NEW YORK, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc. (NYSE: ANW) ("Aegean" or the "Company") today announced financial and operating results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2015.

Fourth Quarter Highlights and Full Year Financial Highlights


    --  Recorded sales volumes of 4,029,567 metric tons in Q4 2015 and
        13,482,478 metric tons for the full year.
    --  Achieved gross profit of $88.3 million in Q4 and $331.8 million for the
        full year.
    --  Generated operating income of $24.1 million in Q4.
    --  Recorded net income attributable to Aegean shareholders of $9.7 million
        or $0.20 basic and diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter and
        $35.9 million or $0.73 basic and diluted earnings per share for the full
        year.
        --  Net income adjusted for gains/losses on sales of assets, impairment
            charges and non-cash tax item amounting to $2.4 million was $12.1
            million or $0.25 basic and diluted earnings per share for the fourth
            quarter and $43.7 million or $0.89 basic and diluted earnings per
            share for the full year
    --  Generated EBITDA of $32.8 million in Q4 and $110.8 million for the full
        year.
        --  Full year EBITDA adjusted for gains/losses on sales of assets and
            impairment charges was $116.2 million.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year Operational Highlights


    --  Commenced operations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
    --  Increased percentage of blended products sold.
    --  Completed the closure of Portland terminal as part of cost
        rationalization strategy.
    --  Continued to cultivate relationships with key customers and suppliers.

E. Nikolas Tavlarios, Aegean's President, commented, "Our results demonstrate the merits of Aegean's unique operating strategy and the opportunistic steps we continuously take to position the company for growth, despite industry headwinds. During the year we leveraged our expanding geographic footprint and diversified business model to deliver strong financial and operational results, including record sales volumes. Looking ahead, our business model provides flexibility to control expenses and adjust to rapidly-changing market conditions. In 2016, we believe our focus on serving customers and selling blended products will generate greater profitability and strengthen our competitive position in large strategic markets. Through our continued successful execution, Aegean will continue to expand its platform for growth and value creation."

Generating Strong Financial Results


    --  Revenue - The Company reported total revenue of $929.1 million for Q4
        2015, a decrease of 35.4%, compared to the same period in 2014 due to
        the drop in oil prices. Voyage and other revenues decreased to $16.2
        million or by 3.0% compared to the same period in 2014.
    --  Gross profit - Gross Profit, which equals total revenue less directly
        attributable cost of revenue increased by 1.4% to $88.3 million in the
        fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $87.1 million in the same period in
        2014. Gross Profit for the full year was $331.8 million which was
        in-line with the prior year's results.
    --  Operating Expense - The Company reported operating expense of $64.2
        million, a decrease of $4.4 million or 6.4% compared to the same period
        in prior year. Operating Expenses for the full year 2015 were $255.3
        million, a decrease of 8.6% or $23.9 million compared to prior year.
    --  Operating Income - Operating income for Q4 was $24.1 million, an
        increase of 30.3% compared to the same period in prior year. Operating
        income for the full year was $76.6 million, an increase of 32.3% or
        $18.7 million over the same period in 2014. Full year operating income
        adjusted for losses on sale of assets/impairment charges was $82.0
        million.
    --  Net Income - The Company achieved net income attributable to Aegean
        shareholders for the three months ended December 31, 2015 of $9.7
        million, or $0.20 basic and diluted earnings per share an increase of
        $2.2 million or 29.2% compared to the same period in 2014. Net income
        for the full year was $35.9 million or $0.73 basic and diluted earnings
        per share. Net income adjusted for gains/losses on sales of assets,
        impairment charges and a non-cash tax item amounting to $2.4 million was
        $12.1 million or $0.25 basic and diluted earnings per share for the
        fourth quarter and $43.7 million or $0.89 basic and diluted earnings per
        share for the full year.

