COVINGTON, La., May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. (NYSE:HOS) announced today results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.  Following are highlights for this period and the Company's future outlook:

• 1Q2012 diluted EPS of $0.18 was roughly $0.52 higher than 1Q2011, despite a 35% increase in diluted shares
• 1Q2012 EBITDA of $44.6 million increased $23.3 million, or 114%, over 1Q2011 EBITDA of $21.3 million
• Bond refinancing results in a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $5.2 million ($0.09 per diluted share after-tax)
• Excluding such loss on early extinguishment of debt, 1Q2012 diluted EPS would have been $0.27 per share
• Excluding such loss on early extinguishment of debt, 1Q2012 EBITDA would have been $49.8 million
• Utilization of the Company's 51-vessel new gen OSV fleet was 81% for 1Q2012, up from 59% a year-ago
• MPSV utilization was 88% for 1Q2012, up from 13% for 1Q2011
• Contract backlog for new gen OSV vessel-days is currently at 60% and 27% for the remainder of 2012 and 2013
• Contract backlog for MPSV vessel-days is currently at 66% and 40% for the remainder of 2012 and 2013

First quarter 2012 revenues increased 66.0% to $120.0 million compared to $72.3 million for the first quarter of 2011 and decreased 2.2% compared to $122.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2011.  Operating income was $28.6 million, or 23.8% of revenues, for the first quarter of 2012 compared to $0.7 million, or 1.0% of revenues, for the prior-year quarter; and $35.8 million, or 29.2% of revenues, for the fourth quarter of 2011.  The Company recorded net income for the first quarter of 2012 of $6.3 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of ($9.0 million), or ($0.34) per diluted share, for the year-ago quarter; and net income of $14.2 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2011.  Diluted common shares for the first quarter of 2012 were 36.0 million compared to 26.7 million for the first quarter of 2011 and 31.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2011.  Diluted common shares were driven higher by the Company's November 2011 equity offering.  First quarter 2012 EBITDA increased 109.4% to $44.6 million compared to $21.3 million for the first quarter of 2011 and decreased 21.3% compared to $56.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2011.  The Company recorded a $5.2 million ($3.2 million or $0.09 per diluted share after-tax) loss on early extinguishment of debt during the first quarter 2012.  This loss resulted from the refinancing of the Company's 6.125% senior notes due 2014 with new 5.875% senior notes due 2020.  Excluding the impact of such loss on early extinguishment of debt, EBITDA, net income and diluted EPS for the first quarter of 2012 would have been $49.8 million, $9.5 million and $0.27 per share, respectively.  The $6.9 million sequential decline in recurring EBITDA is attributable to (i) a $1.7 million decline in Upstream revenues primarily due to heavier OSV drydocking activity, (ii) a $2.1 million increase in Upstream operating expenses primarily resulting from crew wage increases implemented in December 2011, and (iii) a $3.1 million increase in general and administrative expenses primarily due to higher incentive compensation charges during the first quarter of 2012.  For additional information regarding EBITDA as a non-GAAP financial measure, please see Note 11 to the accompanying data tables.

Upstream Segment.  Revenues from the Upstream segment were $107.9 million for the first quarter of 2012, an increase of $46.6 million, or 76.0%, from $61.3 million for the first quarter of 2011; and a decrease of $1.7 million, or 1.6%, from $109.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2011.  Higher Upstream revenues for the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 primarily resulted from increased demand for the Company's MPSVs, improved OSV market conditions, which led to the decision to re-activate 12 new generation OSVs that were previously stacked, and to a lesser extent, incremental revenues earned by vessels operating in Latin America.  The Company's Upstream results for the first quarter of 2011 were significantly impacted by the stacking of certain new generation OSVs in response to regulatory-driven demand weakness in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico ("GoM").  Upstream operating income was $28.3 million, or 26.2% of revenues, for the first quarter of 2012 compared to $0.9 million, or 1.5% of revenues, for the prior-year quarter; and $35.3 million, or 32.2% of revenues, for the fourth quarter of 2011.  Average new generation OSV dayrates for the first quarter of 2012 were $22,419 compared to $21,011 for the same period in 2011 and $21,863 for the fourth quarter of 2011.  New generation OSV utilization was 81.1% for the first quarter of 2012 compared to 59.0% for the year-ago quarter and 83.5% for the sequential quarter.  The primary drivers for the sequential decrease in Upstream revenues and operating income was approximately 40 incremental days out-of-service for OSV regulatory drydocking activity and a slight decrease in MPSV spot market activity during the first quarter of 2012.  The Company had an average of 4.2 stacked new generation OSVs during the first quarter of 2012 compared to quarterly averages of 14.4 stacked vessels during the year-ago quarter and 5.2 stacked vessels during the sequential quarter.  Effective new generation OSV utilization for the Company's active fleet, which excludes the impact of stacked vessels, was 88.6% for the first quarter of 2012 compared to 82.2% for the year-ago quarter and 93.0% for the sequential quarter.

