SEACOR SMIT Announces Fourth Quarter Results

Seacor Holdings Press Release Feb 26 2004

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 2004--SEACOR SMIT Inc. (NYSE:CKH) announced a net loss for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2003 of $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 fourth quarter ended December 31, 2002, net earnings were $1.6 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, on operating revenues of $99.7 million. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2002, net earnings were $46.6 million, or $2.28 per diluted share, on operating revenues of $403.2 million.

For the third quarter ended September 30, 2003, net earnings were $2.9 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, on operating revenues of $103.2 million.

Financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2003 as compared to the immediately preceding quarter ended September 30, 2003 were impacted by a variety of factors highlighted below.

-- Decreased operating revenues. Operating revenues of $101.0 million decreased $2.3 million. Offshore marine services' revenue declined $6.7 million primarily due to net fleet reductions and lower fleet utilization. Environmental services' revenue, before the impact of a fourth quarter acquisition of a business which provides land based and offshore remediation and other services on the West Coast, declined $3.7 million primarily due to the completion of a major project begun in a prior period. These declines were partially offset by (i) a $3.5 million increase in inland river revenues resulting from fleet growth and higher freight rates and (ii) $4.8 million in additional revenues earned by the environmental services business acquired during the fourth quarter.

-- Increased operating and administrative expenses. Operating and administrative expenses of $95.0 million increased $9.1 million. Expenses incurred by the environmental services division increased $3.5 million primarily due to the business acquired during the fourth quarter. This increase was only partially offset by the non-recurrence of expenses associated with the major project that was mostly executed in prior periods. Offshore marine services' expenses increased $2.5 million due to severance costs related to fleet dispositions and administrative staff reductions. Expenses for performing inland river services increased $1.8 million primarily due to fleet growth. Offshore aviation's expenses increased $0.7 million resulting from the preparation for the introduction of four new helicopters to be deployed in the Gulf of Mexico.

-- Increased income from equipment sales. Income from equipment sales of $9.6 million increased by $7.3 million primarily due to the sale of offshore vessels during the fourth quarter.

-- Increased derivative transaction losses. Derivative transaction losses of $1.5 million increased by $1.1 million primarily due to the termination of credit swaps related to the Company's 7.2% Senior Notes and the mark-to-market accounting on commodity futures.

-- Increased results from other, net. Other income of $4.5 million increased $3.8 million primarily due to foreign currency accounting gains associated with the strengthening of the British pound sterling against the U.S. dollar, partially offset by lower security sale gains.

-- Increased income tax expense. The increase in the fourth quarter's effective tax rate is primarily due to a $1.9 million valuation allowance provided for foreign tax credits that may expire before utilization and a $0.5 million tax impact from non-deductible expenses.

-- Increased equity losses. Equity losses of $0.1 million, as compared to the preceding quarter's operating income of $0.9 million, represented a change of $1.0 million primarily due to lower results realized on offshore marine and marine telecommunication joint ventures, partially offset by the non-recurrence of a $1.0 million third quarter charge against earnings for U.S. income taxes on dividends received from a foreign joint venture.

The Company's offshore marine fleet declined from 279 vessels at the end of the prior quarter to 235 at December 31, 2003. During the fourth quarter, the Company sold 30 vessels with a carrying value of $29.6 million, 1 of which was leased-back and 1 of which was sold to a joint venture, and took delivery of 2 newly constructed crew vessels. In addition, the Company terminated leases on 3 vessels, transferred one vessel to the environmental services segment, and removed 14 vessels from service. Additional fleet information is described in the attached supplementary operational data schedule.

During the fourth quarter, the Company decided to divest of all utility vessels from its marine fleet. As of December 31, 2003, the carrying value of the remaining 26 utility vessels was $1.8 million. For the current quarter and full year the utility boat fleet incurred operating losses of $0.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively, before overhead associated with operating these vessels.

