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DRYSHIPS ANNOUNCES FILING OF ITS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 20-F
Athens, Greece - March 30, 2009. DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ:DRYS) (the "Company" or
"DryShips"), a global provider of marine transportation services for drybulk cargoes and offshore
contract drilling oil services, announced today it has filed its Annual Report on Form 20-F
for the year ended 2008. The audit opinions of Deloitte, Hadjipavlou, Sofianos and Cambanis
S.A. regarding the 2008 financial statements of the Company and the audit opinion of Ernst and
Young (Norway) regarding the 2008 financial statements of the Company’s wholly-owned
subsidiary, Ocean Rig ASA, each of which were included in the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 20-F filed today, are unqualified. However, the opinions include an explanatory “going
concern” paragraph which, in the case of the Company, states:
“The accompanying consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008,
have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As
discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s inability to comply
with financial covenants under its current loan agreements as of December 31, 2008, difficulties
in meeting its financing needs, its negative working capital position, and other matters discussed
in Note 3 raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s
plans concerning these matters are also described in Note 3. The consolidated financial
statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this
uncertainty.”
This press release is issued pursuant to NASDAQ Marketplace Rules. Investors are urged to
read the full text of the Company’s Report on Form 20-F, including Note 3 to the consolidated
financial statements referred to above.
George Economou, Chairman and Chief Executive of DryShips commented: “As discussed
during our latest conference call, the going concern explanatory paragraph is the result of the
previously announced reclassification of $1.8 billion of long-term debt as current. With the
proactive approach already taken to reduce $2 billion in capital expenditures, the confidence of
our three main lenders with whom we are in close ongoing discussions, secured revenues of
over $2.4 billion in the next three years from drybulk time charters and offshore drilling contracts
and the recent equity infusion of $380 million through the ATM Equity Offeringsm share issuance
program, we have repositioned DryShips for the long-term and remain ahead of the curve.”
About DryShips, Inc.
DryShips Inc., based in Greece, is an owner and operator of drybulk carriers that operate
worldwide. As of the day of this release, DryShips owns a fleet of 42 drybulk carriers comprising
7 Capesize, 28 Panamax, 2 Supramax, 5 newbuilding drybulk vessels, with a combined
deadweight tonnage of about 4.0 million and two drilling rigs, two drillship new building.
DryShips Inc.'s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market where it trades under
the symbol "DRYS".
Visit the Company’s website at www.dryships.com
DryShips Inc.
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