matters of fact upon certificates of officers of the Company or its subsidiaries, provided that such counsel shall state that they believe that both you and they are justified in relying upon such opinions and certificates and shall provide the representatives with copies thereof);

 

(v) The Company and its subsidiaries have good title to (i) all Vessels and (ii) all other personal property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries; and to the best of such counsel’s knowledge, the Company and its subsidiaries do not own any real property (in giving the opinion in this clause, such counsel may state that no examination of record titles for the purpose of such opinion has been made, and that they are relying upon a general review of the titles of the Company and its subsidiaries, upon opinions of local counsel and abstracts, reports and policies of title companies rendered or issued at or subsequent to the time of acquisition of such property by the Company or its subsidiaries, upon opinions of counsel to the lessors of such property and, in respect to matters of fact, upon certificates of officers of the Company or its subsidiaries, provided that such counsel shall state that they believe that both you and they are justified in relying upon such opinions, abstracts, reports, policies and certificates and shall provide the representatives with copies thereof);

 

(vi) To the best of such counsel’s knowledge and other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the best of such counsel’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;

 

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(vii) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

 

(viii) The issue and sale of the Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery to be sold by the Company and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated (A) will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject other than such conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults that, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect and also do not affect the validity of the Stock, (b) will not result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company and (c) will not result in the violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation known to such counsel of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties;

 

(ix) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Shares or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except the registration under the Act of the Shares, and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters;

 

(x) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws (or other organizational documents) or in default in the performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise known to such counsel to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound;

 

 

(xi) The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Capital Stock,” insofar as such statements constitute a summary of the legal matters or documents referred to therein, including the terms of the Stock, and under the caption “Underwriting,” insofar as such statements constitute summaries of this Agreement, accurately present the information called for with respect to such legal matters and documents and accurately summarize the matters referred to therein;

 

(xii) The Company is not an “investment company”, as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act.

 

Such counsel shall further confirm their belief that the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any further amendments and supplements thereto made by the Company prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein and the financial data derived therefrom, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; although they do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, except for those referred to in the opinion in subsection (xi) of this Section 7(c), they have no reason to believe that, as of its effective date, the Registration Statement or any further amendment thereto made by the Company prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein and the financial data derived therefrom, as to which such counsel need express

 

11


no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that, as of its date, the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein and the financial data derived therefrom, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or that, as of such Time of Delivery, either the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein and the financial data derived therefrom, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and they do not know of any amendment to the Registration Statement required to be filed or of any contracts or other documents of a character required to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which are not filed or described as required;

 

(d) On the date of the Prospectus at a time prior to the execution of this Agreement, at 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement and also at each Time of Delivery, Ernst & Young LLP shall have furnished to you a letter or letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof, in form and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect set forth in Annex I hereto (the executed copy of the letter delivered prior to the execution of this Agreement is attached as Annex I(a) hereto and a draft of the form of letter to be delivered on the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement and as of each Time of Delivery is attached as Annex I(b) hereto);

 

(e) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Prospectus any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in the judgment of the representatives so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus;

 

(f) On or after the date hereof (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s debt securities;

 

(g) On or after the date hereof there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the Exchange; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company’s securities on the Exchange; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either Federal or Louisiana, New York or Texas State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the

 

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United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or (v) the occurrence of any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (iv) or (v) in the judgment of the representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus;

 

(h) The Shares to be sold at such Time of Delivery shall have been duly listed, subject to notice of issuance, on the Exchange;

 

(i) The Company has obtained and delivered to the Underwriters executed copies of an agreement from each of its stockholders listed on Schedule II hereto, substantially to the effect set forth in Subsection 5(e) hereof in form and substance satisfactory to you;

 

(j) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5(c) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on the New York Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement; and

 

(k) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to you at such Time of Delivery certificates of officers of the Company satisfactory to you as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery, as to such other matters as you may reasonably request and as to the matters set forth in subsections (a), (e) and (f) of this Section.

 

8. (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co. expressly for use therein.

 

(b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co. expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for any legal or

 

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other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred.

