Horizon Offshore Reports Third Quarter Results


HOUSTON, Nov. 9, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Horizon Offshore, Inc. (Pink Sheets:HOFF) reported net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 of $3.1 million, or $0.005 per share-diluted. This compares with a net loss of $(23.1) million, or $(0.72) per share-diluted, for the third quarter of 2004. For the third quarter of 2005, gross profit was $21.0 million (22.6% of contract revenues) on revenues of $92.8 million, compared to gross profit of $15.9 million (16.8% of contract revenues) on revenues of $94.6 million for the third quarter of 2004. The calculated EBITDA was $20.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2005, compared to $13.1 million for the third quarter of 2004.

The Company reported a net loss of $(40.1) million, or $(0.71) per share-diluted for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 compared to a net loss of $(50.0) million, or $(1.64) per share-diluted for the nine months ended September 30, 2004. Gross profit was $32.7 million (16.3% of contract revenues) on revenues of $200.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, compared to gross profit of $14.8 million (8.1% of contract revenues) on revenues of $182.0 million for the first nine months of 2004. The calculated EBITDA was $26.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 compared to $8.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004.

The net loss before income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 includes charges of $21.9 million for loss on debt extinguishment related to the completion of the major steps of the Company's recapitalization plan, which reflects the write-off of the unamortized portion of the deferred loan fees and debt discount related to the Subordinated Notes exchanged for equity during the second quarter of 2005.

The improvement in the Company's operating results is primarily attributable to its domestic operations. The improvement in competitive market conditions and pricing levels in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico are reflected in the significant increase in the Company's gross profit. Oil and gas companies operating on the U.S. continental shelf in the Gulf of Mexico have increased their capital expenditures in response to the higher energy prices. Additionally, the Company's domestic revenues have increased as a result of the demand for its services and offshore construction activity, including repair work due to Hurricane Ivan (September 2004).

The Company also expects an increase in demand for its services due to damage caused by Hurricane Katrina (August 2005) and Hurricane Rita (September 2005), which caused substantially more damage to pipelines and structures in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico than Hurricane Ivan. The Company has worked with oil and gas companies operating in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico as these companies assessed the damage to offshore platforms and pipelines caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Given the effect of the substantial damage from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, it is anticipated that the Company's vessel utilization and repair and salvage work in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico will remain at significantly higher levels for 2005 and into 2006.

"We expect our contract pricing and profit margins to remain at higher levels for the remainder of this year and into 2006 due to the demand for new construction projects and the unprecedented hurricane related repair and salvage work. We have successfully capitalized on opportunities in the Gulf of Mexico, West Africa and offshore Mexico and currently have a substantial backlog of work in these geographic areas," said David W. Sharp, President and Chief Executive Officer. "As market conditions have improved, we have remained focused on returning our company to profitability, and our 2005 EBITDA will be at a record level in our operating history."

Horizon and its subsidiaries provide marine construction services for the offshore oil and gas industry. The Company's fleet is used to perform a wide range of marine construction activities, including installation of marine pipelines to transport oil and gas and other sub sea production systems, and the installation and abandonment of production platforms.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995, which involve known and unknown risk, uncertainties and other factors. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are: the Company's substantial amount of debt, high reliance on external sources of financing and improved cash flow to meet its obligations and reduce its existing debt; resolution of the Company's outstanding claims against Pemex; outcome of litigation with the underwriters of the insurance coverage on the Gulf Horizon; industry conditions and volatility; prices of oil and gas; the Company's ability to obtain and the timing of new projects; changes in competitive factors; and other material factors that are described from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Actual events, circumstances, effects and results may be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Consequently, the forward-looking statements often identified with words like "should", "expects", "believes", "anticipates", "may", "could", etc., contained herein should not be regarded as representations by Horizon or any other person that the projected outcomes can or will be achieved.

