USA: Deep Down Releases First Quarter Results

Deep Down, Inc. yesterday reported a net loss of $0.3 million for the first quarter of 2012, an improvement of $1.5 million over the same period in 2011.

For the first quarter of 2012, Deep Down reported a net loss of $0.3 million (including $0.1 million in equity in net loss of joint venture), or $0.00 loss per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $1.8 million (also including $0.1 million in equity in net loss joint venture), or $0.01 loss per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2011.

Revenues for the first quarter of 2012 were $4.9 million. Revenues for the first quarter of 2011 were $6.3million. The $1.4 million decrease in revenues in the 2012 period compared to the 2011 period was due primarily to a $0.9 million reduction caused by decreased demand for our ROV and topside equipment rental services. During the first quarter of 2011, we were still renting equipment and performing services related to Macondo well cleanup activities.

Gross profit for first quarter of 2012 was $1.9 million, or 40 percent of revenues. Gross profit for the first quarter of 2011 was $1.2 million, or 19 percent of revenues. The $0.7 million, or 21 percentage-point, increase in gross profit in the 2012 period compared to the 2011 period was due primarily to a $1.2 million increase related to our subsea solutions operations, due to strong demand for our services, partially offset by a $0.4 million decrease related to our ROV and topside equipment rental operations due, as previously mentioned, to a much weaker demand in the 2012 period than in the 2011 period.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2012 was $2.0 million. SG&A for the first quarter of 2011 was $2.6 million. The $0.6 million decrease in SG&A in the 2012 period compared to the 2011 period was due primarily to a reduction in accounting and auditing fees. The 2011 period included accounting and auditing fees associated with the restatement of the Company’s 2010 quarterly financial statements and resultant increased scope related to the 2010 audit of the Company’s annual financial statements.

The Company’s management evaluates its financial performance based on a non-GAAP measure, Modified EBITDA, which consists of earnings (net income or loss) available to common shareholders before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and other non-cash and non-recurring charges. Modified EBITDA was $0.5 million in the first quarter of 2012. Modified EBITDA was $(1.0) million in the first quarter of 2011. The $1.4 million increase in Modified EBITDA in the 2012 period compared to the 2011 period was caused primarily by increased gross profit before depreciation expense of $0.8 million, and decreased selling, general and administrative expense before share-based compensation of $0.6 million.

WORKING CAPITAL

The Company had working capital of $4.5 million at March 31, 2012, an increase of $0.5 million from the $3.9 million of working capital at December 31, 2011. We believe our current cash balance, in addition to cash we expect to generate from operations, will ensure that we have adequate liquidity to meet our future operating requirements.

Ronald E. Smith, Chief Executive Officer stated, “This was the Company’s strongest first quarter performance since 2008. We are extremely satisfied with what our subsea solutions business was able to achieve in the first quarter of 2012. We added approximately $10 million to its backlog and essentially doubled its gross profit margin. On the other hand, we are very disappointed in the performance of our ROV and topside equipment rental business. Going forward, we are committed to the continued success of the subsea solutions activities and we are doubly committed to returning our ROV and topside equipment rental activities to profitability.”

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Subsea World News Staff, May 16, 2012