UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 6-K

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2017

 

Commission file number 001-36028

 

ARDMORE SHIPPING CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Cumberland House

1 Victoria Street, 5th Floor

Hamilton, HM11 Bermuda

(Address of principal executive office)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F x           Form 40- F ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1).

 

Yes ¨           No x

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7).

 

Yes ¨           No x

 

 

 

INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT

 

Attached to this Report on Form 6-K are (1) Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and (2) the unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements and related notes of Ardmore Shipping Corporation (the “Company”), as at and for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

 

This Report is hereby incorporated by reference into the following registration statements of the Company:

 

·Registration Statement on Form F-3D (Registration No. 333-203205) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2015;
   
·Registration Statement on Form F-3 (Registration No. 333-206501) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on August 21, 2015, as amended;
   
·Registration Statement on Form F-3 (Registration No. 333-213343) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on August 26, 2016; and
   
·Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-213344) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on August 26, 2016.

 

 

 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Matters discussed in this report 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”, “anticipate”, “intend,” “estimate”, “forecast”, “plan”, “potential”, “should”, “may”, “will”, “expect” and similar expressions are among those that identify forward-looking statements.

 

The forward-looking statements in this report are based upon various assumptions, including, among others, the Company’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in the Company’s records and other data available from third parties. Although the Company believes 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 the Company’s control, the Company cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.

 

In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in the Company’s view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include: the strength of world economies and currencies; general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values; changes in demand for and the supply of tanker vessel capacity; changes in the Company’s operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs; fluctuations in oil prices; the market for the Company’s vessels; competition in the tanker industry; availability of financing and refinancing; charter counterparty performance; ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in such financing arrangements; changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities; general domestic and international political conditions; potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents, piracy or political events; vessel breakdowns and instances of off-hires; and other factors. Please see the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this report not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of the Company’s future performance, and actual results and future developments may vary materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  ARDMORE SHIPPING CORPORATION  
     
Date: May 3, 2017 By: /s/ Paul Tivnan  
    Paul Tivnan  
    Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary

 

 

 

ARDMORE SHIPPING CORPORATION

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes contained in this Report on Form 6-K and with our audited consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 18. Financial Statements” and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” of our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016. The unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements included in this report have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and are presented in U.S dollars as at and for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.  Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Ardmore,” the “Company”, “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Ardmore Shipping Corporation (NYSE:ASC) and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

GENERAL

 

Ardmore owns and operates a fleet of mid-size product and chemical tankers ranging from approximately 25,000 to 50,000 deadweight tonnes (“Dwt”). Ardmore provides seaborne transportation of petroleum products and chemicals worldwide to oil majors, national oil companies, oil and chemical traders, and chemical companies, with its modern, fuel-efficient fleet of tankers.

 

Ardmore’s core strategy is to continue to develop a modern, high-quality fleet of product and chemical tankers, build key long-term commercial relationships, and maintain a cost advantage in assets, operations and overhead, while creating synergies and economies of scale as the company grows. Ardmore provides its services to customers through voyage charters, commercial pools and time charters and has established close working relationships with key commercial and technical management partners. Ardmore views the continued development of these relationships as crucial to its long-term success.

 

We are commercially independent, as we have no blanket employment arrangements with third-party or related-party commercial managers. We market our services directly to our customers, including a range of pooling service providers. As of March 31, 2017, our fleet consisted of 27 vessels, which are reflected in the following table:

 

Vessel Name  Type  Dwt Tonnes   IMO  Built  Country  Flag  Specification
Ardmore Seavaliant  Product/Chemical   49,998   2/3  Feb-13  Korea  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Seaventure  Product/Chemical   49,998   2/3  Jun-13  Korea  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Seavantage  Product/Chemical   49,997   2/3  Jan-14  Korea  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Seavanguard  Product/Chemical   49,998   2/3  Feb-14  Korea  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Sealion  Product/Chemical   49,999   2/3  May-15  Korea  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Seafox  Product/Chemical   49,999   2/3  Jun-15  Korea  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Seawolf  Product/Chemical   49,999   2/3  Aug-15  Korea  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Seahawk  Product/Chemical   49,999   2/3  Nov-15  Korea  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Endeavour  Product/Chemical   49,997   2/3  Jul-13  Korea  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Enterprise  Product/Chemical   49,453   2/3  Sep-13  Korea  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Endurance  Product/Chemical   49,466   2/3  Dec-13  Korea  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Encounter  Product/Chemical   49,478   2/3  Jan-14  Korea  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Explorer  Product/Chemical   49,494   2/3  Jan-14  Korea  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Exporter  Product/Chemical   49,466   2/3  Feb-14  Korea  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Engineer  Product/Chemical   49,420   2/3  Mar-14  Korea  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Seafarer  Product/Chemical   45,744   3  Aug-04  Japan  MI  Eco-mod
Ardmore Seatrader  Product   47,141     Dec-02  Japan  MI  Eco-mod
Ardmore Seamaster  Product/Chemical   45,840   3  Sep-04  Japan  MI  Eco-mod
Ardmore Seamariner  Product/Chemical   45,726   3  Oct-06  Japan  MI  Eco-mod
Ardmore Sealeader  Product   47,463     Aug-08  Japan  MI  Eco-mod
Ardmore Sealifter  Product   47,472     Jul-08  Japan  MI  Eco-mod
Ardmore Dauntless  Product/Chemical   37,764   2  Feb-15  Korea  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Defender  Product/Chemical   37,791   2  Feb-15  Korea  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Cherokee  Product/Chemical   25,215   2  Jan-15  Japan  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Cheyenne  Product/Chemical   25,217   2  Mar-15  Japan  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Chinook  Product/Chemical   25,217   2  Jul-15  Japan  MI  Eco-design
Ardmore Chippewa  Product/Chemical   25,217   2  Nov-15  Japan  MI  Eco-design
Total  27   1,202,568                

 

 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Factors You Should Consider When Evaluating Our Results

 

There are a number of factors that should be considered when evaluating our historical financial performance and assessing our future prospects and we use a variety of financial and operational terms and concepts when analyzing our results of operations. Please read “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016 for additional information.

