Trico Reports Third Quarter Results -- Strength Continues in Subsea Services Businesses...

Trico Reports Third Quarter Results -- Strength Continues in Subsea Services
Businesses as Company Dramatically Improves Balance Sheet

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Nov. 4, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trico Marine Services,
Inc. (Nasdaq:TRMA) (the "Company" or "Trico") today announced its financial
results for the third quarter of 2009 of revenues of $190 million, operating
income of approximately $6 million and net income of $0.36 per diluted share.
The strength in the Subsea Services and Subsea Trenching and Protection
divisions shown in the second quarter, continued into the third quarter.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph S. Compofelice, commented, "The
strength of our third quarter results reflects the strong performance by our
subsea services divisions, DeepOcean and CTC Marine. These divisions have
positioned us for future growth in emerging subsea markets with 45% of their
revenues earned in Latin America, the Middle East/Mediterranean, China and other
areas of Southeast Asia, substantially offsetting the weakness in the North
Sea."

Mr. Compofelice continued, "We made excellent progress regarding our liquidity
challenges with the successful closing of our $400 million high yield notes
offering. With those proceeds, we eliminated substantially all of the Company's
commercial bank debt worldwide, and have deferred amortization of principal for
five years. This improved our balance sheet with the current portion of our
long-term debt being reduced from $188 million at June 30, 2009 to $22 million
at September 30, 2009. We also completed non-core OSV asset sales of almost $40
million in the second half of 2009 (for a total of approximately $70 million
year-to-date) thus far and will look at further sales when and as appropriate."

Summary Results Compared to Q2 2009

Total revenues for the third quarter of 2009 were $190 million, compared to $180
million for the second quarter of 2009. Operating income in the third quarter
was $5.5 million, after net charges for impairments and loss on sales of assets
of $2.0 million. This compares to $15.2 million in the second quarter, after the
net benefit of impairments and gain on sales of assets of 3.7 million. Operating
income in the third quarter reflected a $13 million improvement within our
Subsea Services segment. The overall reduction in operating income from the
second quarter, excluding the items mentioned above, was solely attributable to
the performance of the Company's towing and supply business, which we expect to
stabilize in the future as the Company continues to divest itself of non-core
OSV assets.

Division Results

In the Company's Subsea Services segment, principally DeepOcean, revenues
increased by $2 million and operating income adjusted for the effect of
impairment was consistent with the second quarter.

In the Company's Subsea Trenching and Protection segment, CTC Marine, revenues
increased by $11 million although operating income decreased by $1 million
primarily driven by service mix.

In both DeepOcean and CTC Marine, average day rate spreads were strong, as each
business enlarged the scope of services provided during the third quarter.

For the Towing and Supply segment, day rates and utilization reflect the
weakness in West Africa and North Sea spot markets. After the end of the
quarter, the Company sold two North Sea class vessels for approximately $40
million reducing its exposure to a market with excess supply. In addition, the
Company has targeted additional vessels for sale, as the Company continues to
seek ways to reduce its exposure to the North Sea spot market Towing and Supply
sector.

Liquidity

Since the end of the prior quarter and through the date of this release, the
Company has, through a series of transactions, continued to improve its
liquidity position as follows:

* Completed a $400 million high-yield notes offering, effectively
deferring scheduled maturities in 2010 of $220 million. The
terms of the high-yield note offering includes several partial
pre-payment options as well;
* Received proceeds from asset sales of approximately $40 million;
* Obtained the right to cancel four newbuilds, reducing its
capital expenditure obligation, net of refund guarantees, by
approximately $100 million; and
* Negotiated two working capital facilities totaling $58 million.
At September 30, 2009, the Company had $42 million in cash and $739 million in
total debt.

Pro-forma for the refinancing, the Company's cash and credit availability to
fund capital expenditures is approximately $80 million.

