Rand Logistics (RLOG) 8-K Rand Logistics Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2012 Financial Results

Rand Logistics, Inc.

RAND LOGISTICS REPORTS THIRD QUARTER FISCAL 2012 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Operating Income plus Depreciation and Amortization Increased by Over 77% in Quarter

and Over 52% Year-to-Date

New York, NY - February 9, 2012 - Rand Logistics, Inc. (Nasdaq: RLOG) (“Rand”) today announced financial and operational results for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 ended December 31, 2011.

Quarter Ended December 31, 2011 Financial Highlights

Versus Quarter Ended December 31, 2010

• Marine freight revenue (excluding fuel and other surcharges, and outside charter revenue) was $35.9 million, an increase of 31.4% from $27.3 million. The increase in marine freight revenue was primarily attributable to 160 additional Sailing Days, a 23.2% increase in tonnage hauled and contractual price increases.

• Marine freight revenue per Sailing Day increased by $3,653, or 14.0%, to $29,683 per Sailing Day compared to $26,030 per Sailing Day.

• Vessel operating expenses per Sailing Day increased by $4,234, or 19.0%, to $26,509 per Sailing Day compared to $22,275 per Sailing Day. The increase was primarily attributable to higher fuel costs.

• Operating income plus depreciation and amortization increased by $6.1 million or 77.6% to $14.0 million from $7.9 million.

Nine Months Ended December 31, 2011 Financial Highlights

Versus Nine Months Ended December 31, 2010

• Marine freight revenue (excluding fuel and other surcharges, and outside charter revenue) was $101.8 million, an increase of 18.3% from $86.0 million. The increase in marine freight revenue was primarily attributable to 311 additional Sailing Days, an 18.0% increase in tonnage hauled and contractual price increases.

• Marine freight revenue per Sailing Day increased by $2,091, or 7.7%, to $29,372 per Sailing Day compared to $27,281 per Sailing Day.

• Vessel operating expenses per Sailing Day increased by $3,343, or 14.4%, to $26,524 per Sailing Day compared to $23,181 per Sailing Day. The increase was primarily attributable to higher fuel costs.

• Operating income plus depreciation and amortization increased by $12.9 million to $37.8 million from $24.9 million. The approximately 52.2% increase was achieved despite our growth being offset by inefficiencies experienced earlier in the year in matching fleet configuration with customer requirements, delays in completing required winter work on certain vessels that caused us to begin the 2011 sailing season later than our normal start date, and one of our vessels being out of service for 61 days due to its repowering.

Management Comments

Scott Bravener, President of Lower Lakes stated, “Our third quarter results were solid, as we enjoyed consistent customer demand throughout the quarter. This demand continued across our end markets into January 2012, as we operated for an above-average 203 sailing days in the month. I believe that our third quarter financial results are indicative of the earnings power of our business. During this past quarter, for the first time in the 2011 sailing season, we were able to align all of our assets to the trade patterns for which they were best suited.  After adding back $0.8 million of winter work that we incurred in the first quarter of this year that should have occurred in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, and assuming a full year of sailing of the Michipicoten which went into service on June 1, 2011, we expect that our fiscal year results ending March 31, 2012 would have been in line with the $34 to $36 million operating income plus depreciation and amortization guidance that we provided last year at this time. We are particularly pleased to achieve our year-to-date results, notwithstanding fleet inefficiencies that we experienced in the first two quarters of this fiscal year.”

Outlook

Laurence S. Levy, Chairman and CEO of Rand, commented, “We are pleased with the approximately 52% growth in operating income plus depreciation and amortization that we have achieved thus far in the fiscal year as compared to last year. We estimate that approximately 46% of this earnings growth was organic and the remainder resulted from the February 2011 acquisition. We have again shown our ability to effectively integrate acquired assets into our business, achieve the projections on which our capital investments were predicated and grow our core business at an attractive rate. We continue to believe that the long term fundamentals of our business and end markets remain strong. We are very enthusiastic about the highly strategic nature of the two vessel acquisitions that we completed during the fourth calendar quarter of 2011. Neither of these vessels, nor the single vessel acquisition completed in July 2011, contributed to our 2011 sailing season results. Based on current economic conditions and assuming a full year of operations of the two vessels that we recently acquired, we are preliminarily projecting operating income plus depreciation and amortization to be approximately $42 million for our fiscal year ending March 31, 2013.”

