DRYSHIPS INC

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 month of May 2010


Commission File Number 001-33922


DRYSHIPS INC.


80 Kifissias Avenue

Amaroussion 15125, Athens Greece

(Address of principal executive offices)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of 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): [  ].


Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.


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): [  ].


Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.



INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT


Attached as Exhibit 1 is a press release of DryShips Inc. (the “Company”), dated May  12, 2010, DryShips Inc. Reports Financial and Operating Results for the First Quarter 2010.




Exhibit 1

[f051210drys6k001.jpg]



DRYSHIPS INC. REPORTS FINANCIAL AND OPERATING

RESULTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER 2010

May 12, 2010, Athens, Greece. DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS), or the Company, a global provider of marine transportation services for drybulk cargoes and offshore oil deepwater drilling, today announced its unaudited financial and operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2010.

First Quarter 2010 Financial Highlights

Ø

For the first quarter of 2010, the Company reported net income of $5.7 million, or $0.01 basic and diluted earnings per share. Included in the first quarter 2010 results are various items, totaling $61.9 million, or $0.26 per share which are described below. Excluding these items, net income amounted to $67.6 million. or $0.27 per share.

o

Included in the first quarter 2010 results are net gains of approximately $10.7 million, or $0.04 per share, from the sales of the vessels Iguana and Delray.

o

Included in the first quarter 2010 results is the net effect of deferring revenues and direct incremental expenses to future periods, which negatively impacted results by approximately $16.6 million of net revenues, or $0.07 per share, relating to the mobilization of the Leiv Eiriksson, and which have been deferred to future periods. In October 2009, the Leiv Eiriksson commenced mobilization for a three-year contract with Petroleo Brasileiro S.A., or Petrobras, for exploration drilling in the Black Sea. Prior to the Petrobras contract, the rig operated for Shell in the North Sea. Accordingly, all revenue and direct incremental expenditure during the mobilization of this unit from the North Sea to the Black Sea will be amortized over the life of the Petrobras contract, commencing from February 24, 2010, the date the rig commenced drilling operations in the Black Sea.  

o

Included in the first quarter 2010 results are non-cash amortization of debt issuance costs, including those relating to our convertible senior notes issued on November 19, 2009, totaling $6.9 million, or $0.03 per share.

o

Included in the first quarter 2010 results are losses incurred on our interest rate swaps, amounting to $34.6 million, or $0.14 per share.

o

Included in the first quarter 2010 results is amortization of stock based compensation of $14.5 million, or $0.06 per share.

Ø

Basic earnings per share for the first quarter of 2010 includes a non-cash accrual for the cumulative payment-in-kind dividends on the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, amounting to $4.0 million, which reduces the income available to common shareholders. Basic earnings per share is calculated as net income less accrued dividends on preferred stock divided by weighted average number of common shares outstanding.

George Economou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company commented:

 “We are pleased to have another quarter of solid operating results with our charters on both the drybulk and drilling units performing as per expectations. The Leiv Eiriksson completed acceptance testing and commenced drilling operations for Petrobras on February 24th and has recorded good utilization rates since. The long operating history of Ocean Rig and it’s safety record will differentiate us as we bid for tenders going forward. We would also like to point out that all of our existing rigs and newbuildings under construction have the Acoustic Control provided. Operational safety remains a top priority for the Company. The construction of the four newbuilding drillships at Samsung Heavy Industries continues to be on schedule and on budget. We remain focused on the securing of employment for the drillships and the financing for hull numbers 1837 and 1838. We are making progress on both fronts and especially on the financing front where we are pursuing a couple of debt alternatives that appear to be promising.

We continue to renew our drybulk fleet through paired trades selling older vessels and replacing them with younger ones. We are now left with just six vessels that are built in the mid to late 1990s. The drybulk market remains resilient and continues to outperform expectations. While 2009 was largely a China story, the first quarter has seen demand from the rest of the world return to pre-crisis levels, as evidenced by the global iron ore imports. We remain bullish on the prospects of the drybulk market.”


Financial Review: 2010 First Quarter

The Company recorded net income of $5.7 million, or $0.01 basic and diluted earnings per share, for the three-month period ended March 31, 2010, as compared to a net loss of $118.9 million, or $1.09 basic and diluted loss per share, for the three-month period ended March 31, 2009. EBITDA, which is defined and reconciled later in this press release, was $81.9 million for the first quarter of 2010 as compared to negative $41.0 million for the same period in 2009.

