Rand Logistics, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Fiscal

Operating Income for the Quarter increased 67.7% to $5.2 million

Net Loss for the Quarter was reduced by 85.7% to $0.6 million

EBITDA increased $2.4 million, or 26.7%, to $11.4 million

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Feb. 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rand Logistics, Inc. (NASDAQ: RLOG ) (“Rand”), a leading provider of bulk freight shipping services throughout the Great Lakes region, today announced its financial results for the fiscal year 2017 third quarter ended December 31, 2016.

Quarter Ended December 31, 2016 Versus Quarter Ended December 31, 2015 Financial Results

• Total Sailing Days were 1,281 compared to 1,292 in the prior year period.
• Freight and related revenue generated from Company-operated vessels (which excludes fuel and other surcharges) remained relatively flat at $35.9 million compared to $35.9 million during the year ago period.
• Freight and related revenue per Sailing Day increased $190, or 0.7%, to $27,998 compared to $27,808 per Sailing Day in the year ago period.
• Vessel operating expenses decreased $2.2 million, or 8.8%, to $22.2 million compared to $24.4 million during the year ago period. Vessel operating expenses per Sailing Day decreased $1,512, or 8.0%, to $17,350 from $18,862.
• Vessel Margin per day increased $2,108, or 21.0%, from $10,027 in the prior year period to $12,135 this quarter.
• EBITDA increased $2.4 million, or 26.7%, to $11.4 million from $9.0 million during the year ago period.
• Net loss was $0.6 million, or $0.03 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared to a net loss of $4.2 million, or $0.23 per share, in the prior year period.

Nine Months Ended December 31, 2016 Versus Nine Months Ended December 31, 2015 Financial Results

• Total Sailing Days were 3,435 compared to 3,798 in the prior year period. 
• Freight and related revenue generated from Company-operated vessels (which excludes fuel and other surcharges) decreased $12.2 million, or 10.3%, to $106.5 million compared to $118.7 million during the year ago period.
• Freight and related revenue per Sailing Day decreased $260, or 0.8%, to $31,001 compared to $31,261 during the nine-month period ended December 31, 2015.
• Vessel operating expenses decreased $17.9 million, or 22.1%, to $63.1 million compared to $81.0 million during the year ago period. Vessel operating expenses per Sailing Day decreased $2,947, or 13.8%, to $18,368 from $21,315.    
• Vessel margin per day increased $994, or 7.9%, from $12,586 in the prior year period to $13,580 in the nine-month period ended December 31, 2016.
• EBITDA, before restructuring charges and impairment charges on a retired vessel, decreased $0.7 million, or 1.9%, to $36.4 million from $37.1 million during the prior year period. 
• Net loss was $1.0 million, or $0.05 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared to net income of $10.0 million, or $0.54 per share, in the year ago period.

Management Comments:

"We were generally pleased with our operating and financial performance in both our fiscal 2017 third quarter and the 2016 sailing season," commented Ed Levy, President and CEO of Rand. "Improving demand conditions in the quarter ended December 31, 2016, including incremental business generated from both new and existing customers, helped to drive a 26.7% increase in EBITDA, bringing year to date EBITDA near to the prior year level. We achieved our 2016 sailing season results while sailing 363, or 9.6%, fewer days and carrying 6.7% less tons versus the 2015 season. We successfully offset weak demand for certain of the commodities we transport and the continued weakness in the Canadian dollar through effective operating cost controls and aggressive management of our vessel capacity. These initiatives resulted in an increase in vessel margin per day of 7.9%, or $994, on a year over year basis.”

In January 2017, we operated for approximately 125 sailing days, which was an increase of 48.8% compared with 84 days sailed in January 2016.

“We are finalizing our nominations for the upcoming sailing season. Consistent with the last four months, we believe that demand will be firmer this year versus last year at this time. Many of our customers are expressing a higher confidence level in their business and are indicating that their requirements for the upcoming sailing season are based on orders that they have already been awarded versus their expectation of demand.” Mr. Levy concluded, “Our intention for the 2017 sailing season is to continue to drive efficiencies by managing our capacity and operating expenses. This will position us to leverage vessel margin per day with improvements in the demand environment.”