Downstream Segment.  Revenues from the Downstream segment of $12.1 million for the first quarter of 2012 increased by $1.2 million, or 11.0%, compared to $10.9 million for the same period in 2011, and were lower than the sequential quarter by $1.0 million, or 7.6%.  The year-over-year revenue increase was largely due to slightly improved market conditions in the Northeast and fewer days out-of-service for regulatory drydocking activity during the first quarter of 2012.  The Company's double-hulled tank barge average dayrates were $17,271 for the first quarter of 2012 compared to $16,377 for the same period in 2011 and $18,176 for the sequential quarter.  Tank barge dayrates for the first quarter of 2012 were favorably impacted by a demobilization fee the Company earned from an Upstream customer.  Excluding the impact of this demobilization fee, dayrates would have been $16,636, for the first quarter of 2012, which was in-line with prior-year quarter levels.  Utilization for the double-hulled tank barge fleet was 85.4% for the first quarter of 2012 compared to 82.3% for the year-ago quarter and 87.3% for the sequential quarter.  The sequential quarter decrease in utilization was primarily due to 22 incremental days out-of-service for regulatory drydocking during the first quarter of 2012.  Effective, or utilization-adjusted, dayrates for the Company's double-hulled tank barges were $14,749 for the first quarter of 2012, which is $1,271, or 9.4%, higher than the prior-year quarter effective dayrates.  The sequential decreases in Downstream revenues and dayrates are mainly due to well-test revenue earned in the fourth quarter 2011. Excluding this incremental well-test related revenue, dayrates for the first quarter of 2012 were in-line with sequential quarter dayrates.

General and Administrative ("G&A").  G&A expenses of $11.1 million for the first quarter of 2012 were 9.3% of revenues compared to $9.9 million, or 13.7% of revenues, for the first quarter of 2011.  This decrease in G&A-to-revenue margin was achieved despite having higher shoreside incentive compensation expenses.  The Company allocated 92% of its first quarter 2012 G&A expenses to the Upstream segment and 8% to the Downstream segment.

Depreciation and Amortization.  Depreciation and amortization expense was $21.0 million for the first quarter of 2012, or $0.4 million higher than the prior-year quarter. This increase is primarily due to higher shipyard costs for vessel regulatory drydockings and incremental amortization expense related to the vessels that were previously stacked and required recertification prior to being re-activated. Depreciation and amortization expense is expected to continue to increase from current levels when the three remaining stacked vessels are recertified and activated and any newly constructed vessels undergo their initial 30-month and 60-month recertifications.

Interest Expense.  Interest expense decreased $1.0 million during the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, primarily due to an increase in capitalized interest cost related to the Company's fifth OSV newbuild program, which commenced during the fourth quarter of 2011.  The Company recorded $1.5 million of capitalized construction period interest, or roughly 10% of its total interest costs, for the first quarter of 2012 compared to having no capitalized construction period interest for the prior-year quarter.

Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt.  On March 2, 2012, the Company commenced a cash tender offer for all $300.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 6.125% senior notes due 2014.  Validly tendered senior notes during the designated tender period, which ended on March 29, 2012, represented approximately $252.2 million, or 84% of such notes outstanding.  The remaining $47.8 million, or 16%, of the Company's 6.125% senior notes were redeemed on April 30, 2012.  A loss on early extinguishment of debt of approximately $5.2 million was recorded during the first quarter of 2012, which includes the tender offer costs, and an allocable portion of the write-off of unamortized financing costs, original issue discount and the bond redemption premium.  An additional loss on early extinguishment of debt of approximately $0.8 million ($0.5 million or $0.01 per diluted share after-tax) will be recorded during the second quarter of 2012 for those costs allocable to the remaining $47.8 million of the Company's 6.125% senior notes that were redeemed on April 30, 2012.

