SEACOR Holdings Announces Fourth Quarter Results

Seacor Holdings Press Release Mar 01 2005

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 2005--SEACOR Holdings Inc. (NYSE:CKH) announced net earnings for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2004 of $19.3 million, or $1.06 per diluted share, on operating revenues of $182.0 million. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2004, net earnings were $19.9 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, on operating revenues of $491.9 million.

For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2003, net losses were $1.7 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, on operating revenues of $101.0 million. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2003, net earnings were $12.0 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, on operating revenues of $406.2 million.

For the immediately preceding quarter ended September 30, 2004, the Company reported net earnings of $3.4 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, on operating revenues of $116.5 million.

Financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2004 as compared to the immediately preceding quarter ended September 30, 2004 were impacted by the factors highlighted below.

-- Increased operating revenues. Operating revenues for the quarter were $182.0 million, an increase of $65.5 million from the previous quarter. Environmental Services responded to a major U. S. oil spill. Inland River Services' freight rates improved; hauled tonnage increased during the U.S. grain harvest; and new barges entered service. Offshore Marine Services' rates per day worked and utilization increased in its key markets, particularly the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

-- Increased operating income. Operating income for the quarter was $23.4 million, an increase of $15.4 million from the previous quarter. Higher operating revenues and increased gains from asset sales improved results between comparable periods. Income improvements were partly offset by higher vessel operating expenses and administrative and general costs.

-- Increased interest income. Interest income for the quarter was $3.2 million, an increase of $1.0 million from the previous quarter. Invested cash balances and interest rates increased between quarters.

-- Increased interest expense. Interest expense for the quarter was $6.2 million, an increase of $0.6 million from the previous quarter.

-- Increased derivative income, net. Derivative transactions, primarily consisting of foreign currency contracts, resulted in income of $1.8 million for the quarter, an improvement of $1.9 million over the previous quarter.

-- Increased foreign currency transaction gains, net. Foreign currency transaction gains for the quarter were $1.9 million, an increase of $2.1 million from the previous quarter. Gains resulted from the effect of currency exchange rate changes with respect to loans between SEACOR and certain of its foreign subsidiaries and other transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of various subsidiaries.

-- Increased marketable securities sale gains, net. Marketable securities sale transactions resulted in net gains of $1.7 million, an increase of $2.4 million from the previous quarter.

On December 31, 2004, the Company completed its acquisition of Era Aviation, Inc. for $118.1 million in cash, subject to working capital adjustments. As a result of this transaction, it acquired 81 helicopters and 16 fixed wing aircraft. The Company now has begun a process to sell the fixed wing business.

One new and 6 used offshore marine vessels, 43 new dry cargo hopper barges, 10 new chemical tank barges and 3 new and 1 used helicopter were acquired by the Company in the fourth quarter for aggregate consideration of $63.9 million. Remaining obligations for capital commitments at December 31, 2004 for 3 new offshore marine vessels, 25 new dry cargo covered hopper barges, 16 new chemical tank barges, 32 new helicopters and other equipment aggregated $270.6 million. The Company has the right to terminate its commitments at any time with regard to undelivered helicopters without liability to seller other than payment of liquidated damages.

At December 31, 2004, the Company's cash, marketable securities and construction reserve funds totaled $495.4 million, an increase of $55.3 million from the prior quarter. At December 31, 2004, the Company's long-term debt totaled $582.4 million, an increase of $200.1 million from the prior quarter. During the quarter, the Company sold $250.0 million of its 2-7/8% Convertible Notes and repaid $50.0 million of indebtedness borrowed under its bank revolving credit facility.

SEACOR and its subsidiaries are engaged in the operation of a diversified fleet of offshore support vessels that service oil and gas exploration and development activities in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, the North Sea, West Africa, Asia, Latin America and other international regions. Other business activities primarily include Environmental Services, Inland River Services, and Aviation Services.