Included in the first quarter 2010 results are various items totaling $61.9 million, or $0.26 per share, which are described at the beginning of this press release. Excluding these items, our adjusted net income amounts to $67.6 million, or $0.27 per share.

Basic earnings per share, as defined earlier in this press release, for the first quarter of 2010 includes a non-cash accrual for the cumulative payment-in-kind dividends on the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, amounting to $4.0 million, which reduces the income available to common shareholders.

For the drybulk carrier segment, net voyage revenues (voyage revenues minus voyage expenses) increased by $18.0 million to $106.9 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2010, as compared to $88.9 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2009. For the offshore drilling segment, revenues from drilling contracts amounted to $80.3 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2010 as compared to $96.0 million for the same period in 2009. This decrease is mainly due to the deferral of revenue during the first quarter of 2010 as a result of the mobilization of the Leiv Eiriksson from the North Sea to the Black Sea.  

Total vessel and rig operating expenses and total depreciation and amortization decreased to $48.4 million and $47.2 million, respectively, for the three-month period ended March 31, 2010 from $50.5 million and $48.4 million, respectively, for the three-month period ended March 31, 2009. Total general and administrative expenses increased to $27.2 million in the first quarter of 2010 from $21.5 million during the comparative period in 2009.

Interest and finance costs, net of interest income, decreased to $24.5 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2010, compared to $26.6 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2009.


Recent Events


Ø

$240 million in aggregate principal amount raised through the issuance of senior convertible notes.


Ø

The Company has entered into agreements to:


Ø

Sell the Panamax vessel MV Xanadu 72,270 dwt built in 1999 for $33.7 million. Delivery to the new owners will take place during the second or third quarter of 2010. The vessel’s charter (at $39,750 per day until July 2013) will be transferred to the vessel purchased below.

Ø

Purchase a Panamax vessel about 75,000 dwt built in 2009 for $43 million. Delivery to the Company will take place during the second or third quarter of 2010. Financing from a previously sold vessel will be transferred to finance the purchase of this vessel.


Fleet List

The table below describes our drybulk fleet profile as of May 10, 2010:


 

Year

 

 

Gross rate

Redelivery

 

 

Built

DWT

Type

Per day

Earliest

Latest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed rate employment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capesize:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alameda

2001

170,269

Capesize

  $21,000

Feb-11

May-11

Brisbane

1995

151,066

Capesize

$25,000

Dec-11

Apr-12

Capri

2001

172,579

Capesize

$61,000

Apr-18

Jun-18

Flecha

2004

170,012

Capesize

$55,000

Jul-18

Nov-18

Manasota

2004

171,061

Capesize

$67,000

Feb-13

Apr-13

Mystic

2008

170,500

Capesize

$52,310

Aug-18

Dec-18

Samsara

1996

150,393

Capesize

$57,000

Dec-11

Apr-12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Panamax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avoca