Market Outlook

The Company's backlog remains healthy at approximately $700 million of termed
out or long-term contracts primarily in its subsea segments. On a consolidated
basis, revenues for the third quarter had the following geographic mix: 52% in
the North Sea, of which approximately two-thirds are subject to long-term
contracts, 19% in China, where the Company currently has four subsea service
spreads in the South China Sea, 12% in Mexico and Brazil and 17% in West Africa,
the Middle East, Mediterranean and Australia.

In addition, during the quarter the Company announced contract awards
representing $50 million in value, approximately $35 million of which are new
subsea contract awards. Recent subsea tender activity suggests to the Company
that the market outlook remains cautiously optimistic for 2010, with a stronger
outlook in 2011.

Conference Call Information

The Company will conduct a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, November
5, 2009, to discuss the results with analysts, investors and other interested
parties. Individuals who wish to participate in the conference call should dial
(800) 768-6569, access code 4736768, in the United States or (785) 830-7992,
access code 4736768, from outside the country.

A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available until November 19,
2009, starting approximately 1 hour after the completion of the call, and can be
accessed by dialing (888) 203-1112 access code 4736768 (international calls
should use (719) 457-0820, access code 4736768).

About Trico

The Trico Marine Group is an integrated provider of subsea, trenching and marine
support vessels and services. Trico's Towing and Supply division provides a
broad range of marine support services to the oil and gas industry through use
of its diversified fleet of vessels including the transportation of drilling
materials, supplies and crews to drilling rigs and other offshore facilities;
towing drilling rigs and equipment, and support for the construction,
installation, repair and maintenance of offshore facilities. Trico's Subsea
Services and Subsea Protection divisions control a well equipped fleet of
vessels and operate a fleet of modern ROVs and trenching and other subsea
protection equipment. Trico Marine Services, Inc. is headquartered in The
Woodlands, Texas and has a global presence with operations in the North Sea,
West Africa, Mexico, Brazil and Southeast Asia.

For more information about Trico Marine Services, Inc. visit us on the web at
www.tricomarine.com.

The Trico Marine Services, Inc. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5229

Certain statements in this press release that are not historical fact may be
"forward looking statements." Forward-looking statements are projections of
events, revenues, income, future economic performance or management's plans and
objectives for the Company's future operations. Actual events may differ
materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement. There are a
number of important factors involving risks (known and unknown) and
uncertainties beyond the control of the Company that could cause actual events
to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. These risks, by way of example and not in limitation, include the
Company's objectives, business plans or strategies, and projected or anticipated
benefits or other consequences of such plans or strategies; the Company's
ability to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms,
including with respect to refinancing debt maturing in the next twelve months;
the Company's ability to continue to service, and to comply with our obligations
under, our credit facilities and our other indebtedness; projections involving
revenues, operating results or cash provided from operations, or the Company's
anticipated capital expenditures or other capital projects; overall demand for
and pricing of the Company's vessels; changes in the level of oil and natural
gas exploration and development; the Company's ability to successfully or timely
complete its various vessel construction projects; further reductions in capital
spending budgets by customers; further decline in oil and natural gas prices;
projected or anticipated benefits from acquisitions; increases in operating
costs; the inability to accurately predict vessel utilization levels and day
rates; variations in global business and economic conditions; the results,
timing, outcome or effect of pending or potential litigation and our intentions
or expectations with respect thereto and the availability of insurance coverage
in connection therewith; and the Company's ability to repatriate cash from
foreign operations if and when needed. A further description of risks and
uncertainties relating to Trico Marine Services, Inc. and its industry and other
factors, which could affect the Company's results of operations or financial
condition, are included in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission
filings. Trico undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise
after the date of this report. These results should be considered preliminary
until the Company files its Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

TRICO MARINE SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

----------------------
Three Months Ended
----------------------
Sept. 30, June 30,
2009 2009
---------- ----------

