Excel Maritime Reports Results for the Second Half and Year Ended December 31, 2012

ATHENS, GREECE--(Marketwire - Mar 28, 2013) - Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd (NYSE: EXM) ("Excel"), an owner and operator of dry bulk carriers and an international provider of worldwide seaborne transportation services for dry bulk cargoes, announced today its preliminary unaudited financial highlights for the second half and year ended December 31, 2012.

Financial highlights

Second half

Year ended December 31,

2011

2012

2011

2012

(amounts in millions of U.S Dollars, except per share data and daily TCE)

Voyage Revenues

$

164.2

$

114.8

$

353.4

$

242.0

Adjusted EBITDA

$

70.8

$

28.4

$

162.8

$

68.4

Time Charter Equivalent (TCE) per day

$

16,670

$

12,038

$

17,984

$

12,743

Second Half 2012

For the second half of 2012, Excel reported voyage revenues of $114.8 million compared to voyage revenues of $164.2 million for the same period in 2011.

Adjusted EBITDA for the second half of 2012 was $28.4 million compared to $70.8 million for the second half of 2011, a decrease of approximately 59.9%.

An average of 46.0 and 47.2 vessels were operated during the second half of 2012 and 2011, respectively, earning a blended average time charter equivalent rate of $12,038 and $16,670 per day, respectively.

Year Ended December 31, 2012

For the year ended December 31, 2012, Excel reported voyage revenues of $242.0 million compared to voyage revenues of $353.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $68.4 million compared to $162.8 million for the respective year of 2011, a decrease of approximately 58%.

An average of 46.5 and 47.7 vessels were operated during the year ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, earning a blended average time charter equivalent rate of $12,743 and $17,984 per day, respectively.

Corporate highlights

The Company is currently in advanced restructuring discussions with its lenders under its syndicated credit facility, dated as of April 14, 2008 (the "Syndicate Lenders"), which include amended amortization schedules and extension of the facility's maturity. While such discussions continue, the Syndicate Lenders have agreed to forbear from exercising their rights in connection with the principal installments that have become due in the current fiscal year, through April 30, 2013. The Company's access to the escrowed funds to fund its equity raising commitment has been similarly extended to April 30, 2013. The Company is in similar discussions with its lenders under its bilateral credit facilities. To date, the Company has not obtained a forbearance from its lenders with respect to other, non-payment related, defaults under its syndicated and bilateral credit facilities. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to reach an agreement with its lenders and other creditors on such restructuring. Also, the ultimate accounting impact of the restructuring is unknown and will be determined once an agreement on the final terms of such restructuring has been reached.

In addition, three of the vessels that were employed on bareboat charter have been redelivered to their respective owners for an amount of up to $6.0 million payable in cash or in stock up to December 2017, in the latter case at the market price on the date of the stock's issuance in 2017. The remaining four vessels that were employed on bareboat charter have been redelivered to their respective owners, with the claims of the parties being the subject of arbitration.

Fleet Coverage

Fleet Coverage, as of March 22, 2013

Full Year '13

Capesize Fleet

69%

Kamsarmax / Panamax Fleet

56%

Fleet - Fixed Charters

57%

As of March 22, 2013, we have secured contract coverage for 69% of the available days of our Capesize vessels and 56% of the available days of our Kamsarmax/Panamax vessels for the year ending December 31, 2013. With respect to the entire fleet, 57% of the available days of 2013 have been fixed.

FINANCIAL DATA AND OTHER OPERATING INFORMATION

(In thousands of U.S. Dollars, except for share, per share data and daily results)

Second Half

Year
Ended December 31,

2011

2012

2011

2012

CASH FLOW DATA:

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

$

32,977

$

(284

)

$

104,350

$

3,913

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

$

7,107

$

2,652

$

(1,520

)

$

2,591

Net cash used in financing activities

$

(46,061

)

$

(7,675

)

$

(114,998

)

$

(38,325

)

Total cash at the end of the year

-

-

$

117,199

$

77,844

ADJUSTED EBITDA:

$

70,797

$

28,410

$

162,833

$

68,351

FLEET DATA:

Average number of vessels

47.2

46.0

47.7

46.5

Available days for fleet

8,469

8,129

17,058

16,280

Calendar days for fleet

8,688

8,473

17,407

17,027

Fleet utilization

97.5

%

95.9

%

98.0

%

95.6

%

AVERAGE DAILY RESULTS:

Time charter equivalent rate

$

16,670

$

12,038

$

17,984

$

12,743

Vessel operating expenses

$

4,857

$

4,677

$

4,887

$

4,685

Glossary of Terms

Average number of vessels: This is the number of vessels that constituted our fleet for the relevant period, as measured by the sum of the number of calendar days each vessel formed part of our fleet during that period divided by the number of calendar days in that period.

Total calendar days: We define these as the total days we possessed the vessels in our fleet for the relevant period including off hire days associated with major repairs, dry dockings or special or intermediate surveys. Calendar days are an indicator of the size of the fleet over a specific period of time and affect both the amount of revenues and the amount of expenses that are recorded during that period.

Available days: These are the calendar days less the aggregate number of off-hire days associated with major repairs, dry dockings or special or intermediate surveys. The shipping industry uses available days to measure the number of days in a period during which vessels should be capable of generating revenue.

Time charter equivalent rate ("TCE"): This 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 revenue generated from voyage charters (net of voyage expenses) by available 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. Time charter equivalent revenue and TCE rate are not measures of financial performance under U.S. GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of financial performance used by other companies. However, 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 voyage charters, time charters and bareboat charters) under which the vessels may be employed between the periods.