Operational Metrics


    --  Sales Volume - For the three months ended December 31, 2015 the Company
        reported record marine fuel sales volumes of 4,029,567 metric tons an
        increase of 34.0% compared with the same period in 2014. Marine fuel
        sales volume excluding bulk trading was 3,439,966 metric tons, an
        increase of 14.4% compared with the same period in 2014.
    --  EBITDA Per Metric Ton - For the three months ended December 31, 2015 the
        Company reported EBITDA per metric ton sold of $8.14. EBITDA per metric
        ton in the prior year period was $8.56 per metric ton.
    --  Gross Spread Per Metric Ton - For the three months ended December 31,
        2015 the Company reported gross spread per metric ton on an aggregate
        basis of $20.5 per metric ton. Gross spread per metric ton in the prior
        year period was $26.2 per metric ton.

Liquidity and Capital Resources


    --  Net cash provided by operating activities was $5.3 million for the three
        months ended December 31, 2015. Net income, as adjusted for non-cash
        items (as defined in Note 9 below) was $14.9 million for the period.
    --  Net cash provided from investing activities was $0.6 million for the
        three months ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to the release of
        restricted cash.
    --  Net cash provided by financing activities was $19.2 million for the
        three months ended December 31, 2015.
    --  As of December 31, 2015, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of
        $139.3 million and working capital of $341.8 million. Non-cash working
        capital, or working capital excluding cash and debt, was $477.6 million.
    --  As of December 31, 2015, the Company had $937.2 million undrawn amounts
        under its working capital facilities and $139.3 million of unrestricted
        cash and cash equivalents to finance working capital requirements.
    --  The weighted average basic and diluted shares outstanding for the three
        months ended December 31, 2015 was 47,436,366. The weighted average
        basic and diluted shares outstanding for the three months ended December
        31, 2014 was 46,336,307 respectively.

Spyros Gianniotis, Aegean's Chief Financial Officer, stated, "During the year, we successfully entered into a new $120 million credit facility for our Fujairah oil terminal, which we believe will be a key growth driver in 2016 and beyond. With a strong balance sheet and with significant financial flexibility, Aegean is competitively positioned to deliver returns to shareholders in a variety of market conditions. Looking ahead, we will continue to evaluate efficient and profitable ways to execute our proven strategy and advance our position in the global fuel supply market."


    Summary Consolidated Financial and Other Data (Unaudited)


                                                       For the Three Months Ended              For the Year Ended
                                                               December 31,
                                                                                                  December 31,

                                                                2014                          2015                             2014        2015
                                                                ----                          ----                             ----        ----

                                                                 (in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

    Income Statement
     Data:

    Revenues -third
     parties                                              $1,421,385                      $924,227                       $6,625,244  $4,213,359

    Revenues -related
     companies                                                16,139                         4,872                           36,557      20,058
                                                              ------                         -----                           ------      ------

    Total revenues                                         1,437,524                       929,099                        6,661,801   4,233,417

    Cost of revenues -
     third parties                                         1,297,505                       822,602                        5,971,819   3,764,684

    Cost of revenues -
     related companies                                        52,920                        18,180                          352,888     136,904
                                                              ------                        ------                          -------     -------

    Total cost of
     revenues                                              1,350,425                       840,782                        6,324,707   3,901,588
                                                           ---------                       -------                        ---------   ---------

    Gross profit                                              87,099                        88,317                          337,094     331,829
                                                              ------                        ------                          -------     -------

    Operating expenses:

    Selling and
     distribution                                             57,621                        52,033                          220,830     205,078

    General and
     administrative                                           11,059                        11,859                           38,099      43,318

    Amortization of
     intangible assets                                           376                           298                            3,323       1,421

    (Gain) /Loss on
     sale of vessels,
     net                                                       (413)                            -                          12,864         130

    Impairment charge                                              -                            -                           4,062       5,308
                                                                 ---                          ---                           -----       -----

    Operating income                                          18,456                        24,127                           57,916      76,574

    Net financing cost                                       (8,679)                      (9,949)                        (33,781)   (37,556)