This release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements concerning management's expectations, strategic objectives, business prospects, anticipated economic performance and financial condition and other similar matters involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements discussed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, among others: the cyclical nature of the oil and gas industry, adequacy of insurance coverage, currency exchange fluctuations, changes in foreign political, military and economic conditions, the ongoing need to replace aging vessels, dependence of offshore marine operations on several customers, dependence of spill response revenue on the number and size of spills and upon continuing government regulation in this area and our ability to comply with such regulation and other governmental regulation, industry fleet capacity, changes in foreign and domestic oil and gas exploration and production activity, competition, vessel-related risks, effects of adverse weather conditions and seasonality on aviation services, helicopter related risks, effects of adverse weather and river conditions and seasonality on inland river operations, the level of grain export volume, the effect of fuel prices on barge towing costs, variability in freight rates for inland river barges, changes in the Company's environmental services segment OSRO classification, liability in connection with providing spill response services, restrictions imposed by the Shipping Act of 1916 and the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 on the amount of foreign ownership of the Company's common stock, the effect of international economic and political factors in inland river operations and various other matters, many of which are beyond the Company's control and other factors. The words "estimate," "project," "intend," "believe," "plan" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they are made. We disclaim any obligation or undertaking to provide any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is based. The forward-looking statements in this release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect our businesses, particularly those mentioned under "Forward-Looking Statements" in Item 7 of our Form 10-K and SEACOR's periodic reporting on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K (if any), which we incorporate by reference.

For additional information, contact Randall Blank, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, at (281) 899-4800 or (212) 307-6633 or visit SEACOR's website at www.seacorholdings.com.

 SEACOR Holdings Inc. and Subsidiaries
 Consolidated Statements of Operations
 (in thousands, except share data, unaudited)




 Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 ----------------------- -----------------------
 2004 2003 2004 2003
 ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

Operating Revenues $ 181,997 $ 100,956 $ 491,860 $ 406,209
 ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

Costs and Expenses:
 Operating expenses 126,240 78,504 354,163 287,290
 Administrative and
 general 17,592 16,538 61,425 57,684
 Depreciation and
 amortization 15,365 13,751 57,834 55,506
 ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
 159,197 108,793 473,422 400,480
 ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Gains on Asset
 Sales(1) 598 9,612 10,234 17,522
 ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Operating Income 23,398 1,775 28,672 23,251
 ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

Other Income
 (Expense):
 Interest income 3,200 1,565 8,422 7,531
 Interest expense (6,154) (4,785) (22,485) (19,313)
 Debt 
 extinguishment - - - (2,091)
 Derivative income
 (loss), net 1,787 (1,541) 1,166 2,389
 Foreign currency
 transaction
 gains, net 1,944 3,625 1,537 3,739
 Marketable
 securities sale
 gains, net 1,689 743 6,435 6,595
 Other, net 108 106 539 (652)
 ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
 2,574 (287) (4,386) (1,802)
 ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income Before Income 
 Tax Expense,
 Minority Interest 
 and Equity in 
 Earnings of 50% or 
 Less Owned Companies 25,972 1,488 24,286 21,449
Income Tax Expense 8,395 3,067 8,573 10,396
 ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income (Loss) Before 
 Minority Interest 
 and Equity in
 Earnings of 50% or
 Less Owned
 Companies 17,577 (1,579) 15,713 11,053
Minority Interest in
 Net Income of
 Subsidiaries (289) (66) (483) (517)
Equity in Earnings of
 50% or Less Owned
 Companies 2,028 (85) 4,659 1,418
 ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net Income (Loss) $ 19,316 $ (1,730) $ 19,889 $ 11,954
 =========== =========== =========== ===========

Earnings (Loss) Per
 Common Share:
 Basic $ 1.06 $ (0.09) $ 1.09 $ 0.63
 Diluted(2) 1.03 (0.09) 1.08 0.63

Weighted Average
 Common Shares
 Outstanding:
 Basic 18,202,983 18,509,438 18,305,937 19,012,899
 Diluted(2) 18,973,106 18,509,438 18,609,373 19,279,568

(1)Previously reported gains on asset sales have been reclassified
from "Other Income (Expense)" to conform to the three and twelve
months ended December 31, 2004 financial statement presentation.

(2)Outstanding stock options and restricted stock have been
excluded from the computation of diluted loss per common share and
diluted weighted average common shares for the three month period
ended December 31, 2003 as the effect was anti-dilutive.