Conference Call Management will hold a conference call at 8:30 a.m. EST on Tuesday, February 14, 2017. Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing 1-888-797-2982 (1-913-312-0859 for international callers), and using Conference ID# 5837408. The conference call will be webcast simultaneously on the Rand Logistics, Inc. website at www.randlogisticsinc.com/presentations.html . A presentation file related to the conference call will be posted to the same website.

A replay of the conference call will be available at www.randlogisticsinc.com/presentations.html and will be archived for 12 months. A replay will also be available until March 14, 2017 by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (1-412-317-6671 for international callers), and using Conference ID# 5837408.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures/Financial Tables This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures, including, when applicable, (1) operating income plus depreciation, amortization of drydock costs, amortization of intangibles, loss (gain) on foreign exchange, certain one-time equity-based severance costs and loss on termination of vessel lease, and (2) operating income plus depreciation, amortization of drydock costs and amortization of intangibles. Such measures are used internally when evaluating our operating performance and, we believe, allow investors to make a more meaningful comparison between our business operating results over different periods of time, as well as with those of other similar companies. Management believes that such measures, when viewed with the Company's results GAAP and the accompanying reconciliations, provide useful information about our operating performance and period-over-period comparisons. Additionally, management believes that (1) operating income plus depreciation, amortization of drydock costs, amortization of intangibles, loss (gain) on foreign exchange, restructuring charges and impairment charges on retired asset and (2) operating income plus depreciation, amortization of drydock costs and amortization of intangibles permit investors to gain an understanding of the factors and trends affecting our ongoing cash earnings. However, the Company's definition of such measures may differ from other companies reporting similarly named measures, and such measures are not measures of financial performance or liquidity under GAAP and, accordingly, should not be considered as an alternative to net income or cash flow from operating activities as indicators of operating performance or liquidity. Instead, such performance measures should be viewed in addition to, and not in lieu of, or superior to, our operating performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of these and other non-GAAP measures to the comparable GAAP measures are included in the attached financial tables.

About Rand Logistics   Rand Logistics, Inc. is a leading provider of bulk freight shipping services throughout the Great Lakes region. Through its subsidiaries, the Company operates a fleet of three conventional bulk carriers and twelve self-unloading bulk carriers including three tug/barge units. The Company is the only carrier able to offer significant domestic port-to-port services in both Canada and the U.S. on the Great Lakes. The Company's vessels operate under the U.S. Jones Act – which reserves domestic waterborne commerce to vessels that are U.S. owned, built and crewed – and the Canada Coasting Trade Act – which reserves domestic waterborne commerce to Canadian registered and crewed vessels that operate between Canadian ports.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements which reflect management’s current views with respect to certain future events and Rand’s operations, performance and financial condition. Forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: Rand’s future operating or financial results; Rand’s anticipated plans, goals or objectives of our management for operations and services, including future cost reduction initiatives; Rand’s anticipated financial position and liquidity, including Rand's ability to remain in compliance with debt covenants, growth regulatory and competitive outlook, investment and expenditure plans, investment results, strategic alternatives, business strategies, and other similar statements of expectations or objectives; and Rand’s outlook and financial and other guidance. For all forward-looking statements, we claim the protection of the Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy or are otherwise beyond our control and some of which might not even be anticipated. Future events and actual results, affecting our strategic plan as well as our financial position, results of operations and cash flows, could differ materially from those described in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements.

Important factors that contribute to such risks include, but are not limited to, the effect of any economic downturn in certain of our markets; the weather conditions on the Great Lakes; our ability to maintain and replace our vessels as they age; changes in customer demand; changes in shipping regulations; fluctuations in currencies and interest rates; changes in fuel price and fuel surcharges; adequacy of capital resources, including the ability to refinance or obtain financing in the future; expectations of vessels’ useful lives and the estimated obligations, and the timing thereof, relating to vessel repair or maintenance work; expected capital spending or operating expenses, including dry-docking and insurance costs; the ability to comply with or regain compliance with applicable regulations, Nasdaq listing requirements, and Rand’s debt covenants; changes in laws, regulations or tax rates, or the outcome of pending legislative or regulatory initiatives; and potential liability from pending or future litigation.

The risks included are not exhaustive. For a more detailed description of these uncertainties and other factors, please see the "Risk Factors" section in Rand's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 16, 2016 and in Rand’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 10, 2016.

― financial tables to follow ―

CONTACT: Rand Logistics, Inc. Corporate Communications: Annemarie Dobler (212) 863-9429 apdobler@randlogisticsinc.com