ATHENS, Greece, Feb. 23, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- STEALTHGAS INC. (Nasdaq:GASS), a ship-owning company primarily serving the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector of the international shipping industry, announced today its unaudited financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2011.

Fourth Quarter 2011 Results:

• Voyage revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2011, amounted to $28.9 million, a decrease of $0.2 million, or 0.7%, compared to voyage revenues of $29.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2010.
• Voyage expenses and vessels' operating expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2011 were $4.7 million and $7.8 million, respectively, compared to $4.1 million and $9.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2010. The increase of voyage expenses was due primarily to higher fuel costs for our vessels under spot charters. The decrease in vessels' operating expenses was due primarily to the higher number of vessels operating under bareboat charters in the 2011 period.
• Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2011 was $4.4 million, or $0.22 per share, an increase of $0.1 million, from net income of $4.3 million, or $0.21 per share for the three months ended December 31, 2010.
• Included in the fourth quarter results are net losses from interest rate and foreign exchange derivatives instruments of $0.2 million. This amount includes $1.2 million or $0.06 per share, of interest paid on recurring interest rate swap arrangements. Excluding non- recurring items, adjusted net income was $3.4 million or $0.17 per share compared to $2.4 million or $0.11 per share for the same period last year.
• Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended December 31, 2011 amounted to $12.6 million. A reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to Net Income is set forth below.

An average of 37 vessels were owned by the Company in the three months ended December 31, 2011, earning an average time-charter equivalent rate of approximately $7,404 per day as compared to 38 vessels, earning an average time-charter equivalent rate of $7,195 per day for the same period of 2010.

Twelve Months 2011 Results

• Voyage revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011, amounted to $118.3 million an increase of $6.9 million, or 6.2%, from voyage revenues of $111.4 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010.
• Voyage expenses for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 amounted to $17.8 million, an increase of $4.1 million, or 29.9%, from $13.7 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010. The increase in voyage expenses during the year was due to the increased activity of our vessels operating in the spot market and higher fuel costs. Vessels' operating expenses for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 amounted to $36.6 million, a decrease of $1.7 million, or 4.4%, from operating expenses of $38.3 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010. The decrease in operating expenses during the year was primarily due to the increase in the number of vessel under bareboat charters.
• Net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 was $8.5 million or $0.41 per share, a decrease of $2.6 million, from net income of $11.1 million, or $0.51 per share, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010.
• Included in the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 results are losses incurred on interest rate and foreign exchange derivatives instruments of $2.9 million. This amount includes $5.5 million or $0.26 per share, on interest paid on recurring interest rate swap arrangements. The Company also realized a $5.7 million loss on sale of vessels. Excluding non-recurring items, adjusted net income was $11.6 million or $0.56 per share compared to $8.4 million or $0.39 per share for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010.
• Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 amounted to $47.6 million. A reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to Net Income is set forth below.

An average of 37.6 vessels were owned by the Company in the twelve months ended December 31, 2011, earning an average time-charter equivalent rate of approximately $7,514 per day as compared to 38.6 vessels, earning an average time-charter equivalent rate of $7,064 per day for the same period in 2010.

CEO Harry Vafias commented

We are pleased to announce another profitable quarter for the Company. Our financial and operational results have strengthened compared to the previous quarter and the same quarter of last year, reflective of the recovery in the LPG shipping market. As expected we have seen chartering activity pick up during the winter months. Our strategic focus on this niche LPG segment has allowed us to report solid results in contrast to the continued weakness in most shipping segments. Our adjusted net income for the fourth quarter was $3.4 million compared to $2.4 million for the same period last year, while for the twelve month period our adjusted net income was $11.6 million compared to last year's $8.4 million.

Voyage revenues for the fourth quarter were at similar levels to last year even though we had one less vessel in the fleet and five of our vessels were deployed on bareboat charters instead of time or voyage charters. As a result of the bareboat charters, which produce less revenues but also incur less expenses, we managed to decrease our operating expenses in the quarter by close to $2 million compared to last year.

During the fourth quarter we concluded a number of new charters for our vessels. In addition to the nine previously announced charters, we also extended the charters on the Lyne and Sir Ivor for an additional year. As a result the forward coverage of our revenues has increased to 75% for 2012 and 40% for 2013. We will continue to seek opportunities to profitably employ our vessels on long term charters and if such opportunities arise with respect to bareboat charters this could result in us being treated as a passive foreign investment company for US federal income tax purposes for 2012 or in subsequent years.

In terms of sale and purchase activity we sold the smallest vessel in our fleet, the 1,320cbm Gas Tiny, which was delivered to the buyers in January 2012. That same month we also took delivery on schedule from the shipyard of the 7,500cbm Gas Husky that we employed on a five year charter. Finally, we recently agreed to sell the 5,000cbm Gas Kalogeros to a third party. As with the sale of the Gas Tiny, we anticipate recognizing a gain from the sale of the Gas Kalogeros. We still have one newbuilding vessel to take delivery of, the 7,500cbm Gas Esco in order to conclude our newbuilding program. We have already arranged for financing and we are currently evaluating employment opportunities for this vessel. With the sale of older vessels over the past couple of years we have improved our cash position. We are now in a position to expand and renew our fleet and will be looking at opportunities for modern vessels.