    Foreign exchange
     (loss) /gain, net                                       (2,787)                        (291)                         (6,032)        308

    Income taxes
     benefit /
     (expense)                                                   509                       (4,176)                           (464)    (3,446)
                                                                 ---                        ------                             ----      ------

    Net income                                                 7,499                         9,711                           17,639      35,880
                                                               -----                         -----                           ------      ------

    Less income
     attributable to
     non-controlling
     interest                                                   (17)                            -                              49           -
                                                                 ---                           ---                             ---         ---

    Net income
     attributable to
     AMPNI shareholders                                       $7,516                        $9,711                          $17,590     $35,880
                                                              ======                        ======                          =======     =======

    Basic earnings per
     share (U.S.
     dollars)                                                  $0.16                         $0.20                           $$0.37       $0.73

    Diluted earnings
     per share (U.S.
     dollars)                                                  $0.16                         $0.20                           $$0.37       $0.73


    EBITDA(1)                                                $22,894                       $32,797                          $82,019    $110,806


    Other Financial
     Data:

    Gross spread on
     marine petroleum
     products(2)                                             $79,633                       $84,243                         $304,545    $302,052

    Gross spread on
     lubricants(2)                                               828                         1,776                            2,948       5,210

    Gross spread on
     marine fuel(2)                                           78,805                        82,467                          301,597     296,842

    Gross spread per
     metric ton of
     marine fuel sold
     (U.S. dollars) (2)                                         26.2                          20.5                             26.6        22.0

    Net cash provided
     by operating
     activities                                              194,517                         5,273                          182,206      49,727



    Net cash (used in)
     /provided by
     investing
     activities                                             (25,952)                          588                         (59,494)    (7,614)

    Net cash (used in)
     /provided by
     financing
     activities                                           $(153,710)                      $19,243                        $(50,280)  $(28,254)


    Sales Volume Data
     (Metric Tons): (3)

    Total sales volumes                                    3,008,060                     4,029,567                       11,332,385  13,482,478
                                                           ---------                     ---------                       ----------  ----------


    Other Operating
     Data:

    Number of owned
     bunkering tankers,
     end of period(4)                                           48.0                          49.0                             48.0        49.0

    Average number of
     owned bunkering
     tankers(4)(5)                                              48.4                          49.0                             50.2        48.8

    Special Purpose
     Vessels, end of
     period (6)                                                  1.0                           1.0                              1.0         1.0

    Number of operating
     storage
     facilities, end of
     period(7)                                                  14.0                          12.0                             14.0        12.0


    Summary Consolidated Financial and Other Data (Unaudited)


                                                              As of              As of

                                                          December 31,        December 31,

                                                                         2014                 2015
                                                                         ----                 ----


                                                      (in thousands of U.S.
                                                             dollars,

                                                         unless otherwise
                                                             stated)

    Balance
     Sheet
     Data:

    Cash
     and
     cash
     equivalents                                                      129,551              139,314

    Gross
     trade
     receivables                                                      360,074              317,152

     Allowance
     for
     doubtful
     accounts                                                         (5,851)             (7,843)

    Inventories                                                       156,990              114,531

    Current
     assets                                                           736,328              730,950

    Total
     assets                                                         1,488,315            1,456,656

    Trade
     payables                                                         119,056               72,417

    Current
     liabilities
     (including
     current
     portion
     of
     long-
     term
     debt)                                                            533,735              389,109

    Total
     debt                                                             740,880              716,660

    Total
     liabilities                                                      920,899              835,130

    Total
     stockholder's
     equity                                                           567,416              621,526


    Working
     Capital
     Data:

    Working
     capital(8)                                                       202,593              341,841

    Working
     capital
     excluding
     cash
     and
     debt(8)                                                          428,326              477,594

Notes:

1. EBITDA represents net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA does not represent and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or cash flow from operations, as determined by United States generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP, and our calculation of EBITDA may not be comparable to that recorded by other companies. EBITDA is included herein because it is a basis upon which the Company assesses its operating performance and because the Company believes that it presents useful information to investors regarding a company's ability to service and/or incur indebtedness. The following table reconciles net income to EBITDA for the periods presented:


                                     For the Three Months Ended December
                                                    31,
                                  ------------------------------------

                                                2014                   2015
                                                ----                   ----

                                       (in thousands of U.S. dollars,

                                          unless otherwise stated)
                                         -----------------------

    Net income attributable to
     AMPNI shareholders                        7,516                  9,711


    Add: Net financing cost
     including amortization of
     financing costs                           8,679                  9,949

      Add: Income tax (benefit) /
       expense                                 (509)                 4,176

      Add: Depreciation and
       amortization excluding
       amortization of financing
       costs                                   7,208                  8,961


    EBITDA                                    22,894                 32,797
                                              ------                 ------

2. Gross spread on marine petroleum products represents the margin the Company generates on sales of marine fuel and lubricants. Gross spread on marine fuel represents the margin that the Company generates on sales of various classifications of marine fuel oil ("MFO") or marine gas oil ("MGO"). Gross spread on lubricants represents the margin that the Company generates on sales of lubricants. Gross spread on marine petroleum products, gross spread of MFO and gross spread on lubricants are not items recognized by U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to gross profit or any other indicator of a Company's operating performance required by U.S. GAAP. The Company's definition of gross spread may not be the same as that used by other companies in the same or other industries. The Company calculates the above-mentioned gross spreads by subtracting from the sales of the respective marine petroleum product the cost of the respective marine petroleum product sold and cargo transportation costs. For arrangements in which the Company physically supplies the respective marine petroleum product using its bunkering tankers, costs of the respective marine petroleum products sold represents amounts paid by the Company for the respective marine petroleum product sold in the relevant reporting period. For arrangements in which the respective marine petroleum product is purchased from the Company's related company, Aegean Oil S.A., or Aegean Oil, cost of the respective marine petroleum products sold represents the total amount paid by the Company to the physical supplier for the respective marine petroleum product and its delivery to the custom arrangements, in which the Company purchases cargos of marine fuel for its floating storage facilities. Transportation costs may be included in the purchase price of marine fuels from the supplier or may be incurred separately from a transportation provider. Gross spread per metric ton of marine fuel sold represents the margin the Company generates per metric ton of marine fuel sold. The Company calculates gross spread per metric ton of marine fuel sold by dividing the gross spread on marine fuel by the sales volume of marine fuel. Marine fuel sales do not include sales of lubricants. The following table reflects the calculation of gross spread per metric ton of marine fuel sold for the periods presented:


                                      For the Three Months
                                             Ended
                                         December 31,
                                         ------------

                                          2014                      2015
                                          ----                      ----


    Sales of marine petroleum
     products                        1,420,811                   912,890

    Less: Cost of marine
     petroleum products sold       (1,341,178)                 (828,647)

    Gross spread on marine
     petroleum products                 79,633                    84,243

    Less: Gross spread on
     lubricants                          (828)                  (1,776)
                                          ----                    ------

    Gross spread on marine fuel         78,805                    82,467


    Sales volume of marine fuel
     (metric tons)                   3,008,060                 4,029,567
                                     ---------                 ---------


    Gross spread per metric ton
     of marine                            26.2                      20.5

    fuel sold (U.S. dollars)

3. Sales volume of marine fuel is the volume of sales of various classifications of MFO and MGO for the relevant period and is denominated in metric tons. The Company does not include the sales volume of lubricants in the calculation of gross spread per metric ton of marine fuel sold.

4. Bunkering fleet comprises both bunkering vessels and barges.

5. Figure represents average bunkering fleet number for the relevant period, as measured by the sum of the number of days each bunkering tanker or barge was used as part of the fleet during the period divided by the cumulative number of calendar days in the period multiplied by the number of bunkering tankers at the end of the period. This figure does not take into account non-operating days due to either scheduled or unscheduled maintenance.