On October 31, 2003, the Company acquired an environmental services business that provides emergency response, site remediation, industrial and marine contract cleaning, salvage support, hazardous waste management services, and environmental equipment and product sales to both the private and public sectors on the West Coast of the United States. During the fourth quarter, this business contributed operating revenues of $4.8 million and an operating loss of $0.1 million to the consolidated group.

The Company's inland river hopper barge fleet grew from 735 units at the end of the prior quarter to 784 units at December 31, 2003 due to the acquisition of 37 new barges, the lease-in of 10 barges, and the taking over management of 2 barges during the current quarter.

The Company's offshore aviation helicopter fleet grew from 36 units at the end of the prior quarter to 40 units at December 31, 2003 due to the acquisition of 4 helicopters during the current quarter.

The aggregate cost of all offshore vessels, barges and helicopters delivered during the fourth quarter was $37.8 million.

The Company's future capital commitments to purchase 9 newly constructed offshore support vessels, 330 newly constructed inland river hopper barges, 24 newly constructed chemical tank barges, and 6 newly constructed helicopters approximates $164.0 million as of February 25, 2004. Deliveries of the newly constructed vessels, barges and helicopters are expected over the next ten months.

During the fourth quarter, the Company acquired a total of 181,676 shares of its common stock for treasury at an aggregate cost of $7.1 million. As of December 31, 2003, the Company's cash, marketable securities and construction reserve funds totaled $438.1 million, an increase of $9.8 million as compared to September 30, 2003. As of December 31, 2003, the Company's long-term debt totaled $332.2 million, unchanged as compared to September 30, 2003.

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 operations, and offshore aviation services.

This release includes "forward-looking statements" as described in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements herein that describe the Company'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: general economic and business conditions, the cyclical nature of our business, adequacy of insurance coverage, currency exchange fluctuations, changes in foreign political, military and economic conditions, the ongoing need to replace aging vessels, 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, regulatory initiatives, customer preferences, marine-related risks, effects of adverse weather conditions and seasonality on the Company's offshore aviation business, helicopter related risks, effects of adverse weather and river conditions and seasonality on inland river operations, the level of grain export volume, variability in freight rates for inland river barges 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 included in this release speak only as of the date of this release and SEACOR disclaims 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.

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

 Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 --------------------- --------------------
 2003 2002 2003 2002
 --------- --------- --------- ----------
Operating Revenues $ 100,956 $ 99,708 $ 406,209 $ 403,158
 ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Costs and Expenses:
 Operating expenses 78,504 67,306 287,290 249,892
 Administrative and 
 general 16,538 14,668 57,684 53,265
 Depreciation and
 amortization 13,751 13,991 55,506 56,244
 ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
 108,793 95,965 400,480 359,401
 ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Operating Income (Loss) (7,837) 3,743 5,729 43,757
 ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Other Income (Expense):
 Interest on debt (4,785) (5,764) (19,313) (17,064)
 Interest income 1,565 2,821 7,531 8,833
 Debt extinguishments - - (2,091) (2,338)
 Income from equipment
 sales or retirements,
 net 9,612 3,077 17,522 8,635
 Gain from Chiles Merger - - - 19,719
 Gain (loss) from derivative
 transactions, net (1,541) (2,424) 2,389 (5,043)
 Gain from foreign currency
 transactions, net 3,625 827 3,739 6,281
 Gain from sale of marketable
 securities, net 743 518 6,595 3,218
 Other, net 106 141 (652) 144
 ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
 9,325 (804) 15,720 22,385
 ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Income Before Taxes,
 Minority Interest and
 Equity Earnings 1,488 2,939 21,449 66,142
Income Tax Expense 3,067 1,266 10,396 23,034
 ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Income (Loss) Before
 Minority Interest and
 Equity Earnings (1,579) 1,673 11,053 43,108
Minority Interest in Income 
 of Subsidiaries (66) (32) (517) (226)
Equity in Earnings (Losses)
 of 50% or Less Owned 
 Companies (85) (3) 1,418 3,705
 ---------- --------- ---------- ----------
Net Income (Loss) $ (1,730) $ 1,638 $ 11,954 $ 46,587
 ========== ========= ========== =========