 SEACOR Holdings Inc. and Subsidiaries
 Supplemental Data
 (in thousands, except per share data, unaudited)



 Three Months Ended
 --------------------------------------------
 Dec. 31, Sep. 30, Jun. 30, Mar. 31, Dec. 31,
 2004 2004 2004 2004 2003
 -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Statements of Operations:

 Operating Revenues $181,997 $116,486 $ 97,403 $ 95,974 $100,956
 -------- -------- -------- -------- --------

 Cost and Expenses:
 Operating expenses 126,240 79,134 73,759 75,030 78,504
 Administrative and 
 general 17,592 14,900 13,857 15,076 16,538
 Depreciation and
 amortization 15,365 14,352 14,156 13,961 13,751
 -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
 159,197 108,386 101,772 104,067 108,793
 -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
 Gains (Losses) on Asset 
 Sales(1) 598 (119) 6,117 3,638 9,612
 -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
 Operating Income (Loss) 23,398 7,981 1,748 (4,455) 1,775
 -------- -------- -------- -------- --------

 Other Income (Expense):
 Interest income 3,200 2,180 1,663 1,379 1,565
 Interest expense (6,154) (5,565) (5,388) (5,378) (4,785)
 Derivative income 
 (loss), net 1,787 (140) (560) 79 (1,541)
 Foreign currency
 transaction gains 
 (losses), net 1,944 (184) (689) 466 3,625
 Marketable securities 
 sale gains (losses),
 net 1,689 (756) 2,753 2,749 743
 Other, net 108 79 233 119 106
 -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
 2,574 (4,386) (1,988) (586) (287)
 -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
 Income (Loss) Before 
 Taxes, Minority 
 Interest and Equity in
 Earnings of 50% or Less 
 Owned Companies 25,972 3,595 (240) (5,041) 1,488
 Income Tax Expense
 (Benefit) 8,395 1,511 169 (1,502) 3,067
 -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
 Income (Loss) Before 
 Minority Interest and
 Equity in Earnings of
 50% or Less Owned 
 Companies 17,577 2,084 (409) (3,539) (1,579)
 Minority Interest in Net 
 (Income) Loss of 
 Subsidiaries (289) (108) (91) 5 (66)
 Equity in Earnings of 
 50% or Less Owned 
 Companies 2,028 1,388 673 570 (85)
 -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
 Net Income (Loss) $ 19,316 $ 3,364 $ 173 $ (2,964)$ (1,730)
 ======== ======== ======== ======== ========

Earnings (Loss) Per
 Common Share:
 Basic $ 1.06 $ 0.18 $ 0.01 $ (0.16)$ (0.09)
 Diluted(2) 1.03 0.18 0.01 (0.16) (0.09)

Weighted Average Common 
 Shares Outstanding:
 Basic 18,203 18,211 18,347 18,468 18,509
 Diluted(2) 18,973 18,357 18,476 18,468 18,509

Common Shares Outstanding
 at Period End 18,307 18,292 18,313 18,533 18,581

(1)During the second quarter of 2004, the Company reclassified
its reporting of "Gains on Asset Sales" to Operating Income (Loss)
from "Other Income and Expense." This reclassification has been
reflected in all periods presented above.

(2)Outstanding stock options and restricted stock have been
excluded from the computation of diluted loss per common share and
diluted weighted average common shares for each of the three month
periods ended March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 as the effect was
anti-dilutive.

 SEACOR Holdings Inc. and Subsidiaries
 Supplemental Data
 (unaudited)


 Three Months Ended
 -----------------------------------------------------
 Dec. 31, Sep. 30, Jun. 30, Mar. 31, Dec. 31,
 2004 2004 2004 2004 2003
 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------


Balance Sheet Data, at period end (in thousands):
 Cash, 
 Securities
 and
 Construction
 Reserve 
 Funds $ 495,387 $ 440,091 $ 441,805 $ 441,502 $ 438,131
 Total Assets 1,766,009 1,456,536 1,394,902 1,401,426 1,402,611
 Total Long-
 term Debt 582,367 382,319 342,271 332,225 332,179
 Stockholders'
 Equity 793,757 766,763 757,886 766,529 770,446

Operating Revenues by Segment (in thousands):
 Offshore
 Marine
 Services $ 80,841 $ 72,825 $ 67,039 $ 66,016 $ 74,262
 Environmental
 Services 62,824 21,144 14,654 16,392 11,732
 Inland River
 Services 31,878 16,076 10,038 8,576 10,728
 Aviation
 Services 7,188 7,485 6,680 5,827 5,249
 Intersegment
 Eliminations
 and Other (734) (1,044) (1,008) (837) (1,015)
 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
 $ 181,997 $ 116,486 $ 97,403 $ 95,974 $ 100,956
 ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========