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

Forward Guidance

Vessel Counts.  As of March 31, 2012, excluding seven inactive non-core vessels, the Company's operating fleet consisted of 51 new generation OSVs, four MPSVs, nine double-hulled tank barges and nine ocean-going tugs.  The Company's active Upstream Fleet for fiscal 2012 is expected to be comprised of an average of 49.5 new generation OSVs and four MPSVs.  These active new generation OSVs are comprised of an average of 27.0 "term" vessels that are currently chartered on long-term contracts and an average of 22.5 "spot" vessels that are currently operating or being offered for service under short-term charters.  The Company's active Downstream fleet for fiscal 2012 is expected to consist of nine double-hulled tank barges and nine-ocean going tugs. 

Contract Coverage.  The Company's forward contract coverage for its 51-vessel fleet of new generation OSVs for the remainder of fiscal 2012 and for fiscal 2013 is currently 60% and 27%, respectively.  The Company's forward contract coverage for its four MPSVs for the remainder of fiscal 2012 and for fiscal 2013 is currently 66% and 40%, respectively.  The Company's forward contract coverage for its nine-vessel fleet of double-hulled tank barges for the remainder of fiscal 2012 is currently 49%.  These contract backlog percentages are based on available vessel-days for the guidance periods, not estimated revenue.

Effective Dayrates.  Effective, or utilization-adjusted, new generation OSV dayrates for the Company's projected average of 27.0 active "term" OSVs are expected to be in the $19,000 to $20,000 range for the full-year 2012.  This range does not reflect the incremental impact of any revenue expected to be derived in fiscal 2012 from the Company's "spot" or "stacked" OSVs.  The Company does not provide annual guidance regarding the effective dayrates anticipated for its "spot" new generation OSVs due to the wide range of potential outcomes of its current domestic and international bidding activity for such vessels.  Improved market conditions have allowed the Company to maintain leading-edge spot dayrates for its 240/265 class DP-2 OSVs in the $30,000 to $36,000 range, or more than double the spot dayrate levels from the first half of 2011.  Whether these rates can be sustained will depend on a variety of factors, including the future pace of permitting in the GoM.  Effective dayrates for the Company's nine double-hulled tank barges are projected to be in the range of $14,000 to $15,000 for the full-year 2012. 

Operating Expenses.  Aggregate cash operating expenses for the Company's Upstream segment are now projected to be in the range of $215 million to $225 million for fiscal 2012, which is roughly $15 million higher than the guidance range reported on February 16, 2012.  In late April 2012, there was a major market-driven wage increase for all new generation OSV mariners in the GoM.  In order to remain competitive, the Company increased wages across-the-board for all of its domestic Upstream mariners.  Some of the wage increases may be offset by higher dayrates charged to customers.  The cash operating expense estimate above is exclusive of any additional repositioning expenses the Company may incur that are not recoverable through charter hire in connection with the potential relocation of more of its current spot and/or stacked vessels into international markets or back to the GoM; or any customer-required cost-of-sales related to future contract fixtures that are typically recovered through higher dayrates.  Aggregate cash operating expenses for the Company's Downstream segment are projected to be in the range of $28 million to $30 million for fiscal 2012. 

G&A Expenses.  General and administrative expenses are expected to be in the approximate range of $48 million to $52 million for the full-year 2012, commensurate with the Company's pending fleet growth and international expansion.  The Company expects to remain within the historical range of G&A-to-revenue margins of its public OSV peer group.

Other Financial Data.  The projected annual stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, amortization, net interest expense, cash income taxes and cash interest expense for fiscal 2012 are included in the attached data tables.  Projected quarterly stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, amortization, net interest expense and loss on early extinguishment of debt for the quarter ending June 30, 2012 are expected to be $2.8 million, $15.4 million, $6.8 million, $13.6 million and $0.8 million, respectively.  The Company's annual effective tax rate is expected to be in the range of 36% to 38% for fiscal 2012.  Cash income taxes are expected to be approximately $1.8 million for the full-year 2012.