 

In accordance with U.S. GAAP, we report gross revenues in our income statement and include voyage expenses among our operating expenses. Ship-owners base economic decisions regarding the deployment of their vessels upon actual and anticipated time charter equivalent, or “TCE” rates, (which represent net revenues divided by revenue days) and industry analysts typically measure rates in terms of TCE rates. This is because under time charters and pooling arrangements the customer typically pays the voyage expenses, while under voyage charters, also known as spot market charters, the shipowner usually pays the voyage expenses. As a result, for vessels employed directly in the spot market, revenue is recognized on a gross freight basis, while under time chartering and pool arrangements, the charterer typically pays voyage expenses and revenue is recognized on a net basis. To normalize these differences, the discussion of revenue below focuses on TCE rates where applicable.

 

 

 

Statement of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016

 

The following table presents our operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

 

INCOME STATEMENT DATA  Three months ended         
   Mar. 31, 2017   Mar. 31, 2016   Variance   Variance
(%)
 
REVENUE                
Revenue  $49,665,010   $43,536,296   $6,128,714    14%
                     
OPERATING EXPENSES                    
Commissions and voyage related costs   18,779,456    7,407,647    (11,371,809)   (154)%
Vessel operating expenses   15,458,378    13,697,669    (1,760,709)   (13)%
Depreciation   8,446,753    7,051,829    (1,394,924)   (20)%
Amortization of deferred dry dock expenditure   613,193    593,851    (19,342)   (3)%
General and administrative expenses                    
Corporate   3,038,191    3,262,547    224,356    7%
Chartering and commercial   661,423    350,780    (310,643)   (89)%
Total operating expenses   46,997,394    32,364,323    (14,633,071)   (45)%
                     
Operating Income   2,667,616    11,171,973    (8,504,357)   (76)%
                     
Interest expense and finance costs   (4,910,921)   (4,433,611)   (477,310)   (11)%
Interest income   90,614    21,140    69,474    329%
                     
(Loss) / income before taxes   (2,152,691)   6,759,502    (8,912,193)   (132)%
                     
Income tax   (14,500)   (20,000)   5,500    28%
                     
Net (loss) / income  $(2,167,191)  $6,739,502   $(8,906,693)   (132)%

 

Revenue. Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $49.7 million, an increase of $6.2 million from $43.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

 

The average number of owned vessels increased to 27 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 from 24 for the three months ended March 31, 2016, resulting in total revenue days of 2,410 for the three months ended March 31, 2017, as compared to 2,166 for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

 

We had 19 and 10 vessels employed directly in the spot market as at March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016, respectively. For spot chartering arrangements, we had 1,606 revenue days for the three months ended March 31, 2017, as compared to 821 for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The increase in revenue days derived from spot chartering arrangements resulted in an increase in revenue of $19.8 million, partially offset by a $2.1 million decrease in spot market revenue related to lower average spot rates.

 

We had eight and 14 vessels employed under time charter and pool arrangements as at March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016, respectively. Revenue days derived from time charter and pool arrangements were 804 for the three months ended March 31, 2017, as compared to 1,346 for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The decrease in revenue days in time charter and pool arrangements resulted in a decrease in revenue of $9.2 million, while lower charter rates for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 resulted in a decrease in revenue of $2.3 million.

 

As noted previously, for vessels employed directly in the spot market, revenue is recognized on a gross freight basis, while under time chartering and pool arrangements, the charterer typically pays voyage expenses and revenue is recognized on a net basis.

 

Commissions and Voyage Related Costs. Commissions and voyage related costs were $18.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, an increase of $11.4 million from $7.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Commissions and voyage related costs increased due to the increased number of revenue days for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and in particular, the increased number of revenue days derived from spot charter arrangements for which we typically are responsible for all voyage expenses as opposed to the charterer.

 

Revenue days increased to 2,410 for the three months ended March 31, 2017, as compared to 2,166 for the three months ended March 31, 2016, which accounted for all of the increase in commissions and voyage related costs. For spot chartering arrangements, we had 1,606 revenue days for the three months ended March 31, 2017, as compared to 821 for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

 

 

 

TCE Rate. The average TCE rate for our fleet was $12,919 per day for the three months ended March 31, 2017, decreasing by $4,212 per day from $17,131 per day for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The decrease in average TCE rate was the result of lower average time charter and spot rates for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016.

 

Vessel Operating Expenses. Vessel operating expenses were $15.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, an increase of $1.8 million from $13.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. This increase is primarily due to an increase in the number of vessels in operation for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Due to the nature of this expenditure, vessel operating expenses are prone to fluctuations between periods. Fleet operating costs per day, including technical management fees of an average of $390 per day, were $6,361 for the three months ended March 31, 2017, as compared to $6,194 for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

 

Depreciation. Depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $8.4 million, an increase of $1.3 million from $7.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. This increase is primarily due to an increase in the average number of owned vessels to 27 for the three months ended March 31, 2017, from 24 for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

 

Amortization of Deferred Drydock Expenditure. Amortization of deferred drydock expenditure for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $0.6 million, consistent with the three months ended March 31, 2016 when amortization of deferred drydock expenditure was also $0.6 million. The capitalized costs of drydockings for a given vessel are depreciated on a straight-line basis to the next scheduled drydocking of the vessel.

 

General and Administrative Expenses: Corporate. Corporate related general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were $3.0 million, a decrease of $0.3 million from $3.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. This decrease is primarily due to a reduction in professional fees of $0.2 million for the period March 31, 2017 as during the period ended March 31, 2016, we incurred legal costs in connection with our debt refinancing.