6. Special Purpose Vessels consists of the Orion, a 550 dwt tanker which is based in our Greek market.

7. The Company owns one barge, the Mediterranean, as a floating storage facility in Greece. The Company also operates on-land storage facilities in Las Palmas, Fujairah, Tangiers, Panama, U.S.A., Hamburg and Barcelona.

The ownership of storage facilities allows the Company to mitigate its risk of supply shortages. Generally, storage costs are included in the price of refined marine fuel quoted by local suppliers. The Company expects that the ownership of storage facilities will allow it to convert the variable costs of this storage fee mark-up per metric ton quoted by suppliers into fixed costs of operating its owned storage facilities, thus enabling the Company to spread larger sales volumes over a fixed cost base and to decrease its refined fuel costs.

8. Working capital is defined as current assets minus current liabilities. Working capital excluding cash and debt is defined as current assets minus cash and cash equivalents minus restricted cash minus current liabilities plus short-term borrowings plus current portion of long-term debt.

9. Net income as adjusted for non-cash items, such as depreciation, provision for doubtful accounts, restricted stock, amortization, deferred income taxes, loss on sale of vessels, net, impairment losses, unrealized loss/(gain) on derivatives and unrealized foreign exchange loss/(gain), net, is used to assist in evaluating our ability to make quarterly cash distributions. Net income as adjusted for non-cash items is not recognized by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or any other indicator of the Company's performance required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

Fourth Quarter 2015 Dividend Announcement
On March 16, 2016, the Company's Board of Directors declared a fourth quarter 2015 dividend of $0.02 per share payable on April 13, 2016 to shareholders of record as of March 30, 2016. The dividend amount was determined in accordance with the Company's dividend policy of paying cash dividends on a quarterly basis subject to factors including the requirements of Marshall Islands law, future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, future prospects and such other factors as are determined by the Company's Board of Directors. The Company anticipates retaining most of its future earnings, if any, for use in operations and business expansion.

Conference Call and Webcast Information
Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc. will conduct a conference call and simultaneous Internet webcast on Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time, to discuss its fourth quarter results. Investors may access the webcast and related slide presentation, by visiting the Company's website at www.ampni.com, and clicking on the webcast link. The conference call also may be accessed via telephone by dialing (800) 862-9098 (for U.S.-based callers) or (785) 424-1051 (for international callers) and enter the passcode: 9274352.

If you are unable to participate at this time, a replay of the call will be available for two weeks at 888-203-1112 or 719-457-0820. Enter the code 9274352 to access the audio replay. The webcast will also be archived on the Company's website:
http://www.ampni.com.

About Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc.
Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc. is an international marine fuel logistics company that markets and physically supplies refined marine fuel and lubricants to ships in port and at sea. The Company procures product from various sources (such as refineries, oil producers, and traders) and resells it to a diverse group of customers across all major commercial shipping sectors and leading cruise lines. Currently, Aegean has a global presence in 32 markets and a team of professionals ready to serve our customers wherever they are around the globe. For additional information please visit: www.ampni.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements 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 Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "believe," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "forecast," "plan," "potential," "may," "should," "expect" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe 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, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.

In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include our ability to manage growth, our ability to maintain our business in light of our proposed business and location expansion, our ability to obtain double hull secondhand bunkering tankers, the outcome of legal, tax or regulatory proceedings to which we may become a party, adverse conditions in the shipping or the marine fuel supply industries, our ability to retain our key suppliers and key customers, material disruptions in the availability or supply of crude oil or refined petroleum products, changes in the market price of petroleum, including the volatility of spot pricing, increased levels of competition, compliance or lack of compliance with various environmental and other applicable laws and regulations, our ability to collect accounts receivable, changes in the political, economic or regulatory conditions in the markets in which we operate, and the world in general, our failure to hedge certain financial risks associated with our business, our ability to maintain our current tax treatments and our failure to comply with restrictions in our credit agreements and other factors. Please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.

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