Basic Earnings (Loss) 
 Per Common Share $ (0.09) $ 0.08 $ 0.63 $ 2.33
 ========== ========= ========== =========

Diluted Earnings (Loss)
 Per Common Share $ (0.09)(1) $ 0.08(2) $ 0.63 $ 2.28
 ============= ========== ======= =========

Weighted Average
 Common Shares:
 Basic 18,509,438 19,823,095 19,012,899 19,997,625
 Diluted 18,509,438(1) 20,032,229(2) 19,279,568 21,057,877

(1) Outstanding stock options and restricted stock has been excluded
from the computation of diluted earnings per share in the three month
period ended December 31, 2003 as the effect was antidilutive. In this
same period, such shares were also excluded from the calculation of
diluted weighted average common shares outstanding.

(2) The assumed conversion of the Company's convertible notes into
shares of common stock has been excluded from the computation of
diluted earnings per share in the three month period ended December
31, 2002 as the effect was antidilutive. In this same period, such
shares were also excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted
average common shares outstanding.

 SEACOR SMIT Inc. and Subsidiaries
 Supplementary Financial Data
 (in thousands, except share data, unaudited)


 Dec. 31, Sep. 30, Jun. 30,
Statements of 2003 2003 2003
 Operations: ------------ ----------- -----------

 Operating Revenues $ 100,956 $ 103,234 $ 105,159
 ------------ ----------- -----------

 Cost and Expenses:

 Operating expenses 78,504 72,264 69,422

 Administrative and general 16,538 13,676 13,391

 Depreciation and amortization 13,751 13,411 13,708
 ------------ ----------- -----------

 108,793 99,351 96,521
 ------------ ----------- -----------

 Operating Income (Loss) (7,837) 3,883 8,638

 Net Interest Expense (3,220) (3,063) (2,549)

 Debt Extinguishment - - (966)

 Income from Equipment Sales, net 9,612 2,349 414

 Derivative Transactions, net (1,541) (443) 2,624

 Other, net 4,474 682 1,797
 ------------ ----------- -----------

 Income Before Taxes, Minority
 Interest and Equity Earnings 1,488 3,408 9,958

 Income Tax Expense 3,067 1,334 3,596
 ------------ ----------- -----------

 Income(Loss) Before
 Minority Interest and
 Equity Earnings (1,579) 2,074 6,362

 Minority Interest (66) (112) (241)

 Equity Earnings
 (Losses) (85) 935 322
 ------------ ----------- ---------

 Net Income (Loss) $ (1,730) $ 2,897 $ 6,443 
 ============ =========== ===========


Weighted Average
 Common Shares:
 Basic 18,509,438 18,629,664 19,155,421
 Diluted 18,509,438(3) 18,785,256 19,315,817


Diluted Earnings Per
 Common Share $ (0.09)(3) $ 0.15 $ 0.33


Balance Sheet:

Cash, Marketable Securities and
 Construction Reserve Funds $ 438,131 $ 428,372 $ 431,796

 Total Assets 1,402,611 1,370,630 1,379,700

 Total Long-term Debt 332,179 332,213 332,187

 Stockholders' Equity 770,446 768,530 772,563

 Mar. 31, Dec. 31,
Statements of 2003 2002
 Operations: ----------- -------------

 Operating Revenues $ 96,860 $ 99,708
 ----------- -------------

 Cost and Expenses:

 Operating expenses 67,100 67,306

 Administrative and general 14,079 14,668

 Depreciation and amortization 14,636 13,991
 ----------- ------------
 95,815 95,965
 ----------- ------------

 Operating Income (Loss) 1,045 3,743

 Net Interest Expense (2,950) (2,943)

 Debt Extinguishment (1,125) -

 Income from Equipment Sales, net 5,147 3,077

 Derivative Transactions, net 1,749 (2,424)

 Other, net 2,729 1,486
 ----------- ------------

 Income Before Taxes, Minority
 Interest and Equity Earnings 6,595 2,939

 Income Tax Expense 2,399 1,266
 ----------- ------------

 Income(Loss) Before Minority 
 Interest and Equity Earnings 4,196 1,673

 Minority Interest (98) (32)