 

General and Administrative Expenses: Commercial and Chartering. Commercial and chartering expenses are the expenses attributable to our chartering and post-fixture operations departments in connection with our spot trading activities. Commercial and chartering expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were $0.7 million, an increase of $0.3 million from $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. This increase reflects the expansion of chartering and commercial activities in our Singapore and Houston offices, and an increased headcount in the chartering department for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

 

Interest Expense and Finance Costs. Interest expense and finance costs include loan interest, capital lease interest, and amortization of deferred financing fees, and are net of capitalized interest. Interest expense and finance costs for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were $4.9 million, as compared to $4.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Cash interest expense increased by $0.5 million to $4.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, from $3.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. This increase in cash interest expense is attributable to an increase in our long-term debt due to the expansion of our fleet coupled with an increased average LIBOR during the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016. Amortization of deferred financing charges for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $0.6 million, consistent with the three months ended March 31, 2016 when amortization of deferred financing charges was also $0.6 million.

 

 

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash and cash equivalents, cash flows provided by our operations, our undrawn credit facilities and capital raised through financing transactions. As at March 31, 2017, our total cash and cash equivalents were $45.2 million, a decrease of $10.8 million from $56.0 million as at December 31, 2016. We believe that our working capital, together with expected cash flows from operations and availability under credit facilities, will be sufficient for our present requirements.

 

Our short-term liquidity requirements include the payment of operating expenses, drydocking expenditures, debt servicing costs, dividends on our shares of common stock, scheduled repayments of long-term debt, as well as funding our other working capital requirements. Our short-term spot charters, including our participation in spot charter pooling arrangements, contribute to the volatility of our net operating cash flow, and thus our ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet our short-term liquidity needs. Historically, the tanker industry has been cyclical, experiencing volatility in profitability and asset values resulting from changes in the supply of, and demand for, vessel capacity. In addition, tanker spot markets historically have exhibited seasonal variations in charter rates. Tanker spot markets are typically stronger in the winter months as a result of increased oil consumption in the northern hemisphere and unpredictable weather patterns that tend to disrupt vessel scheduling. Time charters provide contracted revenue that reduces the volatility (as rates can fluctuate within months) and seasonality from revenue generated by vessels that operate in the spot market. Commercial pools reduce revenue volatility because they aggregate the revenues and expenses of all pool participants and distribute net earnings to the participants based on an agreed upon formula. Spot charters preserve flexibility to take advantage of increasing rate environments, but also expose the ship-owner to decreasing rate environments.

 

Our long-term capital needs are primarily for capital expenditures and debt repayment. Generally, we expect that our long-term sources of funds will be cash balances, long-term bank borrowings, capital leases and other debt or equity financings. We expect that we will rely upon internal and external financing sources, including cash balances, bank borrowings and the issuance of debt and equity securities, to fund acquisitions and expansion capital expenditures.

 

Our credit facilities and capital leases are described in Notes 2 (“Debt”) and 3 (“Capital Leases”), respectively, to our condensed interim consolidated financial statements included in this Report on Form 6-K. Our financing facilities contain covenants and other restrictions we believe are typical of debt financing collateralized by vessels, including covenants that restrict the relevant subsidiaries from incurring or guaranteeing additional indebtedness, granting certain liens, and selling, transferring, assigning or conveying assets. Our financing facilities do not impose a restriction on dividends, distributions, or returns of capital unless an event of default has occurred, is continuing or will result from such payment. Our financing facilities require us to maintain various financial covenants. Should we not meet these financial covenants or other covenants, the lenders may declare our obligations under the applicable agreements immediately due and payable, and terminate any further loan commitments, which would significantly affect our short-term liquidity requirements. As at March 31, 2017, we were in compliance with all covenants relating to our financing facilities.

 

CASH FLOW DATA

 

Cash Flow Data for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016

 

CASH FLOW DATA  Three months ended 
   Mar. 31, 2017   Mar. 31, 2016 
Net cash provided by operating activities  $805,947   $17,605,636 
Net cash used in investing activities   (168,354)   (1,000,125)
Net cash used in financing activities   (11,350,819)   (9,244,457)

 

Cash provided by operating activities

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, cash flow provided by operating activities was $0.8 million. Net income (after adding back depreciation, amortization and other non-cash items) was an inflow of $7.6 million. Changes in operating assets and liabilities resulted in an outflow of $6.6 million and drydock payments were $0.2 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, cash flow provided by operating activities was $17.6 million. Net income (after adding back depreciation, amortization and other non-cash items) was an inflow of $15.3 million. Changes in operating assets and liabilities resulted in an inflow of $2.9 million and drydock payments were $0.6 million.

 

Cash used in investing activities

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, net cash used in investing activities was $0.2 million, consisting of payments for leasehold improvements, vessel equipment and other non-current assets. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, net cash used in investing activities was $1.0 million, consisting of payments for leasehold improvements, vessel equipment and other non-current assets. 

 

 

 

Cash used in financing activities

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, the net cash used in financing activities was $11.4 million. Repayments of debt amounted to $11.3 million and total principal repayments of the capital lease arrangement were $0.1 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the net cash used in financing activities was $9.2 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, drawdowns of long-term debt amounted to $2.0 million, repayments of debt amounted to $0.9 million and total principal repayments of the capital lease arrangement were $0.4 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, we also incurred payments of $4.1 million relating to deferred finance charges for loan facilities and we made payments of $3.0 million for repurchases of our common stock. Quarterly cash dividends paid were $2.9 million for the period ended March 31, 2016.

 

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

 

Drydock

 

The drydocking schedule for our vessels that were in operation as of March 31, 2017 is as follows:

 

   For the Years Ended December 31, 
   2017   2018   2019   2020 
Number of vessels in drydock (excluding in-water surveys)   6    7    9    11 

 

We endeavor to manage the timing of future dockings across the fleet in order to minimize the number of vessels that are drydocked at any one time. As our fleet matures and expands, our drydock expenses are likely to increase.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

 

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make estimates in the application of our accounting policies based on our best assumptions, judgments and opinions. On a regular basis, management reviews the accounting policies, assumptions, estimates and judgments to ensure that our consolidated financial statements are presented fairly and in accordance with U.S. GAAP. However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ materially from our assumptions and estimates. Accounting estimates and assumptions that we consider to be the most critical to an understanding of our financial statements because they inherently involve significant judgments and uncertainties are discussed in “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016. There have been no significant changes to these estimates and assumptions in the three months ended March 31, 2017.

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

 

DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

In addition to the risks set forth below, you should carefully consider the risk factors discussed in “Item 3. Key Information – Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016, regarding risks which could materially affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Foreign Exchange Risk

 

The majority of our transactions, assets and liabilities are denominated in U.S. Dollars, our functional currency. We incur certain general and operating expenses in other currencies (primarily the Euro, Singapore Dollar, Pounds Sterling, Hong Kong Dollar) and, as a result, there is a risk that currency fluctuations may have a negative effect on the value of our cash flows. Such risk may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. We believe these adverse effects to be immaterial and we have not entered into any derivative contracts to manage foreign exchange risk during the three months ended March 31, 2017.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

We are exposed to the impact of interest rate changes primarily through borrowings that require us to make interest payments based on LIBOR. Significant increases in interest rates could adversely affect our results of operations and our ability to repay debt. We regularly monitor interest rate exposure and may enter into swap arrangements to hedge exposure where it is considered economically advantageous to do so.

 

The disclosure in the immediately following paragraph about the potential effects of changes in interest rates are based on a sensitivity analysis, which models the effects of hypothetical interest rate shifts. A sensitivity analysis is constrained by several factors, including the necessity to conduct the analysis based on a single point in time and by the inability to include the extraordinarily complex market reactions that normally would arise from the market shifts. Although the following results of a sensitivity analysis for changes in interest rates may have some limited use as a benchmark, they should not be viewed as a forecast. This forward-looking disclosure also is selective in nature and addresses only the potential impacts on our borrowings.

 

 

 

Assuming we do not hedge our exposure to interest rate fluctuations, a hypothetical 100 basis-point increase or decrease in our variable interest rates would have increased or decreased our interest expense for the three-month period ended March 31, 2017 by $4.6 million (March 31, 2016: $4.2 million) using the average long-term debt balance and actual interest incurred in each period.

 

Liquidity Risk

 

Our principal objective in relation to liquidity is to ensure that we have access at minimum cost to sufficient liquidity to enable us to meet our obligations as they come due and to provide adequately for contingencies. Our policy is to manage our liquidity by forecasting of cash flows arising from or expense relating to time charter revenue, pool revenue, vessel operating expenses, general and administrative overhead and servicing of debt.

 

Credit Risk

 

There is a concentration of credit risk with respect to our cash and cash equivalents to the extent that substantially all of the amounts are held in Nordea Bank, and in short-term funds managed by Blackrock and State Street Global Advisors. While we believe this risk of loss is low, we intend to review and revise our policy for managing cash and cash equivalents if considered advantageous and prudent to do so.

 

We limit our credit risk with trade accounts receivable by performing ongoing credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition. We generally do not require collateral for our trade accounts receivable.

 

We may be exposed to credit risk in relation to vessel employment and at times may have multiple vessels employed by one charterer. We consider and evaluate concentration of credit risk regularly and perform on-going evaluations of these charterers for credit risk. As at March 31, 2017 our 27 vessels in operation were employed with 21 different charterers.

 

 

 

Ardmore Shipping Corporation

 

INDEX TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

  Page
Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2017 and as at December 31, 2016 F-2
Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016 F-3
Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and twelve months ended December 31, 2016 F-4
Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016 F-5
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements F-6

 

 F-1 

 

Ardmore Shipping Corporation

Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets

As at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016
(Expressed in U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise stated) 

   As at 
   Mar. 31, 2017   Dec. 31, 2016 
ASSETS          
Current assets          
Cash and cash equivalents   45,239,647    55,952,873 
Receivables, trade   26,815,143    23,148,782 
Working capital advances   3,450,000    3,300,000 
Prepayments   1,060,594    803,003 
Advances and deposits   4,071,948    3,136,362 
Other receivables   -    82,636 
Inventories   7,970,981    7,339,252 
Total current assets   88,608,313    93,762,908 
           
Non-current assets          
Vessels and vessel equipment, net   777,204,873    785,461,415 
Deferred dry dock expenditure, net   2,865,323    3,232,293 
Leasehold improvements   487,265    488,561 
Other non-current assets, net   676,986    697,546 
Total non-current assets   781,234,447    789,879,815 
           
TOTAL ASSETS   869,842,760    883,642,723 
           
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY          
Current liabilities          
Payables, trade   13,988,584    14,448,043 
Charter revenue received in advance   -    507,780 
Other payables   19,854    5,354 
Accrued interest on loans   2,016,774    2,067,991 
Current portion of long-term debt   41,575,142    41,827,480 
Current portion of capital lease obligations   298,343    159,028 
Total current liabilities   57,898,697    59,015,676 
           
Non-current liabilities          
Non-current portion of long-term debt   400,948,674    411,385,626 
Non-current portion of capital lease obligations   8,778,519    8,971,622 
Total non-current liabilities   409,727,193    420,357,248 
           
Equity          
Share capital   340,613    340,613 
Additional paid in capital   405,393,519    405,279,257 
Treasury stock   (4,272,477)   (4,272,477)
Accumulated surplus   755,215    2,922,406 
Total equity   402,216,870    404,269,799 
           
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY   869,842,760    883,642,723 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements.

 F-2 

 

Ardmore Shipping Corporation

Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Operations

For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016
(Expressed in U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise stated)

 

   Three months ended 
   Mar. 31, 2017   Mar. 31, 2016 
REVENUE          
Revenue   49,665,010    43,536,296 
           
OPERATING EXPENSES          
Commissions and voyage related costs   18,779,456    7,407,647 
Vessel operating expenses   15,458,378    13,697,669 
Depreciation   8,446,753    7,051,829 
Amortization of deferred dry dock expenditure   613,193    593,851 
General and administrative expenses          
Corporate   3,038,191    3,262,547 
Chartering and commercial   661,423    350,780 
Total operating expenses   46,997,394    32,364,323 
           
Operating Income   2,667,616    11,171,973 
           
Interest expense and finance costs   (4,910,921)   (4,433,611)
Interest income   90,614    21,140 
(Loss) / income before taxes   (2,152,691)   6,759,502 
           
Income tax   (14,500)   (20,000)
           
Net (loss) / income   (2,167,191)   6,739,502 
           
(Loss) / earnings per share, basic and diluted   (0.06)   0.26 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted   33,575,610    26,059,879 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements.

 

 F-3 

 

Ardmore Shipping Corporation

Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

For the three months ended March 31, 2017

And for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016
(Expressed in U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise stated)

 

   Number of
shares
outstanding
   Share capital   Additional
paid-in capital
   Treasury
stock
   Accumulated
surplus /
(deficit)
   TOTAL 
Balance as at January 1, 2016   26,210,311    263,297    338,226,370    (1,278,546)   10,400,157    347,611,278 
Net proceeds from equity offering   7,500,000    75,000    63,852,414    -    -    63,927,414 
Share based compensation   -    -    1,304,325    -    -    1,304,325 
Repurchase of common stock   (366,347)   -    -    (2,993,931)   -    (2,993,931)
Dividend payments   231,646    2,316    1,896,148    -    (11,225,683)   (9,327,219)
Income for year   -    -    -    -    3,747,932    3,747,932 
Balance as at December 31, 2016   33,575,610    340,613    405,279,257    (4,272,477)   2,922,406    404,269,799 
Share based compensation   -    -    114,262    -    -    114,262 
Loss for the period   -    -    -    -    (2,167,191)   (2,167,191)
Balance as at March 31, 2017   33,575,610    340,613    405,393,519    (4,272,477)   755,215    402,216,870 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements

 

 F-4 

 

Ardmore Shipping Corporation

Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016
(Expressed in U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise stated)

 

   Three months ended 
   Mar. 31, 2017   Mar. 31, 2016 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES          
Net (loss) / income   (2,167,191)   6,739,502 
Non-cash items:          
Depreciation   8,446,753    7,051,829 
Amortization of deferred dry dock expenditure   613,193    593,851 
Share based compensation   114,262    320,985 
Amortization of deferred finance charges   607,740    600,463 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Receivables, trade   (3,666,361)   5,943,719 
Working capital advances   (150,000)   - 
Prepayments   (257,591)   (87,758)
Advances and deposits   (935,586)   (1,494,787)
Other receivables   82,636    - 
Inventories   (631,729)   (330,719)
Payables, trade   (459,459)   (2,829,908)
Charter revenue received in advance   (507,780)   1,377,188 
Other payables   14,500    (38,453)
Accrued interest on loans   (51,217)   381,516 
Deferred dry dock expenditure   (246,223)   (621,792)
Net cash provided by operating activities   805,947    17,605,636 
           
INVESTING ACTIVITIES          
Payments for acquisition of vessels and equipment   (131,467)   (299,398)
Payments for leasehold improvements   (12,279)   (502,277)
Payments for other non-current assets   (24,608)   (198,450)
Net cash used in investing activities   (168,354)   (1,000,125)
           
FINANCING ACTIVITIES          
Proceeds from long-term debt   -    2,010,000 
Repayments of long-term debt   (11,270,681)   (855,000)
Repayments of capital leases   (59,311)   (443,813)
Payments for deferred finance charges   (20,827)   (4,110,711)
Repurchase of common stock   -    (2,993,931)
Payment of dividend   -    (2,851,002)
Net cash used in financing activities   (11,350,819)   (9,244,457)
           
Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents   (10,713,226)   7,361,054 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year   55,952,873    40,109,382 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period   45,239,647    47,470,436 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements.

 

 F-5 

 

Ardmore Shipping Corporation

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016

(Expressed in U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise stated)

1.General information and significant accounting policies

 

1.1.Background

 

Ardmore Shipping Corporation (NYSE: ASC) (‘‘ASC’’), together with its subsidiaries (collectively ‘‘Ardmore’’ or ‘‘the Company’’), provides seaborne transportation of petroleum products and chemicals worldwide to oil majors, national oil companies, oil and chemical traders, and chemical companies, with its modern, fuel-efficient fleet of mid-size product and chemical tankers. As at March 31, 2017, Ardmore had 27 vessels in operation. The average age of Ardmore’s operating fleet as at March 31, 2017 was 4.6 years.

 

1.2.Management and organizational structure

 

ASC was incorporated in the Republic of the Marshall Islands on May 14, 2013. ASC commenced business operations through its predecessor company, Ardmore Shipping LLC, on April 15, 2010. On August 6, 2013, ASC completed its initial public offering (the ‘‘IPO’’) of 10,000,000 shares of its common stock. Prior to the IPO, GA Holdings LLC, who was then ASC’s sole shareholder, exchanged its 100% interest in Ardmore Shipping LLC (‘‘ASLLC’’) for 8,049,500 shares of ASC, and ASLLC became a wholly owned subsidiary of ASC. Immediately following the IPO, GA Holdings LLC held 44.6% of the outstanding common stock of ASC, with the remaining 55.4% held by public investors. In March 2014, ASC completed a follow-on public offering of 8,050,000 shares of its common stock. In November 2015, GA Holdings LLC sold 4,000,000 shares of ASC common stock in an underwritten public offering. In June 2016, Ardmore completed a public offering of 7,500,000 shares of its common stock. As of March 31, 2017, GA Holdings LLC held 5,787,942 common shares, or 17.2% of the outstanding common stock of ASC, with the remaining 82.8% held by public investors.

 

As at March 31, 2017, ASC had 46 wholly owned subsidiaries, the majority of which represent single ship-owning companies for ASC’s fleet. Ardmore Shipping (Bermuda) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary incorporated in Bermuda, carries out the Company’s management services and associated functions. Ardmore Shipping Services (Ireland) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary incorporated in Ireland, provides the Company’s corporate, accounting, fleet administration and operations services. Each of Ardmore Shipping (Asia) Pte. Limited and Ardmore Shipping (Americas) LLC, wholly-owned subsidiaries incorporated in Singapore and Delaware, respectively, performs commercial management and chartering services for the Company.

 

1.3.Basis of preparation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements, which include the accounts of ASC and its subsidiaries, have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and applicable rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. All subsidiaries are 100% directly or indirectly owned by ASC. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated on consolidation. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to be consistent with the current period’s presentation. These unaudited condensed interim consolidated statements and the accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

These unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows as at and for the periods presented.

 

The audited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.

 

1.4.Summary of significant accounting policies

 

Except as detailed under Section 1.6 below, there have been no changes in the Company’s significant accounting policies for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared to the significant accounting policies described in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

1.5.Share based payments

 

The Company may grant share-based payment awards, such as restricted stock units or stock appreciation rights, as incentive-based compensation to certain employees and directors. The Company measures the cost of such awards using the grant date fair value of the award and recognizes that cost, net of estimated forfeitures, over the requisite service period, which generally equals the vesting period. If the award contains a market condition, such conditions are included in the determination of the fair value of the stock unit. Once the fair value has been determined, the associated expense is recognized in the consolidated statement of operations over the requisite service period. For additional information, please see Note 6 (“Stock appreciation rights”).

 

 F-6 

 

Ardmore Shipping Corporation

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016

(Expressed in U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise stated)

1.6.Recent accounting pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (‘‘FASB’’) issued Accounting Standards Update (‘‘ASU’’) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, or ASU 2014-09, a standard that will supersede virtually all of the existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP. The standard establishes a five-step model that will apply to revenue earned from a contract with a customer. The standard’s requirements will also apply to the sale of some non-financial assets that are not part of the entity’s ordinary activities (e.g., sales of property or plant and equipment). Extensive disclosures will be required, including disaggregation of total revenue, information about performance obligations, changes in contract asset and liability account balances between periods and key judgments and estimates. The FASB has recently issued several amendments to the standard, including clarification on accounting for licenses of intellectual property and identifying performance obligations.

 

The guidance permits two methods of adoption: retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (full retrospective method), or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of initial application (the cumulative catch-up transition method). We currently anticipate adopting the standard using the full retrospective method to restate each prior reporting period presented. The new standard will be effective for us beginning January 1, 2018.

 

We are undertaking a comprehensive approach to assess the impact of the guidance on our business by reviewing our current accounting policies and practices to identify any potential differences that may result from applying the new requirements to our consolidated financial statements. We do not anticipate that this standard will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

We are liaising with other shipping companies on business assumptions, processes, systems and controls to fully determine revenue recognition and disclosure under the new standard. We continue to make significant progress on our review of the standard and at present are considering identification of certain performance obligations and the timing of related revenue recognition on our charter arrangements. Our initial assessment may change as we continue to refine these assumptions.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, a standard which will replace previous topics on lease accounting. The revised guidance will require lessees to recognize on their balance sheet a right of use asset and corresponding liability in respect of all material lease contracts. Ardmore currently recognizes on its balance sheet those leases classified as capital leases. Those leases that are currently accounted for as operating leases will have to be reviewed and potentially included on Ardmore’s balance sheet in accordance with the new guidance. This guidance is effective for the Company on January 1, 2019, and a modified retrospective approach is required for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements. Management anticipates that the standard will be adopted at the same time as ASC 606 and that there will be no significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (Topic 718). The new update will require all income tax effects of awards to be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled. The update will also allow an employer to repurchase more of an employee’s shares than it can today for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting and to make a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur. The guidance is effective for the Company on January 1, 2017. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments based on a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF), to address the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments on the statement of cash flows. The new guidance also clarifies how the predominance principle should be applied when cash receipts and cash payments have aspects of more than one class of cash flows. The standard will be effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. Entities are required to apply the guidance retrospectively. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this standard update on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

 F-7 

 

Ardmore Shipping Corporation

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016

(Expressed in U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise stated)

 

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash, to address classification of activity related to restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the cash flows. The standard eliminates the presentation of transfers between cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. When cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents are presented in more than one line item on the balance sheet, a reconciliation of the totals in the cash flows to the related captions in the balance sheet are required, either on the face of the cash flow or in the notes to the financial statements. Additional disclosures are required for the nature of the restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. The standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this standard update on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In February 2017, FASB issued ASU 2017-05, Other Income – Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20). The standard contains final guidance that clarifies the scope and application of ASC 610-20 on the sale or transfer of non-financial assets and in substance non-financial assets to non-customers, including partial sales. The standard applies to non-financial assets, including real estate, ships and intellectual property, and clarifies that the derecognition of all businesses is in the scope of ASC 810. Management is in the process of assessing the full effect of this new standard.

 

1.7.Financial instruments

 

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and trade payables reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet are reasonable estimates of their fair values due to their short-term nature. The fair values of long-term debt approximate the recorded values due to the variable interest rates payable.

 

2.Debt

 

As at March 31, 2017 Ardmore had five loan facilities, which it has used primarily to finance vessel acquisitions or vessels under construction. ASC’s applicable ship-owning subsidiaries have granted first-priority mortgages against the relevant vessels in favor of the lenders as security for Ardmore’s obligations under the loan facilities, which totaled 26 vessels as at March 31, 2017. ASC and its subsidiary ASLLC have provided guarantees in respect of the loan facilities. These guarantees can be called upon following a payment default. The outstanding principal balances on each loan facility as at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were as follows:

 

   As at 
   Mar 31, 2017   Dec 31, 2016 
Facility I ("NIBC Bank Facility")   9,950,000    10,305,000 
Facility II ("CACIB Bank Facility")   36,200,000    36,900,000 
Facility III (“ABN/DVB/NIBC Joint Bank Facility”)   198,191,457    204,090,550 
Facility IV (“Nordea/SEB Joint Bank Facility”)   140,084,536    142,688,402 
Facility V (“ABN AMRO Facility”)   68,569,783    70,282,505 
Total debt   452,995,776    464,266,457 
Deferred Finance Fees   (10,471,960)   (11,053,351)
Net total debt   442,523,816    453,213,106 
Current portion of long-term debt   44,056,636    44,313,149 
Current portion of deferred finance fees   (2,481,494)   (2,485,669)
Total current portion of long-term debt   41,575,142    41,827,480 
Non-current portion of long-term debt   400,948,674    411,385,626 

 F-8 

 

Ardmore Shipping Corporation

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016

(Expressed in U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise stated)

 

Future scheduled minimum repayments under the Company’s loan facilities for each year indicated below are as follows:

 

   As at 
   Mar 31, 2017 
2017   33,042,468 
2018   42,556,624 
2019   42,056,620 
2020   42,056,620 
2021   44,359,890 
2022   194,934,920 
2023   53,988,634 
    452,995,776 

 

NIBC Bank Facility

 

On September 12, 2014, one of ASC’s subsidiaries entered into a $13.5 million long-term loan facility with NIBC Bank N.V. to finance a secondhand vessel acquisition which delivered to Ardmore in 2014. The facility was drawn down in September 2014 and

bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.90%. Principal repayments on loans are made on a quarterly basis, with a balloon payment paid with the final instalment. The loan facility matures in September 2021.

 

CACIB Bank Facility

 

On May 22, 2014, two of ASC’s subsidiaries entered into a $39.0 million long-term loan facility with Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank to finance two vessels under construction. On March 10, 2016, this facility was refinanced, the lenders provided an additional $25 million commitment for additional financing and an additional tranche of $2.3 million was drawn down. The $25 million of additional financing was drawn and repaid in full during the three-month period ended September 30, 2016. Interest is calculated on each tranche at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.50%. Principal repayments on loans are made on a quarterly basis, with a balloon payment payable with the final instalment. The full facility matures in 2022.

 

ABN/DVB/NIBC Joint Bank Facility

 

On January 13, 2016, 11 of ASC’s subsidiaries entered into a $213 million long-term loan facility (including an incremental commitment of $20 million to fund future acquisitions) with ABN and DVB to refinance existing facilities. The loan, other than the $20 million commitment, was fully drawn down on January 22, 2016. Interest is calculated at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.55%. The loan matures in 2022. On August 4, 2016, an incremental term loan of $36.6 million was made under the facility in order to fund two vessel acquisitions, and NIBC Bank joined as an additional lender under the facility. The incremental term loan consists of two tranches, and interest is calculated at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.75%. The additional tranches mature in 2023. Principal repayments on loans are made on a quarterly basis, with a balloon payment payable with the final instalment.

 

Nordea/SEB Joint Bank Facility

 

On January 13, 2016, seven of ASC’s subsidiaries entered into a $151 million long-term loan facility with Nordea and SEB to refinance existing facilities. The loan was fully drawn down on January 22, 2016. Interest is calculated at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.50%. Principal repayments on loans are made on a quarterly basis, with a balloon payment payable with the final instalment. The loan matures in 2022.

 

ABN AMRO Facility

 

On July 29, 2016, four of ASC’s subsidiaries entered into a $71.3 million long-term loan facility with ABN for vessel acquisitions. Three of the four tranches were drawn down during the third quarter of 2016. The fourth tranche was drawn down in the fourth quarter of 2016. Interest is calculated at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.75%. Principal repayments on loans are made on a quarterly basis, with a balloon payment payable with the final instalment. The loan matures in 2023.

 

 F-9 

 

Ardmore Shipping Corporation

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016

(Expressed in U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise stated)

Long-term debt financial covenants

 

Ardmore’s existing long-term debt facilities described above include certain covenants. The financial covenants require that ASC:

 

·maintain minimum solvency of not less than 30%;
·maintain minimum cash and cash equivalents based on the number of vessels owned and chartered-in and 5% of outstanding debt. The required minimum cash balance as of March 31, 2017, was $23.1 million;
·ensure that the aggregate fair market value of the applicable vessels plus any additional collateral is, depending on the facility, no less than 130% of the debt outstanding for the facility;
·maintain a corporate net worth of not less than $150 million;
·maintain positive working capital, excluding balloon maturities; and
·maintain at all times a ratio of EBITDA plus a portion of cash in excess of Ardmore’s minimum liquidity to total interest expense of at least 2.25:1.

 

The Company was in full compliance with all of its loan covenants as of March 31, 2017.

 

3.Capital Leases

 

On December 23, 2016 one of ASC’s subsidiaries entered into an agreement for the sale and leaseback (under a capital lease arrangement) of the Ardmore Seatrader. This transaction was treated as a financing transaction. As part of this arrangement, the senior debt outstanding on the vessels of $3.0 million was repaid in full on December 20, 2016. The capital lease is scheduled to expire in 2021 and includes a mandatory purchase obligation for the seller to repurchase the vessels, as well as a purchase option exercisable by Ardmore.