 

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with a single counsel (in addition to any local counsel) satisfactory to such indemnified party (which counsel shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an

 

14


indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

 

(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company (including any person who, with his or her consent, is named in the Registration Statement as about to become a director of the Company) and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

 

9. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Shares which it has agreed to purchase hereunder at a Time of Delivery, you may in your discretion arrange for you or another party or other parties to purchase such Shares on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter you do not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to you to purchase such Shares on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, you notify the Company that you have so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, or the Company notifies you that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, you or the Company shall have the right to postpone such Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in your opinion may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Shares.

 

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of such Shares which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of all the Shares to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder at such Time of Delivery and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the number of Shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

 

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of such Shares which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the

 

15


aggregate number of all of the Shares to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement (or, with respect to the Second Time of Delivery, the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Optional Shares) shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 6 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

 

10. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company, or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Shares.

 

11. If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof; but, if for any other reason, any Shares are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through you for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by you, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares not so delivered, but the Company shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter in respect of the Shares not so delivered except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof.

 

12. In all dealings hereunder, you shall act on behalf of each of the Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by you jointly or by Goldman, Sachs & Co. on behalf of you as the representatives.

 

All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to you as the representatives in care of Goldman, Sachs & Co., 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004, Attention: Registration Department; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: Secretary; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters’ Questionnaire, or telex constituting such Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by you upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

 

13. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent provided in Sections 8 and 10 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

 

14. Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement. As used herein, the term “business day” shall mean any day when the Commission’s office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

 

15. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

16


16. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

17. The Company is authorized, subject to applicable law, to disclose any and all aspects of this potential transaction that are necessary to support any U.S. federal income tax benefits expected to be claimed with respect to such transaction, and all materials of any kind (including tax opinions and other tax analyses) related to those benefits, without the Underwriters imposing any limitation of any kind.

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us seven counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement among each of the Underwriters and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the signers thereof.

 

Very truly yours,

 

Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.

By:  

/s/ James O. Harp, Jr.

   
   

Name: James O. Harp, Jr.

Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Accepted as of the date hereof:

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Jefferies & Company, Inc.

Simmons & Company International

Johnson Rice & Company L.L.C.

 

By:   /s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co.
   
   

(Goldman, Sachs & Co.)

 

On behalf of each of the Underwriters

 

17


SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriter


   Total Number
of Firm
Shares To be
Purchased


   Number of Optional
Shares to be
Purchased if
Maximum Option
Exercised


Goldman, Sachs & Co.

   2,700,000    405,000

Jefferies & Company, Inc.

   1,350,000    202,500

Simmons & Company International

   810,000    121,500

Johnson Rice & Company L.L.C.

   540,000    81,000

Pritchard Capital Partners LLC

   300,000    45,000

Hibernia South Coast Capital, Inc.

   150,000    22,500

Fidelity Capital Markets, a division of National Financial Services LLC

   150,000    22,500
    
  

Total

   6,000,000    900,000
    
  

 


SCHEDULE II

 


ANNEX I(a)

 

Pursuant to Section 7(d) of the Underwriting Agreement, the accountants shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect that:

 

(i) They are independent certified public accountants with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder;

 

(ii) In their opinion, the financial statements and any supplementary financial information and schedules (and, if applicable, financial forecasts and/or pro forma financial information) examined by them and included in the Prospectus or the Registration Statement comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published rules and regulations thereunder; and, if applicable, they have made a review in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, selected financial data, pro forma financial information, financial forecasts and/or condensed financial statements derived from audited financial statements of the Company for the periods specified in such letter, as indicated in their reports thereon, copies of which have been [separately] furnished to the representatives of the Underwriters (the “Representatives”) [and are attached hereto];

 

(iii) They have made a review in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows included in the Prospectus as indicated in their reports thereon copies of which [have been separately furnished to the Representatives] [are attached hereto] and on the basis of specified procedures including inquiries of officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters regarding whether the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements referred to in paragraph (vi)(A)(i) below comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published rules and regulations, nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published rules and regulations;

 

(iv) The unaudited selected financial information with respect to the consolidated results of operations and financial position of the Company for the five most recent fiscal years included in the Prospectus agrees with the corresponding amounts (after restatements where applicable) in the audited consolidated financial statements for such five fiscal years which were included or incorporated by reference in the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for such fiscal years;