 Equity Earnings (Losses) 246 (3)
 ----------- ------------

 Net Income (Loss) $ 4,344 $ 1,638
 =========== ============


Weighted Average Common Shares:
 Basic 19,775,194 19,823,095
 Diluted 20,362,120 20,032,229(4)


Diluted Earnings Per Common Share $ 0.22 $ 0.08(4)


Balance Sheet:

Cash, Marketable Securities and
 Construction Reserve Funds $ 498,075 $ 525,931

 Total Assets 1,401,710 1,487,107

 Total Long-term Debt 343,058 402,118

 Stockholders' Equity 789,971 804,951

(3) Outstanding stock options and restricted stock has been excluded
from the computation of diluted earnings per share in the three month
period ended December 31, 2003 as the effect was antidilutive. In this
same period, such shares were also excluded from the calculation of
diluted weighted average common shares outstanding.

(4) The assumed conversion of the Company's convertible notes into
shares of common stock has been excluded from the computation of
diluted earnings per share in the three month period ended December
31, 2002 as the effect was antidilutive. In this same period, such
shares were also excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted
average common shares outstanding.

 SEACOR SMIT Inc. and Subsidiaries
 Supplementary Operational Data
 (unaudited)

 
 Dec. 31, Sep. 30, Jun. 30, Mar. 31, Dec. 31,
 2003 2003 2003 2003 2002
 ---- ----- ----- ---- ----

Marine Fleet Rates
 Per Day Worked ($)(5):

 Anchor Handling
 Towing Supply -
 Domestic 22,111 20,095 16,712 17,668 22,196

 Anchor Handling
 Towing Supply -
 Foreign 9,212 9,927 10,593 10,110 11,073

 Crew 3,323 3,257 3,153 3,158 3,148

 Geophysical, Freight
 and Other(6) - - - - -

 Mini-Supply 2,992 2,998 3,027 3,102 2,983

 Standby Safety 6,933 6,733 6,559 6,537 6,288

 Supply and Towing
 Supply - Domestic 6,082 6,068 6,184 6,815 6,865

 Supply and Towing
 Supply - Foreign 7,779 8,077 8,285 8,216 8,535

 Utility 1,752 1,774 1,792 1,767 1,762

Marine Fleet
 Utilization (%)(5) :

 Anchor Handling
 Towing Supply -
 Domestic 56.2 65.9 66.8 67.9 78.1

 Anchor Handling
 Towing Supply -
 Foreign 72.8 81.9 81.2 88.9 71.4

 Crew 78.5 75.9 79.9 78.9 78.3

 Geophysical, Freight
 and Other(6) - - - - -

 Mini-Supply 86.3 91.6 89.4 86.8 86.2

 Standby Safety 90.3 89.9 89.5 81.6 88.5

 Supply and Towing
 Supply - Domestic 59.4 77.2 66.1 68.7 89.1

 Supply and Towing
 Supply - Foreign 80.5 85.5 90.8 87.9 83.4

 Utility 52.4 58.7 56.7 55.1 58.0

 Overall Offshore
 Marine Fleet 75.1 77.5 77.8 76.2 76.8

Marine Fleet at
 Period End(5) :

Anchor Handling
 Towing Supply -
 Domestic 6 5 5 5 5

Anchor Handling
 Towing Supply -
 Foreign 20 21 20 21 23

Crew 87 90 92 92 96

Geophysical, Freight
 and Other 4 2 2 2 2

Mini-Supply 32 32 32 32 33

Standby Safety 27 26 26 26 26

Supply and Towing
 Supply - Domestic 11 13 13 17 18

Supply and Towing
 Supply - Foreign 48 54 53 52 53

Utility - 36 40 41 45
 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------

 Total Offshore
 Marine Fleet 235 279 283 288 301
 ========= ========= ========= ========= ========


Inland Barge Fleet at
 Period End 784 735 559 562 535


Helicopter Fleet at
 Period End 40 36 36 36 36


Helicopter Flight 
 Hours 5,422 5,131 5,889 5,061 n.a.