Operating Income (Loss) by Segment (in thousands):
 Offshore
 Marine 
 Services $ 9,870 $ 6,360 $ 4,677 $ (1,525)$ 3,976
 Environmental
 Services 7,473 2,742 816 954 894
 Inland River
 Services 11,795 3,153 932 1,016 2,523
 Aviation
 Services (668) (475) (1,308) (1,893) (1,731)
 Corporate
 Expenses and
 Other (5,072) (3,799) (3,369) (3,007) (3,887)
 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
 $ 23,398 $ 7,981 $ 1,748 $ (4,455)$ 1,775
 ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========

Offshore Marine Vessels - Available Days(1):
 Anchor
 Handling
 Towing
 Supply -
 Domestic 276 276 273 304 460
 Foreign 736 759 741 724 890
 Supply -
 Domestic 644 644 731 790 831
 Foreign 738 828 910 910 1,061
 Towing -
 Domestic 276 275 182 273 184
 Foreign 748 736 837 1,026 1,095
 Crew 6,446 6,024 5,921 6,188 6,321
 Geophysical,
 Freight and
 Other 92 50 - 91 92
 Mini-supply 2,576 2,619 2,708 2,730 2,760
 Standby Safety 1,932 1,932 1,911 1,911 1,871
 Utility - - - - 2,581
 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
 14,464 14,143 14,214 14,947 18,146
 ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========

(1)Excludes vessels that are bareboat chartered-out, vessels owned
by corporations that participate in pooling arrangements with the
Company, minority owned joint venture vessels and managed vessels.

 SEACOR Holdings Inc. and Subsidiaries
 Supplemental Data
 (unaudited)

 Three Months Ended
 ---------------------------------------
 Dec. Sep. Jun. Mar. Dec.
 30, 30, 30, 31, 31,
 2004 2004 2004 2004 2003
 ------- ------- ------- ------- -------

Offshore Marine Vessels - Rates Per Day Worked(1) (2):
 Anchor Handling Towing
 Supply -
 Domestic $18,815 $22,009 $19,115 $15,888 $22,111
 Foreign 9,964 9,534 9,539 8,524 9,212
 Supply -
 Domestic 7,769 6,720 5,994 6,300 6,079
 Foreign 16,124 10,095 9,729 9,067 8,860
 Towing -
 Domestic 8,209 6,118 6,040 6,055 6,091
 Foreign 7,096 6,769 6,775 6,586 6,577
 Crew 3,745 3,458 3,314 3,297 3,323
 Geophysical, Freight and
 Other 14,000 14,000 - - -
 Mini-supply 3,051 2,937 2,932 2,976 2,992
 Standby Safety 8,127 7,839 7,719 7,694 6,933
 Utility - - - - 1,752

Offshore Marine Vessels - Utilization(2):
 Anchor Handling Towing
 Supply -
 Domestic 98.0% 85.2% 68.3% 68.2% 56.2%
 Foreign 82.3% 90.4% 63.9% 61.5% 72.8%
 Supply -
 Domestic 73.8% 68.9% 76.1% 71.7% 50.5%
 Foreign 75.2% 86.9% 72.8% 73.4% 86.1%
 Towing -
 Domestic 97.9% 64.3% 91.8% 56.7% 100.0%
 Foreign 78.8% 61.7% 61.8% 67.4% 75.0%
 Crew 91.6% 93.5% 89.0% 82.8% 78.5%
 Geophysical, Freight and
 Other 64.9% 50.0% - - -
 Mini-supply 88.7% 90.9% 86.7% 81.7% 86.3%
 Standby Safety 91.9% 89.7% 85.9% 87.0% 90.3%
 Utility - - - - 52.4%

 Overall Utilization 88.4% 88.2% 83.2% 78.6% 75.1%
 Utilization Lost to Market
 Conditions 7.5% 7.9% 12.9% 17.1% 21.4%
 Utilization Lost to
 Operating Conditions 4.1% 3.9% 3.9% 4.3% 3.5%

Helicopter Flight Hours 6,453 7,431 6,714 5,750 5,422

(1)Revenues for certain vessels, primarily North Sea standby
safety, are earned in foreign currencies, principally British Pounds
Sterling. These revenues have been converted to U.S. dollars at the
weighted average exchange rate for the periods indicated.