Time Charter Equivalent Calculation

(all amounts in thousands of U.S. Dollars, except for Daily Time Charter Equivalent and available days)


Second Half

Year ended
December 31,

2011

2012

2011

2012

Voyage revenues

$

164,157

$

114,754

$

353,397

$

241,973

Voyage expenses and commissions to related parties


(22,983

)


(16,894

)


(46,632

)


(34,513

)

Total revenue, net of voyage expenses

$



141,174

$



97,860

$



306,765

$



207,460

Total available days

8,469

8,129

17,058

16,280

Daily Time charter equivalent

$

16,670

$

12,038

$

17,984

$

12,743

Daily vessel operating expenses: This includes crew costs, provisions, deck and engine stores, lubricating oil, insurance, maintenance and repairs and is calculated by dividing vessel operating expenses by total calendar days for the relevant time period.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events and Excel's growth strategy and measures to implement such strategy; including expected vessel acquisitions and entering into further time charters.

Words such as "will" "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "anticipates," "hopes," "estimates," and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Although Excel believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct.

These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates which are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of Excel. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to the ability to changes in the demand for dry bulk vessels, competitive factors in the market in which Excel operates; risks associated with operations outside the United States; and other factors listed from time to time in Excel's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Excel expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Excel's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

About Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd

Excel is an owner and operator of dry bulk carriers and a provider of worldwide seaborne transportation services for dry bulk cargoes, such as iron ore, coal and grains, as well as bauxite, fertilizers and steel products. Excel owns a fleet of 39 vessels (seven Capesize, 14 Kamsarmax, 14 Panamax, two Supramax and two Handymax vessels) with a total carrying capacity of approximately 3.6 million DWT. Excel's Class A common shares have been listed since September 15, 2005 on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol EXM and, prior to that date, were listed on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) since 1998. For more information about Excel, please go to our corporate website www.excelmaritime.com.

Fleet List as of March 22, 2013:

Vessel Name

Dwt

Year Built

Charter Type

Daily rate

Average Charter Expiration

1

Mairaki (1)

181,000

2011

Period

$28,000

Apr 2016

2

Christine (1) (2)

180,000

2010

Period

$25,000

Jan 2016

3

Sandra (1)

180,274

2008

Period

$26,500

Nov 2015

4

Iron Miner

177,931

2007

Spot

5

Kirmar

164,218

2001

Spot

6

Iron Beauty

164,218

2001

Period

$8,000

Mar 2013

7

Lowlands Beilun (1)

170,162

1999

Period

$28,000

Nov 2015

Total Capesize (7)

1,217,803

8

Iron Manolis

82,269

2007

Period

$8,500

Jul 2013

9

Iron Brooke

82,594

2007

Period

$8,250

Aug 2013

10

Iron Lindrew

82,598

2007

Period

$12,000

Jan 2014

11

Pascha

82,574

2006

Period

$10,500

Sept 2013

12

Coal Gypsy

82,221

2006

Period

$11,250

May 2013

13

Iron Anne

82,220

2006

Period

$9,000

Oct 2013

14

Iron Vassilis

82,257

2006

Period

$11,000

Jul 2013

15

Iron Bill

82,187

2006

Period

$8,250

Oct 2013

16

Ore Hansa

82,209

2006

Period

$11,250

May 2013

17

Iron Kalypso

82,224

2006

Period

$8,250

Sept 2013

18

Iron Fuzeyya

82,209

2006

Period

$11,750

Nov 2013

19

Santa Barbara

82,266

2006

Period

$14,000

(floor)

Jun 2013

20

Coal Hunter

82,298

2006

Period

$14,000

(floor)

Jun 2013

21

Iron Bradyn

82,769

2005

Period

$8,000

Dec 2013

Total Kamsarmax (14)

1,152,895

22

Grain Harvester

76,417

2004

Period

$8,700

Oct 2013

23

Grain Express

76,466

2004

Period

$9,000

Sept 2013

24

Iron Knight

76,429

2004

Period

$8,250

Nov 2013

25

Coal Pride

72,493

1999

Period

$8,000

Aug 2013

26

Isminaki

74,577

1998

Spot

27

Angela Star

73,798

1998

Period

$7,500

Jun 2013

28

Elinakos

73,751

1997

Period

$7,500

Sept 2013

29

Happy Day

71,694

1997

Period

$7,000

May 2013

30

Powerful

70,083

1994

Spot

31

First Endeavour

69,111

1994

Spot

32

Rodon

73,656

1993

Spot

33

Birthday

71,504

1993

Spot

34

Renuar

70,155

1993

Spot

35

Fortezza

69,634

1993

Spot

Total Panamax (14)

1,019,768

36

July M

55,567

2005

Spot

37

Mairouli

53,206

2005

Period

$8,500

May 2013

Total Supramax (2)

108,773

38

Emerald

45,588

1998

Spot

39

Princess I

38,858

1994

Spot

Total Handymax (2)

84,446

Total Fleet (39)

3,583,685

Average age

10.6 Yrs

(1) The charter includes a 50% profit-sharing arrangement over the indicated base daily time charter rate based on the monthly AV4 BCI Time Charter Rate, which is the Baltic Capesize Index Average of four specific time charter routes as published daily by the Baltic Exchange in London.

(2) The Company holds a 71.4% ownership interest in the joint venture that owns the vessel.

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