Revenues $ 189,855 $ 179,732

Operating expenses:
Direct operating expenses 143,456 130,221
General and administrative 19,594 19,390
Depreciation and amortization 19,324 18,547
Impairments 1,184 14,023
(Gain) loss on sales of assets 768 (17,684)
---------- ----------
Total operating expenses 184,326 164,497

Operating income 5,529 15,235

Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized (8,587) (11,665)
Interest income 181 790
Unrealized gain (loss) on mark-to-market of
embedded derivative (21,026) 476
Gain on conversions of debt -- 551
Refinancing costs -- (6,224)
Other expense, net 30,526 1,857
---------- ----------

Income before income taxes 6,623 1,020
Income tax benefit (1,891) (3,641)
---------- ----------

Net income 8,514 4,661

Less: Net (income) loss attributable to the
noncontrolling interest 859 (514)
---------- ----------

Net income attributable to Trico Marine
Services, Inc. $ 9,373 $ 4,147
========== ==========

Earnings per common share:
Basic $ 0.46 $ 0.22
========== ==========
Diluted $ 0.36 $ 0.22
========== ==========

Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic 20,502 18,601
========== ==========
Diluted 35,179 26,345
========== ==========

Cash Flow Data:

Cash provided by operating activities $ 37,506 $ 44,093
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities (16,784) 134
Cash used in financing activities (18,542) (73,066)
Capital expenditures (17,952) (29,291)
----------------------

---------- ----------
Balance Sheet Data: Sept. 30, June 30,
2009 2009
---------- ----------

Cash and cash equivalents $ 41,733 $ 35,069
Total assets 1,236,218 1,182,684
Total short-term debt 22,296 187,533
Total long-term debt (including derivative
liability) 716,531 521,036
Total liabilities 976,760 936,567
Total equity 259,458 246,117

TRICO MARINE SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidating Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
------------------------------------------------
Subsea
Trenching Corporate
Towing Subsea and Pro- & Elim-
and Supply Services tection inations Total
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------

Revenues $ 31,414 $ 87,519 $ 79,693 $ (8,771) $189,855

Operating expenses:
Direct operating
expenses 24,960 63,128 64,139 (8,771) 143,456
General and
administrative 4,874 4,008 4,660 6,052 19,594
Depreciation and
amortization 4,769 9,682 4,795 78 19,324
Impairment -- 1,184 -- -- 1,184
(Gain) loss on sales
of assets 785 -- (17) -- 768
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total operating
expenses 35,388 78,002 73,577 (2,641) 184,326
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------

Operating income
(loss) $ (3,974) $ 9,517 $ 6,116 $ (6,130) $ 5,529
======== ======== ======== ======== ========

Three Months Ended June 30, 2009
------------------------------------------------
Subsea
Trenching Corporate
Towing Subsea and Pro- & Elim-
and Supply Services tection inations Total
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------

Revenues $ 32,548 $ 85,454 $ 68,353 $ (6,623) $179,732

Operating expenses:
Direct operating
expenses 22,705 61,793 52,346 (6,623) 130,221
General and
administrative 5,006 3,807 3,917 6,660 19,390
Depreciation and
amortization 4,769 9,181 4,518 79 18,547
Impairment -- 14,023 -- -- 14,023
Gain on sales of
assets (17,667) -- (9) (8) (17,684)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total operating
expenses 14,813 88,804 60,772 108 164,497
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------

Operating income
(loss) $ 17,735 $ (3,350) $ 7,581 $ (6,731) $ 15,235
======== ======== ======== ======== ========

Internally, we measure operating performance based on EBITDA, a
non-GAAP financial measure, and we believe EBITDA is used by
investors to evaluate and compare our cash flow generating capacity
to other companies in our industry. We calculate EBITDA as operating
income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, impairments and
(gain) loss on sale of assets.