Finally, I would like to remark that while we have a solid balance sheet, moderate leverage and circa $50 million in cash as of today, our market capitalization continues to be below $100 million.

Conference Call details:

On February 23, 2012 at 11:00 am ET, the Company's management will host a conference call to discuss the results and the Company's operations and outlook.

Participants should dial into the call 10 minutes before the scheduled time using the following numbers: 1877 213 2455 (US Toll Free Dial In) or 0800 073 8917 (UK Toll Free Dial In).

In case of any problems with the above numbers, please dial +01 631 510 7498 (US Toll Dial In), or +44 (0)1452 551 089 (Standard International Dial In). Please quote "53229696".

A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available until March 2, 2012 by dialing 1866 247 4222 (US Toll Free Dial In), 0800 953 1533 (UK Toll Free Dial In) or +44 (0)1452 5500 00 (Standard International Dial In). Access Code: 53229696#

Slides and audio webcast:

There will also be a live-and then archived webcast of the conference call, through the STEALTHGAS INC. website (www.stealthgas.com). Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.

About STEALTHGAS INC.

Headquartered in Athens, Greece, STEALTHGAS INC. is a ship-owning company primarily serving the LPG sector of the international shipping industry. STEALTHGAS INC. currently has a fleet of 33 LPG carriers with a total capacity of 159,268 cbm, three medium range (M.R.) product tankers and one Aframax oil tanker. The Company has also entered into agreement to acquire a new building LPG carrier with expected delivery in May 2012 and to sell one LPG carrier. Once this acquisition and the sale are completed, STEALTHGAS INC 's fleet will be composed of 33LPG carriers with a total capacity of 161,768 cbm, three M.R. product tankers and one Aframax oil tanker with a total capacity of 255,804 deadweight tons (dwt). STEALTHGAS INC's shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and trade under the symbol "GASS".

Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance and may include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although STEALTHGAS INC. believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, STEALTHGAS INC. cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including changes in charter hire rates and vessel values, charter counterparty performance, changes in demand that may affect attitudes of time charterers to scheduled and unscheduled dry dockings, changes in STEALTHGAS INC's operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in our financing arrangements, or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents and political events or acts by terrorists.

Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by STEALTHGAS INC. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Visit our website at www.stealthgas.com

Fleet Data:

The following key indicators highlight the Company's operating performance during the fourth quarters and twelve months ended December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2011.

1) Average number of vessels is the number of vessels that constituted our fleet for the relevant period, as measured by the sum of the number of days each vessel was a part of our fleet during the period divided by the number of calendar days in that period.

2) Total calendar days are the total days the vessels were in our possession for the relevant period including off-hire days associated with major repairs, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys.

3) Total voyage days for fleet reflect the total days the vessels were in our possession for the relevant period net of off-hire days associated with major repairs, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys.

4) Fleet utilization is the percentage of time that our vessels were available for revenue generating voyage days, and is determined by dividing voyage days by fleet calendar days for the relevant period.

5) Total charter days for fleet are the number of voyage days the vessels in our fleet operated on time or bareboat charters for the relevant period.

6) Total spot market charter days for fleet are the number of voyage days the vessels in our fleet operated on spot market charters for the relevant period.

7) Fleet operational utilization is the percentage of time that our vessels generated revenue, and is determined by dividing voyage days (excluding commercially idle days) by fleet calendar days for the relevant period.

8) Time charter equivalent, or TCE, is a measure of the average daily revenue performance of a vessel on a per voyage basis. Our method of calculating TCE is consistent with industry standards and is determined by dividing voyage revenues (net of voyage expenses) by voyage days for the relevant time period. Voyage expenses primarily consist of port, canal and fuel costs that are unique to a particular voyage, which would otherwise be paid by the charterer under a time charter contract, as well as commissions. TCE is a standard shipping industry performance measure used primarily to compare period-to-period changes in a shipping company's performance despite changes in the mix of charter types (i.e., spot charters, time charters and bareboat charters) under which the vessels may be employed between the periods.

9) Vessel operating expenses, which include crew costs, provisions, deck and engine stores, lubricating oil, insurance, maintenance and repairs, is calculated by dividing vessel operating expenses by fleet calendar days for the relevant time period.

10) Total operating expenses, or TOE, is a measurement of our total expenses associated with operating our vessels. TOE is the sum of vessel operating expenses and general and administrative expenses. Daily TOE is calculated by dividing TOE by fleet calendar days for the relevant time period.

Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS:

EBITDA represents net income before interest, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA before (gain)/loss on sale of assets, loss on derivatives excluding swap interest paid and non-cash exchange difference. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income are not recognized measurements under US GAAP. Our calculation of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS may not be comparable to that reported by other companies in the shipping or other industries.

EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS are included herein because they are a basis upon which we assess our financial performance, assist in comparability of our performance from period to period and provide additional information on fleet operational results. We also use EBITDA to assess our liquidity position and believe it presents useful information to investors regarding a company's ability to service and/or incur indebtedness. 

Fleet Profile and Fleet Deployment:

The table below shows the Company's fleet development and deployment as of today:

LPG Carrier Fleet

Tanker Fleet

• F.P.: Fully-Pressurized
• S.R.: Semi-Refrigerated
• M.R.: Medium Range

(1) Earliest date charters could expire.  

(2) We have agreed to sell this vessel with expected delivery in May 2012