Dryships in SERIOUS TROUBLES here
http://www.reuters.com/article/governmentF...NG3147120090330
* Says gets going concern notice from auditors
* Notice due to reclassification of $1.8 bln debt as current
* Says may not get covenant waiver
March 30 (Reuters) - Greek dry bulk carrier DryShips Inc (
DRYS.O) said it got a going concern notice from its auditors as the company reclassified $1.8 billion of long-term debt as current.
Last week, DryShips said it was in discussions with its some of its lenders concerning current breaches of loan covenants, and pending the outcome of such discussions it has reclassified about $1.8 billion in debt as short-term.
In a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said it may not be successful in obtaining covenant waivers or modifications or its lenders may accelerate its indebtedness.
"If our indebtedness is accelerated, it would be very difficult in the current financing environment for us to refinance our debt or obtain additional financing and we could lose our vessels if our lenders foreclose their liens," the company said in a regulatory filing.
Several other dry bulk carriers like Star Bulk Carriers Corp (
SBLK.O) and Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc (
EGLE.O) have recently obtained covenant waivers in the backdrop of falling freight rates and weak asset values.
However, DryShips said it will generate sufficient cash from operations and proceeds from new equity to satisfy its liquidity needs for the next 12 months.
In the latest fourth quarter, the company posted a $1.02 billion loss, hurt mainly by a goodwill impairment charge, and forecast a loss from the disposal of three capesize newbuildings.
Shares of the company were trading down 38 cents at $5.48 in trading before the bell. The company's stock closed at $5.86 Friday on Nasdaq. (Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Bangalore; Editing by Jarshad Kakkrakandy)