Comparative Tables Follow:



                                Horizon Offshore, Inc.
                         Summary Financial and Operating Data
                                    (Unaudited)
                    (In thousands, except share and per share data)

                          

                                          
                           Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended 
                             September 30,           September 30,
                            2005        2004        2005        2004
                       -----------------------------------------------
 Income Statement Data:

 Contract revenues     $    92,805 $    94,600 $   200,655 $   182,015
 Cost of contract
  revenues                  71,825      78,660     167,955     167,230
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
  Gross profit              20,980      15,940      32,700      14,785
 Selling, general and
  administrative
  expenses                   9,881       8,473      22,443      19,747
 Reserve for claims and
  receivables                   --          --       1,711          --
 Impairment of property
  and equipment                 --      20,302          --      20,302
 Impairment loss on
  assets held for sale       2,261         450       2,261       3,018
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
  Operating income
   (loss)                    8,838     (13,285)      6,285     (28,282)

 Other:
  Interest expense          (5,638)     (8,122)    (22,507)    (18,580)
  Interest income              218          27         520          55
  Loss on debt
   extinguishment               --      (1,554)    (23,138)     (1,719)
  Other income
   (expense), net               21        (121)        (16)        (99)
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

 Net income (loss)
  before income taxes        3,439     (23,055)    (38,856)    (48,625)
 Income tax provision          359          72       1,275       1,395
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

 Net income (loss)     $     3,080 $   (23,127)$   (40,131)$   (50,020)
                       =========== =========== =========== ===========
 Earnings (loss) per
  share:
 Net income (loss) per
  share -- basic       $      0.03 $     (0.72)$     (0.71)$     (1.64)
                       =========== =========== =========== ===========
 Net income (loss) per
  share -- diluted     $      0.00 $     (0.72)$     (0.71)$     (1.64)
                       =========== =========== =========== ===========
 Weighted average
  shares used in
  computing earnings
  (loss) per share:
  Basic                 92,323,139  31,944,945  56,904,255  30,482,711
  Diluted              649,785,351  31,944,945  56,904,255  30,482,711

 Other Non-GAAP
  Financial Data:

 Adjusted EBITDA(a)    $    20,028 $    13,083 $    26,058 $     8,826

 Adjusted EBITDA
  calculation is as
  follows:
  Net income (loss)    $     3,080 $   (23,127)$   (40,131)$   (50,020)
  Income tax provision         359          72       1,275       1,395
  Net interest expense       5,420       8,095      21,987      18,525
  Depreciation and
   amortization              8,908       5,737      17,528      13,887
  Loss on debt
   extinguishment               --       1,554      23,138       1,719
  Non-cash impairments       2,261      20,752       2,261      23,320
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
  Adjusted EBITDA      $    20,028 $    13,083 $    26,058 $     8,826

  (a) Horizon calculates Adjusted EBITDA (adjusted earnings before 
      interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) as
      net income or loss excluding income taxes, net interest expense,
      depreciation and amortization, cumulative effect of accounting
      change, loss on debt extinguishment and non-cash impairments.
      Horizon has separately identified non-cash charges which are
      non-recurring, infrequent, unusual, or isolated or the result of
      special circumstances and has excluded these non-cash charges
      from the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA. Horizon has aligned the
      disclosure of Adjusted EBITDA with the financial covenants in
      the Company's material credit agreements with various lenders,
      including maintaining a required positive EBITDA, as defined.
      Horizon believes that Adjusted EBITDA is a material component of
      the financial covenants in the Company's credit agreements and
      non-compliance with the covenants could result in the
      acceleration of indebtedness. Adjusted EBITDA is not calculated
      in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
      (GAAP), but is a non-GAAP measure that is derived from items in
      Horizon's GAAP financials and is used as a measure of
      operational performance. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP
      measure to Horizon's income statement is included. Horizon
      believes Adjusted EBITDA is a commonly applied measurement of
      financial performance by investors. Horizon believes Adjusted
      EBITDA is useful to investors because it gives a measure of
      operational performance without taking into account items that
      Horizon does not believe relate directly to operations or that
      are subject to variations that are not caused by operational
      performance. This non-GAAP measure is not intended to be a
      substitute for GAAP measures, and investors are advised to
      review this non-GAAP measure in conjunction with GAAP
      information provided by Horizon. Adjusted EBITDA should not be
      construed as a substitute for income from operations, net income
      (loss) or cash flows from operating activities (all determined
      in accordance with GAAP) for the purpose of analyzing Horizon's
      operating performance, financial position and cash flows.
      Horizon's computation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable
      to similar titled measures of other companies.

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