 

(v) They have compared the information in the Prospectus under selected captions with the disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K and on the basis of limited procedures specified in such letter nothing came to their attention as a result of the foregoing procedures that caused them to believe that this information does not conform in all material respects with the disclosure requirements of Items 301, 302, 402 and 503(d), respectively, of Regulation S-K;

 

(vi) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, consisting of a reading of the unaudited financial statements and other information referred to below, a reading of the latest available interim financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, inspection of the minute books of


the Company and its subsidiaries since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Prospectus, inquiries of officials of the Company and its subsidiaries responsible for financial and accounting matters and such other inquiries and procedures as may be specified in such letter, nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that:

 

(A) (i) the unaudited consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows included in the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published rules and regulations, or (ii) any material modifications should be made to the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows included in the Prospectus for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(B) any other unaudited income statement data and balance sheet items included in the Prospectus do not agree with the corresponding items in the unaudited consolidated financial statements from which such data and items were derived, and any such unaudited data and items were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with the basis for the corresponding amounts in the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Prospectus;

 

(C) the unaudited financial statements which were not included in the Prospectus but from which were derived any unaudited condensed financial statements referred to in clause (A) and any unaudited income statement data and balance sheet items included in the Prospectus and referred to in clause (B) were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with the basis for the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Prospectus;

 

(D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial statements included in the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the published rules and regulations thereunder or the pro forma adjustments have not been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those statements;

 

(E) as of a specified date not more than five days prior to the date of such letter, there have been any changes in the consolidated capital stock (other than issuances of capital stock upon exercise of options and stock appreciation rights, upon earn-outs of performance shares and upon conversions of convertible securities, in each case which were outstanding on the date of the latest financial statements included in the Prospectus) or any increase in the consolidated long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, or any decreases in consolidated net current assets or stockholders’ equity or other items specified by the Representatives, or any increases in any items specified by the Representatives, in each case as compared with amounts shown in the latest balance sheet included in the Prospectus, except in each case for changes, increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter; and

 

(F) for the period from the date of the latest financial statements included in the Prospectus to the specified date referred to in clause (E) there were any decreases in consolidated net revenues or operating profit or the total or per share amounts of consolidated net income or other items specified by the Representatives, or any increases in any items specified by the Representatives, in each case as compared

 

F-2


with the comparable period of the preceding year and with any other period of corresponding length specified by the Representatives, except in each case for decreases or increases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter; and

 

(vii) In addition to the examination referred to in their report(s) included in the Prospectus and the limited procedures, inspection of minute books, inquiries and other procedures referred to in paragraphs (iii) and (vi) above, they have carried out certain specified procedures, not constituting an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial information specified by the Representatives, which are derived from the general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries, which appear in the Prospectus, or in Part II of, or in exhibits and schedules to, the Registration Statement specified by the Representatives, and have compared certain of such amounts, percentages and financial information with the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and have found them to be in agreement.

 

 

F-3


ANNEX I(b)

 

[Form of Ernst & Young LLP Bring-Down Comfort Letter]

 


ANNEX II(a)

 

[Form of Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters]

 


ANNEX II(b)

 

[Form of Opinion of Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C., counsel for the Company]

Certification 302 for the Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Todd M. Hornbeck, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  c) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date:  

May 11, 2004

         

/s/    Todd M. Hornbeck


               

Todd M. Hornbeck

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

1

Certification 302 for the Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, James O. Harp, Jr., certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  c) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date:  

May 11, 2004

         

/s/    James O. Harp, Jr.

               
                James O. Harp, Jr.
                Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                (Principal Financial Officer)

 

1

Certification 906 for the Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF

THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2004, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Todd M. Hornbeck, President, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

  1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

  2. Information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Dated: May 11, 2004

 

/s/    Todd M. Hornbeck


Todd M. Hornbeck

President, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary

Certification 906 for the Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF

THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2004, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, James O. Harp, Jr., Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

  1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

  2. Information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Dated: May 11, 2004

 

/s/    James O. Harp, Jr.


James O. Harp, Jr.

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer