Warning Sign: High-Yield Bonds Drive Energy Sector Growth
Energy companies have become a larger presence in the US high-yield bond market this year, relying on debt to fund capex as they expand exploration and production activity, but months of heavy issuance and weaker oil prices are taking their toll. Some recent bond deals have struggled to get across the line, only to end up still getting punished in secondary. Apollo's US$1.1bn LBO bond for Jupiter Resources, for example, has traded as low as 89 - even after coming to market last month with a five-point discount. "A lot of high-yield energy companies, particularly those developing shale plays, are spending more money than they are taking in," Patrick Faul, head of research at Calvert Investments, told IFR.
Trico Marine Reports Full Year 4Q Results
Trico Marine Services, Inc. announced a net loss for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2001 of $884,000, on revenues of $41.7 million. $1.4 million on revenues of $41.7 million, for the fourth quarter last year. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, the Company reported a net loss of $6.9 million on revenues of $182.6 million which included a non-cash charge of $24.3 million, before taxes, due to the write-down of the book value of eight vessels. This compared to a net loss of approximately $12.7 million on revenues of $132.9 million for 2000. Results for fiscal year 2000 include a gain of $3.9 million, pre-tax, from the sale of the company's six liftboats and an extraordinary one-time gain of $715,000, net of taxes, resulting from the early payment of debt.