Capital Expenditures Outlook

Update on Maintenance and Other Capital Expenditures.  Please refer to the attached data table for a summary, by period, of historical and projected data for maintenance and other capital expenditures.  Maintenance capital expenditures, which are recurring in nature, primarily include regulatory drydocking charges incurred for the recertification of vessels and other vessel capital improvements that extend a vessel's economic useful life.  Other capital expenditures, which are generally non-recurring, are comprised of the following: (i) commercial-related vessel improvements, such as cranes, ROVs and other specialized vessel equipment, which costs are typically included in and offset, in whole or in part, by higher dayrates charged to customers; and (ii) non-vessel related capital expenditures, including costs related to the Company's shore-based facilities, leasehold improvements and other corporate expenditures, such as information technology or office furniture and equipment.  The Company expects maintenance capital expenditures and other capital expenditures to be approximately $54.7 million and $15.1 million, respectively, for the full-year 2012.  For fiscal years 2013 and 2014, the Company expects that its annually recurring maintenance capital expenditure budget for its company-wide fleet of vessels will range between $45.0 million and $55.0 million per year.

Update on OSV Newbuild Program #5.  The Company's fifth OSV newbuild program consists of vessel construction contracts with two domestic shipyards to build four 300 class OSVs, four 310 class OSVs, and eight 320 class OSVs.  The Company also has fixed-price options, subject to certain adjustments based on specified formulas, to construct 48 additional vessels at these shipyards.  The 16 DP-2 high-spec OSVs currently committed under this newbuild program are expected to be delivered in accordance with the schedule shown in the table below: 

Based on the above schedule of projected vessel in-service dates, the Company expects to own and operate 51, 56 and 67 new generation OSVs as of December 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.  These vessel additions result in a projected average new generation OSV fleet complement of 51.0, 52.2 and 62.8 vessels for the fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.  The aggregate cost of the Company's fifth OSV newbuild program, excluding construction period interest, is expected to be approximately $720.0 million, of which $225.1 million, $362.2 million and $90.3 million is expected to be incurred in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.  From the inception of this program through March 31, 2012, the Company has incurred $79.4 million, or 11.0%, of total expected project costs, including $37.0 million that was spent during the first quarter of 2012.

Liquidity Outlook
As of March 31, 2012, the Company had a cash balance of $452.6 million and an undrawn $300 million revolving credit facility.  Together with cash on-hand, the Company expects to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to cover all of its growth capital expenditures, cash debt service, annually recurring maintenance capital expenditures and cash income taxes for the remainder of fiscal 2012 and for fiscal years 2013 and 2014.  Based on the forward guidance and key assumptions outlined herein, including the Company's current contract coverage, it does not anticipate a need to draw on its revolving credit facility at any time during the three-year construction period of its fifth OSV newbuild program, absent any future growth opportunities that may arise.  Due to the change in timing of certain interest payment dates associated with the Company's recent bond refinancing in March 2012, cash debt service for fiscal 2012 is expected to be $42.2 million.  However, commencing in fiscal 2013, the Company expects to incur a full-year run-rate of cash debt service in the amount of $47.6 million. 

Conference Call
The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2012 financial results and recent developments at 10:00 a.m. Eastern (9:00 a.m. Central) today, May 3, 2012.  To participate in the call, dial (480) 629-9771 and ask for the Hornbeck Offshore call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. To access it live over the Internet, please log onto the web at http://www.hornbeckoffshore.com, on the "IR Home" page of the "Investors" section of the Company's website at least fifteen minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software.  Please call the Company's investor relations firm, DRG&L, at (713) 529-6600 to be added to its e-mail distribution list for future Hornbeck Offshore news releases.  An archived version of the web cast will be available shortly after the call for a period of 60 days on the "IR Home" page under the "Investors" section of the Company's website.  Additionally, a telephonic replay will be available through May 10, 2012, and may be accessed by calling (303) 590-3030 and using the pass code 4530430#.

Attached Data Tables
The Company has posted an electronic version of the following three pages of data tables, which are downloadable in Microsoft Excel™  format, on the "IR Home" page of the "Investors" section of the Hornbeck Offshore website for the convenience of analysts and investors.

Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. is a leading provider of technologically advanced, new generation offshore supply vessels primarily in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Latin America, and is a leading short-haul transporter of petroleum products through its coastwise fleet of ocean-going tugs and tank barges primarily in the northeastern U.S. and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.  Hornbeck Offshore currently owns a fleet of 80 vessels primarily serving the energy industry.