2004

76,500

Panamax

$45,500

Sep-13

Dec-13

Bargara

2002

74,832

Panamax

$43,750

May-12

Jul-12

Capitola

2001

74,832

Panamax

$39,500

Jun-13

Aug-13

Catalina

2005

74,432

Panamax

$40,000

Jun-13

Aug-13

Conquistador

2000

75,607

Panamax

$17,750

Aug-11

Nov-11

Coronado

2000

75,706

Panamax

$18,250

Sep-11

Nov-11

Ecola

2001

73,931

Panamax

$43,500

Jun-12

Aug-12

La Jolla

1997

72,126

Panamax

$14,750

Aug-11

Nov-11

Levanto

2001

73,931

Panamax

$16,800

Sep-11

Nov-11

Ligari

2004

75,583

Panamax

$55,500

Jun-12

Aug-12

Maganari

2001

75,941

Panamax

$14,500

Jul-11

Sep-11

Majorca

2005

74,364

Panamax

$43,750

Jun-12

Aug-12

Marbella

2000

72,561

Panamax

$14,750

Aug-11

Nov-11

Mendocino

2002

76,623

Panamax

$56,500

Jun-12

Sep-12

Ocean Crystal

1999

73,688

Panamax

$15,000

Aug-11

Nov-11

Oliva

2009

75,000

Panamax

$17,850

Oct-11

Dec-11

Oregon

2002

74,204

Panamax

$16,350

Aug-11

Oct-11

Padre

2004

73,601

Panamax

$46,500

Sep-12

Dec-12

Positano

2000

73,288

Panamax

$42,500

Sep-13

Dec-13

Primera

1998

72,495

Panamax

     $18,250*

Dec-10

Dec-10

Rapallo

2009

75,000

Panamax

$15,400

Aug-11

Oct-11

Redondo

2000

74,716

Panamax

$34,500

Apr-13

Jun-13

Saldanha

2004

75,500

Panamax

$52,500

Jun-12

Sep-12

Samatan

2001

74,823

Panamax

$39,500

May-13

Jul-13

Sonoma

2001

74,786

Panamax

$19,300

Sept- 11

Nov- 11

Sorrento

2004

76,633

Panamax

$17,300

Sep-11

Dec-11

Toro

1995

73,034

Panamax

$16,750

May-11

Jul-11

Xanadu

1999

72,270

Panamax

$39,750

Jul-13

Sep-13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supramax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pachino

2002

51,201

Supramax

$20,250

Sep-10

Feb-11

Paros I

2003

51,201

Supramax

$27,135

Oct-11

May-12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newbuildings

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Panamax 1

2011

76,000

Panamax

 

 

 

Panamax 2

2012

76,000

Panamax

 

 

 



* Based on a synthetic time charter



Summary Operating Data (unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except average daily results)

                


 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

2009

 

2010

 

Average number of vessels(1)

37.7

 

37.6

 

Total voyage days for vessels(2)

3,277

 

3,314

 

Total calendar days for vessels(3)

3,391

 

3,384

 

Fleet utilization(4)

97%

 

98%

 

Time charter equivalent(5)

27,115

 

32,250

 

Vessel operating expenses (daily)(6)

5,369

 

5,691

 


(1) Average number of vessels is the number of 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 voyage days for fleet are the total days the vessels were in our possession for the relevant period net of off hire days.

(3) Calendar days are the total number of days the vessels were in our possession for the relevant period including off hire days.

(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) Time charter equivalent, or TCE, is a measure of the average daily revenue performance of a vessel on a per voyage basis. Our method of calculating TCE is consistent with industry standards and is determined by dividing voyage revenues (net of voyage expenses) by voyage days for the relevant time period. Voyage expenses primarily consist of port, canal and fuel costs that are unique to a particular voyage, which would otherwise be paid by the charterer under a time charter contract, as well as commissions. TCE is a standard shipping industry performance measure used primarily to compare period-to-period changes in a shipping company's performance despite changes in the mix of charter types (i.e., spot charters, time charters and bareboat charters) under which the vessels may be employed between the periods.


 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

2009

 

2010

 

Voyage revenues

97,602

 

113,903

 

Voyage expenses

(8,746)

 

(7,026)

 

Time charter equivalent revenues

88,856

 

106,877

 

Total voyage days for vessels   

 3,277

 

  3,314

 

Time charter equivalent

27,115

 

32,250

 


 (6) Daily vessel operating expenses, which includes crew costs, provisions, deck and engine stores, lubricating oil, insurance, maintenance and repairs is calculated by dividing vessel operating expenses by fleet calendar days for the relevant time period.





Financial Statements


Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations




(Expressed in Thousands of U.S. Dollars-

except for share and per share data)

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

2009

 

2010

 

 

(as restated)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

Voyage revenues

$

97,602

$

113,903

Revenues from drilling contracts

 

96,038

 

80,256

 

 

193,640

 

194,159

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

Voyage expenses

 

8,746

 

7,026

Vessel operating expenses

 

18,205

 

19,259

Drilling rigs operating expenses

 

32,283

 

29,100

Depreciation and amortization

 

48,417

 

47,158

Gain on sale of vessels

 

(2,438)

 

(10,684)

Loss on contract cancellations, net

 

166,652

 

-

General and administrative expenses

 

21,491

 

27,187

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income / (loss)

 

(99,716)

 

75,113

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER INCOME/(EXPENSE):

 

 

 

 

Interest and finance costs, net of interest income

 

(26,557)

 

(24,461)

Gain/(loss) on interest rate swaps

 

8,718

 

(34,638)

Other, net

 

1,539

 

(5,728)

Income taxes

 

(2,901)

 

(4,577)

Total other expenses, net

 

(19,201)

 

(69,404)

 

 

 

 

 


Net income / (loss)


$


(118,917)


$


5,709

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings/(loss) per common share, basic and diluted