(2)Excludes vessels that are bareboat chartered-out, vessels owned
by corporations that participate in pooling arrangements with the
Company, minority owned joint venture vessels and managed vessels.

 SEACOR Holdings Inc. and Subsidiaries
 Supplementary Data
 (unaudited)

 December 31, 2004
 --------------------------------------------
 Joint Pooled/
 Owned Leased-in Ventured Managed Total
 ------ ---------- -------- -------- --------
Offshore Marine Fleet
 Count:
 Operated Domestic -
 Anchor Handling
 Towing Supply 2 1 1 - 4
 Crew 38 19 1 - 58
 Geophysical, Freight
 and Other - - - - -
 Mini-supply 22 4 - - 26
 Supply 3 2 2 1 8
 Towing 2 2 - - 4
 ------ ---------- -------- -------- --------
 67 28 4 1 100
 ------ ---------- -------- -------- --------

 Operated Foreign -
 Anchor Handling
 Towing Supply 12 - 2 - 14
 Crew 20 - 4 - 24
 Geophysical, Freight
 and Other 1 - 1 - 2
 Mini-supply 3 - 1 - 4
 Standby Safety 19 - 3 5 27
 Supply 7 1 4 - 12
 Towing 9 - 20 - 29
 ------ ---------- -------- -------- --------
 71 1 35 5 112
 ------ ---------- -------- -------- --------

 Worldwide
 Operations -
 Anchor Handling
 Towing Supply 14 1 3 - 18
 Crew 58 19 5 - 82
 Geophysical, Freight
 and Other 1 - 1 - 2
 Mini-supply 25 4 1 - 30
 Standby Safety 19 - 3 5 27
 Supply 10 3 6 1 20
 Towing 11 2 20 - 33
 ------ ---------- -------- -------- --------
 138 29 39 6 212
 ====== ========== ======== ======== ========

Inland Barges,
 domestic
 Dry Cargo Hopper 674 182 6 210 1,072
 Chemical Tank 20 - - - 20
 ------ ---------- -------- -------- --------
 694 182 6 210 1,092
 ====== ========== ======== ======== ========

Helicopters,
 domestic(1) 28 19 - 1 48
 ====== ========== ======== ======== ========

(1)Excludes 81 Era Aviation, Inc. helicopters acquired on December
31, 2004, of which two were leased to the Company and are included
above.



 SEACOR Holdings Inc. and Subsidiaries
 Supplementary Data
 (unaudited)





 Sep. Jun. Mar. Dec.
 30, 30, 31, 31,
 2004 2004 2004 2003
 ------ ----- ----- -----
Offshore Marine Fleet Count:
 Operated
 Domestic -
 Anchor Handling Towing Supply 4 4 4 6
 Crew 54 49 53 53
 Geophysical, Freight and Other - - - 1
 Mini-supply 26 26 27 27
 Supply 8 8 10 9
 Towing 3 2 2 2
 ------ ----- ----- -----
 95 89 96 98
 ------ ----- ----- -----

 Operated
 Foreign -
 Anchor Handling Towing Supply 13 14 15 20
 Crew 23 26 33 34
 Geophysical, Freight and Other 2 1 2 3
 Mini-supply 4 5 5 5
 Standby Safety 27 27 27 27
 Supply 13 14 15 17
 Towing 30 31 35 31
 ------ ----- ----- -----
 112 118 132 137
 ------ ----- ----- -----

 Worldwide
 Operations
 -
 Anchor Handling Towing Supply 17 18 19 26
 Crew 77 75 86 87
 Geophysical, Freight and Other 2 1 2 4
 Mini-
 supply 30 31 32 32
 Standby
 Safety 27 27 27 27
 Supply 21 22 25 26
 Towing 33 33 37 33
 ------ ----- ----- -----
 207 207 228 235
 ====== ===== ===== =====

Inland Barges, domestic
 Dry Cargo Hopper 1,029 911 792 784
 Chemical Tank 14 1 - -
 ------ ----- ----- -----
 1,043 912 792 784
 ====== ===== ===== =====

Helicopters,
 domestic(1) 44 43 43 41
 ====== ===== ===== =====

(1)Excludes 81 Era Aviation, Inc. helicopters acquired on December
31, 2004, of which two were leased to the Company and are included
above.

Contacts

SEACOR Holdings Inc.
Randall Blank, 281-899-4800
or
212-307-6633
www.seacorholdings.com.

Date released: Mar 01 2005