“Our outlook for fiscal year 2013 is very positive, given our current order book as well as additional revenue and operating income expected to be generated by the two vessel acquisitions completed during the fourth calendar quarter of 2011. Based on contracts in hand, our expanded fleet is fully booked for the 2012 sailing season.   During fiscal year 2013, we may have the opportunity to accelerate our earnings growth and exceed our preliminary operating income plus depreciation and amortization guidance as we continue to improve the profitability of our existing fleet by better aligning our assets to the trade patterns that they are best suited for and capitalize on recent new business wins. Our constant focus on improving vessel efficiency combined with increasing customer demand reinforces our confidence in a positive future for Rand, our customers, employees and shareholders.”

Rand Logistics, Inc.

Summary Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

(U.S. Dollars 000's except for Shares and Per Share data)

	Three months ended December 31,				Nine months ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2011			2010
Revenue
Freight and related revenue	$	35,917	$	27,331	$	101,775		$	86,043
Fuel and other surcharges		12,800		6,432		36,972			19,117
Outside voyage charter revenue		619		2,850		1,321			7,056
		49,336		36,613		140,068			112,216
Expenses
Outside voyage charter fees		615		2,831		1,312			7,032
Vessel operating expenses		32,076		23,389		91,907			73,113
Repairs and maintenance		36		74		1,068			118
General and administrative		2,558		2,416		7,987			7,080
Depreciation and amortization of drydock costs and intangibles		4,017		2,808		11,890			8,319
Loss (gain) on foreign exchange		16		2		(51	)		7
		39,318		31,520		114,113			95,669
Operating Income		10,018		5,093		25,955			16,547
Net income applicable to common stockholders	$	6,643	$	3,240	$	15,096		$	11,203
Net income per share – basic	$	0.38	$	0.24	$	0.95		$	0.84
Net income per share – diluted	$	0.37	$	0.24	$	0.93		$	0.82

Management will host a conference call to discuss the results at 8:30 a.m. ET on Friday, February 10, 2012. Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing 877-218-9317 (706-758-6006 for international callers), Conference ID# 41512511. Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin.

A telephonic replay of the conference call may be accessed approximately two hours after the completion of the call through April 10, 2012. Dial 855-859-2056 (404-537-3406 for international callers), Conference ID# 41512511, to access the phone replay.

The conference call will be webcast simultaneously on the Rand Logistics, Inc. website at www.randlogisticsinc.com/presentations.html.  The webcast replay will be archived for 12 months.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. For all forward-looking statements, we claim the protection of the Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy or are otherwise beyond our control and some of which might not even be anticipated.  Future events and actual results, affecting our strategic plan as well as our financial position, results of operations and cash flows, could differ materially from those described in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements.  Important factors that contribute to such risks include, but are not limited to, the effect of the economic downturn in our markets; the weather conditions on the Great Lakes; and our ability to maintain and replace our vessels as they age.

For a more detailed description of these uncertainties and other factors, please see the "Risk Factors" section in Rand's Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29, 2011.

About Rand Logistics

Rand Logistics, Inc. is a leading provider of bulk freight shipping services throughout the Great Lakes region. Through its subsidiaries, the Company operates a fleet of four conventional bulk carriers and thirteen self-unloading bulk carriers including four tug/barge units. The Company is the only carrier able to offer significant domestic port-to-port services in both Canada and the U.S. on the Great Lakes. The Company’s vessels operate under the U.S. Jones Act – which reserves domestic waterborne commerce to vessels that are U.S. owned, built and crewed, – and the Canada Coasting Trade Act – which reserves domestic waterborne commerce to Canadian registered and crewed vessels that operate between Canadian ports.