$

(1.09)

$

0.01

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares, basic and diluted

 

109,085,118

 

254,823,623

 

 

 

 

 







Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets



 

 

 

 

 

 

(Expressed in Thousands of U.S. Dollars)

 

December 31, 2009

   


March 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

693,169

$

362,637

 

Restricted cash

 

350,833

 

428,955

 

Trade accounts receivable, net

 

66,681

 

46,043

 

Other current assets

 

69,967

 

80,703

 

Total current assets

 

1,180,650

 

918,338

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIXED ASSETS, NET:

 

 

 

 

 

Advances for assets under construction and acquisitions

 

1,174,693

 

1,512,667

 

Vessels, net

 

2,058,329

 

1,998,133

 

Drilling rigs, machinery and equipment, net

 

1,329,641

 

1,312,698

 

Total fixed assets, net

 

4,562,663

 

4,823,498

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER NON CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 Other non-current assets

 

55,775

 

57,522

Total non current assets

 

55,775

 

57,522

 

Total assets

 

5,799,088

 

5,799,358

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

1,698,692

 

1,660,886

 

Other current liabilities

 

197,331

 

230,342

 

Total current liabilities

 

1,896,023

 

1,891,228

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, net of current portion

 

985,992

 

958,052

Other non-current liabilities

 

112,438

 

128,885

Total non current liabilities

 

1,098,430

 

1,086,937

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

2,804,635

 

2,821,193

 

Total liabilities and stockholders equity

$

5,799,088

$

5,799,358

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




EBITDA Reconciliation

EBITDA represents net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA does not represent and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or cash flow from operations, as determined by United States generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP, and our calculation of EBITDA may not be comparable to that reported by other companies. EBITDA is included herein because it is a basis upon which the Company measures its operations and efficiency. EBITDA is also used by our lenders as a measure of our compliance with certain covenants contained in our loan agreements and because the Company believes that it presents useful information to investors regarding a company's ability to service and/or incur indebtedness.

The following table reconciles net income to EBITDA:

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 Three Months Ended March 31, 2009

 

 Three Months Ended March 31, 2010

 

 

 

(as restated)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss)/ income

 

(118,917)

 

5,709

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add: Net interest expense

 

26,557

 

24,461

 

Add: Depreciation and amortization

 

48,417

 

47,158

 

Add: Income taxes

 

2,901

 

4,577

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

(41,042)

 

81,905

 




Conference Call and Webcast: Thursday, May 13 , 2010

As announced, the Company’s management team will host a conference call, on Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 8:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time to discuss the Company's financial results.

Conference Call Details

Participants should dial into the call 10 minutes before the scheduled time using the following numbers: 1(866) 819-7111 (from the US), 0(800) 953-0329 (from the UK) or +(44) 1452 542 301 (from outside the US). Please quote "DryShips".

A replay of the conference call will be available until May 20, 2010. The United States replay number is 1(866) 247- 4222; from the UK 0(800) 953-1533; the standard international replay number is (+44) (0) 1452 55 00 00 and the access code required for the replay is: 2133051#.

A replay of the conference call will also be available on the Company’s website at www.dryships.com under the Investor Relations section.

Slides and Audio Webcast

There will also be a simultaneous live webcast over the Internet, through the DryShips Inc. website (www.dryships.com). Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.

About DryShips Inc.

DryShips Inc., based in Greece, is an owner and operator of drybulk carriers and offshore oil deep water drilling that operate worldwide. As of the day of this release, DryShips owns a fleet of 39 drybulk carriers (including newbuildings) comprising seven Capesize carriers, 30 Panamax carriers and  two Supramax carriers, with a combined deadweight tonnage of over 3.5 million tons, two ultra deep water semisubmersible drilling rigs and four ultra deep water newbuilding drillships.  

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



Forward-Looking Statement

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, 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 we believe 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, we 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 strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including changes in charterhire rates and vessel values, changes in demand that may affect attitudes of time charterers to scheduled and unscheduled drydocking, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, domestic and international political conditions, 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 DryShips Inc. with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investor Relations / Media:

Nicolas Bornozis

Capital Link, Inc. (New York)

Tel. 212-661-7566

E-mail: dryships@capitallink.com







  

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.

 

 

  

DryShips Inc.                        

  

(Registrant)

  

  

Dated:  May 12, 2010

By:  /s/George Economou    

  

  

George Economou

Chief Executive Officer