ATHENS, Greece, July 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC. (NASDAQ: IMPP, the “Company”), a ship-owning company providing petroleum products, crude oil and dry bulk seaborne transportation services, announced today its unaudited financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022. In November 2021, StealthGas Inc. contributed to the Company four subsidiaries comprising a fleet of four tanker vessels. The Company was spun-off from StealthGas Inc. in December 2021. Historical comparative period reflects the results of the carve-out operations of the four subsidiaries that were contributed to the Company.

OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

• Strategic decision to strengthen our fleet further.
• In July 2022, we entered into an agreement with an affiliated party to acquire two handysize dry bulk carriers, the Eco Bushfire (2011 built) and the Eco Angelbay (2009 built), for a total consideration of $39 million. Both vessels are Japanese built with an aggregate capacity of 64,000 dwt.
• Fleet operational utilization of 82.5% in Q2 22’ – mainly due to the repositioning of our two suezmax tankers for a total of 56 days.
• Revenues of $11.3 million in Q2 22’ up by $6.2 million or 121.6% compared to Q1 22’ due to further improvement in market rates and a higher number of vessels.
• Net income of $0.1 million – undermined by the $2.4 million voyage and operating costs we incurred for the repositioning of our two suezmaxes- benefit of which will appear in Q3 22’.
• EBITDA
  
  ¹
  
  of $3.0 million in Q2 22’- 15.4% higher than in Q1 22’ and 114.3% or $1.6 million higher than in Q2 21’.
• Cash and cash equivalents of $79.1 million as of June 30, 2022.

Second Quarter 2022 Results:

• 
  Revenues
  
  for the three months ended June 30, 2022 amounted to $11.3 million, an increase of $7.1 million, or 169.0%, compared to revenues of $4.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021, primarily due to the increase of our average fleet by two vessels and the improvement in market rates.
• 
  Voyage expenses and vessels’ operating expenses
  
  for the three months ended June 30, 2022 were $4.4 million and $3.3 million, respectively, compared to $0.6 million and $2.0 million, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2021. The $3.8 million increase in voyage expenses is mainly due to the increase in the spot days of our fleet by 159 days (468%) and the rise in bunker prices. This quarter we incurred $1.7 million of voyage costs due to the repositioning of our two suezmax vessels for a total period of 56 days. The $1.3 million increase in vessels’ operating expenses, was primarily due to the increase in the average number of our vessels and supply costs incurred in relation to the recent acquisition of our two suezmax vessels.
• 
  Depreciation
  
  for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 was $2.7 million and $2.2 million, respectively. The change is attributable to the increase in the average number of our vessels.
• 
  Interest and finance costs
  
  for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 were $0.2 million and $0.001 million, respectively. The increase is attributable to the interest expense incurred relating to our loan agreement entered into in November 2021.
• As a result of the above, for the three months ended June 30, 2022, the Company reported
  
  net income
  
  of $0.1 million, compared to net loss of $0.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021. Dividends paid on Series A Preferred Shares amounted to $0.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022. The
  
  weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding, basic
  
  , for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was 112.6 million.
• 
  Loss per share, basic,
  
  for the three months ended June 30, 2022 amounted to $0.00.
  
  EBITDA
  
  for the three months ended June 30, 2022 amounted to $3.0 million. Reconciliations of EBITDA to Net (Loss)/Income are set forth below.
• An average of 5.96 vessels were owned by the Company during the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to 4.00 vessels for the same period of 2021.

Six Months 2022 Results:

• 
  Revenues
  
  for the six months ended June 30, 2022, amounted to $16.5 million, an increase of $7.3 million, or 79.3%, compared to revenues of $9.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, primarily due to the increase in the average number of our vessels and the improvement in market rates.
• 
  Voyage expenses and vessels’ operating expenses
  
  for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were $4.9 million and $5.1 million, respectively, compared to $1.9 million and $3.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The $3.0 million increase in voyage expenses is mainly due to the increase in the spot days of our fleet by 39 days (21.5%) and the rise in daily bunker cost by $9,400. The $1.4 million increase in vessels’ operating expenses, was primarily due to the increase in the average number of our vessels.
• Depreciation for the six months ended June 30, 2022, was $4.9 million, a $0.6 million increase from $4.3 million for the same period of last year, due to the increase in the average number of our vessels.
• As a result of the above, the Company reported
  
  net income
  
  for the six months ended June 30, 2022 of $0.3 million, compared to a net loss of $1.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The
  
  weighted average number of shares
  
  outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was 65.4 million.
  
  Loss per share, basic
  
  , for the six months ended June 30, 2022 amounted to $0.01.
• 
  EBITDA
  
  for the six months ended June 30, 2022 amounted to $5.6 million. Reconciliations of EBITDA to Net (Loss)/Income are set forth below. An average of 5.01 vessels were owned by the Company during the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to 4.00 vessels for the same period of 2021.
• As of June 30, 2022,
  
  cash and cash equivalents
  
  amounted to $79.1 million and total debt, net of deferred finance charges, amounted to $25.5 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2022 debt repayments amounted to $2.4 million.

CEO


Harry Vafias Commented

Our second quarter financial and operating results is a testimony that we are on track as per our commitment to our investors. As you may all recall, we had promised our shareholders growth and this is exactly what we are doing but at the same time keeping a very solid balance sheet. Our fleet of four vessels has grown to ten vessels within a six months’ period. We have also placed emphasis on capitalizing on market conditions; this quarter we successfully increased our revenue by $6 million compared to Q1 22’. The repositioning of our two suezmax vessels deprived us from further revenue generation but most importantly undermined our profitability by an excess of $2 million; the benefits of this decision will appear in the third quarter. We are confident that the next quarter’s profitability will emulate the revenue increase resulting from the current market conditions.

Conference Call details:

On July 27, 2022 at 11:00 am ET, the company’s management will host a conference call to discuss the results and the company’s operations and outlook.

Online Registration:

Beginning this quarter, conference call participants should pre-register using the below link to receive the dial-in numbers and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call.

https://register.vevent.com/register/BIc09c5d4c6e4749419ed5e0c1530e39b0

Slides and audio webcast:

There will also be a live and then archived webcast of the conference call, through the IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC. website (www.ImperialPetro.com). Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.

About IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC.

Imperial Petroleum Inc. is a ship-owning company providing petroleum products, crude oil and drybulk seaborne transportation services. The Company owns a total of 8 vessels; five M.R. product tankers, one Aframax oil tanker and two suezmax tankers and has entered into an agreement to acquire two handysize dry bulk carriers. Following the delivery of these dry bulk vessels, Imperial Petroleum’s fleet will count 10 vessels with a capacity of approximately 737,000 deadweight tons (dwt). Imperial Petroleum Inc.’s shares of common stock and 8.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market and trade under the symbols “IMPP” and “IMPPP”, respectively.

Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance and may include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, or impact or duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC. 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 our control, IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC. cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts throughout the world to contain its spread, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including changes in charter hire rates and vessel values, charter counterparty performance, changes in demand that may affect attitudes of time charterers to scheduled and unscheduled drydockings, shipyard performance, changes in IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC’s operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in our financing arrangements, or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, domestic and international political conditions, the conflict in Ukraine and related sanctions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents and political events or acts by terrorists.

Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Fleet List and Fleet Deployment

For information on our fleet and further information:

Visit our website at


www.ImperialPetro.com

Fleet Data:

The following key indicators highlight the Company’s operating performance during the periods ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2022.

1)

Average number of vessels

is the number of owned vessels that constituted our fleet for the relevant period, as measured by the sum of the number of days each vessel was a part of our fleet during the period divided by the number of calendar days in that period.

2)

Total calendar days

for fleet are the total days the vessels we operated were in our possession for the relevant period including off-hire days associated with major repairs, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys.

3)

Total voyage days

for fleet reflect the total days the vessels we operated were in our possession for the relevant period net of off-hire days associated with major repairs, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys.

4)

Fleet utilization

is the percentage of time that our vessels were available for revenue generating voyage days, and is determined by dividing voyage days by fleet calendar days for the relevant period.

5)

Total charter days

for fleet are the number of voyage days the vessels operated on time or bareboat charters for the relevant period.

6)

Total spot market charter days

for fleet are the number of voyage days the vessels operated on spot market charters for the relevant period.

7)

Fleet operational utilization

is the percentage of time that our vessels generated revenue, and is determined by dividing voyage days excluding commercially idle days by fleet calendar days for the relevant period.

Reconciliation of EBITDA:

EBITDA represents net (loss)/income before interest and finance costs, interest income and depreciation.

EBITDA is not a recognized measurement under U.S. GAAP. Our calculation of EBITDA may not be comparable to that reported by other companies in the shipping industry or other industries.

EBITDA measurement is included herein because it is a basis, upon which our investors and we assess our financial performance. It allows us to present our performance from period to period on a comparable basis and provides investors with a means of better evaluating and understanding our operating performance.

¹

EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure. Refer to the reconciliation of this measure to the most directly comparable financial measure in accordance with GAAP set forth later in this release.

Company Contact:
Fenia Sakellaris
IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC.
00-30-210-6250-001
E-mail: [email protected]