CONTACT:	-OR-	INVESTOR RELATIONS COUNSEL:
Rand Logistics, Inc.		Lesley Snyder
Laurence S. Levy, Chairman & CEO		(212) 863-9413
Edward Levy, President		LSnyder@randlogisticsinc.com
(212) 644-3450

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Rand Logistics, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

(U.S. Dollars 000's except for Shares and Per Share data)

	Three months ended December 31,						Nine months ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
REVENUE
Freight and related revenue	$	35,917		$	27,331		$	101,775		$	86,043
Fuel and other surcharges		12,800			6,432			36,972			19,117
Outside voyage charter revenue		619			2,850			1,321			7,056
TOTAL REVENUE		49,336			36,613			140,068			112,216
EXPENSES
Outside voyage charter fees		615			2,831			1,312			7,032
Vessel operating expenses		32,076			23,389			91,907			73,113
Repairs and maintenance		36			74			1,068			118
General and administrative		2,558			2,416			7,987			7,080
Depreciation		2,903			1,818			8,636			5,376
Amortization of drydock costs		792			696			2,263			2,070
Amortization of intangibles		322			294			991			873
Loss (gain)  on foreign exchange		16			2			(51	)		7
		39,318			31,520			114,113			95,669
OPERATING INCOME		10,018			5,093			25,955			16,547
OTHER (INCOME) AND EXPENSES
Interest expense		2,346			1,503			6,786			4,161
Interest income		(2	)		(11	)		(4	)		(34	)
Gain on interest rate swap contracts		(397	)		(508	)		(488	)		(131	)
		1,947			984			6,294			3,996
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		8,071			4,109			19,661			12,551
PROVISION (RECOVERY) FOR INCOME TAXES
Current		95			(178	)		417			(4	)
Deferred		618			450			2,079			(367	)
		713			272			2,496			(371	)
NET INCOME BEFORE PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS		7,358			3,837			17,165			12,922
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS		715			597			2,069			1,719
NET INCOME  APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$	6,643		$	3,240		$	15,096		$	11,203
Net income per share basic	$	0.38		$	0.24		$	0.95		$	0.84
Net income per share diluted	$	0.37		$	0.24		$	0.93		$	0.82
Weighted average shares basic		17,671,114			13,466,879			15,894,463			13,404,338
Weighted average shares diluted		20,141,349			13,466,879			18,399,571			15,823,693

Rand Logistics, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

 (U.S. Dollars 000's except for Shares and Per Share data)

		December 31,			March 31,
		2011			2011
ASSETS
CURRENT
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	5,373		$	4,508
	Accounts receivable		25,146			6,991
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		6,244			4,474
	Income taxes receivable		-			49
	Deferred income taxes		135			161
Total current assets			36,898			16,183
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET			190,680			166,692
LOAN TO EMPLOYEE			250			250
OTHER ASSETS			429			363
DEFERRED DRYDOCK COSTS, NET			7,441			6,523
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET			16,458			15,306
GOODWILL			10,193			10,193
Total assets		$	262,349		$	215,510
LIABILITIES
CURRENT
	Bank indebtedness	$	-		$	-
	Accounts payable		12,237			12,386
	Accrued liabilities		18,107			22,218
	Interest rate swap contracts		1,358			1,895
	Income taxes payable		288			-
	Deferred income taxes		265			603
	Subordinated note		-			1,482
	Current portion of deferred payment liability		377			382
	Current portion of long-term debt		8,900			7,178
Total current liabilities			41,532			46,144
LONG-TERM PORTION OF DEFERRED PAYMENT LIABILITY			2,220			2,507
LONG-TERM DEBT			125,092			104,993
OTHER LIABILITIES			242			238
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES			5,229			3,299
Total liabilities			174,315			157,181
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
	Preferred stock, $.0001 par value,		14,900			14,900
	Authorized 1,000,000 shares, Issued and outstanding 300,000 shares
	Common stock, $.0001 par value,		1			1
	Authorized 50,000,000 shares, Issuable and outstanding 17,674,031 shares
	Additional paid-in capital		87,709			71,503
	Accumulated deficit		(15,570	)		(30,666	)
	Accumulated other comprehensive income		994			2,591
Total stockholders’ equity			88,034			58,329
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	262,349		$	215,510

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