Mercator Lines Continues Its Losing Streak

The financially-troubled dry bulk specialist Mercator Lines (Singapore) Limited booked USD 11.9 million loss for the quarter ended September 30, an 89% deterioration compared to USD 6.3 million net loss recorded in the same period a year earlier.

The company’s revenue decreased by 40%, from USD 14.3 million posted in 2Q2014, to USD 8.7 million reported in 2Q2015. Mercator Lines attributed the decline in revenue to falling contract/spot rates and the sale of one vessel earlier this year.

Revenue for the half year ended September 30 registered a decrease of 44% to USD 17.2 million as compared to USD 30.9 million for the half year ended September 30,2014. Loss attributable to the equity holders of the company for the first six months of FY2015 was USD 21.8 million.

The latest results mark three and a half years of losses for Mercator Lines, which is currently in talks with its ”lenders and certain creditors in relation to a standstill, refinancing, recapitalization and restructuring plan.”

Back in September, the company filed an application for leave to convene a meeting of scheme creditors to consider a Scheme of Arrangement while HSH Nordbank AG Singapore Branch filed a Judicial Management application. The hearing for both applications has been fixed for November 20.

Looking ahead, Mercator Lines says that the restructuring process ”may impact business adversely in terms of higher operating costs and contracts for the ships including the possible idling of some of the ships.” The company has also warned about the risk of its securities being suspended in the future.