TRICO MARINE SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Vessel Metrics

Month Three Months Ended
Ended ----------------------------
Oct. 31, Sept. 30, June 30, March 31,
2009 2009 2009 2009
-------- -------- -------- --------
Average Day Rates:
Subsea Services
MSVs (1) $ 90,554 $ 86,772 $ 79,164 $ 68,051
SPSVs/MPSVs (2) 26,421 26,995 27,638 21,104

Subsea Trenching and
Protection $140,717 $141,049 $127,991 $ 91,120

Towing and Supply
North Sea Class (3) $ 16,008 $ 17,796 $ 17,012 $ 19,206
OSVs (4) 6,781 6,167 6,645 7,168

Utilization:
Subsea Services
MSVs 66% 91% 92% 73%
SPSVs/MPSVs 58% 71% 80% 68%

Subsea Trenching and Protection 93% 97% 98% 90%

Towing and Supply
North Sea Class 78% 83% 76% 81%
OSVs 66% 61% 66% 67%

Average Number of Vessels:
Subsea Services
MSVs 10.0 10.0 9.7 9.1
SPSVs/MPSVs 7.0 7.5 7.0 7.0

Subsea Trenching and Protection 4.4 4.4 4.8 3.5

Towing and Supply
North Sea Class 10.0 12.0 12.3 13.0
OSVs 29.0 33.0 37.4 38.0

----------------------
(1) Multi-purpose service vessels
(2) Subsea platform supply vessels/Multi-purpose platform supply
vessels
(3) Anchor handling, towing and supply vessels and platform
supply vessels
(4) Offshore supply vessels

Trico Marine Service, Inc.
Debt Schedule at September 30, 2009 and Pro Forma
for High-Yield Notes
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
Without Pro-Forma
High for High
Yield Yield
Notes Notes
-------- --------
Sept. 30, Sept. 30,
2009 2009
-------- --------
Remaining debt:
$50 million U.S. Revolving Credit Facility
Agreement, maturing in December 2011 $ 31,509 $ 31,509
$202.8 million face amount, 8.125% Convertible
Debentures, net of unamortized discount of $13.5
million as of September 30, 2009, interest payable
semi-annually in arrears, maturing on
February 1, 2013 189,317 189,317
$150.0 million face amount, 3.0% Senior Convertible
Debentures, net of unamortized discount of
$31.5 million and $35.9 million as of
September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008,
respectively, interest payable semi-annually in
arrears, maturing on January 15, 2027 118,483 118,483
6.11% Notes, principal and interest due in 30
semi-annual installments, maturing April 2014 6,286 6,286
Other debt 726 726
-------- --------
Total amount of remaining debt 346,321 346,321

New debt:
Senior Secured Notes -- 385,572
Trico Shipping Working Capital Facility --
-------- --------
Total amount of new debt -- 385,572

Debt paid and refinanced:
NOK 350 million Revolving Credit Facility,
maturing January 1, 2010 59,803 --
NOK 230 million Revolving Credit Facility,
maturing January 1, 2010 19,822 --
NOK 150 million Additional Term Loan, maturing
January 1, 2010 9,097 --
NOK 200 million Overdraft Facility, maturing
January 1, 2010 16,028 --
23.3 million Euro Revolving Credit Facility,
maturing March 31, 2010 20,671 --
$100 and $200 million Revolving Credit Facility,
maturing in May 2013 172,759 --
$18 million Revolving Credit Facility, maturing
December 5, 2011 14,500 --
8 million Sterling Overdraft Facility,
due on demand 17,173 --
24.2 million Sterling Asset Financing Revolving
Credit Facility, maturing no later than
December 13, 2014 16,762 --
Finance lease obligations assumed in the
acquisition of DeepOcean, maturing from
October 2009 to November 2015 14,873 --
Other debt assumed in the acquisition of DeepOcean 6,246 --
-------- --------
Total amount of debt paid and refinanced 367,734 --

Total debt 714,055 731,893
Less current maturities 239,787 22,296
-------- --------
Long-term debt $474,268 $709,597
======== ========
-0-
CONTACT: Trico Marine Services, Inc.
Geoff Jones, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(713) 780-9926