(5) Statistics exclude vessels retired from service in the
applicable periods - 26 utility vessels at December 31, 2003.

(6) Vessels in this class were out of service during all reported
periods.

 SEACOR SMIT Inc. and Subsidiaries
 Supplementary Operational Data
 (unaudited)

 As of December 31, 2003
 -------------------------------------------
 Owned Leased-in Subtotal
 -------------------------------------------

Offshore Marine Fleet
 Anchor Handling Towing
 Supply:
 Domestic 3 2 5
 Foreign 15 - 15
 ---- ----- ----
 18 2 20
 ---- ----- ----
 Crew:
 Domestic 29 23 52
 Foreign 22 - 22
 ---- ----- ----
 51 23 74
 ---- ----- ----
 Geophysical, Freight and Other:
 Domestic 1 - 1
 Foreign 1 - 1
 ---- ----- ----
 2 - 2
 ---- ----- ----
 Mini-Supply:
 Domestic 23 4 27
 Foreign 3 - 3
 ---- ----- ----
 26 4 30
 ---- ----- ----
 Standby Safety:
 Domestic - - -
 Foreign 19 - 19
 ---- ----- ----
 19 - 19
 ---- ----- ----
 Supply and Towing Supply:
 Domestic 3 5 8
 Foreign 20 2 22
 ---- ----- ----
 23 7 30
 ---- ----- ----
 Utility:
 Domestic - - -
 Foreign - - -
 ---- ----- ----
 - - -
 ---- ----- ----
 Worldwide Fleet:
 Domestic 59 34 93
 Foreign 80 2 82
 ---- ----- ----
 139 36 175
 ==== ===== ==== 

Inland Barge Fleet
 Domestic: 369 176 545
 ==== ===== ====

Helicopter Fleet
 Domestic 23 16 39
 ==== ===== ====

 As of
 September
 As of December 31, 2003 30, 2003
 ---------------------------- -----------
 Joint Pooled/
 Ventured Managed Total Total

Offshore Marine
 Fleet
 Anchor Handling Towing
 Supply:
 Domestic 1 - 6 5
 Foreign 5 - 20 21
 ------ ----- ------ ------ 
 6 - 26 26
 ------ ----- ------ ------ 
 Crew:
 Domestic 1 - 53 57
 Foreign 12 - 34 33
 ------ ----- ------ ------ 
 13 - 87 90
 ------ ----- ------ ------ 
 Geophysical, Freight
 and Other:
 Domestic - - 1 1
 Foreign 2 - 3 1
 ------ ----- ------ ------ 
 2 - 4 2
 ------ ----- ------ ------ 
 Mini-Supply:
 Domestic - - 27 28
 Foreign 2 - 5 4
 ------ ----- ------ ------ 
 2 - 32 32
 ------ ----- ------ ------ 
 Standby Safety:
 Domestic - - - -
 Foreign 3 5 27 26
 ------ ----- ------ ------ 
 3 5 27 26
 ------ ----- ------ ------ 
 Supply and Towing
 Supply:
 Domestic 2 1 11 13
 Foreign 26 - 48 54
 ------ ----- ------ ------ 
 28 1 59 67
 ------ ----- ------ ------ 
 Utility: 
 Domestic - - - 34
 Foreign - - - 2
 ------ ----- ------ ------ 
 - - - 36
 ------ ----- ------ ------ 
 Worldwide Fleet:
 Domestic 4 1 98 138
 Foreign 50 5 137 141
 ------ ----- ------ ------ 
 54 6 235 279
 ====== ===== ====== ======

Inland Barge Fleet
 Domestic: 6 233 784 735
 ====== ===== ====== ======

Helicopter Fleet
 Domestic - 1 40 36
 ====== ===== ====== ======

Contacts

SEACOR SMIT Inc.
Randall Blank, 281-899-4800 or 212-307-6633
SEACOR's website: www.seacorsmit.com

Date released: Feb 26 2004