Forward-Looking Statements
This Press Release contains "forward-looking statements," as contemplated by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, in which the Company discusses factors it believes may affect its performance in the future. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than historical facts, such as statements regarding assumptions, expectations, beliefs and projections about future events or conditions. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by the appearance in such a statement of words like "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "remain," "should," or "will," or other comparable words or the negative of such words. The accuracy of the Company's assumptions, expectations, beliefs and projections depends on events or conditions that change over time and are thus susceptible to change based on actual experience, new developments and known and unknown risks. The Company gives no assurance that the forward-looking statements will prove to be correct and does not undertake any duty to update them. The Company's actual future results might differ from the forward-looking statements made in this Press Release for a variety of reasons, including the effect of the regulatory slow-down in the pace of issuing drilling permits and plan approvals in the GoM; the Company's inability to successfully complete its fifth OSV newbuild program on-time and on-budget, which involves the construction and integration of highly complex vessels and systems; the inability to successfully market the vessels that the Company owns, is constructing or might acquire; an oil spill or other significant event in the United States or another offshore drilling region that could have a broad impact on deepwater and other offshore energy exploration and production activities, such as the suspension of activities or significant regulatory responses; the imposition of laws or regulations that result in reduced exploration and production activities or that increase the Company's operating costs or operating requirements, including any such laws or regulations that may arise as a result of the Deepwater Horizon incident or the resulting drilling moratoria and regulatory reforms, as well as the outcome of pending litigation brought by environmental groups challenging exploration plans approved by the Department of Interior; less than anticipated success in marketing and operating the Company's MPSVs; bureaucratic, administrative or operating barriers that delay vessels chartered in foreign markets from going on-hire or result in contractual penalties or deductions imposed by foreign customers; renewed weakening of demand for the Company's services; unplanned customer suspensions, cancellations, rate reductions or non-renewals of vessel charters or failures to finalize commitments to charter vessels; industry risks; reductions in capital spending budgets by customers; a material reduction of Petrobras' announced plans for exploration and production activities in Brazil; declines in oil and natural gas prices; further increases in operating costs, such as the recent mariner wage increases; the inability to accurately predict vessel utilization levels and dayrates; unanticipated difficulty in effectively competing in or operating in international markets; less than anticipated subsea infrastructure demand activity in the GoM and other markets; the level of fleet additions by the Company and its competitors that could result in over capacity in markets in which the Company competes; economic and political risks; weather-related risks; the inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, including vessel personnel for active, unstacked and newly constructed vessels; regulatory risks; the repeal or administrative weakening of the Jones Act, including any changes in the interpretation of the Jones Act related to the U.S. citizenship qualification; drydocking delays and cost overruns and related risks; vessel accidents or pollution incidents resulting in lost revenue or expenses that are unrecoverable from insurance policies or other third parties; unexpected litigation and insurance expenses; fluctuations in foreign currency valuations compared to the U.S. dollar and risks associated with expanded foreign operations, such as non-compliance with or the unanticipated effect of tax laws, customs laws, immigration laws, or other legislation that result in higher than anticipated tax rates or other costs or the inability to repatriate foreign-sourced earnings and profits. In addition, the Company's future results may be impacted by adverse economic conditions, such as inflation, deflation, or lack of liquidity in the capital markets, that may negatively affect it or parties with whom it does business resulting in their non-payment or inability to perform obligations owed to the Company, such as the failure of customers to fulfill their contractual obligations or the failure by individual banks to provide funding under the Company's credit agreement, if required. Should one or more of the foregoing risks or uncertainties materialize in a way that negatively impacts the Company, or should the Company's underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Company's actual results may vary materially from those anticipated in its forward-looking statements, and its business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. Additional factors that you should consider are set forth in detail in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as other filings the Company has made and will make with the Securities and Exchange Commission which, after their filing, can be found on the Company's website www.hornbeckoffshore.com.

Regulation G Reconciliation
This Press Release also contains references to the non-GAAP financial measures of earnings, or net income, before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA.  The Company views EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA primarily as liquidity measures and, therefore, believes that the GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to such measure is cash flows provided by operating activities. Reconciliations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to cash flows provided by operating activities are provided in the table below.  Management's opinion regarding the usefulness of EBITDA to investors and a description of the ways in which management uses such measure can be found in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as in Note 11 to the attached data tables.

SOURCE Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.