 

   As at 
   Mar. 31, 2017   Dec. 31, 2016 
Current portion of capital lease obligations   321,360    181,047 
Current portion of deferred finance fees   (23,017)   (22,019)
Non-current portion of capital lease obligations   8,865,078    9,064,702 
Non-current portion of deferred finance fees   (86,559)   (93,080)
Total capital lease obligations   9,076,862    9,130,650 

 

The future minimum lease payments required under the capital lease as at March 31, 2017, were as follows:

 

   As at 
   Mar. 31, 2017 
2017   825,000 
2018   1,387,000 
2019   1,387,000 
2020   1,390,800 
2021   7,602,800 
Total minimum lease payments   12,592,600 
Less amounts representing interest and deferred finance fees   (3,515,738)
Net minimum lease payments   9,076,862 

 

 F-10 

 

Ardmore Shipping Corporation

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016

(Expressed in U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise stated)

 

Assets recorded under capital leases consist of the following:

 

   As at 
   Mar 31, 2017   Dec 31, 2016 
Vessels, equipment and deferred drydock expenditure   26,141,845    26,125,274 
Accumulated depreciation   (9,677,459)   (9,239,855)
    16,464,386    16,885,419 

 

4.Interest expense and finance costs

 

   Three months ended 
   Mar 31, 2017   Mar 31, 2016 
Interest incurred   4,303,181    3,833,148 
Amortization of deferred financing charges   607,740    600,463 
    4,910,921    4,433,611 
           

 

5.Commitments and contingencies

 

As at March 31, 2017, the Company had the following commitments:

 

   2017   2018   2019-2021 
Office space   317,592    270,820    812,460 
    317,592    270,820    812,460 

 

6.Stock appreciation rights (“SARs”)

 

As at March 31, 2017, ASC had granted 1,349,154 SARs (inclusive of 5,779 forfeited SARs) to certain of its officers and directors under its 2013 Equity Incentive Plan. Under a SAR award, the grantee is entitled to receive the appreciation of a share of ASC’s common stock following the grant of the award. Each SAR provides for a payment of an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of a share of ASC’s common stock at the time of exercise of the SAR over the per share exercise price of the SAR, multiplied by the number of shares for which the SAR is then exercised. Payment under the SAR will be made in the form of shares of ASC’s common stock, based on the fair market value of a share of ASC’s common stock at the time of exercise of the SAR.

 

The SAR awards provide that in no event will the appreciation per share for any portion of the SAR award be deemed to exceed four times (i.e., 400%) the per share exercise price of the SAR. In other words, the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock for purposes of calculating the amount payable under the SAR is not deemed to exceed five times (i.e. 500%) the per share exercise price of the SAR. Any appreciation in excess of four times the per share exercise price of the SAR will be disregarded for purposes of calculating the amount payable under the SAR. Vesting on all awards up to July 31, 2016 was subject to certain market conditions being met. On that date the vesting reverted to being solely dependent on time of service. The grant date fair value was calculated by applying a model based on the Monte Carlo simulation. The model inputs were the grant price, dividend yield based on the initial intended dividend set out by the Company, a risk-free rate of return equal to the zero coupon U.S. Treasury bill commensurate with the contractual terms of the units and expected volatility based on the average of the most recent historical volatilities in the Company’s peer group. A summary of awards, simulation inputs and outputs is as follows:

 

 F-11 

 

Ardmore Shipping Corporation

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016

(Expressed in U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise stated)

 

              Monte Carlo Simulation Inputs         
Date  SARs
Awarded
   Exercise
Price
   Vesting
Period
  Grant
 Price
   Dividend
Yield
   Risk-free
rate of
Return
   Expected
Volatility
   Weighted
Average
Fair
 Value
@grant
 date
   Average
Expected
Exercise
Life
 
01-Aug-13   1,078,125   $14.00   5 yrs  $14.00    2.87%   2.15%   54.89%  $4.28    4.9 - 6.0 yrs 
12-Mar-14   22,118   $13.66   3 yrs  $13.66    2.93%   2.06%   56.31%  $4.17    4.6 - 5.0 yrs 
01-Sept-14   5,595   $13.91   3 yrs  $13.91    2.88%   2.20%   53.60%  $4.20    4.5 - 5.0 yrs 
06-Mar-15   37,797   $10.25   3 yrs  $10.25    3.90%   1.90%   61.38%  $2.98    4.2 - 5.0 yrs 
15-Jan-16   205,519   $9.20   3 yrs  $9.20    6.63%   1.79%   58.09%  $2.20    4.0 – 5.0 yrs 

 

The cost of each tranche is being recognized by the Company on a straight-line basis. The recognition of share-based compensation costs related to the tranches that vested before July 31, 2016 would have been accelerated if the market condition had been met and the requisite service period had been completed. The Company’s policy for issuing shares upon the exercise, if any, of the SARs is to register and issue new common shares to the beneficiary. Changes in the SARs for the period ended March 31, 2017 is set forth below:

 

   No. of Units   Weighted average
exercise price
 
Balance as at January 1, 2017   1,343,375   $13.16 
SARs granted during the three months ending March 31, 2017   -    - 
SARs exercised/converted/expired during the three months ending March 31, 2017   -    - 
SARs forfeited during the three months ending March 31, 2017   -    - 
Balance as at March 31, 2017 (none of which are exercisable or convertible)   1,343,375   $13.16 

 

The total cost related to non-vested awards expected to be recognized through 2018 is set forth below:

 

Period  TOTAL 
2017   457,042 
2018   155,219 
    612,261 

 

7.Subsequent Events

 

There have been no subsequent events since the period end.

 

 F-12